At Your Leisure
Covered the Paiute Trail UTV Jamboree
BLM Proposing Significant Fee Increase at Little Sahara Recreation Area
Little Sahara Recreation Area, Utah – Federal officials are proposing an increase in fees for users at Little Sahara Recreation Area. Nearly 300,000 enthusiasts flocked to the dunes in 2009 and BLM says they have not been collecting enough money to pay for services that are provided. “The new plan is to try to get the revenue that we generate to approximately match the amount that we spend every year,” said Glenn Carpenter with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Read more…
A New Generation of USGS Maps
Washington, D.C.- “US Topo” is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey. Digital US Topo maps are designed to look, feel, and perform like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known. However, in contrast to paper-based maps, US Topo maps provide technical advantages that support faster, wider public distribution and enable basic, on-screen geographic analysis for all users. Read more…
"There is a critical piece of legislation that was just introduced into the Utah House of Representatives by Representative Mike Noel of Kanab. Representative Noel is a strong advocate of public land access, and is a friend of ATV riders in Utah. The bill is being carried in the Utah Senate by Senator Ralph Okerlund of Monroe, another champion and friend of the OHV community.
The legislation is HB179, and is probably the single most critical piece of OHV related legislation that I have ever seen in Utah. In addition to making some rather small corrections in the law, it does one very critical thing: It removes a provision in the law that would "sunset" the motor fuel tax appropriation that is returned to State Parks to fund the OHV program. As the law now stands, we stand to lose $1 Million a year if this bill does not pass!! This is the money that we use to fund trail maintenance and development; build facilities on the trails; fund SAR activities and a whole host of other OHV related activities. This is the money that keeps our trails open, and is money that you pay into the system every time you buy gas for your ATV, snowmobile, or motorcycle!
If you live in Utah, PLEASE contact your state Representative and Senator and urge them to support HB179. And while you are at it, contact Representative Noel and Senator Okerlund and give them a big "Atta-Boy". If you don't live in Utah but enjoy riding here, a few well placed emails to the Utah Legislature detailing the money you spent here riding the trails would be time well spent!!
You can find details on HB179, or contact your legislator by visiting the Utah Legislature's website at www.le.utah.gov
Let me tell you that because of the timing of HB179, it is the single most critical piece of legislation that has come before the legislature during my tenure in state government service, at least as far as OHV interests are concerned. Fred Hayes OHV Coordinator"
Please contact your legislators as this bill goes to committee, and again before it is debated on either the House or Senate floor. We feel good about this bill and we believe it will pass but we need to apply pressure to help make sure that happens. Please get involved.
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