IN
THE
WIND
P40
AMA Issues Updates On Legal Battles
T
he AMA issued an update on
several legal battles, rang-
ing from state to national levels.
Issues range from the federal bill
S.B. 1527, which would increase
federal funding for off-road recre-
ation, to issue in California threat-
ening the popular Oceano Dunes
(Pismo Beach) riding area.
Following is from the AMA…
Support S.B. 1527
The AMA urges all motorcy-
clists and ATV riders to contact
their U.S. senators in support
of S.B. 1527, which would
increase federal funding for
responsible off-road recreation.
The federal Recreational Trails
Program has used off-highway
vehicle users' federal gas taxes
to fund more than 24,000 trail
projects nationally since 1992.
It is clearly one of the best tools
we have to help fund trail con-
struction and maintenance. U.S.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
introduced legislation that takes
the first, important step toward
getting RTP the full funding it
deserves. Ask your senator to
co-sponsor the bill by using this
AMA Action Alert:
Save Oceano Dunes
Off-highway vehicle recre-
ation at the Oceano Dunes
State Vehicular Recreation
Area could end, if the California
Coastal Commission adopts
its staff's recommendations.
In a June 21 report, the staff
said the change is needed
because of issues regarding
"air quality and public health,
rare and endangered species
and habitats, environmental
justice, and tribal concerns."
The report is part of the State
Parks effort to develop a new
long-term plan for its programs,
facilities, campgrounds and
OHV areas at Oceano Dunes.
The AMA opposes the elimina-
tion of responsible OHV activity
at the Dune's and encourages
everyone to attend the next
coastal commission meeting
on July 11.
Land-use advocate Don
Amador is one of many who
plan to attend the July 11 Coastal
Commission hearing on Oceano
Dunes, and he calls it a "MUST
attend event—PERIOD."
Amador went on to comment,
"A battle indeed! The effort by
California Coastal Commission
staff and their allies to perma-
nently close Oceano Dunes
SVRA to OHV use would limit
legal motorized recreation on
California's 1100-mile coastline
to just 300 acres at the BLM Sa-
moa Dunes Recreation Area near
Eureka. Not an acceptable out-
come. Not cool for the Coastal
Commission staff to blindside
States parks and OHV stakehold-
ers with biased report."
For more on these and addi-
tional issues, click here. CN
Oceano Dunes
(Pismo Beach) is
under threat of
closure. PHOTO: RED
BULL CONTENT POOL
