jinxspot
~ Bush Eater's Offroad ~
- Location
- Salt Lake Utah
We shouldnt have to beg. If you like this page, chances are this is a part of your lifestyle, or someone you know's lifestyle. Go to http://www.facebook.com/SaveTheHammers, like the page, and do your part. For the good for the 4x4 community/lifestyle as a whole.
If you think this doesnt affect you because you arent local, you'd be wrong. We arent even local to the Hammers, in fact I am 2,500 miles non-local. Closure of the Hammers is closure forever.
About the link:
Save the Hammers is about Saving the Johnson Valley OHV area from the potential of a 29 Palms Marine Base Expansion.
Description Of the Area
The Hammers is an off road section of Johnson Valley Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area best known for it's difficult rock crawling trails. This site is about saving The Hammers as well as all of the Johnson Valley OHV area. Johnson Valley, CA is punctuated by steep red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds and sandy washes. Johnson Valley consists of 186,000 acres of OHV land ...and contains 1% of the existing 2% of land available for OHV use in California.
Outdoor enthusiasts are in danger of losing this land due to a proposed Marine Base Expansion at 29 Palms. This expansion would affect 160,000 acres of land. Johnson Valley has been used by off road and outdoor enthusiasts for 70+ years. The Marines have the option of expanding to the North or to the East. However, their current proposed plan is to the West as they felt this was the easiest course of action and that it was mostly unused land. However, more than 300,000 outdoor enthusiasts use this land annually and Johnson Valley has become the Mecca of off road throughout the world.
The Environmental Impact Study on the Marine’s preferred plan is expected to be released at the end of April. This EIS will contain responses to more than 20,000 letters sent to the Marines opposing this expansion. The Record of Decision is expected a month after the EIS. In order for the Marines to acquire this land from the BLM, a bill must be passed by our elected officials. It is our belief that a bill passed by our elected officials that allows for both additional military spending and has negative financial impact to rural communities and small business nationwide, is not something that the majority of American voters would support.
We are asking everyone to do their part to help save this land.
Video Description (4min long, very straight forward)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h95bN9EMTCs
www.savethehammers.org
Latest Save The Hammers FAQ re: the FEIS released last week.
by Save The Hammers on Friday, August 3, 2012 at 4:17pm ·
1. I heard the Marines released a study saying they want Johnson Valley. Is this True?
Yes. The U.S. Marines released their Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS). This document takes into consideration the 20,000+ letters and comments that were submitted during earlier studies of the land.
2. Does this mean the Marines are taking Johnson Valley?
No. This study was anticipated, and in fact was released 3 months later than expected, due in part, to efforts to slow the Marines process down. This simply indicates the Marines intentions. They still need Congress' approval to take over this land. The FEIS basically addresses all the comments and questions raised in the last Study and outlines which alternative they prefer. They are still wanting Alternative 6 which would take 100,000+ acres for Marine use full time and share 40,000 acres with the public 10 months out of the year.
3. If the Marines want it, aren't they just going to take it?
No. The Marines need Congress' approval for the land. Which is why it is so important that we let our representatives know that Johnson Valley is important to us. That the loss of this land will hurt us socially, environmentally and economically. We have already had one amendment passed in congress which requires that the Marines do a further study and take into account the economic impact of acquiring Johnson Valley as well as the impact on the Off Road community. We are hoping to get this same amenment introduced and passed in the Senate when the Senate reconvenes in September.
4. What can I do to help?
1. Make your voice heard. If you commented on earlier studies. Find your comments in the current study. The link is here: http://www.marines.mil/unit/29palms/las/Pages/default.aspx (cut and paste it into your browser). Find your comments, if you don't feel their answers are sufficient. Comment again. You can comment by going here: https://extranet.cardnotec.com/29Palms_FEIS/ (cut and paste link ino your browser).
2. Keep calling your representatives. Let them know the Final EIS is out. Ask them why when the military is hurting financially are the Marines attempting to take on more land which will cost more money and hurt small businesses and local economies. Explain to them what Johnson Valley means to your life and lifestyle. Ask them to Call the Secretary of the Navy and stop this process.
3. We are going to pick a specific person each day next week for you to call, email and fax and tell them what you think of Johnson Valley and enlist their help.
5. 7 Days to Save the Hammers:
This week we need every Off Roader to participate in a targeted outreach. One phone call or fax a day is all we ask. Talking points can be found below the phone list. Contact name is underlined. Congress is on recess this week, they should be in the District Office. Every Off Roader must participate!
