I've been out wheeling a couple of times and hiking in northern VT. Tis the season.. when most weekends I'll be gone, which means that getting my blog out will be hit or miss in terms of schedule.
So... what DO we have happening?
Regional:
The road/trail known as Undisclosed is in the news. Previously thought to be closed, it took awhile for anyone who really knew the area to get in and check out the situation. A few weeks ago, I was able to get up there and do some scouting. The only signage were two signs. One read," Road Closed, Pass at own risk". The other: "OHV/ATV prohibited from roads. " There were two symbols, one of a bike and one of a quad with the typical "NO" symbols over them.
Seeing as we drive registered and insured, passenger vehicles, we ARE allowed on the roads within a state forest.
Undisclosed is OPEN.
Old Chester
OCR, in western MA was the center of some concern recently. A landowner at the end of the road emailed Steve Alhiem to complain that a "Jeep club" (which he named) had trespassed across his land. The landowner has signs up and his phone number is rather easy to read. He has asked that if any club needs to cross his land that they contact him. Technically the road does legally cross his property. However, in the past, we had always turned around before reaching that point so as to not disturb the elderly couple that lived in the house at the end. This will continue to be the case,as the new landowner has kids and pets. We will install an unlocked chain gate just past the point where we have always turned around along with a sturdy sign with the landowner's name and number. So, things have not changed, just please, if one needs to cross the property, please contact the owner via the numbers listed on the signs present.
In CT, our ATV bill has made it through the Environment Committee, the Finance Committee and is now in Transportation. It seems as though there was some language that was attempted at being added that was credited to a representative who did NOT add the language. He is making sure the language will not be added. There is still the matter of universal registration. If that language ends up in the bill, we will be forced to kill it.
Still, we'd like everyone to write their senators/reps and tell them to support bill# 5602
Find your congresscritters at: http://www.cga.ct.gov/
SIGNING
We have begun posting signs on the town and state forest roads on which we travel. So far, we have signed Pain Hill/Bear Den Rds , Tunnel Rd, Old Dodge Rd. and Old Florida Rd. There are several different signs available. Large yellow ones that read: "Stay on the Trail or Stay Home" These have the NEA and EC4WDA logo/web addies on them as well. We also have red one that read: "Respect Landowner Stay on Trail" There are also white arrow signs available. These were handed out at the most recent EC4WDA Northeast Region D meeting.
Recreation on private land in the Northern Forest region of New England.
Several months ago, many of us rec'd and filled out a survey RE recreation on private lands in the Northern Forest regions of Vermont, NH and NY.
The stats were published a couple of months ago. They have been holding round-table discussions and the next one is in VT, May 8th.
You can see all of the above, plus some by visiting their site : http://www.privatelandaccess.org.
If you able to attend, please let me know.
OHIO/OMTA
Here is the most recent news from Bill Keappner.
OHIO MOTORIZED TRAILS TODAY
This has been a busy year for OMTA and off pavement recreation. OMTA scans the “legal sections” of 6 southern Ohio newspapers. We put out the alert last month when Vinton County posted vacating notices for 3 roads we use. OMTA was the only motorized organization or club to show up. No organization except OMTA testified for our use at the Vinton County Commissioner hearing April 23rd.
The parts of the property that are “not the road” will be closed off by what ever way the owner can. If you ride the area be aware. Trespassing will not be tolerated! I would not be surprised to see some private security in the area. Anyone trespassing will be dealt with to the limits of the law to set an example.
As of April 23 commissioners’ hearing the roads are still open. There is a follow up commissioner meeting April 28th. Check www.ohiotrails.org for status before you ride the Richland Furnace area.
Legislative issues
“Reciprocity” OMTA with the help of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources had language added to a bill to restore reciprocity. The bill has passed and has been signed by Governor Ted Strickland. Your ATV “tag” will soon be honored by states with like registration. Pennsylvania is an example where it will be honored.
