BlueRibbon Coalition National Land Use Update
USFS Planning Rule Meetings Underway

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Reports are trickling in from the field on the meetings the USFS is holding on their Draft Planning Rule. http://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/?section=FS_Planning_Rule The reports are mostly what you might expect. The USFS seems to be sticking to a repetition of the materials presented on their website http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule. The meetings are useful for attendees to ask questions, but the agency is not taking comments.

Attendance at these meetings is important to ensure the Forest Service understands recreation is concerned and engaged in the process.  It prevents the misleading "preservationist" attendance overload. 

Just remember, these meetings are designed for the interested public to have the Forest Service explain the proposed rule and for the public to ask questions about the rule.  The questions and how they are asked are important, but the Forest Service is explicitly not taking formal comments at the meetings.

Below is an updated meeting schedule. BRC is just about finished slogging through the details of the planning rule and we will have a review, as well as several comment suggestions soon. Stay Tuned!

As always, please call or email if you have any comments or questions.

Greg Mumm
Executive Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 101

CHECK OUT THE LATEST MEETING SCHEDULE BELOW, AS IT HAS CHANGE SEVERAL TIMES:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5270751.pdf  

BRC National Land Use Update
Update on Congressional Hearing on Salazar "Wild Lands" Scheme

Dear BRC Members and Supporters,

As you know, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing on Interior Secretary Salazar's Wild Lands policy yesterday.

We have a round up of news clips on the hearing, including an in-person report from our Utah partner, USA-ALL.

We also want to thank those of you who used our letter generator to send a letter to the House Committee. BRC is still collecting letters and we will have our letter generator up for few more days.

BRC's Greg Mumm is going to be in Washington D.C. next week and will be meeting with key legislators about the Wild Land policy (and other issues – stay tuned for updates). It will give us an opportunity to hand deliver your letter to the Committee. If you haven't already sent yours, please do it now! CLICK HERE: 

Thanks again for your support.
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext

PS: In our alert on Monday I wrote that BRC is only one of many organizations dedicated to bringing public lands management back to its multiple-use and sustained yield mandate. In addition to access groups like USA-ALL, I noticed that the resource industry, local governments and even property rights groups are concerned about Salazar's Big Wilderness scheme. Quite a few folks are working together on this, and we're having quite a lot of fun doing it too! All that wouldn't be possible without your membership. Thanks!

Update and News Stories on House Wild Land Hearing:

Lawmakers send no-wildlands signal
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51316724-76/bill-establish-federal-lands.html.csp.

Abbey rejects charges of Western 'land grab'
http://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/?section=EandE_News_23

Congress Asked to Block Interior's Naming 'Wild Lands' Due to Jobs, Revenue Threat
http://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/?section=EandE_News_24

Report from the Utah Shared Access Alliance
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/Today in Washington D.C.

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. 1-800-BlueRib – www.sharetrails.org
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As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!