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Grass Valley, CA
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NorCal 50+
2/1/2018 12:50pm
2/1/2018 12:50pm
Edited Date/Time
2/1/2018 12:51pm
Yes, you read it right. The DOI is taking comment on how to EXPAND OHV desert access. It also has a lot of things about renewable energy expansion in deserts, so renewable energy interests are actually supporting this initiative. I am sure there will be opposition to provisions that they don't like, however.
Federal Register
In particular, the BLM seeks comment on the Areas of Critical Environmental Concern that were designated, including where private lands lie within the external boundaries of such designations, as well as comments on increasing opportunities for increased renewable energy development, recreational and off-highway vehicle (OHV) access, mining access, and grazing. .
Desert Run article
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria to the
BLM-California State Director, 2800 Cottage Way, Rm W-1623, Sacramento, CA
95825 or electronically to BLM_CA_DRECP@blm.gov.
Federal Register
In particular, the BLM seeks comment on the Areas of Critical Environmental Concern that were designated, including where private lands lie within the external boundaries of such designations, as well as comments on increasing opportunities for increased renewable energy development, recreational and off-highway vehicle (OHV) access, mining access, and grazing. .
Desert Run article
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria to the
BLM-California State Director, 2800 Cottage Way, Rm W-1623, Sacramento, CA
95825 or electronically to BLM_CA_DRECP@blm.gov.
Let's all hit this up. As you all may be painfully aware, what happens in California trickles down to the rest of the country. If we can actually expand access to off-road riding, it will be a boon to the whole industry.
This would be a natural place for rider groups, manufacturers, gear companies, AMA, riding clubs, etc. to file comments. The potential for electric bike usage is huge, because it might keep the greenies happy (sort of).
The Shop
The new Secretary of Interior is a ex NAVY SEAL Team 6 member. I do not know him personally, but I know people that do. Infact, a guy I know that works for the BLM just accepted a position working with him in DC. The guy I know is an ex SEAL as well. These are strait shooters that are not going to put up with Sierra Club rhetoric. They like to hunt, fish and enjoy life.
Below is a link to his web site. Times are a changing.....
https://www.doi.gov/whoweare/secretary-ryan-zinke
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Secretary Ryan Zinke
Ryan Zinke was sworn in as the 52nd Secretary of the Interior on March 1, 2017.
A fifth-generation Montanan and former U.S. Navy SEAL Commander, Ryan Zinke built one of the strongest track records in the 114th Congress on championing sportsmen’s access, conservation, regulatory relief, forest management, responsible energy development, and smart management of federal lands.
“As a former Navy SEAL, Ryan has incredible leadership skills and an attitude of doing whatever it takes to win,” President Donald Trump
This is part 1. Part two will pop up after. Watch this and see how insane it has become. Trump is certainly interesting... he's not putting up with this stuff I'll bet going forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DkubO-RiDQ&t=11s
But environmental groups are starting to oppose large-scale projects in the deserts even if they are wind or solar because of the huge footprints. It's crazy for CWEA to be backing a Trump resource management plan. Trump knows how to divide and conquer.
"Nancy Rader, executive director of the California Wind Energy Association, said she was "very pleased" by Thursday's announcement from the Trump administration. In an email, she said the desert plan "flatly prohibited wind energy projects (though not oil and gas development or cattle grazing) across most of the vast desert region without ever specifically evaluating the potential impacts of those projects."
"California will need access to the state's best remaining wind energy resources in order to meet its ambitious climate change goals while contributing to the state’s economic development," Rader said.
The new idea is to grant typical users (the little people) access to areas that have been closed, so that they will have a larger body of people who will not protest. Once it happens, the fine print in the bill will once again grant the corporations exclusive rights to bar the public, due to "safety concerns". Be careful what you wish for, I've seen this before. Look at wind farms, solar farms, Oil and Fracking, etc. All off limits, huge areas. BLM enforced. See California, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. There goes your drinking / ground well water.
Pit Row
Expect a lot of positive changes with regard to access to public lands for OHV, hunting, etc to be happening in the next few years. Sounds like some big policy changes are a coming that help the people that want to use the lands actually use them.
