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!! Updated News on Tellico from UFWDA

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!! Updated News on Tellico from UFWDA

Postby tammylynn » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:42 am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT HEATHER ROYSTON - (678) 463-7376
United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), Southern Four Wheel Drive
ted FouAssociation (SFWDA), and the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) will file suit against the U.S.
Forest Service to restore access to improperly closed off-highway recreation trails
located in the Upper Tellico Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) Area in North Carolina.


On December 18, 2007, the agency issued a closure order which UFWDA, BRC, and
Southern contend is based on outdated and incomplete science. The law suit will seek
to declare unlawful and set aside the closure order.


Our organizations value their relationship with the Forest Service, however
management by closure does not address the issues we need to be surmounting
through collaborative and creative efforts", observed Jay Bird, of Southern Four Wheel
Drive Associations. There is no defensible scientific correlation between OHV use and
water quality, erosion, and sedimentation issues in this area, and our organizations have
long demonstrated their dedication to the environment and support of trout populations
in the area through user education, route maintenance and improvement. Active and
effective management of motorized recreation, not prohibition, is the only good answer
for protecting water quality and species habitat at the Upper Tellico OHV area," Bird
concluded.


Further information about the plaintiff organizations, including information about
developments in this action and others, can be found as indicated below.
# # #


The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use
of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It
represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business
members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-
3742. www.sharetrails.org

BlueRibbon Coalition
www.sharetrails.org
4555 Burley Drive, Suite A
Pocatello, ID 93202-1921
(208) 237-1008


United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international organization comprised of four
wheel drive enthusiasts, clubs, associations, and businesses dedicated to providing
community services around the world, education in responsible land use and safe
vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources through conservation
practices. 1-800-448-3932. www.ufwda.org

United Four Wheel Drive Associations
www.ufwda.org
P.O. Box 15696
Chesapeake, VA 23328
(757) 546-7969


Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote
responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. Since
the formation of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, the focus and mission is to
promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands open for motorized
recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern
Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt.
Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
www.sfwda.org
1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road
PMB #222
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
Last edited by tammylynn on Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:46 am, edited 2 times in total.
tammylynn
 
Posts: 7917
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:24 pm

Postby tammylynn » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:45 am

Save Tellico Now

Before There Is Nothing Left To Save

SFWDA, UFWDA, BRC files Law Suit
On Thursday, May 22, 2008, The Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) along with United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) and the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) filed suit in US District Court Western District of North Carolina against the US Forest Service to restore access to improperly closed off-highway recreation trails located in the Upper Tellico Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) Area in North Carolina.

A Little Background
On June 28, 2007, Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed a "notice of intent to sue" the USFS on behalf of the North Carolina and Tennessee Councils of Trout Unlimited, as well as Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project. SELC's threat demanded that the Forest Service permanently close trails, and seasonally close the entire system.
Caving under the pressure of SELC and TU, the Forest Service announced on December 18, 2007 there would be a seasonal closure of the entire trail system and Trails Lower 2, 7, and 9 would be closed for a year to assess the condition of the trails to see what needs to be done.

Closing trails does not address the issues and SFWDA feels that the Forest Service took steps that are not correct. This lawsuit is intended to reopen the trails that were improperly closed.

SFWDA has worked with the US Forest Service in the Tellico OHV area for over 20 years, providing free maintenance and restoration work to address the agency-wide maintenance backlog estimated nationwide at over $100 billion. The trail maintance, clean up, and volunteer work we have donated to the area is well over $100,000 just in the past few years. SFWDA values the relationship we have with the US Forest Service and plan to continue the work, volunteering and cleaning up as we've done in the past.

What are the effects of the closures?

The impact of closing the trails has greatly wounded the economy in the area. Not only are there fewer places to ride in the Upper Tellico area, but local businesses have felt the impact. Cabin Rentals, Campgrounds, parts stores have all seen a decrease in business. Outside of the impact to the economy, this act sets a precedent for large special interest groups to bully our government to preferentially close access to public land to one user group.

What you can do

Frankly, law suits are not cheap. We need your donations. You can donate online at www.SFWDA.orgor Tax deductable at www.sharetrails.org/rescue-tellicoor donate tax deductable through the United Land Action Fund at P.O. Box 15696, Chesapeake, VA 23328. You can purchase Rescue Tellico Items at www.cafepress.com/rescuetellico. All proceeds are donated to the Rescue Tellico Fund.
At the very least we need your membership. If you are not a member of any or all the below mentioned groups we need you. Please join us so that you can have your voice counted in unison with ours. If you have always wondered, what does my membership get me, here is your answer. SFWDA, UFWDA, and BRC are fighting to keep trails open so we have places to ride.

Please spread the word. This is not only a 4x4 problem but ATV, Motorcycle and UTV's are affected as well.

Who's Who

The Blue Ribbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org

United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international organization comprised of four wheel drive enthusiasts, clubs, associations, and businesses dedicated to providing community services around the world, education in responsible land use and safe vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources through conservation practices. 1-800-448-3932. www.ufwda.org

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. Since the formation of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, the focus and mission is to promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands open for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.orgor contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122


Please distribute this message to your clubs and other places you might frequent. I think that maybe the NEA4WDC should consider making a donation to their efforts. :)
tammylynn
 
Posts: 7917
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:24 pm

Postby mike_belben » Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:15 am

makes me feel better about that blueribbon membership.. good. i think we should be suing the govt left and right personally.

every time the forestry services releases a forest management plan, the greenies go to court over the thinning of mature timber, saying old growth (read: dead kindling waiting for a bolt of lightning to set ablaze) forests are key to complete ecosystems BS. greenies sue for anything. thats why the government is so afraid of them and panders to the sierra club's beck and call.
Sink or Swim
mike_belben
 
Posts: 109
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:46 pm

Postby tammylynn » Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:29 pm

The following is where donations can be submitted for the Tellico Project.

Frankly, law suits are not cheap. We need your donations. You can donate online at www.SFWDA.orgor Tax deductable at www.sharetrails.org/rescue-tellico or donate tax deductable through the United Land Action Fund at P.O. Box 15696, Chesapeake, VA 23328. You can purchase Rescue Tellico Items at www.cafepress.com/rescuetellico. All proceeds are donated to the Rescue Tellico Fund.


On June 28th, 2008 the delegates of the NEA4WDC voted to approve a donation of $500. :up:
tammylynn
 
Posts: 7917
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 11:24 pm


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