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I called BLM this week as they said the Environmental Assessment would be done in May.
They called back today and said the State Fish & Game Dept. and The Nature Conservancy
have required the following stipulations to allow our ride on Oct 25, 1997.
1) Only 35 horses may do both loops and only 20 horses may do one portion of one of
the loops we chose.
2) Only 15 horses may camp at the base camp with the remainder camping at two other
campsites which are 30 miles away on dirt roads.
If we accept these stipulations we can have the ride. We feel the ride is not feasable
with these requirements. For everybodies information, the Carrizo area is co-managed by
the BLM, Nature Conservancy and State Fish and Game.
At this point we are looking at 2 options.
1) Hold the ride at another site, all private if possible to avoid this type of
government action.
2) Fight the government and appeal. (if possible)
However we feel we are running out of time to appeal to the government since we need to
sanction now. We are looking at some other sites and will work on those for a little
while. Realize that we rode these trails in Jan & Feb, started talking to the BLM in Feb
and submitted the BLM permit in March. It works in their favor to tie it up in the
process until May and then come up with these type of requirements. I'd say more but I
guess I'm old enough not to get too inflammatory.
BUT if anyone on this list has connections with these groups in this area that could
put some pressure on them, we could certainly use the help. But I do not at this time,
have the time to mount an extensive public relations campaign to sway their minds.
Jim Mitchell
Bakersfield, Ca.
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