NiMH battery production doesn't have half the environmental impact of Lithium. The carbon footprint created to dig up enough lithium, aluminum, silicone, leather, copper, nickel and petroleum to make one Tesla is the equivalent of digging up enough materials (mostly steel) to make 4 Chevy Tahoes and drive them each for 100,000 miles. ...and thats not even including whats going to happen when it comes time to dispose of old batteries. Literally know one even knows what they are going to do with them...or if they are even recyclable
...there's your Truth.org,
I'm just glad I live where I do...and Weatherby is locating it's headquarters and new state of the art plant about a mile from my house this summer, so I'm feeling really good about the future... The state of Wyoming only has old money. We turn down everyone who wants to industrialize here, including Intel, IBM, Sysco Foods, Budweiser, and a hundred others who've tried to come here. Even our mining is highly controlled by the private sector, because so much of the land is privately owned...it's rationed out less than anywhere in the country and we have some of North Americas largest deposits of coal, methane, and oil.
oh yeah...don't come here. We got guns. lots of them.
I hate the Sierra Club as much as the next person. But look where they get their funding. Same place that also lobby heavily in conservative politics.
There’s so much smoke & mirrors in all this stuff it’s hard to know how badly they’re fucking us over. Just a little? Or a lot?
I care about the environment. I also like riding and freedom. These things aren’t mutually exclusive. Remember folks, “divide & conquer” is the playbook these politicians live by. Be it left or right. Dont get fooled into being myopic.
It makes perfect sense to open up the land for public use, then allow 'exclusive public use' or 99 year leases to the industries that donate to trump.
Please for the love of all that i holy, follow the money. How can people not understand this?
Opening up land for public use, with specific restrictions to prevent fracking, oil explorations etc etc, is what a politicion who cares about OHV users would propose, not this guy tho. Or potentially starting an OHV, or recreation on public land department to allow clubs and groups to propose uses for large swathes of public land, With restrictions. This is what a governemnt serving the people would do, A government serving its donors is what is happening now and its disgusting
Nothing in that link surprises me. 20 years ago we were in the parking /camping area at Ballinger and the forest Service came in and set up about 10 air sampling machines around the camping area. How did they power the 120v sampling pumps? With a gas powered generator sitting 5ft away from air sample pump of course.
But yeah, Im in total agreeance with you in that it baffles me that people get this way on topics. It’s universal. I dont know the solution either. Americans have truly failed democracy.
Then when a proposal for wind and solar is proposed as in this case, it's still a problem ? Just saying no to everything including renewables is not a solution.
Should we import all our energy from countries with less restrictive environmental laws and pretend we are good stewards of the environment like the State of CA does ? Or should we use our own resources where we can and in the process create jobs and revenues for the our economy.
And if there are reserves there to be mined/drilled...they should be mined and drilled (responsibly, with reclamation bonds in place prior to any development)...and the land should be used for wind and solar developments (with reclamation bonds in place prior to any development).
The reality is that every ounce of oil/gas/etc. could be developed in this country and there would still be more land that would be left untouched by anything than any one person could see in their lifetime. There is no reason to turn the public land in this country into a "look but don't touch" museum (National Park, Wilderness Area, Preserve, Reserve, refuge, National Monument, etc. etc.)...some of it? Yes, sure, a very very small amount of it (less than we have now...and not just because its a "pretty view"...but, for example, because it would protect our water shed-the water we actually drink...or because the residents living right next to the land want it designated)...the rest of the land should be open for development and use (riding, hiking, biking, camping, hunting).
I didn't vote for Trump...but if he keeps it up I'll be proudly voting for him in 2020. I love what hes doing for business, for public land, taxes, etc. I can't stand the guy...I think he's an idiot...but I like what he's doing as president (where I really liked Obama, and thought he was a good man...but I hated most everything he did as president).
rational thought used in this process where in the past that has not often been the case.
Why have "public lands" paid for by the tax paying people (you and me) that can't be accessed for recreation??? Doesn't make sense. And that is exactly what these folks are saying.
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