Moab Permit

[Todd Adams]

I thought this would be the appropriate place to put this post since this will affect ‘ZuZoo and our VX runs in Moab. Please write a letter to the BLM offices in Moab and Monticello Utah so that we don’t loose trails in the Moab area.
A little background information may help you put this on your to do list. In 1997 Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) did what they call a citizens wilderness inventory. This inventory is now known as the Red Rock Wilderness bill and keeps coming up in congress. If passed this bill would eliminate over ½ of our trails in the Moab area. Between wilderness and wilderness study areas there are just under 3 million acres of land tied up in Utah. The Red Rock Wilderness bill would establish almost 10 million acres of roadless land in Utah, much of it in and around Moab. BTW that is 40% of the public land in Utah that has roads and that none of the state government agencies want as wilderness. But then this is public land and the large populated areas of the US think we need wilderness to protect the land for future generations. This is not the Case!
Now to the Red Rock 4-Wheelers permit and comment period ending October 31st this year. If Alternate “A” is not passed then it would give SUWA a foot in the door to close trails. Behind the Rocks, Pritchett Canyon, Moab Rim to name a few already go through or along side of wilderness study areas. SUWA wants desperately to close these trails, then work on the rest.
Below you will find the letter from Jeff Stevens and the links to the Permit that includes addresses of where to send your comment to.
Todd

Jeep Safari EA comment period ; Letters needed!

The BLM has published its EA (Environmental Assessment) for the RR4W Jeep Safari 5-year permit, which expires at the end of this year. Whether you are an EJS fan or not, it is imperative that we all write to the BLM supporting Alternative A, which basically grants the permit as requested. (Alternate B would deny several routes, including Pritchett and others, and Alt. C would deny the permit completely.) The EA for this permit is not only for EJS and Labor Day Campout, but for all other motorized, non-competitive events that require permits on EJS trails.

Even though the EA does not effect casual motorized use (i.e. use that does not require a permit), the denial or restriction of the EJS permit would set disastrous precedent for Moab trails. Once "permitted" use is banned, how long do you think it would be before some of these trails are closed to ALL motorized use?

PLEASE go to www.blm.gov/utah/moab and download the document (its a PDF file), read through it, and WRITE A LETTER TO THE BLM SUPPORTING ALTERNATIVE A. The public comment period runs through October 31.

Jeff Stevens
Moab Friends-For-Wheelin'
Red Rock 4-Wheelers

For further information and sample letters see one of the discussions at http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/...3&page=1&pp=15
and
http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showfl...5&o=14&fpart=1

[nocturnalVX]

Thanks for the heads up! Will do...

[Triathlete]

Got my backing Todd. Saw this on the wire and was going to post it here but you beat me to it! For every one who has been, has thought of going or plans on going anytime soon to ZuZoo or just wheeling in Moab act now so we don't loose this great place.

[Triathlete]

TTT

[Todd Adams]

OK Guys,
I expect everyone that was on the VX only run last year to make comment to this. Arch Canyon and Hotel Rock are targeted by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance for closure. See their alert below.

A couple of things about the miss information stated below. 1 SUWA considers us as ORV’s (Off Road Vehicles) which is a misleading term to say the least. 2. The BLM did look at SUWA proposal for the EJS, all you have to do is read the EA to see what consideration the BLM gave it. 3.This EA is not just about Easter Jeep Safari but wheeling in Moab. SUWA wants to shut it all down. If you have other suspicions go to their web site to find out how much they despise our recreation. www.suwa.org

Please we only have a few days left to comment on this.
Todd



================================================== ===========
This alert is brought to you by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
425 E. 100 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84111, 801-486-3161, www.suwa.org
================================================== ===========

BLM WILL ACCEPT JEEP SAFARI COMMENTS BY EMAIL


You recently received an Action Alert on the Moab Jeep Safari.
Although snail mail letters and faxed letters are generally better
and receive more attention from the BLM , we know you have limited
time to devote protecting Utah's wild places. Please feel free to
email your comments to BLM as the agency has stated that it will
accept email comments on the Jeep Safari . Email address below.


