Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Flattened by the Wilderness steamroller On Wednesday July 3D, Con- gressman Phil Burton (D-CA), a champion of environmental causes, flexed his political muscle and pushed an environmentalist backed wilderness bill through the House Interior Committee. Industry and recreation lobbyists who had .favored compeiing bills by Foley (R·WA) and Johnson (D·CA) were amazed and shocked with the callous disregard for the normal give and take process of legislating which was displayed by Burton in "ramrodding" the bill through a subcommittee and full committee in less than a week's time . After Burton's bill '(H R 7702) was pushed through the House Sub committee on Public Lands in less than 10 minutes, the opponents began to push for amendments which would make the bill somewhat more palatable. Timber, motorcycle, and energy representatives soon found out what it is like to be standing in front of a fast moving steamroller. Burton had cut "back room deals" with enough Congressman to assure passage of the bill, and therefore refused to even consider taking any amendments to his bill. Most of the amendments which were being proposed by the user lob by envolved around the subject of "release language." Burton's bill creates another two million-plus acres of wilderness without really releasing any non-wilderness areas from further consideration as wilderness. We would have liked to at least prohibit furthur consideration as wilderness until the year 2000. Burton's version uses the year 1985 , which in essence means there is no exclusion. The timber industry plans to try to amend the bill in the Senate, while most recreation interests have vowed to try to kill the bill i~ that hou~. Timber interests are interested in getting a milder version of a rare II wilderness bill passed in order to lift an injunction on further logging in any Wilderness Study Area . The injunction was obtained by a lawsuit filed by Governor Brown aide Huey Johnson . . Many recreation oriented groups feel that the Burton bill should be killed this year and take a chance that a more conservative Congress will return after the elections, leaving open die possibility for designating fewer areas as wilderness. , Since Burton and his chief aide have been operating under a cloak of secrecy in carving our the boundaries of the new wilderness area, few persons out· side of the environmental community have actually seen maps of these new areas. Burton, in 'negoria ting with individual . Congressmen, would only show-mapsof that Congressman's district.Congressman Bizz Johnson , author of the industry /recreation alternative bill. . did not even see the maps on the wilderness proposals in his district until the night before the subcommittee hearing. To our knowledge. . no affected Congressman has seen a map of the entire state, showing all of the wilderness areas. Since Burton has made such a sham of the public participation process i~ pushing this bill through the House, It is imperative that we sto.p actto~ on.a Senate version of the bill. California Senator Alan Cranston (who is 'up for re-election this year) should receive a lot of mail in a hurry. When writing to him, complain about the lack of partieipation by the public in this bill. Ask for a delay so that we will know what the effects of the proposed new wilderness will be on recreation, energy, timber, jobs, etc. In the past , Cranston has preferred to steer clear of controversy during an election year. Hopefully we can show him the political benefit to him of delaying a vote on the matter this year. On a brighter note, Bob Hayes' office put out a press release announcing that California Governor Jerry Brown allowed the Sagebrush Rebellion bill to become law without his signature. As a result, California joins the growing number. of states which are thinking about challenging the Bureau of Land Management's right to manage and control their vast holdings in the Western states. It appears that the State of Nevada will formally file suit in Federal Court sometime early next year. Another bill which was signed by the Governor this week is A ,B. 990 by Assemblyman Kapiloff (D -San Diego). This bill , among other things, will provide for the State to provide a motorcycle riding area in the area which will become inundated when : the Auburn Dam is completed. This is in the area around Murderers Gulch which has been a popular riding site for northern California riders for many years. Another provision of th bill will provide for a study which will lead to the development of a Statewide ORV trail network . Until recently the Department of Parks and Recreation has been content to provide small playpen type ORV "parks". In other developements within the Department of Parks and .Recreation this week, we were surprised to learn that. ' the new Parks Director Perer : Dangermond has made some organizational shifts within , the Department which most ORV observers fear is a large step backwards for the 0 R V pro-. gram . The ORV program had recently been elevated to a position within the Directors office; now under the new configuration, the .O RV program will . be assigned to work under Russ Porter and the Grant section of the Department. Mr. Porter is oneof the individual who apparently had a part in dismantling the ORV program when former director Herb Roades headed the Department. The program recently looked as though it would finally recover from the negative effects . of those days, and begin producting positive results again . . We do not know what to make of .this -latest announcement ; after reviewing the old eN stories of the audit which . was performed on the ORV program several years back. we find it . very disconcerting to see Porter's name now connected in any way with the program . Still unclear at presstirne is what all this means with regard to Assemblyman Chapple's AB 2111 which would have required the Department to establish a major office of "Off Highway Recreation" within the Director's office. ~ change such as Chappie . proposed was generally . expected .. to ., produce positive - results . from a program which has been under fire for being somewhat ineffect ua l for . many . . years., C.N. Deepthroat SUPER BOOT BUYS scon BOOTS areuniquely designed to give the rider features and a level of performance never before offered. Modern plastic materials and construction provtde exceptlcnet support and protection. Feeturee Include, a " floati ng hinge " for ankle movement. a shin guard , a unique rflush buckle system. waterproof .liner, replaceable rubber sole and a traction grid for the shifter. ' Available in 2 shell sizes: Medium 7-10 and Large 11-13,liner8 come in full sizes only. Choose the liner closest 10 your regUlar street shoe size. Outer Shell Medium or Large •.•. .• 139:95per PROUNE BOOTS These " t op of the line " heavy leather motorcycle boots feature a one-piece injected sole that Is both bonded and stitched to the uppers. The buckles are positioned to give proper support and stili be out of the way when riding through brush. An extra leather pad Is sewn over the toe 10 prevent excessive wear from shifting. High impact shin plate for added protection. They come with smooth sole and enduro sole . Available In full sizes from 6 through 12 15 o 00 0') l"""4 parr - - line 7 - 13 .. 13.96 per pair THE MXL BOOT was designed to be a significant improvement over conventional motorcyete footwear. It combines the simplicity of operation of regular leather boots, with the comfort and convenience of spag&-age materials. Made from gas/oil resistant polyurethane, lhe durable MXL Boot will prov ide a completety new riding expenenee. Available with smooth or enduro sole. Sizes 7-13 in full sizes .... AMPRO BOOTS Shopend compare, and when you decide ';ou don't want to spend a lot of money on boots, but stili want gOod quality and 5eather buckle boots - relax l Big 4 has 'em l Either Moto Cross sole or Enduro sole boots with buckles. Economicalty priced In full sizes. from 2 through 12 . Sizes 6 through 12. . Sizes 2 through 5.•.•••.•...•...&4.95 "!.• Spokane Reta Il Store W 300 Second Ave • Spokane. 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