SACRAMENTO, CA - A coalition of recreational groups and a disabled individual filed suit today against the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) challenging that agency's decision to close Black Sands Beach, located near Shelter Cove, CA, to use by motorized vehicles.

Before BLM's closure, Black Sands Beach was regularly used to provide access for all recreationists to pursue varied activities, such as camping, fishing, surfing, driving on the beach, or abalone diving. Motorized usage of the beach has been so popular that in the early 1960's a route was carved out along a small terrace at the edge of the Black Sands Beach wave slope and was paved with asphalt.

Plaintiffs in the suit include Friends of Black Sands Beach, a Shelter Cove based group comprised of local residents, businesses and families; the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc. (CA4WDC), a California nonprofit organization representing over 8,000 members; the Lost Coast 4X4s, a Fortuna based recreational club; Robert Gamsby, a disabled individual who is a member of CA4WDC; and the Blue Ribbon Coalition, an Idaho nonprofit corporation representing approximately 600,000 members nationwide. Plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Paul Turcke of Idaho and Dennis L. Porter of California.

Plaintiffs contend that the closure violated the following laws:
1. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act which requires the agency to recognize and provide for legitimate public uses of the area, including motorized access;
2. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by failing to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement; and in failing to consider alternatives to a proposed action during a NEPA process and in failing to determine whether the proposed action may have a significant effect upon the human environment;
3. The Act of 1866 (RS2477) by restricting or eliminating existing rights-of-way along or adjacent to the wave slope at Black Sands Beach;
4. The Rehabilitation Act, which precludes discrimination against an individual suffering a disability, by preventing a disabled individual from participation in an activity conducted by an Executive Agency.

According to Don Amador, the western representative for the Blue Ribbon Coalition, "This suit has historic significance because it is one of the first times that a national multiple-use organization has joined forces in California with state and local recreation interests to 'just say no' to more land closures by the federal government."

"The time has come for the BLM to acknowledge that motorized access to this scenic area for diverse interests is an important element of its duty to manage the King Range Conservation Area for multiple-use. Discrimination against those families and individuals who enjoy touring this beach in 4 wheel drives or all-terrain vehicles should not be part of our journey into the 21st Century," Amador concludes.

A Media Tour will be held at Black Sands Beach on May 25, 2000. The tour will meet in Shelter Cove at the Black Sands Beach parking lot at 12:00 p.m.

The Blue Ribbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible multiple-use of public lands. It represents over 800 organizations and businesses with 600,000 members.