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TFinalshot
Guest
If youre interested in the testimony or the Wecast of the hearings they can be accessed on the committees web page. Go to the page (link below) and after the hearing date, you will see (go to archived Webcast) click on that and watch them. . .
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.ByMonth
Here's an article on the hearings. . .
June 6, 2008
BLM lags in plans for off-road vehicle use
By FAITH BREMNER
Tribune Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON ? The number of off-road vehicles using federal public lands has soared in recent years, but the Bureau of Land Management told senators Thursday it needs another 10 years to complete local plans that regulate when and where all-terrain vehicles can be operated.
"That's a long time," said Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. "I would say BLM needs more resources to get done sooner."
During an oversight hearing, BLM Deputy Director Henri Bisson said it takes time to work with all the special interest groups to create the travel management plans.
The plans are supposed to protect environmentally sensitive areas, wildlife and important cultural and archaeological sites. The plans also are supposed to address disputes that arise between hikers and bird watchers and people who use dirt bikes, snowmobiles and other ATVs.
The BLM manages 258 million acres of public land, located mostly west of the Mississippi. The U.S. Forest Service, in contrast, will complete travel plans for the 193 million acres it manages by December 2009. Both agencies started their travel management planning programs in 2005.
"We're doing the best we can with the resources we have," Bisson said.
Bingaman encouraged the agencies to continue to partner with private nonprofit groups to maintain and police trails and to work out more agreements with local sheriffs to patrol heavily used areas.
In the meantime, off-road vehicle users are damaging lands, even when they're not riding, said Jayne Belnap, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Erosion and blowing dust along ATV trails lands in streams and is destroying water quality, especially late in the year, Belnap said.
"One thing we are seeing, because of current climate conditions and other things, the (off-road) use now is having a much more profound impact than it did 10 years ago," Belnap said. "Given future conditions predicted, it's going to be worse. We have drought predicted for the next 30 years."
According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, annual sales of new ATVs rose from 278,000 in 1995 to 748,000 in 2006.
Greg Mumm, executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, an advocacy group for off-road enthusiasts, said his members want the BLM and Forest Service to make managing recreation their top priority. Off-roaders are willing to accept reasonable restrictions and are participating in travel management plan efforts across the country, said Mumm, who lives in Rapid City, S.D.
"However, the BlueRibbon Coalition is very concerned that ... it appears there is an underlying drive from certain anti-access groups to eliminate (off-highway vehicle) recreation on most public lands," Mumm said.
www.tonybynum.com
"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.ByMonth
Here's an article on the hearings. . .
June 6, 2008
BLM lags in plans for off-road vehicle use
By FAITH BREMNER
Tribune Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON ? The number of off-road vehicles using federal public lands has soared in recent years, but the Bureau of Land Management told senators Thursday it needs another 10 years to complete local plans that regulate when and where all-terrain vehicles can be operated.
"That's a long time," said Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. "I would say BLM needs more resources to get done sooner."
During an oversight hearing, BLM Deputy Director Henri Bisson said it takes time to work with all the special interest groups to create the travel management plans.
The plans are supposed to protect environmentally sensitive areas, wildlife and important cultural and archaeological sites. The plans also are supposed to address disputes that arise between hikers and bird watchers and people who use dirt bikes, snowmobiles and other ATVs.
The BLM manages 258 million acres of public land, located mostly west of the Mississippi. The U.S. Forest Service, in contrast, will complete travel plans for the 193 million acres it manages by December 2009. Both agencies started their travel management planning programs in 2005.
"We're doing the best we can with the resources we have," Bisson said.
Bingaman encouraged the agencies to continue to partner with private nonprofit groups to maintain and police trails and to work out more agreements with local sheriffs to patrol heavily used areas.
In the meantime, off-road vehicle users are damaging lands, even when they're not riding, said Jayne Belnap, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Erosion and blowing dust along ATV trails lands in streams and is destroying water quality, especially late in the year, Belnap said.
"One thing we are seeing, because of current climate conditions and other things, the (off-road) use now is having a much more profound impact than it did 10 years ago," Belnap said. "Given future conditions predicted, it's going to be worse. We have drought predicted for the next 30 years."
According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, annual sales of new ATVs rose from 278,000 in 1995 to 748,000 in 2006.
Greg Mumm, executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, an advocacy group for off-road enthusiasts, said his members want the BLM and Forest Service to make managing recreation their top priority. Off-roaders are willing to accept reasonable restrictions and are participating in travel management plan efforts across the country, said Mumm, who lives in Rapid City, S.D.
"However, the BlueRibbon Coalition is very concerned that ... it appears there is an underlying drive from certain anti-access groups to eliminate (off-highway vehicle) recreation on most public lands," Mumm said.
www.tonybynum.com
"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
