SECOND TRIP TO WASHINGTON LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS BY FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES!
During September of 2002, ORBA President, Roy Denner, with help from ORBA's Lobbyist,
Pete Conaty, organized a second trip to Washington, DC to meet with Federal
Representatives. Government leaders were informed that Federal Land Management Agencies
are still operating under the "Management by Closure" philosophy.
During a previous trip to Washington in April, Denner and Conaty were assured by Assistant
Secretaries of the Interior Craig Manson (Fish & Wildlife) and Rebecca Watson (BLM) that
the new administration would be demanding good supporting science to back up land management
decisions by federal agencies under their control.
During meetings with the same Assistant Secretaries on this trip, Denner, who is a member
of the BLM's Desert District Advisory Council, provided examples showing that Federal
Agencies are continuing to make planning decisions based on "warm and fuzzy" feelings about
the environment, without concern for good science to back up those decisions! National BLM
Director, Kathleen Clarke, was present at the meeting. It was clear that the government
leaders at the top were unaware of many events taking place in the field that are closing
millions of acres of public lands to public use.
As a result of Denner's urging, National BLM Director, Kathleen Clarke, made a trip to the
Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California in November. She was treated to a sandrail
experience in the dunes that she said was "awesome"! State BLM Director, Mike Pool and CA
Desert District Manager, Linda Hansen also enjoyed the sand dunes tour in "dune buggies".
This on-the-ground experience should lead to a better appreciation by federal representatives
of the family bonding sport of off-road recreation.
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