Off Highway Vehicle advocates travel to Washington DC to meet with the National Direc

[JoeyD23]

Off Highway Vehicle advocates travel to Washington DC to meet with the National Director of the BLM regarding the Special Recreational Permit process.​

In response to perceived changes in the national policy of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a task force of Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) leadership lead by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) headed to Washington DC on March 30th, 2011 to meet with the National Director of the BLM, Bob Abbey. The task force was comprised of AMA District 37 President Jerry Grabow, AMA Senior Vice President, Government Relations Ed Moreland, Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) President Fred Wiley, and Jeff Knoll, representing the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs (CA4WDC). Although National Director Abbey was summoned to the White house, the meeting allowed OHV leadership the opportunity to express the growing concern enthusiasts have regarding policy, safety, management, staffing, and Cost Recovery for Special Recreational Permits (SRPs) on BLM managed lands.

The primary focus of the meeting was to share best practices to the BLM regarding SRP management, and ask for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the various proactive event organizers that would ensure a continued reciprocating relationship that has fostered responsible use of public lands for over 40 years. Because of the long standing event history the group has to draw experience from; it was able to offer a different view of events from car, truck, and motorcycle racing, to slow speed motorcycle touring, family recreational 4-wheeling, rock crawling, and Utility terrain vehicles ( UTV) events. Spectator safety has remained the highest priority for the BLM regarding SRPs and the group offered additional suggestions based on experience to BLM leadership in an effort to create a national policy regarding enforcement of spectator boundaries.

The BLM has expressed a desire to continue this process and hopes to achieve additional strategies to better serve the public through its Desert Advisory Committee (DAC) in the California Desert District (CDD). A subcommittee to the DAC made up of OHV stakeholders is currently being formed on a fast track and will report to the DAC regarding best practices to help CDD management create the best possible management of SRP’s in the CDD.

The task force was created shortly after the California 200 tragedy, and is made up of event organizers in the CDD, and beyond. Thru unification of all the various OHV interests the group was able to offer solutions that find the balance between the unique needs of all activities in the CDD.

For more information or to interview various leadership, please contact:
Ed Moreland-AMA Senior Vice President Government Relations [email protected]
Fred Wiley-ORBA President [email protected] Off- road business interests
Jerry Grabow-AMA district 37 President [email protected] Motorcycle racing/touring events
Jeff Knoll-California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs. [email protected] Car/Truck racing, Rocksports, 4 wheel drive touring events.

 

[JoeyD23]

Re: Off Highway Vehicle advocates travel to Washington DC to meet with the National D

The above press release was sent by our good friend and UTVUnderground member Jeff Knoll who was one of the people who traveled to DC to represent us off roaders! Here is his trip report......




“That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” As I sat there listening to the famous speech by Abraham Lincoln, staring out the window that was etched with those very words on a cold, rainy day in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the gravity of our trip, and the important task that had been laid out before us started to sink in.

When I was asked to join a group of promoters, event organizers and concerned recreationalists for a regularly scheduled “meeting of the minds”, I had no idea that it would lead me across this great nation, into the office of the National Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Washington, DC. Following the California 200 and leading up to the 5th running of the Griffin King of the Hammers my concern for Hammerking’s ability to obtain a permit was of the foremost concern. In preparation, I had attempted to educate myself on all the Special Recreation Permit (SRP) stipulations and possible changes. In doing so, I found myself immersed in what seemed like a flowing tide of changes in policy for the California Desert District (CDD).

American Motorcyclist Association District 37 President Jerry Grabow and Off-Road Business Association President Fred Wiley extended an invitation to join them on a trip to Washington, DC. I was shocked that I would be chosen, and wondered if there might be someone better suited to lead the charge for the 4 wheel vehicles interests. What I learned on the way, with the support of the California Association of 4 Wheel drive Clubs, was that, as citizens, it is our duty to participate in the government rather than sit idle and wait for others to create policy for us. Because the diverse group of Off Highway vehicle (OHV) users was able to work together for the greater good of all parties, we found ourselves able to break down the walls between the leaders of the BLM. In addition, we were able to explain our concern for the continued reciprocating relationship OHV leadership and local BLM offices have forged for over 40 years. Our group was able to drive home the importance of organized recreation to the public, and show that OHV recreation is the first opportunity many have to learn about responsible use of our public lands, and create lifelong stewards of them in the process. While we all understand that the opinion of the safety of OHV events has become suspect in the eyes of the uneducated, I firmly believe that this trip has shown BLM at the highest levels that the OHV community believes that by working together we can create a model for efficient safety at OHV events across the country, and standardize the requirements in a manner that will encourage participation in the process rather than outcast the very fabric of our community.

While I don’t believe that every issue facing SRPs is magically been resolved because of one meeting in DC, I do feel strongly that in time by working with the field offices in the CDD we will find solutions that will make our events safer and managed in a manner that the chain of events that lead to the California 200 tragedy will not easily be repeated. The public’s involvement in the Desert Advisory Committee (DAC) meetings which lead to the formation of a sub-committee of event organizers was a big win for OHV special events. Only four months earlier the feeling in the OHV community was seemingly bleak. Using proactive unified pressure and offering potential solutions, OHV will be a part of this policy, and not simply left to decide if it wishes to continue hosting events inside the subjective guidelines of the SRP handbook.

What should not be lost in all of this is how effective OHV groups can be when they lay aside their indifference toward another type of activity and work together toward a common goal. Our meeting in Washington DC was a success due in large part because of the respect we had shown to all forms of OHV recreation. While the AMA was able to utilize its political presence in Washington DC, the largest voice came from the average citizen and not the AMA lobbyist. Our industry leaders in Washington DC added the needed balance to help drive the point across, but the passion of the enthusiast was the strongest message that could be sent. Because all forms of this industry worked together we have won a battle. The irony of my trip to Gettysburg the day after our meeting in Washington, DC was not lost as I pondered the turning tide of the Army of the Potomac, and how the political opinions of the war shifted as Meade struck a crushing blow to General Lee’s advancement. Lee’s words following his Gettysburg defeat offer a somber reminder of what lay ahead in the battle for the Johnson Valley OHV area, “We must now prepare for harder blows and harder work.” (Robert E. Lee, July 26, 1863). I cannot imagine that our United States Marine Corps would be a bit offended at the thought of a worthy opponent comprised of many like minded individuals, from many states, and many cultures exercising their rights in solidarity much like those who stood on that hill on July 3rd,1863 and held the line because it was the right thing to do.

Public meetings on the 29 Palms training land acquisition will be held
5-9 p.m.
April 12th Copper Mountain College
Bell Center Gym
6162 Rotary Way
Joshua Tree, CA
April 13th Ontario High School Gym
901 W. Francis St.
Ontario, CA
April 14th Hilton Garden Inn
Mirage Sahara
Conference Center
12603 Mariposa Rd.
Victorville, CA

Mail written comments to:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest
ATTN: 29Palms EIS Project Manager
1220 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92132-5190

 

[BLR]

Re: Off Highway Vehicle advocates travel to Washington DC to meet with the National D

Thanks for the great info. & everybodies hard work that was involved
I beleive that if we as off-roaders would spend time learning the issues and also keeping up with issues that affect all of us we could make a lot of headway with the BLM & FS, but so many times we put our heads in the sand like Ostriches...So many people/riders then get mad cause we have lost riding area, but if they had been paying attention, they would have known about it...Barbara

 

[dkiewicz]

Re: Off Highway Vehicle advocates travel to Washington DC to meet with the National D

My greatest respect and inbebtnedess to you and your fellow task force members Mr. Knoll. It is through your diligence and unwavering commitment, that I have now begun to have hope that this massive injustice to those who love the outdoors on motor vehicles, has begun an about face.

While it will never be the same as previous years, I do believe that through all of "our" hard work, we will prevail and be able to continue to enjoy our beloved outdoors for years to come.

I would like to comment on one item that you touched on. It is all of our responsibilities to insure we, along with anyone else we are with or observe, conduct ourselves respectfully.

This is what sets the example for the new and uneducated and fosters and grows our future stewards to carry on responsible use of our public lands.

We should be the ones policing ourselves, we do not need more bureaucratic red tape and oversight to tell us what is hurting our lands. We are all supposed to be adults and should take action when we see someone operating in an adversarial manner to both the land and other enthusiasts.

Maybe we can keep a few more folks alive, and keep our sport out of the newsprint in a negative light, with this kind of mentality.

Kudos to the task force, and the BLM for listening and taking a positive step forward to a brighter off-road future.

Dan...

 

[brevndeb]

Re: Off Highway Vehicle advocates travel to Washington DC to meet with the National D

Well said Dan!

 

[Jeff Knoll]

Re: Off Highway Vehicle advocates travel to Washington DC to meet with the National D

Help us keep forward momentum and please write a letter or attend one of the meeting regarding the Johnson Valley Marine base expansion. Letters from all over the country make a difference. We as off roaders need to make sure that our representitives know the value we place on Johnson Valley, and urge the Marines to expand east. It will become even more important on a national level, when this goes to a vote.

Written comments post marked before May 26 2011

Mail to:
Navel Facilities Engineering Command, southwest
ATTN: 29Palms EIS Project Manager
1220 Pacific Highway
San Diego Ca 92132-519


Thanks
Jeff Knoll