[RC] MSNBC.com Article Clarifies Forest Service Order - Dbeverly4
Following is an e-mail I received from a friend who manages a NATRC ride
near San Diego. Maybe this is a way that the Oconee (sp?) ride can be
saved (?). No idea, but pertinent information nonetheless.
Sylvia
>>
This is a news article about a judges order that affects public use of
National Forests. This order almost canceled the RAHA Rally Competitive
Trail Ride this year. Our permit request to have some of the trails used
for our ride on Forest Service land was not issued because of this order.
We were informed by the Forest Service that they were no longer able to
grant any permits that required a "Categorical Exclusion", which included Trail
Rides. We were informed that the entire special use permit process would
need to be followed, including publishing in the local paper, gathering public
input, holding a public meeting.... All just to let a few horses ride on
established Truck Trails..... We were given a "work around" by the Forest
Service, where we wrote a letter stating that we would: Not
charge a fee for any portion of the ride held on National Forest land
Adjust the fees charged to ride on the private lands to make up lost
revenue from not charging for National Forest land Have fewer
than 75 riders in the National Forest at any one time.
After meeting
these conditions, we were informed that we did not need a permit, and thus we
could still have our ride. It was only through the help of the forest
ranger helping us that we salvaged our ride.
This article does
alleviate the major concerns I had on the order as explained to me by the forest
ranger before our ride. But it also shows how fragile our use of our own
National Forests can be. Bob Insko
Judge clarifies Forest
Service order Clarifying an earlier ruling, a federal judge has told the U.S.
Forest Service that while it must take public comments and consider appeals on
major projects, it doesn't have to for minor things like hunting
permits. http://g.msn.com/0MN2ET7/2?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9772509&&CM=EmailThis&CE=1 _____________________________
