- Location
- Riverton, UT
BLUERIBBON COALITION UTAH LAND USE UPDATE
Immediate Action Requested!
Dear BRC members and subscribers in Utah,
Please help us protect Utah's Coral Pink Sand Dunes from closure!
This is a follow-up to the USFWS Proposes listing of Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle, reported in our Utah Land Use Update.
On October 2, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced their proposal to list the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Cicindela albissima, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The proposal would designate the vast majority of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes geological formation as "critical habitat," which would likely close Utah's Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to all OHV use.
Just recently, Utah's U.S. Representatives Rob Bishop, Jason Chaffetz and U.S. Senator Mike Lee sent a letter to the director of US Fish and Wildlife Service requesting a 90-day extension to the comment period. They have also requested that they extend the date by which the public can request a hearing on the proposal until 60 days into the 90-day extension. Read their letter HERE.
BRC appreciates Rep. Bishop, Rep. Chaffetz and Senator Lee's involvement. We encourage our members to thank them for their support. You can locate their contact info HERE (simply enter your zip code).
What you can do to help:
Earlier today, ARRA (American's for Responsible Recreational Access) blasted an action alert with a link to the USFWS webpage where you can join Utah's congressional representatives in requesting a extension. We've pasted ARRA's blast below, but you can link directly to the action item HERE.
Once there, you can use the following to make your request:
As an off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiast, I request an extension of at least 90 days to the comment period on the Proposed Rule on Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Threatened Status for Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle and Designation of Critical Habitat. It will be impossible to review and develop comprehensive comments on this complex rule and related materials by December 3rd. The 60 days currently allotted is particularly insufficient as only comments that are made "solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available" will be considered by the Fish and Wildlife Service in making a determination. This rule would have a significant impact on motorized recreation so it is imperative that other OHV enthusiasts and I have adequate time to fully understand and comment on the proposal. Thank you for your consideration.
We'll have more on this important issue as it moves along in the process. Please feel free to forward this alert to friends and family. As we noted in our update, SUWA has been trying to close the Coral Pink Sand Dunes for years. We'll need all the help we can get to stop this latest attempt!
As always, please call or email with questions or comments,
Brian Hawthorne Ric Foster
Public Lands Policy Director Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102 208-237-1008 ext 107
Urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Extend the Comment Period on Proposed Rule that Will Limit OHV Access
In early October the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued a proposed rule to list the Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger beetle as a threatened species and to designate most of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes geologic formation as critical habitat for the subspecies. If this rule is finalized as proposed it would almost certainly ensure that OHV access in the Coral Pink Sand Dunes area will be forever lost.
Comments on the proposed rule are currently due on December 3, 2012. Given the highly complex nature of the proposal, this simply does not provide enough time for the OHV community to develop comprehensive comments. It is also important to note that the USFWS will only consider comments that are made "solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available." This means that comments that only indicate support for or opposition to the designation will not be considered by FWS in making a determination on the proposal. ARRA and our partners are working on developing talking points to share with you before the ultimate comment deadline, but more time is necessary to adequately review the proposal as well as the many sources cited within. As a result, it is important that you click here to go to regulations.gov and formally request at least a 90 day extension of the comment period.
Three of Utah's Members of Congress have weighed in already. On November 2nd, Senator Mike Lee and Representatives Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz wrote USFWS Director Daniel Ashe urging him to extend the comment period by 90 days. Please click here to join them in calling for an extension.
Once at the page please fill in your information and request at least a 90 day extension of the comment period. Below is a sample request that can be cut and pasted into the comment box on regulations.gov.
As an off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiast, I request an extension of at least 90 days to the comment period on the Proposed Rule on Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Threatened Status for Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle and Designation of Critical Habitat. It will be impossible to review and develop comprehensive comments on this complex rule and related materials by December 3rd. The 60 days currently allotted is particularly insufficient as only comments that are made "solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available" will be considered by the Fish and Wildlife Service in making a determination. This rule would have a significant impact on motorized recreation so it is imperative that other OHV enthusiasts and I have adequate time to fully understand and comment on the proposal. Thank you for your consideration.
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. The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is here. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 or [url]http://www.sharetrails.org[/URL]
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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!_______________________________________________________
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