Remember when we told you the Farm Bureau and the Railroad Association sought to have a law to mandate registration and allow confiscation of all off road vehicles. OMTA headed that off. OMTA with co-operation from the Ohio Snowmobile Association are working on model legislation. It is in legislative services now. Legislative service takes the bill and turns it into “Legal Speak”. The new bill will give us control of our tag money. Increase the tag fee return from $1 a year to $10. Provide for safety training. The bill will rework the temporary registration process. It will allow corridor leasing. Corridor leasing would allow leasing a “trail” from private land owners to create destination trail systems. Michigan “CCC” trails are an example of a destination trail system.
Are you a grant writer? We are actively looking for grant writers. We could have a lot more opportunity to ride. If you have a talent OMTA can use it for the sport please help.
From legislation to advocacy to protecting our members from unjust law enforcement, OMTA is working for off pavement recreation everyday! There is NO OTHER organization in Ohio that is working for wheeled recreation in Ohio. There is no other organization working on legislation for wheeled recreation. Only OMTA members showed up for the Vinton County hearing.
Get involved, join OMTA as a club and as an individual, help our legal defense fund. The suit now open has cost $5000 so far and will cost at least $6000 more. If we have to appeal in the Richland Furnace area it will cost too. If you want to keep our X roads you have to be involved. If you do not care about them then who will?
OMTA is building a state wide member club association to provide state wide riding opportunities for all members. E-mail Matt Mesarchik OMTA’s Club Chairman at Muddyrabbit @ RideTheRed.net
Bill Kaeppner
OMTA
NATIONAL ISSUES
Pirate 4x4 takes aim at the Tellico issues. Online Rally Planned
http://www.pirate4x
House clears wilderness bills, Earth Day resolutions (04/23/2008)
Eric Bontrager, E&E Daily reporter
The House passed four land-use bills yesterday, including two to designate wilderness areas in Oregon and West Virginia, along with three resolutions in honor of Earth Day.
H.R. 5151, from Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), would add about 37,000 acres of wilderness West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest through expansions of the Dolly Sods, Cranberry and Otter Creek wilderness areas as well as protecting three new wilderness areas across the forest.
The bill cleared the House 368-17.
H.R. 831, from Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), would transfer 12 acres of Tongass National Forest land that sits within the city of Coffman Cove, Alaska. The land, once used as an administrative site by the Forest Service, now lies vacant and adjacent to a parcel of land planned for a new ferry terminal.
Young's bill passed 382-0.
By voice vote, the House approved Rep. Peter DeFazio's (D-Ore.) H.R. 3513, which would protect about 13,700 acres of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, in an effort to protect the watershed for rivers used by coastal salmon and steelhead. It also designates 10.8 miles of rives as wild and scenic.
H.R. 3734, which would rename the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in Idaho as the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, was also approved by voice vote.
Earth Day bills
The House also cleared three resolutions in celebration of Earth Day.
H.Res. 1117, authored by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), declares the support of the House for the goals and ideals of Earth Day and the technology needed to achieve it. It encouraged the Energy Department to increase its efforts on developing renewable energy and energy conservation technologies.
H.Res. 1112, introduced by Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), recognized the International Year of the Coral Reef and the work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to preserve coral reefs around the world.
H.Res. 891, sponsored by Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), celebrates 35 years of space-based observations of the Earth by the Landsat spacecraft that have helped further the study of climate change.
Lastly, an article from Del Albright:
The “Collaborative Process” for Access Issues
Do we need more group hugs, and will they solve anything?
Or will motorheads be having espresso with the enemy? –
By Del Albright, BlueRibbon Ambassador
Collaboration (the collaborative process) is getting more and more popular with government agencies stuck with tough political decisions involving public lands. Rather than unnecessarily ending up in court, or wading through countless repetitive hours of NEPA meetings, the collaborative process seeks to find cooperation where competition has previously existed.
We should be fully prepared when our chance comes to participate in the collaborative process. But here are some things to consider carefully before you invest your time.
Read and download article here (Word or Adobe .pdf):
http://www.delalbright.com/Articles/collaboration.html
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