OAKLEY, CA (May 23) – A national trail-based recreation group continues its strong opposition to a proposed military base expansion into a popular OHV recreation area in Southern California.  The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) submitted comments on May 19, 2011, that are directed to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 29 Palms Training Land Acquisition/Airspace Establishment Study.

BRC believes all of the action alternatives (1-6) are basically “closure of Johnson Valley OHV area” alternatives. The action alternatives would practically or functionally close the entire 180 thousand acre Johnson Valley OHV area to public use.

Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, states, “BRC has reviewed the Draft EIS and continues in our strong opposition to the entire project including the proposed withdrawal. BRC believes the EIS is fatally flawed and is not in compliance with NEPA.”

Amador continues, “BRC believes the Corps has failed to meaningfully explain the ‘need’ in the purpose and need section.  Aside from not identifying the proper basis for an increased training land-base, the purpose and need statement blithely ignores any discussion of the balance necessitated by any project of this nature. BRC believes the EIS/project should be withdrawn and shelved given its fatal flaws, public objection to the project, and national economic crisis.”

BRC continues to encourage its members to submit public comments by the May 26, 2011, deadline.

Link to BRC comment letter

As many of you know, the Department of Defense has proposed a major expansion of the Twentynine Palms Marine base. The DOD proposal would significantly disrupt OHV use in the popular Johnson Valley OHV Area.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) prepared for the base expansion has been released for public review and comment. The comment deadline is May 26, 2011. Please see the Action Item below for tips and pointers on how to comment.

Many off-highway enthusiasts feel conflicted on this issue; on one hand they support the US Military and understand the economic importance of the Twentynine Palms base to adjacent communities. On the other hand, off-highway vehicle users have, over the years, been “crammed” into the Johnson Valley area after decades of Wilderness designation, administrative closures, and lawsuits that closed millions of acres of the California desert.

GenRight Off Road recently sent out this information regarding the Johnson Valley OHV area, a location for a number of off-road races as well as a popular weekend destination for off-road enthusiasts. Here is the collection of information they sent out regarding the area:

There is still time to act to help us keep the Johnson Valley OHV area open to the public!

As you are probably well aware, the Johnson Valley OHV area is very near and dear to our heart!  We are doing everything within our power to keep the area open to OHV use.  We ask that you please take a second and submit a comment to the Marines as to why it’s important to you.

Listed below is a summary of points taken from attending the public information meetings over the last two days.  You are more than welcome to use this information when writing your comments!

There is so much information being put forth that it is hard to digest…

1] The Marines are telling us what land they want and how they are going to get it. [FALSE]

2] There’s nothing we can do so stop from losing our land. [FALSE]

This comment period is vitally as it’s the public’s chance to voice our opinion. WE, THE PEOPLE if we want to be heard and want reaction. There is an independent company to compile our comments and put into action the alternative that is going to be the best compromise for everyone.

Originally there was a ‘No-Action Alternative’ and five Alternative plans proposed. After the first comment period in which nearly 20,000 comments were received, the Marines created Alternative 6 and named it “The Preferred Alternative” DON’T BE FOOLED as this IS NOT the preferred alternative for us OHV people! We want Alternative #3 as it leaves 100% of Johnson Valley open 12 months out of the year. Alternative #6 would only leave 44% of Johnson Valley open for only 10 months out of the year.

Furthermore, Alternative #6 has a loophole that could keep it closed to the public for the entire year. **The ’10 month open window’ is subject to a determination by the Commanding General that the area has been returned to a condition suitable for authorized public access following each Marine Expeditionary Brigade Exercise. The “compromise” is that the Marine’s only need two months out of the year to complete the ‘full scale exercise’ therefore 10 months would be open to the public. It is entirely possible that the Commanding General could declare that [due to budgetary constraints] the Military does not have the funds to “return the area to a condition suitable for authorized public access ['clean up'] therefore leaving our now limited area shut down.

Alternative #3:

This option leaves Johnson Valley OHV area untouched. Rather, it states the Marine Corp would have to move the proposition to the East of their current boundaries. This would mean that the Government would need to de-designate wilderness area. Note this particular ‘wilderness area’ was used by General Patton to train military before it was designated as wilderness. The other Alternative de-designates OHV areas that are being used by Americans for recreation, living, income and more.

The following are “comments” for Alternative #3: (reasons to expand to the East by 200,000 acres)

· No impact to OHV opportunities in Johnson Valley

· More compatible areas with the proposed action

· Less impact to local business owners

· Less impact to recreational opportunities

· Less populated

· The area has already been used by the military in the past

· Economy will be less affected

Reasons against expansion to the West

· Reduction in area for off-road and outdoor recreational opportunities

· Reduction in area for the film industry

· Negative impact on the economy

· May impact public health and safety of surrounding communities

· May affect Southern California Edison (SCE) electric transmission facilities and/or distribution facilities

· May promote illegal riding

· Potential impact on groundwater supplies and quality

· Potential impact on biological resources (e.g., desert tortoise and prairie falcon)

Keep in mind that the King of the Hammers event draws over 30,000 for their one week event and the total comments received during the first comment period was less than 20,000

IT’S TIME TO BE HEARD IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE & CAMP IN JOHNSON VALLEY WITH YOUR KIDS /GRANDKIDS.

Physical bodies and written comments at the meetings are best – but if you can’t be there please…

Click here to vote for Alternative #3

https://extranet.tecinc.com/29Palms_DEIS/