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Monday August 6th, 2012Senator Diane FeinsteinLos Angeles, CAp.310-914-7300f.310-914-7318Senator Feinstein:My name is Michael Maskalans, and I am writing you regarding the Johnson Valley OHV Area. I am an offroad enthusiast, offroad racer, active offroad club member, and I strongly support the continued existence of the OHV Area.Johnson Valley is a world-renowned OHV recreation area visited by at least 300,000 users per year. The Bureau of Land Management estimates the OHV Area draws $71.5 million annually into the local economy and $191.2 Million into the national economy.The Marine Corps plans to acquire 160,000 acres of BLM land next to Twenty Nine Palms eliminates most of the land available under the California Desert Conservation Plan (1980) for off highway recreation. The Corps intends to conduct live fire training on all but 40,000 acres - permanently closing public access to 120,000 acres.Options other than those in the just-published Draft Environmental Impact Study need to be considered – such as Permitted Use of the land from the BLM as the Corps currently does for other BLM training sites; or expansion to other BLM land in the region.The US House of Representatives passed an Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act that requires, prior to transfer, the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report on the new Marine requirement for this land and on the economic impact and on other potential solutions to the elimination of recreational land.The Secretary of the Navy just entered the final EIS into the Federal Register, and a Record of Decision to acquire the land could be his next step. Local and state authorities and thousands of citizens are opposed to the transfer of this land, and you must take action now. Please call the Secretary of the Navy and tell him to stop this process until all stakeholders - including federal legislators - have had their voices heard.Once live-fire training starts, the land is permanently lost. We need to find accommodation for OHV needs and local interests now. Thank you for your consideration, [signed]Michael MaskalansFingerlakes 4x4 Member-at-LargeCodriver, Game Day Racing #571
Friends, I will try to be brief as I know we are all very busy. The process to save our public land has been moving through the Political Machine. We have tried hard to keep from 'crying wolf' and calling for action like this too often. Now is the time.Congressman Paul Cook introduced legislation that met the Marine Corps Training needs and retained public access to the entirety of Johnson Valley. It was a modified version of the Marine Corps Alternative Four and the result will be The Johnson Valley National OHV Area. It went unopposed in the House of Representatives and is now part of the National Defense Authorization Act awaiting confirmation by the Senate. Senator Dianne Feinstein is considering re-submitting Alternative Six through the Senate Arms Committee. This will take away the majority of Johnson Valley forever. It is time to have our voices heard.There may be other similar opportunities in the near future to support this cause. We are in the final weeks of this process. Please take the time to act.Call and write to Senator Dianne Feinstein urging her to support the existing Alternative Four (also known as the Cook/McKeon Compromise) and DO NOT offer a conflicting proposal.State Office: (415) 393-0707Washington Office: (202) 224-3841LA Office: (310) 914-7300 San Diego Office: (619) 231-9712 Fresno Office: (559) 485-7430 Email Link https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-meBelow are links to both talking points and the letter that I submitted. Please use your own words. We, as a group, made a difference before, we will again. Without your letter, we could lose this fight. Save the text you send her in your email as we may look to resubmit that in printed form as well (more on that later).This is not just about off-roading. We are supporting our neighbors in the High Desert Area. Every surrounding town council joined the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and Congressmen Cook, McCarthy, and McKeon in opposing Alternative Six.Thank you for your time, please share this with anyone and everyone. In the near future we may be asking to reach out to other politicians so stay tuned and together we WILL be heard. Contact Senator Feinstein TODAY. Urge her to support the Cook/Mckeon compromise (also known as Alternative 4).Sincerest Regards,Dave Coleon behalf of the California Motorized Recreation Council
December 11th, 2013: JOHNSON VALLEY, CA: Hammerking Productions, the founders of The Griffin King of The Hammers Presented by Nitto Tire, are pleased to announce that the week-long off road festival held annually in Johnson Valley, CA will be able to continue in its current location for the foreseeable future. After six years of negotiations between the United States Marine Corps, the federal government and the Off Highway Vehicle(OHV) Community, a deal has been reached to preserve the majority of the land in Johnson Valley for OHV use.Congressman Paul Cook spearheaded the deal which allows nearly 100,000 acres of land to remain open to the public and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Marines will have access to approximately 55,000 acres of shared use land for 60 days a year to meet their training objectives, but will not retain ownership of the land the remaining 305 days a year. The proposed legislation is expected to pass the House later this week and the Senate next week before the holiday recess.The deal preserves access to the trail system known as “The Hammers.†Areas that were formerly at risk including trails named Spooners, Aftershock, Sunbonnet, and Riffle Canyon as well as the California 200 Memorial at the spot known as “The Rock Pile†on Bessemer Mine Rd. remain open to public recreation under the current plan. The plan also includes access to Soggy Lake, Emerson Lake and the majority of the Fry Mountains.Dave Cole, founder of King of The Hammers, had this to say, “This deal is something that couldn’t have happened without the tireless support of the entire off road community. Thousands of people have donated time, energy and money for us to reach this point. Thank you to all who have worked to Save the Hammers for future generations. I especially want to thank Congressman Paul Cook, The California Motorized Recreational Council and The Off Road Business Association for their efforts. We wouldn’t have made it to this point without them.â€The 2014 Griffin King of The Hammers Presented by Nitto Tire is scheduled for February 7th, 2014 in Johnson Valley, CA. The weeklong series of off-road races kicks off on January 31st, 2014 with the opening of Hammertown to the public. For more information on King of The Hammers, please visit www.ultra4racing.com
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