BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
IDAHO, Call your Senators on CIEDRA before they return to Washington DC
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber in Idaho,
What was your reaction to the news that Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch recently introduced Congressman Mike Simpson\'s Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) in the Senate?
Were you shocked? You should have been. Idaho has 5 million acres of Wilderness already. More than any other state except Alaska. Wilderness bans all mountain bike and motorized recreation. Yet, Idaho\'s entire congressional delegation is now supporting a bill that designates 332,775 new acres of wilderness in the Boulder White Clouds (BWC).
I hate to say this, but the story on this CIEDRA bill is getting worse. A comparison between the 2009 House version and the 2010 Senate version will turn your shock into outrage.
The Idaho Recreation Council recently put the two bills side-by-side and found the new 2010 version considerably worse than its predecessor. See: Comparison of the 2009 House CIEDRA VS 2010 Senate CIEDRA
First of all, the new bill has more Wilderness. A lot more. Over 20,000 acres of \"new\" Wilderness has been added to the White Clouds Wilderness. The new bill also throws out language that gave permanent protection to the motorized routes in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area but outside the proposed Wilderness. Rep. Simpson started out with a basic premise of wanting to settle the issue once and for all and that is no longer being accomplished.
The new bill also eliminates language that secures motorized access to the very popular and scenic Germania Creek-East Fork/Grand Prize trail. The new bill not only takes away the East Fork/Grand Prize section, it also allows closure of the entire route \"for non-motorized recreation purposes.\"
Similarly, the new bill paves the way for the closure of the Frog Lake loop. In the \"old\" bill, Simpson included language that secured motorized access but the new bill says it will remain open only \"if the Secretary allows motorized use.\"
There\'s more. The OHV park near Boise was stripped out, as was authorization for $1 million to the Idaho Parks and Recreation to develop and manage it. And the trail between Redfish Lake and Stanley for non-motorized use in summer and snowmobiles in the winter, including parking areas at each end was stripped out.
The only thing this bill protects the land from is YOU. Simply because you ride a mountain bike, enjoy snowmobiling or ride off-highway vehicles, you don\'t have a right to view these lands.
That\'s not Idaho. We can do better.
Senator Risch and Crapo have scheduled June 16, 2010, for a Senate Subcommittee hearing on the new bill. Congress is in recess until June 4 for local district work sessions. That means the next few days is the best opportunity to contact the Senators with your concerns prior to the June 16 hearing.
Please make your call today. We\'ve put together some talking points you can use below. And tell you friends and family to make their calls by the end of the week.
As always, thanks in advance for your action on this important issue. Please call or email if you have any comments or suggestions.
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102
BRC ACTION ALERT:
Idaho Senators on board with a \"new\" Boulder White Clouds Wilderness Bill - that\'s even worse than previous versions.
Please call the senators during Memorial Day recess and express your concern.
Situation:
Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch recently introduced Congressman Mike Simpson\'s Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) in the Senate. Idaho\'s entire congressional delegation is now supporting this bill that designates 332,775 new acres of wilderness in the Boulder White Clouds (BWC).
See: Boulder-White Clouds wilderness bill to be reintroduced today
http://www.mtexpress.com/vu_breaking_story.php?bid=9195Simpson\'s wilderness bill gets Senate introduction
http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?S=12406221What you need to do:
The Memorial Day recess (May 31 - June 4) gives Idaho\'s recreationists a golden opportunity to express concerns about the new bill.
Sen. Mike Crapo
Boise Office: (208) 334-1776
Pocatello Office: (208) 236-6775
Idaho Falls Office: (208) 522-9779
Coeur d\'Alene Office: (208) 664-5490
Lewiston Office: (208) 743-1492
Caldwell Office: (208) 455-0360
Twin Falls Office: (208) 734-2515
Sen. Jim Risch
Boise Office: (208) 342-7985
Coeur d\'Alene Office: (208) 667-6130
Idaho Falls Office: (208) 523-5541
Lewiston Office: (208) 743-0792
Pocatello Office: (208) 236-6817
Twin Falls Office: (208) 734-6780
Please be polite.
With 5 million acres already set aside, Idaho has enough Wilderness. I oppose CIEDRA and I am calling to ask the Senator to reconsider his decision to promote this bill.
There is no threat to these lands. No massive clear cutting project is in the works. No giant mining operation proposed. Mountain bikes, off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles are not harming these lands.
CIEDRA will kick out motorized and mountain bike recreationists who will take their dollars with them, having a negative impact on the local economy.
The Sawtooth National Recreation Areas provides protection and balanced management while still allowing recreational uses.
I am opposed use of the Omnibus package to pass CIEDRA or any public lands bill.
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742
http://www.sharetrails.org _______________________________________________________
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http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!