TAKE ACTION NOW!


BLM SET TO ISSUE BAD JEEP SAFARI PERMIT

The Moab BLM has released its Environmental Assessment (EA) for the
issuance of a 5-year permit for the Easter Jeep Safari and other
off-road vehicle (ORV) events. Unfortunately, it appears that BLM
will soon issue a decision that will include ORV routes or route
segments which are located in areas that are being damaged by - and
that are entirely inappropriate for - ORV use. We hope you can write
a letter today urging BLM to act prudently to protect a few of the
area's outstanding resources, rather than continuing to allow
particular areas to be ravaged by ORV use See below for details and
address information.


YOUR LETTERS CAN HELP.
SUWA submitted an alternative proposal to BLM that would remove less
than 10% of the total miles from the Jeep Safari permit, in order to
protect the most sensitive resources. In particular, SUWA requested
that the newly-proposed route up Arch Canyon and the nearby Hotel
Rock route be prohibited, and that several short segments and spurs
in sensitive areas be omitted from the permit. BLM did not analyze
SUWA's proposal. The BLM's EA includes an alternative -- Alternative
B -- that, while not as protective as SUWA's proposal, is better
than the Proposed Action.

Although BLM has all but said it will issue a decision that will
approve 630 miles of routes on public lands so that the Jeep Safari
and other organized events can use these routes for the next 5 years,
there's still a chance BLM can be convinced to do its job and protect
some of southeastern Utah's most spectacular natural resources,
rather than let them be ravaged indiscriminately by motor vehicles.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Please take a moment to mail, FAX or email a letter to the Moab BLM
Manager, Maggie Wyatt, and request that she protect the resources
that she manages for all citizens, by:

* choosing Alternative B. Fully analyzing SUWA's alternative would
be even better, but Alternative B is, nevertheless, better than the
Proposed Alternative
* issuing a 1-year permit, rather than a 5-year permit for the Jeep
Safari, as a 5-year Jeep Safari permit would essentially preclude BLM
from considering route designation alternatives in the on-going
Resource Management Plan revision (the agency's long-term management
plan) that would conflict with the 5-year permit.

If you've been to Moab during the Jeep Safari event or witnessed the
aftermath of the event in the canyons around Moab, please include
your stories in your letter to the BLM

DEADLINE
Please MAIL, FAX or EMAIL your letters (including your name and
address) by Monday, October 31 to:

BLM
Maggie Wyatt, Manager
Moab Field Office
82 East Dogwood
Moab, UT 84532

FAX: 435.259.2106

maggie_wyatt@blm.gov


Thank you!

[nocturnalVX]

Did you? Please send off an e-mail to Maggie Wyatt, Moab BLM Manager in support of trail access in Moab.
I said in my e-mail to her "...there are designated trails that 4-wheelers are required to stay on, and denying access to these trails to people like myself will be denying us the right to enjoy the great outdoors Moab has to offer. Every single off-roader I have met (Isuzu,Jeep, or other owner) has been an advocate of the "Tread Lightly" ethic. Enjoying the outdoors responsibly through education and stewardship is stressed at all times. "Stay on the trail.", "Pack it in, pack it out.", and "Leave it better than you found it." are not only rules, but ways of life for us.
There are people that just don't get it, and fail to treat nature's splendor with respect, but I have not seen it in the four-wheeling community. I have seen it quite often on hiking trails around the country, and I will never forget the time in Moab back in 2003 that a mountain biker tossed a soda can onto the ground near where we were stopped for lunch. A friend and I picked up this guy's trash and reprimanded him on his disrespect of this beautiful area. That can might still be laying out there if we had not been there. Respect for nature and the rights of others to explore and enjoy the great outdoors has nothing to do with how you get there (by foot, by bike, by horse, or by 4-wheel drive), but how you conduct yourself while out there."

So people... if you don't speak up, do not be surprised if we are no longer allowed to use the trails around Moab.