Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126033
to be based on enforcement authority which the Bureau will not possess until ana unless the "Organic Act" is passed by Congress. At this time, passage of such legislation is by no means assured. The Bureau is exceeding its authority by basing management plans on anticipated legislation. " Must have touched a nerve, huh? Well, read it again , Ed, because Cycle News, most of its readers, and the incumbent President of the United States all seem to be agreed that bureaucracy in this country has exceeded its limits. You readers might want to Xerox a copy of this and send it to State Director, BLM, 2800 Cottage Wy., Sacramento, CA 95825. By Philip C. Briggs o' Nationwide, the Bureau o f Land Management (BLM), is restructunng its public advisory boards. The change, mandated by Federal ,Law reflects the changing face of the public land user. .u,T he old boards, created in 1934 !2Yu the Taylor Grazing Act were called Livestock Boards or Grazing ,Bo ard s, and with the execption of an . p~c.a si onal wildlife represen tative, were comprised entirely of cattlemen and sheepmen. ~ ~ A profusion of advisory boards since , th en at every level of federal government led to the passage of the ; f e d eral Advisory Committee Act in 1 ~?O which terminated every board, to lay the ground work for a wholesale revamping of the concept of public participation in government decision making. New boards were created that better mirrored the land user - all land t users. With the adoption of the Federal Regulations relating to Advisory Boards the: change was complete . The BLM boards, at all levels, are now Multiple . Use Advisory Boards reflecting the fact that the public lands under their management now provide energy, . timber, mineral, wildlife, and recreation resources - as well as livestock grazing. . Each local District has been provided It,!~. opportunity to design its own board --: each with a separate charter designed }2 provide the district with public input on the major local issues and problems. It is at this level that the individual ' bi.ker can participate. Most Districts in -the west have by now written their f'tiSt charters, and appointed their initial . bs>ar d members - with little fanfare. local board has an ORV or ORV-<>riented recreation representative. .If~· it doesn't, and there is an ORV problem (you1l know if there. is everyone t alks about it) in your area you're a user without representation and that 's-against the law! If you should be represented, find out who the persons are and their qualifications. Maybe they are recreationists, generally, but it's likely that as a biker you're still not well represented - if at all. And that's politics! The board's charter, and thus it's composition, are up for change bi -annually when the charters routinely expire. Board Members are appointed for one year terms, and if they are ineffective or are not represen tative of their interest group, can easily be replaced. If you ask. If you feel that your interest/issue/discipline should be represented, and you can prove it, discuss the problem with the District Manager. Be nice, but be firm - the law is on your side. If your representative isn't - meet with hirnfher/them to try to square them away. Maybe they need the support of their constituents - you - maybe they're ringers. If they 're hopeless, go to the District 'Man ager , and ask for a new appointment; find qualified persons, nominated them, and support them - they'll need it. Here in Arizona the boards for all districts have all met for the first time. The Phoenix Board met ear ly in January , with advance notice, but it was hard to find. The board is composed of 10 members, representing: Livestock (2); Outdoor Recreation (2); Mining ; Wildlife; Local Government; Energy ; Land Use Planning; and Wild Horses. The major issues in the district are grazing , desert visitors, game ranges, energy, and wild horses. One of the recreation representatives is a lapidarist, rock hound and 4-wheeler. The district does not consider ORV's a major issue at this time, particularly when compared to their other problems. Their actions support this, by the way. ORV's are an issue for future co nsideration , and the district in tends to add emphasis in this area in later board char t ers/re p rese n t at ives. In a ny case, they don't feel that they can do much in this area until the BLM's new (to replace those set aside in the National Wildlife Federation /BLM co ur t case) ORV regulations are ad o p ted , which is expected in 1976. The boards are advisory only; the District Managers don 't have to listen to them, and with 0 R V representatives always in the minority any efforts on our part will no doubt be largely unsuccessful. But there is a lot at stake - the Phoenix District alone administers eight million acres. Most of the Phoenician's favorite riding areas are under the thumb of this board, and the District Manager, Bill Barker. You should get to know them. Sure, it takes time, but if you don't - you'll eventually have a lot of time on your hands. HAPPENINGS Bl M - CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE mST. MULTIPLE USE ADVISORY BOARD Meetin.,g Mar. 18-19 at Dist, Office, 1695 Spruce St ., Riverside, CA 92507 . Red Mtn. Draft Plan Committee meets 7 p.m. Mar. 18 to work on recommendations to full board. Full board meets 9 a.m. Mar. 19 to consider Red Mtn. plan and co-operation with state in OHV park program (?) Limited opportunity for oral statements from public at discretion of committee chrnn. Notify Dist, Mgr. above address or call (714) 787·1462 to reserve time. Bl M - COLORADO CRAIG mST. ADVISORY BOARD Meeting Mar. 17, 9 a.m., First Federal. Savings & Loan Bldg. auditorium, Craig, Colo. Open to public, opportunity for brief oral statements; notify Craig Dist. Mgr., P.O. Box 248, Craig, CO 81625 (303) 824-3289 . BlM - CALI FORN IA STATE ADVISORY BOARD Meeting April 5-6, at Rodeway Inn, Sacramento, 3425 Orange Grove Ave., North Highlands, CA. ORV use on agenda; Board will consider resolutions on EI Paso/Red Mtn, Plan forwarded by Bakersfield and Riverside Dist.Boards, Time avail. for public input from 2:45 p.m., April 5. To make oral presentation, notify Chmn. Rob Flournoy, Box 32, Likely, CA 96116. 21