Special to the Sun
Congressman Kevin McCarthy today highlighted H.R. 1581, legislation he introduced to increase access to public lands for all Americans. The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011 would release approximately 43 million acres of Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) for use by the public. These lands have been recommended by their managing agencies, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service, respectively, as not suitable for wilderness, but that is essentially how they are being managed. This means that public access and activities on these lands is severely limited. H.R. 1581 would act on the BLM and Forest Service recommendations and open up the specified 43 million acres for multiple use.
“Millions of acres of land across the United States are being held under lock and key unnecessarily,” said Congressman McCarthy. “My bill acts on recommendations made by the government agencies managing these lands so they are opened up for increased public use. This is just common sense. By opening these lands up to residents of our local communities and across the country for their use and enjoyment, we can help create jobs, boost local economies and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.”
 If HR 1581, Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011, authored by Rep. Kevin McCarthy, becomes law the ascribed areas would be open to multiple public uses. Above, Inventoried Roadless Areas 1-6 and 8 have been deemed unsuitable for wilderness. |
• Lift the restrictive management practices on these specific 43 million acres and direct that they be managed for multiple use, which includes increased recreational opportunities, responsible resource development and better access for firefighting capabilities;
• Terminate Secretarial Order 3310 with specific regard to the BLM lands released by this bill to ensure that these lands cannot be restricted again by the Interior Department administratively designating them “Wild Lands;” and
• Terminate the 2001 and 2005 Nationwide Roadless Rules with specific regard to the Forest Service lands released by this bill to return these lands’ management planning process to local communities, who know best how their local land should be managed.
“I applaud Congressman McCarthy. This legislation is a reasonable and practical means of promoting sustainable economies in the rural west by providing a multitude of land uses. For too long, public activity and uses consistent with the Federal Land Management Policy Act have been locked out of these lands. Congressman McCarthy’s bill will implement the professional judgment and recommendations of the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service,” said Supervisor Jon McQuiston.
This legislation would open up approximately 218,000 acres in Kern County. There are 11 WSAs in the Bakersfield Field Office jurisdiction totaling 21,143 acres, of which 18,000 have been recommended as not suitable for wilderness. There are seven IRAs within the Sequoia National Forest with over 200,000 acres that have been recommended as not suitable for wilderness. The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011 does not direct that the lands released by this legislation be used for any specific activity; rather, it allows local land managers and surrounding communities to determine through the local land management planning process whether these areas ought to be used for these activities or not.
“We support this long-overdue bill for family recreation and the environment,” added Stewards of the Sequoia Executive Director Chris Horgan. “It is wonderful when one bill benefits recreation, rural economies and the environment, allowing future generations access to enjoy the great outdoors. These lands have languished for far too long and we think reasonable people across America will join us in supporting this much needed legislation.”
Allowing these lands to be managed as multiple use areas opens them up to responsible resource development such as healthy forest management and grazing, as well as numerous recreational activities including motorized sporting and increased hunting and fishing. These activities would help create jobs and generate new revenue for local communities across the country. In addition, opening up these lands would make it much easier to clear fallen and rotting trees and underbrush, reducing the danger of the out-of-control wildfires that have been prevalent in California and around the nation in recent years.
“From a firefighting perspective, the opening of these lands will give those who are ‘Sworn to Protect’ a fighting chance to aggressively attack wildland fires in the early stages,” said Kern County Fire Chief Nick Dunn. “The firefighting community in concert with those agencies who mange these lands can and will develop responsible “Healthy Forest” management plans to reduce the threat of out-of-control wildfires.
“The Kern County Fire Department this past year had four of the largest fires in California. Our proactive fire planning approach to reduce the threat of wildfires in the communities of Tehachapi, Kernville and Lebec were proven to be a great success.”
The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011 is cosponsored by 22 members of Congress and is supported by over 60 local, state and national groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Western Business Roundtable, National Rifle Association, Americans for Responsible Recreational Access, California Cattlemen’s Association, and the Mojave Trails Group.
“On behalf of the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce, we strongly support this bill. The studies have been completed and the areas have been recommended as unsuitable for wilderness. It is time to turn these areas back to the local communities to develop land use plans that benefit all of us. The Kern River Valley economy depends upon our visitors. When access to the Federal Lands is restricted, our economy suffers,” said Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce Vice President and USFS Retired Division Chief Fred Roach.
“Also, we tend to forget that when these areas are closed, the infrastructure deteriorates to the point that fire equipment cannot use them for access to wildland fires. Not only can we not treat the fire fuels on the ground, we cannot gain access when needed to successfully fight the fires.”
Comments
35 comment(s)Nickey wrote on Sep 27, 2011 5:04 PM:
BibleBelt wrote on Jun 11, 2011 7:59 PM:
I'm surprised The Sun fell for it. "
curious minds wrote on Jun 2, 2011 9:13 PM:
John Perry wrote on Jun 1, 2011 8:59 PM:
Google [US forest tree count 1900].
Most were park like, trees with the lowest branches 15 or 20 feet above the ground.
Pioneers could drive their wagons through the forests. Impossible today!
