From the most recent blog some updates.
The NY proposed regulations. Letters have been written and many people have rec'd responses back. I haven't seen any new movement however. I rec'd a real letter back from Senator Sayward, not a canned response.
Nothing new on the MA bills either. Although I wrote, I did not receive any response.
The CT State Road Closures. We did very well on this one, in terms of getting people up and angry and writing letters. Well over 50 letters were written to the Governor's office. I think all of us rec'd the same canned response letter back. We were told that we would receive word from the state within a month max. 32 days to the day after I wrote my letter, I wrote another letter exclaiming that I had not rec'd any comment back from the DEP or anything else from the Governor's office. Two days later, nearly everyone who wrote a letter, rec'd a nice canned response from the DEP Commissioner. I won't reiterate the entire letter but will highlite this section:
Access roads in state parks and forests are considered public roadways by law and are open to registered motor vehicles and non-motorized use. However, the Department may close these roads for specific reasons such as public safety, wet unstable conditions, flooding, forest management activity or other special authorized use. In the case of Nipmuck State Forest, vehicle use was damaging some of the roads resulting in negative impacts to the wetlands, watercourses and other sensitive habitats within the forest. Therefore, the Department decided to close these roads.
A road is considered open unless it is posted as closed, blocked or gated. They did not close ALL of the roads within this state forest.
Also, I did not receive a letter from the Commissioner. Instead, I rec'd a phone call from the Governor's office and I have a meeting with them on Tuesday, July 29th. Aili should be accompanying me so we can be sure to hit on all points. You will all be updated as to how this goes.
Whats New:
NLUAC
As some of you may be aware, the Blue Ribbon Coalition formed the National Land Use Advisory Council last year. Over the last year, they have gathered possible members of that council and have now put us all together. The NLUAC is now official. Although I do not know all of its members, we are spread out across the country. One nice aspect I found was that several of us are from here in the eastern half of the country. There are 7 people on the council. I am the Northeast Representative. Yet, EC4WDA has three more people within its realms to represent this part of the country. Dick Lepley from PA, Bill Kaeppner from OH and Skip Schultz from MI. They are not members of EC4WDA but are highly active within the "territories" of EC4WDA. We all just had a conference call meeting last week. Of course, with me on the phone, it lasted close to two hours. I am excited about the information we can exchange and the fact that I have some very active people from whom I can now garner info from on whats happening elsewhere within the EC4WDA realms.
Rock Run Recreation Area
This state run OHV park is in western PA. Currently, it is only open to ATV/OHMs. HOWEVER, they are definitely open to allowing full sized 4x4s. They have hosted several rides with all 4x4s and they went great. They are now looking for input from our community as to whether they should work to open the facility to us as well.
Check out some of the pix from them:
Rock Run is in Patton, PA. That is about 6.5 hours from central CT but is much closer to those in western areas of EC4WDA.
They are looking for comments so please take a few moments and let them know that you would be highly interested in heading out the their park by writing to: info@rockrunrecreation.com
You can see more info on the park at :
http://www.rockrunrecreation.com/
TrailREX
Event Location 
200 Acre Gated Facility: Indian Lookout Country Club Mariaville NY – ½ hour west of Albany, NY
- Enduro/Quad Challenge Course
- ATV Drag Race
- FMX/Street Freestyle Exhibition
- 4x4 Truck Obstacle Course
- ATV/4x4 Truck Mud Bog Race
- ATV Sled Pull
- Youth Demo Rides
- Custom Truck/Jeep, ATV, Motorcycle Show
- Children/Family Entertainment Area
- Bounce Rides and Slides
- Live Music Nightly
- Fireworks
- Political Guest Speakers
- Toy Hauler/RV Dealer Display Area
- Vendor Area
News from Indiana:
This goes to show us what a bunch of phone calls, e-mails and letters to state politicians can do! We have been working with the DNR for about the last 6 years to get this property opened back up. This is 3500 acres with trails from easy open trails to wild and crazy. This is what the DNR released today.
DNR NEWS
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
402 W. Washington St. W255 B
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2748
Phone: (317) 232-4200
For immediate release: July 25, 2008
Interlake property to open for use Aug. 23
Interlake, one of only two Indiana Department of Natural Resources-owned properties that permit off-road vehicle (ORV) use, will officially open for year-round use Aug. 23.
The property, located in Warrick and Pike counties in southern Indiana, near Lynnville also can be used for horseback riding, mountain biking, boating, hiking, fishing, hunting, trapping dog training and other activities. Operating hours will be sunrise to sunset.
Property rules will be posted at four entrances:
· South entrance (main entrance) - S.R. 68 (east of Lynnville)
North entrance - C.R. 1200 South (Pike County, south of Spurgeon)
· West entrances – C.R. 1300 South (Pike-Warrick county line)
· Clutter Road (Warrick County)
Parking is permitted along roadsides and at the Marion parking lot (adjacent to the north entrance road).
No on-site amenities will be offered at opening; however, a master planning process is in progress to identify opportunities for future property development. Public meetings on that subject will be announced soon.
Persons who visit Interlake are required to follow all DNR-property rules. Vehicles and horses are not permitted on marked reclaimed areas. Camping and open fires are prohibited. The Carry In/Carry Out trash policy is required. All off-road vehicles must be properly registered. Equestrians must comply with bridle tags rules. Interlake is for day-use only and is an at-your-own risk property.
Information about Interlake is at: www.in.gov/dnr/
As you can see, there is still alot taking place out there. We can achieve if we all act together and make some noise.
Hope to seeya on the trails!Talk soon,
David Brill
Land Use Chair: East Coast 4WD Assoc.
V.Chair/Land Use Chr. Region D/Northeast of EC4WDA
President, Eastern 4 Wheelers
Tread Lightly! Master Trainer
Blue Ribbon Coalition
NAMRC
NOHVCC
SEMA/SAN
Brilliant Signs & Grafix
Guilford, CT
