co_big_cheese
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Grand Junction, CO
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0525offroad25.html
Judge backs BLM, rules against off-roaders in S. Utah
Associated Press
May. 25, 2003 12:00 AM
SALT LAKE CITY - A federal judge ruled the U.S. Bureau of Land Management can close 250,000 acres of public land near Moab to off-road vehicles, including the popular Factory Butte area.
U.S. District Judge Bruce Jenkins said the BLM had the power to prevent or reduce environmental damage.
Jenkins on Wednesday threw out a lawsuit from the Utah Shared Access Alliance that said the BLM acted in 2001 without taking public comment or holding hearings.
The alliance challenged restrictions on popular motor trails, off-road travel, bicycling and dispersed camping in areas near Moab and Canyonlands National Park. The off-limits areas include Factory Butte, Poison Spider Mesa, Gemini Bridges Trail.
"This ruling makes clear that the federal government can and should take reasonable measures to bring some balance to the landscape by preventing off-road vehicles from tearing apart our public lands," Earthjustice attorney Keith Bauerle said.
The lawsuit at least forced BLM to develop or update travel guidelines that accommodate some off-road travel, USA-ALL Director Brian Hawthorne said.
The BLM has issued emergency orders since the 1990s closing hundreds of thousands of acres to vehicles. Vehicles still are allowed on about 90 percent of the 22 million acres of BLM land in Utah.
Judge backs BLM, rules against off-roaders in S. Utah
Associated Press
May. 25, 2003 12:00 AM
SALT LAKE CITY - A federal judge ruled the U.S. Bureau of Land Management can close 250,000 acres of public land near Moab to off-road vehicles, including the popular Factory Butte area.
U.S. District Judge Bruce Jenkins said the BLM had the power to prevent or reduce environmental damage.
Jenkins on Wednesday threw out a lawsuit from the Utah Shared Access Alliance that said the BLM acted in 2001 without taking public comment or holding hearings.
The alliance challenged restrictions on popular motor trails, off-road travel, bicycling and dispersed camping in areas near Moab and Canyonlands National Park. The off-limits areas include Factory Butte, Poison Spider Mesa, Gemini Bridges Trail.
"This ruling makes clear that the federal government can and should take reasonable measures to bring some balance to the landscape by preventing off-road vehicles from tearing apart our public lands," Earthjustice attorney Keith Bauerle said.
The lawsuit at least forced BLM to develop or update travel guidelines that accommodate some off-road travel, USA-ALL Director Brian Hawthorne said.
The BLM has issued emergency orders since the 1990s closing hundreds of thousands of acres to vehicles. Vehicles still are allowed on about 90 percent of the 22 million acres of BLM land in Utah.