So who's going to make it out to the rally 12/13. Our club is laying out a 10-12 mile loop next weekend as are a few other clubs in District 37 AMA. In addition there will be representatives from various 4x clubs demonstrating some rock crawling. There will also be some Rhinos availble for rent if you're interested.
What's a better use for federal land--recreational off road vehicle use or training our military members who are currently fighting two wars, how to operate and survive?
I may be biased, but when I'm in the desert, Afgahnastan, or Korea, training to keep my airmen and myself alive wins.
I love riding motorcycles, atc's and offroading in general. See my sig and pic pages for proof. It is difficult here in California since we have so few places to ride, especially locally. It is very expensive to travel all the way out to the interior deserts to ride too, for those of us who live by the coast. I mostly ride in the Ocotillo Wells area, as that is the closest area to us here in San Diego to ride.
However, the training and preparedness of our military is much, much more important to me than riding motorcycles and if the Marines, or other branch of the military, needed our precious Ocotillo Wells or Glamis riding areas to ensure that they remain the best trained and most capable fighting force in the world, I would peacefully and repsectfully hand it over to them without arguement and wish them well in their use of it. The safety and freedom of my family and my self and all the citizens here in this great country are far more valuable to me than a few weekends worth of riding and vacationing each year out at the desert, as much as I enjoy those times. I will find some place else to ride, maybe have to drive farther to get to it.
I will not stand in their way and will support them rather than fight them. They fight and die for all of us valiantly every day all over the world, willingly risking life and limb so we can enjoy what freedoms we still have here in America. Let's give them all the support we can, I sure will. If they need that land and have studied all the possibilities and decided that area is the area the works for them, then let us not stand in their way. We can take it up with the BLM or State of California or US Forest Service for other land to ride motorcycles on. That should be the focus of our part in any of these meetings, comming up with another suitable area for us to ride in, not comming up with another area for the Marines to practice in.
Remember, if our military fails to protect us, we won't be riding motorcycles anywhere, at least not freely. I'd rather find somewhere else to ride now, as a free American, than be forced to ride with gun in hand, chased accross the deserts of what was once our free country, by overtaking radical Muslim raiders.
The military has turned over to the government thousands of acres since the base closing of the 1990's began. It's about time they get some back if they need it.
I say give our military what it needs. To fight the base annex is selfish when these folks are being sent into combat to protect all our butts.
Yes but why JV OHV why can't they have the land east of the base. What is on the east side that they can't take or use. Looks good to me when I googled it.
Or, maybe just go north and take some of the national preserve.
Marine Corps Announces Public Meetings for
Proposed 29 Palms Training Land/Airspace Acquisition Project
The US Marine Corps (USMC) has announced that they will be holding three Open House Scoping Meetings in early December. The meetings are on the Navy's Proposed Action to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed acquisition of approximately 366,000 acres of public land, including approximately 189,000 acres of Johnson Valley OHV Area, from the Bureau of Land Management.
As most of you already know, the transfer of these public lands would be devastating to the OHV community and recreating public. It's time to step up and let them know where you stand. Please try to attend one of these meetings. See the USMC invitation with the dates and locations of each meeting below.
Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
________________________________________________________________________
Proposed 29Palms Training Land/Airspace Acquisition Project
Proposed Action
The Department of the Navy is in the initial stages of preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed acquisition of lands and establishment of airspace contiguous to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.
The EIS will consider a range of reasonable alternatives for the proposed action sufficient to meet Marine Expeditionary Brigade training requirements.
The U.S. Marine Corps invites you to participate in the
Proposed 29Palms Training Land/Airspace Acquisition Project
Attend an open house scoping meeting to let the Marine Corps know what issues and interests you have for consideration in the development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Representative from the Marine Corps will be available to provide information about the proposed action. Your comments are welcome.
The U.S. Marine Corps wants your input!
Oral and written comments will be accepted at the open houses.
Written comments may also be submitted to:
MAGTFTC, MCAGCC
ATTN: Land Acquisition Program Manager
Box 788104, Building 1554, Room 138
Twentynine Palms, CA 92278-8104
E-mail: SMBPLMSWEBPAO@usmc.mil
Comments must be received by Jan 3l, 2009, for consideration in the Draft EIS.
For more information, visit http://www29palms.usmc.mil/las
Open House Scoping Meetings
Victorville:
December 4, 2008, 5 to 9 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn
12603 Mariposa Road
Victorville, CA 92395
Ontario:
December 5, 2008 5 to 9 p.m.
Ontario Convention Center
2000 E. Convention Ctr. Way
Ontario, CA 91764
I was at the Ontario Scoping Meeting at 4:45pm and when I left at 6pm there were a few hundred folks there. I looked at all 6 alternatives and then went back and asked questions of all 6 USMC officials stationed at each alternative. Only Col. McArthur gave me honest and open answers. The rest all stated the "canned" government lines. I listened to Col. McArthur for about 45 minutes and I believe he understands the situation very well, and was honest enough to admit that the USMC underestimated the importance of JV when this whole process started.
All 6 officials stated that they were under orders from Senator Feinstein to not come up with an alternative to use the Sheephole Wilderness area to the East.
Brad Mitzelfelt is very much for this option. The area in question is not quality wilderness area, and per public record was never intended to be placed within the wilderness area. This option is superior to taking any or all of Johnson Valley OHV because this area will allow the Marines facilitate air combat training, whereas the JV area is within the Los Angeles Basins flight path.
