Amer. Land Access Assoc
4 messages in this thread
Thank you Doug!
I've pretty much quit but I used to ride dirt bikes (in designated off-road
riding areas only) and am still in touch with the land use issue from a
recreational standpoint which certainly includes rockhounding.
I was out to the opal canyon north of Redrock a few weeks ago and learned they
are within the intended closure area of the "California Desert Protection Act"
if Redrock becomes a National Park (which they say the rangers told them is
planned). Apparently it has been recognized that the canyon is a significant
attraction of users to the area and pretty much must be accessed with vehicles
so they are confident it won't be closed.
But here's a scary item I saw in the Mason Valley News, sec 3, pg 3 of the
December 3, 1993 issue…
One article, two items actually, first it refers to a biological survey of the
entire United States. Described as Babbitt's Biological Survey Act, the article
states it would involve surveying every inch of public and private land for
biological significance. Mention is made that a priority of Babbitt is that
this Act be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. Whew!
Second item in this article describes the Corridor Plan sponsored by Foreman,
co-founder of Earth First!, which would link wilderness for grizzlies and gray
wolves to move from New Mexico to Greenland and Chihuahua to Alaska.
The article itself doesn't say much else and I have no expertise on either of
these but they sure seem significant enough to be mentioned.
-Russ
Oh btw, would it be OK to post a copy of your msg about ALAA in the Racing
Forum?
Why would they exempt this from the Freedom of Information Act?
John…
—> Why would they exempt this from the Freedom of Information Act?
Sorry, I have no idea. The article was very brief, I presented everything it
mentioned.
-Russ
Hi, Russ–
If Redrock becomes a park, access may be kept for racers, but opal collectors
might be left out in the cold (look, but do not remove!). That desert
protection act is one of many I have learned of from the ALAA, and the ALAA
gives notions of how to try to keep targeted collecting sites open.
Please feel free to post the ALAA notice anywhere; they want to get noticed!
The president of ALAA encouraged me to post their newsletter here, which I have
been meaning to do, but have not had free time with a scanner+OCR handy.
While ALAA aims to represent the collector viewpoint, racers should benefit
from its information on upcoming laws and tactics, and there may be some
alliances possible with racers' interest groups.
I'm with John in wondering why this exemption from the Freedom of Information
Act.
–Doug