December 2, 2003

Unlimited Off-road Vehicle Use in Algodones Dunes Challenges Law Enforcement -
"Unruly off-roaders clashed with paintball gun-wielding Bureau of Land Management rangers Friday night, putting on a show for thousands of spectators near the sand drags area of the dunes. 'What had happened ... people we starting to get unruly, throwing beer cans at the officers,' said BLM spokesman Gary Taylor." The Imperial Valley Press sets this scene in an article describing another Thanksgiving weekend on BLM land in the California desert. The paper reports that nearly 160,000 off-road vehicle riders "packed" portions of Algodones Dunes over the long holiday weekend. Although milder than Thanksgiving 2001, when law enforcement officers feared for their safety and one person was fatally shot, the article describes how "dozens of people were arrested Friday night for suspicion of driving under the influence. Some were picked up on outstanding…warrants." The AP reported Monday that an 11-year-old boy was killed by an ATV on Saturday, 6 people were airlifted to hospitals and a total of 724 law enforcement cases were reported by BLM over the long weekend.

Much like last year, the BLM was forced to rely heavily on officers from county, state and other federal agencies in order to augment its woefully inadequate law enforcement presence throughout Algodones Dunes. While it remains clear that BLM does not have the personnel to effectively manage burgeoning use on tens of thousands of acres currently available to dirt bikes, ATVs and dune buggies, it is rushing ahead to open as much as 50,000 additional acres to vehicles as part of an upcoming management plan. This area has been set aside as the result of an agreement between the agency, conservation groups and the off-road vehicle community in order to protect threatened species, including the Pierson's milk vetch plant.

Read Imperial Valley Press article.

Government Refuses to Delay Start of Yellowstone Snowmobile Season at Request of Federal Judge - During a November 20 hearing on challenges to the Bush Administration's decision to continue snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park, a federal judged asked government lawyers if the Administration would be willing to delay the start of the snowmobile season for up to three days to allow him to review the rule prior to another hearing on December 17. Last week, government lawyers informed the judge that the Administration could not guarantee three days between publication of the rule and the official start of the snowmobile season and the hearing. The government further indicated that it would not postpone the start of the season if the final rule is not published by the 17th. According to the AP, the government indicated that delaying the season would "inconvenience snowmobilers and contractors who expect it to start on Dec. 17."

Wildlife, park employees, other visitors and Yellowstone itself will suffer more than inconvenience if the Administration's snowmobile policy is implemented. There will be more air and noise pollution, more wildlife harassment, and more serious threats to public health and safety when compared to the Park Service's original plan to guarantee winter access via mass transit snowcoaches. Over nearly three years, the Administration has ignored science, law, determinations of Park Service professionals and overwhelming public opposition to satisfy the snowmobile industry. This latest action is a testament to its unrelenting drive to keep snowmobiles in Yellowstone.

A final snowmobile rule is expected by the middle of this month. If weather and snow conditions permit, the Park Service has announced that the 2003-04 snowmobile season will begin on Wednesday, December 17. A decision by a federal judge on or after December 17 will determine (pending possible appeal) the legality of the final rule.

Contact:
Scott Kovarovics, Director
Natural Trails and Waters Coalition
(202) 429-2696
scott_kovarovics@tws.org

The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition includes conservation, recreation and other groups working to protect and restore all public lands and waters from the severe damage caused by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, jet skis and all other off-road vehicles.