"Tamera Field" wrote: Time is running out to submit your comments to the Marine Corps regarding the proposed expansion, and possible loss of the largest multi-purpose OHV area at Johnson Valley . All comments must be received prior to January 31st, 2009. Please read the press release below.
We realize that there is a lot of information to absorb regarding all of the options that were given. Most of the options took all or portions of Johnson Valley OHV. The only option that did not result in a loss of our public OHV lands was Alternate 3. Although not being considered currently, the de-designation of the Sheephole Wilderness area as suggested by Supervisor Mitzelfelt, would imminently enhance the attractiveness of Alternate 3.
We encourage you to read Supervisor Mitzelfelts letter to Senator Feinstein's office. http://www.pfjv.org/Metz.pdf
He goes through each of the options, and then proposes a de-designation of this area based on several factors. The area in question is not quality wilderness, and was never intended to be set aside as wilderness area. Another benefit to this area of expansion is that it can be used for Air Combat Training, whereas the air space over Johnson Valley is in the flight path of the Los Angeles Basin . Overall, this is the best solution for everyone. However, the Marines need our help to de-designate this wilderness area, and that begins with sending in your comments. Please send a copy of your comments to your Congressman and Senators as well. De-designation of a wilderness area requires Congressional action. To find your representatives go to www.congress.org.
Please take a few minutes out, read the information provided and SEND IN YOUR COMMENT FORM. Now is the chance to make our comments heard! After that we will be at the mercy of the Marines and Congress.
Thank you for your continued support and interest-
"Wayne Nosala" wrote: Partnership For Johnson Valley hosts meeting with local businesses and Military representatives from Twentynine Palms
What was to be a routine meeting to discuss the proposed expansion of the Twenty-nine Palms MCAGCC chaired by Harry Baker turned into an emotional discussion about the economic impacts the military's proposed expansion would have in Lucerne , Johnson, Yucca Valley and surrounding communities if tourism was removed from the region.
"This is a Route 66 scenario" said one of the business owners concerned about local impacts on tourism that could turn our communities into ghost towns.
Ed Waldheim, President of the California Trail Users Coalition and a Director of the Partnership, was visibly shaken and genuinely concerned that the emotion of these local retailers could never be channeled through typical scoping methods. Range Expansion Program Manager Joe Ross, assured us he would relay this overwhelming concern demonstrated by local business owners to the upper military brass and that every comment carries weight. He noted that socioeconomics will be one of many important items to be fully analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
One very important key element discussed was the volume of scoping comments that have been received so far by the Marines. As of today, just under 900 Emails and about 500 hard comment letters have been received. This number of comment letters to the military is disappointingly low.
The Partnership is urging the public to send letters to the military regarding this issue. The more the better. Unique comments and ideas are openly welcome from all types of tourists, multiple users and local residents. All substantive comments that are received will be incorporated into the Draft EIS, scheduled for release in Spring 2010.
Comments can be as simple as one sentence, or as many words as you would like. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING COMMENTS IS JAN 31, 2009.
Download comment form here http://pfjv.org/Mcom.pdf
Comments may be submitted in writing by sending a letter to:
Mr. Joe Ross, Project Manager, 29Palms Proposed Training
Bldg. 1554, Box 788104, Twentynine Palms, CA 92278-8104;
by an e-mail to SMBPLMSWEBPAO@usmc.mil;
Or by voice mail at 760-830-3764
All meetings of the PFJV are open to the public, and the military is regularly invited and in attendance. Harry Baker said, "I've been very gratified that Marine Corps representatives accept our invitations and take time out of their busy schedules to attend. They have shown an impressive willingness to be open, honest and listen to all stakeholder concerns during their planning process."
If you would like to donate to the Partnership, please send a check or money order in care of:
Partnership For Johnson Valley
3550 Foothill Blvd.
Glendale CA 91214
PayPal link
http://www.pfjv.org/donations_needed.htm
About The Partnership for Johnson Valley : The leadership of the Partnership For Johnson Valley has been cooperatively working with the military and the affected Stakeholders in an effort to explore alternatives to the proposed land expansion. The PFJV is a division of the 501(c)3 California Trail Users Coalition. The Mission of the Partnership is to unite the many people who enjoy the diverse activities available in the multiple-use open access area of Johnson Valley . The Partnership’s charter is to promote responsible recreation and the use of desert resources through conservation and education. The goal of the Partnership is to ensure public open-access to the area in the present, and for future generations who Live, Work, and Recreate in Johnson Valley . For more information and updates, please visit www.PFJV.org
Wayne Nosala
21411 Lutie
Mojave (Wonder Acres) CA 93501
760-373-7866
info@pfjv.org
Partnership For Johnson Valley
Doug KI6YXR
1999 Ford F250 V10 4x4 19.5
1988 Lance ES3000
1996 Jeep ZJ, Clayton LAs, locked w/armor
2007 Honda TRX450
1000 hours volunteered in the SBNF
Tread Lightly! Tread Trainer
ForestAid Reforestation Supervisor
Life Member of CA4WDC, CORVA, BRC
Well i am not understanding WHY i need to support the taking of JV when the area next to what the military wants is available and usable to them.
If there was no such land they could use if they chose that would be different i think this is what the OHV community is saying why cant you take this land over here? Instead??
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