PRESS RELEASE #16-003   June 3, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING LAND USE IN THE JOHNSON VALLEY AREA

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Representatives from the Marine Corps will host a public meeting regarding land use in the Johnson Valley area at the Johnson Valley Community Center, June 25 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to communicate the Marine Corps' plans to conduct a large-scale exercise August 1-30, 2016 that will include training in the congressionally-established Shared Use Area. Information concerning temporary land closures and public safety information will be discussed with attendees. All members of the public are welcome to attend.

Tree mortality due to drought and insect infestation is rising exponentially in California. Many forests have over 50% tree mortality rate, leading to unsafe conditions and closures in some forests. Few of trees falling on visitors are leading these closures.

The risk of wildfire increases as tree mortality rises as well. Be fire safe when visiting forested areas, and if you have plans to camp this summer in a forest check their website to make sure the campground is still open. FOr more about tree mortality visit: http://egis.fire.ca.gov/TreeMortalityViewer/

Thanks to California assemblyman Jones, we have a good chance at stopping the $10M annual transfer from the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account, monies that would have gone into the OHV Trust Fund, to the General Fund.  AB2175 has passed out of the Appropriations Committee on May 27 with a vote of 20 ayes to 0 noes.  It should make it to the assembly floor soon for a full house vote.  

Congressman Doug LaMalfa of California has introduced H.R. 5129, which is long overdue legislation to streamline and reduce the cost of obtaining special recreation permits for use on both BLM and Forest Service lands.  For the last several years, the special use permit process has significantly increased the cost to put on OHV events on public lands to the extent that some events were canceled.  The time it currently takes to obtain the special use permits has also increased in many cases.  This legislation addresses both of these issues.

  Please contact your US Congressman and Senators and ask for their support of H.R.5129.

To read the text and progress of H.R.5129:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5129/text

I would also like to thank the BRC for bringing this to the publics attention.

The BLM is asking for public input for the development of the Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area Management Plan.

The goal of public input is to assess a variety of issues and proposed solutions. Comments and concerns regarding land use, off-highway vehicle area access, visitor services, off-highway vehicle recreational opportunities, facilities, resource values, and monitoring are welcomed.

For times and locations of the meetings:

https://us-mg204.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=7f7s37dru2s8d

The EPA is trying to add competition only vehicles to the list of vehicles that they regulate under the Clean Air Act.  Two bills have been introduced to congress to exclude competition only vehicles from regulations of the Clean Air Act.  H.R 4715 and S.2659 need our support.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4715/text

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2659/text

Contact you House and Senate representatives and ask them to support these bills.  

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS
Each year CORVA honors those in our community for exceptional efforts benefiting the OHV Community. The following awards will be presented at this year’s CORVA Annual Meeting on May 21st at Hollister Hills
 SVRA, Hollister CA.  If you know of anyone deserving of one or more of these awards send an email to clayton.miller@corva.org.

ANNUAL CORVA AWARDS
George Thomas Memorial Trophy for Off Roader Of The Year:  This trophy is presented to the one individual whose contributions to the betterment of off-roading during the preceding year are worthy of this very special recognition. The recipient may be any individual who has provided special help to off-roading.  The person does not have to be a member of CORVA or any affiliated organization.  The nomination should be submitted with an explanation of the individual’s accomplishments. 
Looney Duners Trophy to Charity:  This is a Club Award, and to be eligible for this award, the club must belong to CORVA.  The award goes to the club that donates the most time and effort to charity. Money is not a factor.
Northern & Southern Club Award:  This award is given annually to one club in each region, Northern and Southern.  Each club shall submit what it deems to be its outstanding project for the year.  The Board of Directors shall award the trophy to that project it deems best bolsters the image of off-roading.
Los Aventureros State Conservation Award:  This award is presented to the individual club which during the year has contributed the most towards conservation.   
American Buggy Association Political Activism Award:  To have one’s name added to this plaque requires exceptional activity in dealing with elected officials and civil servants. While significant success is not always possible, it is important that some progress toward a goal was achieved.  In addition,
this person’s efforts should always increase the perception of CORVA as a political powerhouse.

The California Off-Road Vehicle Association thinks it is shameful for the President to take this action now when even the sponsor, Senator Feinstein has stated repeatedly that she would prefer to see a comprehensive legislative solution that protects the entire desert region. Now that comprehensive bills are finally being heard in the Congress, this action is premature and will almost certainly cause many of the delicately negotiated compromises to protect other sensitive resources such as those in Imperial County and other desert counties, to be lost forever.

Link to BLM Press Release

At todays OHMVR Commission meeting, it was announced that   Commissioner Diana Perez had resigned and Commissioner Erin Hafkenschiel will also resigne so she and her family can move out of state.  Today was the first meeting attended by a new Commissioner, Tom Lemmon.  You can check his bio: 

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22606#lemmon

Commissioner Lemmon is a desert rat by birth having been raised in Ocotillo Wells. His exposure and participation in the off road community spans over five decades before there were green stickers, site maps or road signs.

Commissioner Slavik's term has ended and he is hoping to be reappointed by Gov. Brown.

And the BIG news is that we are loosing Deputy Director Chris Conlin who is retiring so he can spend more time with his family.  I hope that Gov. Brown can find a replacement that is as good as Chris. 

Last year, Deputy Phil Jenkins retired for medical reasons and his position has a temporary replacement. 

As some of you know, there are use restrictions at the Ocotillo Wells SVRA due to the potential endangered species listing for the flat-tailed horned lizard.  A meeting of the Calif. Fish and Game Commission is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2016 to discuss the approval of the Department's request for a six month extension to complete the petition to list the flat-tailed horned lizard as an endangered species.  The meeting starts at 8:00am and the discussion is the 3rd item on the agenda and live streamed at www.cal-span.org.