D36 can be proud of its ongoing partnership with other OHV organizations in defense of OHV permitted events.
“A nice Christmas present for D36 members.
— Don Amador, Govt. Affairs, AMA D36
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MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RENO, NV (December 20, 2018) — Recreational organizations today filed a lawsuit challenging restrictions on permits for motorcycle and other vehicle events within the range of the Bi State sage grouse. The grouse is a “distinct population segment” within the larger range of the Greater sage grouse, an iconic bird of the high desert lately distinguished by high controversy over its status and continuing management. The lawsuit focuses on changes made by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest as part of a settlement with special interest led by the Center for Biological Diversity. Under the settlement, the Forest Service agreed that motorcycle or other off-road vehicle events would not be authorized on routes passing within 4 miles of grouse breeding sites at any time of day between March 1 and June 30. The lands affected by the event stipulations are in extreme northeastern California and northwestern Nevada. The Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are the Sierra Trail Dogs Motorcycle and Recreation Club, the Pine Nut Mountains Trails Association, the American Motorcyclist Association District 36, California Four Wheel Drive Association and the BlueRibbon Coalition. “Riding on existing dirt roads and single-track trails was acknowledged to be no more than a tertiary threat to grouse, even during the height of Obama ‘Grouseketeer’ planning,” observed Jim Fulling, planner for the Trail Dog’s annual Mystery 250 motorcycle event. “The Forest’s initial plan would have imposed 3 mile buffers around grouse breeding grounds between March 1 and May 15 prior to 10 a.m., when there was at least a rational possibility that birds were on the leks. We would have lived with those requirements, but the Forest sadly caved to the arbitrary restrictions demanded by deep-pocketed preservationists with a proclivity toward litigation. We may be a peashooter to their bazooka, but we see little option but to enter this fray,” Fulling concluded. The case was filed in the U.S. District of Nevada, Reno Division. The recreational plaintiffs are represented by Paul Turcke of Boise, Idaho, and John Boyden of Reno, Nevada. A copy of the complaint can be viewed here. ### The Pine Nut Mountains Trails Association – PNMTA – is a non-profit organization that formed in 1998 in response to District 36 Motorcycle Sports Committee, Inc. An American Motorcyclist Association Recognized and Chartered District Organization California Four Wheel Drive Association, Inc. Since 1959, our non-profit organization has actively promoted the advancement of vehicle Sharetrails/BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) is a national non-profit organization that champions responsible recreation and encourages a strong conservation ethic and individual stewardship, while providing leadership in efforts to keep outdoor recreation alive and well — all sports; all trails. With members in all 50 states, Sharetrails/BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education and collaboration among recreationists. – http://sharetrails.org. |