Monday August 6th, 2012 Please call:
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) or
District Director Tevor Daley
Los Angeles 310-914-7300 fax 310-914-7318
Tuesday August 7th, 2012 Please call:
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 22) or
District Director Vince Fong
Bakersfield 661-327-3611 fax 661-637-0867
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) or
District Director Tevor Daley
Los Angeles 310-914-7300 fax 310-914-7318
email Trevor_Daley@Feinstein.senate.gov
Wednesday August 8th, 2012 Please call:
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA 25) or
Deputy COS Bob Haueter
Santa Clarita 661-254-2111 fax 661-254-2380
Thursday August 9th, 2012 Please call:
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA 41) or
DistrictDirector Rachel Khalili
Redlands 909-862-6030 fax 909-335-9155
Friday August 10th, 2012 Please Call:
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA 45) or
District Director Marc Troast
Palm Desert 760-320-1076 fax 760-320-0596
Monday August 13th, 2012 Please call:
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA 44) or
District Director Jolyn Murphy
Corona 951-784-4300 fax 951-784-5255
Tuesday August 14th, 2012 Please Call:
Rep. David Drier (R-CA 26) or
District Director Mark Harmsen
San Dimas 909-575-6226 fax 909-575-6266
Below is an outline of some talking points.
ISSUE: Marine Corps plans to acquire 160,000 acres of BLM land next to Marine Corps Ground Air Combat Center (MCGACC) Twenty Nine Palms eliminates most of the land available under the California Desert Conservation Plan (1980) available for to off highway (OHV) recreation impacting OHV activity and the local and national economy.
If you think this doesnt affect you because you arent local, you'd be wrong. We arent even local to the Hammers, in fact I am 2,500 miles non-local. Closure of the Hammers is closure forever.
About the link:
Save the Hammers is about Saving the Johnson Valley OHV area from the potential of a 29 Palms Marine Base Expansion.
Description Of the Area
The Hammers is an off road section of Johnson Valley Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area best known for it's difficult rock crawling trails. This site is about saving The Hammers as well as all of the Johnson Valley OHV area. Johnson Valley, CA is punctuated by steep red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds and sandy washes. Johnson Valley consists of 186,000 acres of OHV land ...and contains 1% of the existing 2% of land available for OHV use in California.
Outdoor enthusiasts are in danger of losing this land due to a proposed Marine Base Expansion at 29 Palms. This expansion would affect 160,000 acres of land. Johnson Valley has been used by off road and outdoor enthusiasts for 70+ years. The Marines have the option of expanding to the North or to the East. However, their current proposed plan is to the West as they felt this was the easiest course of action and that it was mostly unused land. However, more than 300,000 outdoor enthusiasts use this land annually and Johnson Valley has become the Mecca of off road throughout the world.
The Environmental Impact Study on the Marine’s preferred plan is expected to be released at the end of April. This EIS will contain responses to more than 20,000 letters sent to the Marines opposing this expansion. The Record of Decision is expected a month after the EIS. In order for the Marines to acquire this land from the BLM, a bill must be passed by our elected officials. It is our belief that a bill passed by our elected officials that allows for both additional military spending and has negative financial impact to rural communities and small business nationwide, is not something that the majority of American voters would support.
We are asking everyone to do their part to help save this land.
Video Description (4min long, very straight forward)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h95bN9EMTCs
www.savethehammers.org
Latest Save The Hammers FAQ re: the FEIS released last week.
by Save The Hammers on Friday, August 3, 2012 at 4:17pm ·
1. I heard the Marines released a study saying they want Johnson Valley. Is this True?
Yes. The U.S. Marines released their Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS). This document takes into consideration the 20,000+ letters and comments that were submitted during earlier studies of the land.
2. Does this mean the Marines are taking Johnson Valley?
No. This study was anticipated, and in fact was released 3 months later than expected, due in part, to efforts to slow the Marines process down. This simply indicates the Marines intentions. They still need Congress' approval to take over this land. The FEIS basically addresses all the comments and questions raised in the last Study and outlines which alternative they prefer. They are still wanting Alternative 6 which would take 100,000+ acres for Marine use full time and share 40,000 acres with the public 10 months out of the year.
3. If the Marines want it, aren't they just going to take it?
No. The Marines need Congress' approval for the land. Which is why it is so important that we let our representatives know that Johnson Valley is important to us. That the loss of this land will hurt us socially, environmentally and economically. We have already had one amendment passed in congress which requires that the Marines do a further study and take into account the economic impact of acquiring Johnson Valley as well as the impact on the Off Road community. We are hoping to get this same amenment introduced and passed in the Senate when the Senate reconvenes in September.
