Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

point races, should make those comments on the form. We're getting right down to the wire as far as getting input into the BLM's desert planning process is concerned. The National Outdoor Coalition and Cycle News are going to make it easy for motorcyclists to respond to this latest BLM outrage. A map showing the NOC recommended alternative to the BLM plan is printed on the opposite page. Also appearing in this issue, is a response form to be returned to BLM. It is important. that each and every concerned rider fill out the form and mail a copy back to BLM before the May 15 deadline. Make copies and have your riding buddies do the same. Another form is provided to return to the NOC attorney in Washington, D.C. Last time motorcyclists responded , to the BLM on the Desert Plan, the BLM staff "lost" 10,000 pieces of mail. This time we will have a backup with the copies which are sent to the attorney. Copies of the letters sent to the NOC attorney will also be distributed to the appropriate Congressmen. The price of two stamps is small in relation to the importance of this issue. The Sierra Club, and their posey-plucking allies are going all out to convince the BLM and the Congress that their plan for almost no use of the desert by off road vehicles has wide popular support. If we do not produce massive amounts of mail in favor of a true multiple use concept, they could prevail. At the early BLM hearings, the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, and other "save the posies" types far outnumbered the ORV testimony. At the first hearing in San Diego, of 34 speakers, 17 spoke in favor of a preservation al ternative, while the other 17 spoke for either the balanced, or the "use" alternative. In Sacramento, virtually every speaker present wanted the preservation plan with moTe wilderness! The only speaker all day who supported using motorcycles was none other than Louis McKey (aka, the Phantom Duck of the Desert) . T he Duck spoke last, but he was the only one all da y who made any sense . He also seemed to be the only person (includ ing BLM staff) who seemed to have really read the document in question . The Oakland meeting was also heavy on the environmental orientation. If this trend continues, if the only persons who contribute to the process are a few dedicated riders, we are going to be racing in the Disneyland parking lot. .. not the desert. The solution is simple, take a few minutes right now to review the NOC map, clip the response section, fill it in (add comments if you feel like it), and mail it today. NOC, AMA, CORVA, and other organizations are preparing formal replies, which will support the map with considerable detail for each of BLM's "planning units." The rest of us need to send a reply supporting these official responses. Anyone who has concern for a specific area , or want to emphasize the need for a ' particular course or activity, such as point to It now looks like the BLM may be planning on extending the timeframe for making their final decision. They are aware that they did not fully comply with the law by not specifying one of- the "alternatives" as their "preferred alternative." It is possible that they may now go through the entire process again this winter, this time with a new "preferred alternative." Whatever their plans, it is important that we respond in great numbers now. It is interesting that even the Sierra Club types who have been testifying at the hearings do not have any great faith in the BLM's ability to do anything right. Almost every wilderness freak who testifies has advocated transferring vast amounts of desert to the National Park service. They are proposing an East Mojave National Park, which would cover most of the area east of Barstow including much of the old Bvto-V race course (and more recentIythe scene of a popular trail ride). In addition to this new National Park, they want Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Monuments increased in size. These proposals, if accepted _ would absolutely spell the end of any kind of point to point event in the desert. It is interesting how hypocritical these . so-called environmentalists can After ' all their talk about saving these areas for "future generations" once they finally get their way, it becomes clear that all they really want is to make these areas their own private areas for themselves and their elite friends. After Robert Redford spent many years speaking ou t on behalf of protecting the environment, he succeeded in getting an area near his "Sundance" ski area closed as a wilderness preserve. Well now , after the closure has been in effect for a while, who do you suppose gets cited for flying a helicopter into this preserve so he and his buddies can do a little skiing without having to mingle with the non-elite? You guessed it . .. Robert Redford. Deepthroat almost got run over when he was rid ing his scoot out of the parking lot across from the capitol last time he was in Sacramento. After he got _through waving an appropriate hand gesture to the fellow in the big Lincoln Continental Versailles, someone pointed ou t that the driver is none other than the number one lobbyist for the Sierra Clubl The moral is simple: We are dealing with people who have lots of money available to themselves and who are , principally concerned with keeping theirs and keeping us from having any . Once we come to understand that they do not really want to preserve things for future generations, but merely want to preserve their own status quo , we can learn to deal with them more effectively . One of the main things to remember when dealing with these people is that a compromise agreement is never binding to them . They will accept a compromise only when they are convinced that they have gotten everything they can get away with at the time. It never stops with that kind of agreement , though. Before the ink dries on an "agreement" they are beginning to stir up efforts to pursue their original goals. Each time we compromise, we give something up. They just demand more. Throughout this Desert Planning Process , we riders must remember that we have been giving up areas for years, it's time to put our foot down . The question now is this : Are you going to do your bit and send the letters? be: C. N. Deepthroat ............................ I To ATTORNEY I • • • I have mailed the other half of this form to the BLM indicating the following as my choice of the alternative which best meets my needs for use of the California Desert. • 0 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE BLM 0 PROTECTION ALTERNATIVE BLM 0 BALANCED ALTERNATIVE BLM • 0 USE ALTERNATIVE BLM •• 0 NATIONAL OUTDOOR COALITION (NOC) ALTERNATIVE 0 SIERRA CLUB at. 81. PROTECTION USE • ALTERNATIVE ~ I ; • • ~ IE • • • • I I I I • •• = •• Additional Comments made were • • Please deliver this form to proper Congressional Representative(s) at the appropriate time. _ I • I • • • • • • • • • • D~e • • • • • • • • • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ............................ • • I I • • • • I I I To BLM I • • • • • .S~~~ • • Name • • • . • Address (please print) • • • ~ • • • After consideration of all alternatives. I have selected the following as most meeting my needs for use of the California Desert: • 0 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE BLM 0 PROTECTION ALTERNATIVE BLM • 0 BALANCED ALTERNATIVE BLM 0 USE ALTERNATIVE BLM 0 NATIONAL OUTDOOR COALITION (NOC) • ALTERNATIVE 0 SIERRA CLUB at. 81. PROTECTION USE • ALTERNATIVE I • I I I Additional Comments: • • • ISi9~~ • • = Name: D~ (please print) • • • • I -I. • I • I • • • I • I • • • 15 • • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••1 • Address: •

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