OHV enthusiasts have only a matter of weeks before a new ESA is introduced. This vague law has been used by anti-OHV activists to restrict or eliminate our recreation access. Desert areas have been closed because of the Desert Tortoise, snowmobile trails have been limited in Wolf habitat and 4x4 roads have been closed for Grizzly Bears. We urgently need you to take action today.

Idaho Senator Dirk Kempthorne is in an extremely responsible position regarding ESA reauthorization. He is the Chairman of the Senate subcommittee that is responsible for this issue.

Kempthorne is my Senator, (we're based in Idaho!) Although I'm confident that the Senator agrees that the existing ESA is badly flawed, he may be getting so much pressure from environmental extremists that he might feel a "quick fix" is OK. It's not!!!

The existing ESA has been a miserable failure. It must be replaced with a non-regulatory incentive based program designed to conserve species, protect private property rights and ensure public access to public land. I'm confident that if enough OHV enthusiasts give Kempthorne this message he will agree. But, he needs our input NOW!!!

We seek your help in convincing Senator Kempthorne to replace the current ESA with a new law that will work for wildlife and for people. Now what could be more environmentally responsible than that?

Yet we are being branded as "anti-environment" just because we think the ESA is flawed. Unfortunately even our friends in the U.S. Congress are hearing more on this issue from environmental extremists than from us.

Still, we are gaining strength at a time when the environmental extremist organizations are having difficulty. National Wildlife Federation CEO Jay Hair resigned July 3rd amid sagging employee morale and a weakened balance sheet. Audubon Society head Peter Berle was canned after a management consulting firm examined their operation. They're in trouble.

NOW'S OUR CHANCE!!!

Use the following "Statement of Principles" or sample letter to help you prepare your comments. Upload to the Internet, write, call or fax Senator Kempthorne.

Internet address -- internet:dirk_kempthorne@kempthorne.senate.gov -- note the (_) space line between dirk and kempthorne --

THE HONORABLE DIRK KEMPTHORNE-U.S. SENATE Washington D.C. office *SD-367 Dirksen Bldg. *Washington, D.C. 20510*ph. (202)224-6142*fax 202-224-5893

Boise Idaho Office ph. 334-1776, fax 334-9044

If you are going to fax, please do so at other than regular business hours if possible. Letters should go to the Washington D.C. address Attn: Jennifer Smith.

Please tell Senator Kempthorne "THE CURRENT ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT MUST BE REPLACED WITH A NON-REGULATORY INCENTIVE BASED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CONSERVE SPECIES, PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ENSURE PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLIC LAND."

(Please feel free to reproduce this information and distribute it on any other OHV communications mediums you are aware of. This is a major environmental issue that we have a real opportunity to influence in a positive way.)

GRASSROOTS ESA COALITION STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES FOR REFORM OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

The Endangered Species Act has:

• * failed to conserve endangered and threatened animals and plants;

• * discouraged, hindered, and prohibited effective conservation and habitat stewardship;

• * created perverse incentives, thus promoting the destruction of privately owned endangered species habitat; and

• * wasted scarce conservation resources.

The Endangered Species Act has failed in large part because it has engendered a regulatory regime that has:

• * violated the rights of individuals, particularly property rights;

• * destroyed jobs, devalued property, and depressed human enterprise on private and public lands;

• * hidden the full cost of conserving endangered species by foisting those costs on private individuals; and

• * imposed significant burdens on State, county, and local governments.

We therefore support repealing the current law and replacing it with an Endangered Species Act based upon these principles:

• -- Animals and plants should be responsibly conserved for the benefit and enjoyment of mankind.

• -- The primary responsibility for conservation of animals and plants shall be reserved to the States.

• -- Federal conservation efforts shall encourage conservation through commerce, including the private propagation of animals and plants.

• -- Specific safeguards shall ensure that this Act cannot be used to prevent the wise use of the vast federal estate.

• -- Federal conservation decisions shall incur the lowest cost possible to citizens and taxpayers.

• -- Federal conservation efforts shall be based on sound science and give priority to more taxonomically unique, genetically complex and more economically and ecologically valuable animals and plants.

• -- Federal conservation efforts shall prohibit the intentional killing or physical injuring of a member of a listed vertebrate species with the exception of uses that create incentives and funding for an animal's conservation.

•  

Use the following letter as a guide to prepare your input to Kempthorne.

The Honorable Dirk Kempthorne, Chairman
Drinking Water, Fisheries and Wildlife Subcommittee
U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Kempthorne:

The Endangered Species Act (ESA), as it is currently written, has major flaws. Rather than being a tool for the protection of species the ESA has become nothing more that a tool for harassment of natural resource users, including recreationists.

Those enforcing the current ESA treat motorized recreationists as if they are guilty until proven innocent. The mere possibility of endangered wildlife is justification for massive closures by federal land managers. We have been considered an "easy target." This discrimination must end.

Unfortunately our recreation access is often viewed as frivolous in this debate. Land managers, some politicians and even other multiple use interests often view our use as easily expendable.

If an Endangered Species Act is necessary at all, THE CURRENT ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT MUST BE REPLACED WITH A NON-REGULATORY INCENTIVE BASED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO CONSERVE SPECIES, PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ENSURE PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLIC LAND.

Senator Kempthorne, the ESA must be changed to prevent it's being used as just one more tool for anti-OHV activists to use in their effort to have our recreation eliminated entirely.

What changes do you propose to the ESA to stop this discrimination? How do you intend to protect our recreation access? I anxiously await your reply to these important questions.

Sincerely,

(signature)_____________________________________________

(print name)____________________________________________

(address)______________________________________________

(city)______________________________________(state)____(zip)

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Last Updated: Friday, August 11, 1995