Attention--Utah Trail Users

["Linda B. Merims" <lbm@ici.net>]

The following notice of public meetings to determine management
policy at Canyonlands National Park in Utah just came through on
the National Park Conservation Association's notification list.

As usual, NPCA is focusing on ORVs.  However, land use management plans
cover *all* aspects of use, including use by equestrians.  People
who use this land should find out what is going on.

There is a list of the dates, locations, and times of the public
hearings at the bottom of the notice.

Note that there is a new administration in Washington.  Already
the Bush administration has:

 - Stated that it will not rescind the national monuments created
   by the Clinton administration.  However, it also stated that the
   management plans that have been developed (e.g., Grand Staircase/
   Escalante), to manage these national monuments MAY BE CHANGED to
   be more in keeping with the Bush adminstration's different
   land use orientation.  This means that Grand Staircase/Escalante
   will stay a national monument, but the rules developed that
   banned Outlaw Trail may now be subject to change.

 - Decided that it will *not* defend or pursue the National Forest
   "Roadless Initiative" developed by the Clinton administration.
   The Clinton appointee who developed this policy over the last
   five years resigned his position as head of the Forest Service
   this week in protest.

So, if you feel any effort that you have put forth in these areas
has fallen on deaf ears and you have become too discouraged to
continue to participate, take heart.  The climate is definitely
shifting in our favor if we take the trouble to show up for
the process. 

Linda B. Merims
lbm@ici.net
Massachusetts, USA

--------------NPCA Notice Below----------------------------------

Subject: WILL THE NPS OPEN PARK TO ORV USE? **NPCA SPECIAL ALERT**
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:47:15 +0800
From: Parklines <parklines@npcaaction.org>
To: lbm@ici.net


3/29/01 ***NPCA SPECIAL ALERT***

http://www.npca.org/take_action/action_alerts/
     WILL THE PARK SERVICE OPEN CANYONLANDS NP TO OFF-ROAD 
     VEHICLES?
http://www.npca.org/take_action/action_alerts/

Canyonlands National Park has scheduled a series of 
important public Meetings, and is accepting public comments 
to discuss various options for the management of Salt Creek, 
which has been closed to vehicles since 1998 when the 
federal District Court of Utah ruled that they were ruining 
the fragile stream environment. There is reason to believe 
that the Park Service may be willing to re-open this 
ecological jewel to off-road vehicles. Please attend one of 
the "open house" meetings listed below if you can (they are 
low-key meetings where members of the public chat 
individually with Park Service officials).

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT, PRECEDENT-SETTING ISSUE, AND THE ORV 
GROUPS ARE ORGANIZING TO MAKE THEIR STAND HERE. YOUR 
PARTICIPATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT IF WE ARE TO KEEP THIS 
UNIQUE AREA MOTOR-FREE.

TAKE ACTION!  Go to 
http://www.npca.org/take_action/action_alerts/ to send your 
comments in now!  For those of you within driving distance, 
please attend one of the following "open houses."  The 
off?road vehicle crowd is organizing to fill the meetings 
and we need to make sure the Park Service hears more than 
just one side of the issue.  If you do not have access to 
the web, talking points and a suggested sample letter have 
been provided below.  The planning process is now in the 
scoping phase and the deadline for scoping comments is May 
1. There will be additional opportunities to comment when 
alternatives are developed.  For more information about 
motorized ab-use in our national parks, contact 
kcollins@npca.org or visit 
http://www.npca.org/across_the_nation/visitor_experience/  
For more information about Canyonlands National Park, visit: 
 http://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm

Salt Creek Open House meetings:

March 29, 2001   4-9pm  (cut this one too close, sorry!)
Ramada Inn Denver West
7150 West Colfax
Lakewood, Colorado

April 2, 2001   4-9pm
College of Eastern Utah
Blanding Arts and Events Center
790 West 200 South
Blanding, Utah

April 3, 2001   4-9pm
Sheraton Airport Hotel
307 N Admiral Byrd Road
Salt Lake City, Utah

April 5, 2001   4?-pm
La Plata County Fairgrounds
La Plata Room
2500 Main
Durango, Colorado

April 23, 2001   4-9pm
Grand County Civic Center
450 E 100 N
Moab, Utah

April 24, 2001   4-9pm
San Juan County Courthouse
County Commission Room
117 S Main
Monticello, Utah


SUGGESTED SAMPLE LETTER: Please send your comments via 
e?-ail or letter before May 1, 2001, to Canyonlands National 
Park, Attn: Salt Creek EA, 2282 Southwest Resource Blvd., 
Moab, UT  84532, or canysaltck@nps.gov .