4. What can I do to help?
1. Make your voice heard. If you commented on earlier studies. Find your comments in the current study. The link is here: http://www.marines.mil/unit/29palms/las/Pages/default.aspx (cut and paste it into your browser). Find your comments, if you don't feel their answers are sufficient. Comment again. You can comment by going here: https://extranet.cardnotec.com/29Palms_FEIS/ (cut and paste link ino your browser).
2. Keep calling your representatives. Let them know the Final EIS is out. Ask them why when the military is hurting financially are the Marines attempting to take on more land which will cost more money and hurt small businesses and local economies. Explain to them what Johnson Valley means to your life and lifestyle. Ask them to Call the Secretary of the Navy and stop this process.
3. We are going to pick a specific person each day next week for you to call, email and fax and tell them what you think of Johnson Valley and enlist their help.
5. 7 Days to Save the Hammers:
This week we need every Off Roader to participate in a targeted outreach. One phone call or fax a day is all we ask. Talking points can be found below the phone list. Contact name is underlined. Congress is on recess this week, they should be in the District Office. Every Off Roader must participate!
Monday August 6th, 2012 Please call:
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) or
District Director Tevor Daley
Los Angeles 310-914-7300 fax 310-914-7318
Tuesday August 7th, 2012 Please call:
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA 22) or
District Director Vince Fong
Bakersfield 661-327-3611 fax 661-637-0867
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) or
District Director Tevor Daley
Los Angeles 310-914-7300 fax 310-914-7318
email Trevor_Daley@Feinstein.senate.gov
Wednesday August 8th, 2012 Please call:
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA 25) or
Deputy COS Bob Haueter
Santa Clarita 661-254-2111 fax 661-254-2380
Thursday August 9th, 2012 Please call:
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA 41) or
DistrictDirector Rachel Khalili
Redlands 909-862-6030 fax 909-335-9155
Friday August 10th, 2012 Please Call:
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA 45) or
District Director Marc Troast
Palm Desert 760-320-1076 fax 760-320-0596
Monday August 13th, 2012 Please call:
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA 44) or
District Director Jolyn Murphy
Corona 951-784-4300 fax 951-784-5255
Tuesday August 14th, 2012 Please Call:
Rep. David Drier (R-CA 26) or
District Director Mark Harmsen
San Dimas 909-575-6226 fax 909-575-6266
Below is an outline of some talking points.
ISSUE: Marine Corps plans to acquire 160,000 acres of BLM land next to Marine Corps Ground Air Combat Center (MCGACC) Twenty Nine Palms eliminates most of the land available under the California Desert Conservation Plan (1980) available for to off highway (OHV) recreation impacting OHV activity and the local and national economy.
- Johnson Valley OHV recreation area is 189,700 acres that develops at least 300,000 visitor days per year and is world renowned as an OHV recreation area..
- Economic impact: BLM estimates $71.5 million annually into the local economy and $191.2 Million into the national economy.
- USMC has a new requirement for MEB level maneuver training and intends to acquire 160,000 acres of this the land from BLM and conduct live fire on all but 40,000 acres - permanently closing access to 120,000 acres.
- Local authorities and State authorities and thousands of citizens are opposed to the transfer of this land.
- USMC is well into the EIS process and could issue a Record of decision as early as this summer.
- Options other than those in the Draft EIS need to be considered:
- Permitted use of land from BLM (like at other BLM sites used for training)
- Other BLM land in the region (not necessarily adjacent).
- More time needed for deliberation and seeking options on both sides and with the State.
- Not urgent since Marines have been deploying to combat for 10 years without this extra range - should have more time to seek a broader solution set.
- Once live fire starts the land is permanently lost. We need to find accommodation for OHV needs and that will require BLM and State officials.
- The US House of Representatives passed an Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act that requires, prior to transfer, the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report on the new Marine requirement for this land and on the economic impact and on other potential solutions to the elimination of recreational land.
- In spite of this Congressional interest, the Secretary of the Navy just entered the final Environmental Impact Statement into the Federal Register and can now within a short time announce his "Record of Decision" to acquire this land.
- The intent of the House of Representatives was to slow this down to have a better look at it. The Navy has run roughshod over the House and ignored their intent. The House should be angry. We are.
- Please call the Secretary of the Navy and tell him to stop this provcess until all the stakeholders - including federal legislators - have had their voices heard.
- If the Marines went through 10 years of war without this extra land, it surely could wait a few months until all interests could be accommodated.
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