The tree count is 10 to 20 times greater today than at the turn of the last century.
How do we return the forest to their original condition and eliminate the massive firestorms of today?
Ask Sequoia Forest Keepers why the Clear Creek Fire Reduction Project did not take place. "
Long Tom wrote on May 31, 2011 7:50 PM:
Oh, and bag the "it's the environmentalists fault" line.....sounds like what Rush tells the stupid dittoheads to think. "
Truth of course wrote on May 30, 2011 1:34 PM:
Talk about a selfish agenda! Let "sleeping dogs lie!" "
John Perry wrote on May 30, 2011 11:43 AM:
I asked if you had seen damage and you cited the Piutes and Breckinridge.
I spend time in both areas and have never seen the damage you claim.
ALL I'm asking for is honesty and perspective.
Extreme environmentalists, their law suits and appeals are a direct cause of millions upon millions of acres of wildlands being destroyed every year.
Yet you and others never complain or place blame for this needless massive destruction.
It's easy to blame the obvious and the ONLY group that pays for the priveledge of using our wildlands.
What are you doing Dave? "
David Warren wrote on May 29, 2011 6:33 PM:
John Perry wrote on May 29, 2011 11:11 AM:
Long Tom, Bike/ATV trails are away from FS roads.
I think you and Dave are exagerating.
How much time planting trees or trail maintenance or money do you, Dave or your friends contribute to the forest?
The SNF has received millions of dollars from the California Green Sticker Trust Fund in the last 6 years which is funded with OHV license fees.
Little of this money has benifitted the OHV riders.
Time to stop exagerating!
I'm still waiting for you to show me the damage Dave. "
Long Tom wrote on May 29, 2011 10:10 AM:
David Warren wrote on May 28, 2011 4:58 PM:
John Perry wrote on May 28, 2011 3:33 PM:
The only noise I heard was from a jacked up Ford 4X4PU that came around a curve going to fast and allmost ran me off the road.
Maybe the silence your after is in the burn areas of the Piutes where there are no birds singing, mice or ground squirles scurrying around. Just DEAD silence because their habitat was completely destroyed because of an enviromentalist groups appeal against the FS fuel reduction program. "
Long Tom wrote on May 27, 2011 7:36 PM:
Long Tom wrote on May 27, 2011 7:32 PM:
Matt Freeman wrote on May 27, 2011 2:36 PM:
David Warren wrote on May 27, 2011 10:44 AM:
Don Evans wrote on May 27, 2011 8:45 AM:
David Warren wrote on May 27, 2011 6:41 AM:
John Perry wrote on May 26, 2011 8:33 PM:
Now you know how myself and others feel when accused of deliberately destroying public lands by environmental groups and their members.
OHV'S will be allowed on the released land when and IF the managing agency establishes OHV trails after public hearings and comment.
If you want to protect the forest educate yourself on proper fuel reduction and forest management practices.
Destructive firestorms DESTROY millions upon millions of forest every year and most are a direct result of the extreme environmentalists, their appeals and law suits.
Have you hiked the Piute burn areas? "
David Warren wrote on May 26, 2011 10:46 AM:
John Perry wrote on May 26, 2011 9:50 AM:
You cite all these scientific reports and say you have seen the massive damage and now thousands of miles of renegade trails in the Piutes and Breckinridge.
It's easy to post your unvalidated opinions.
Please back up your assertions with proof.
Show me where the massive damage is.
Like all other extreme environmentalist that have posted their falacious charges here you refuse to offer proof of the damage in our area.
WHY? "
Dave Warren wrote on May 26, 2011 8:30 AM:
bandanamn1776 wrote on May 26, 2011 6:15 AM:
John Perry wrote on May 25, 2011 7:45 PM:
Will you also show me the massive destruction there?
I'm not trying to be a wies guy.
If there is massive OHV destruction I would like to see it.
If it's there I will be as upset as you. "
John Perry wrote on May 25, 2011 7:39 PM:
I've ridden the Piutes for the last 6 years. Over 400 miles last year.
The only massive destruction I've seen was caused by the massive firestorm created because extreme environmentalist stopped the Clear Creek Fuel Reduction Program.
Extreme environmentalism and the firestorms they create causes more damage than OHV's could ever cause.
I'm retired, so I'm avalible at your convenienc to view the massive destruction by OHV's in the Piutes Dave. "
dave aka-tippy wrote on May 25, 2011 1:30 PM:
Julie C. wrote on May 25, 2011 1:05 PM:
dave aka-tippy wrote on May 25, 2011 12:59 PM:
mike wrote on May 25, 2011 12:28 PM:
david warren wrote on May 25, 2011 7:45 AM:
John Perry wrote on May 24, 2011 5:08 PM:
David Warren wrote on May 24, 2011 2:09 PM:
John Perry wrote on May 24, 2011 11:50 AM:
Every time a letter is posted in support of opening up land for EVERYONE protectionists complain and site destruction of the forest.
PROVE YOUR FALACIOUS ALLEGATIONS. "
david warren wrote on May 24, 2011 11:10 AM:
David Beaumont Mojave Trails Group wrote on May 22, 2011 10:26 AM: