RAPID CITY, SD (February 3) — A controversial proposal from the South Dakota Wild Grasslands Coalition to lock up a large area of the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands (BGNG) has been met with stiff opposition from a broad group of stakeholders. Recreational users joined cattlemen, landowners, state legislators, and local county commissions in opposing the move. Senator Tim Johnson agreed to sponsor legislation that would put nearly 50,000 acres off limits to most uses, including casual OHV and mountain bike use. The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national trail-based recreation group, recently sent a letter to Senator Tim Johnson asking for a public hearing on the ... read more

POCATELLO, ID (January 22) - On January 15, 2010, Southern Region Deputy Regional Forester Jerome Thomas adopted the recommendation of the internal Appeal Reviewing Officer and denied the Upper Tellico OHV Area appeals submitted by the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA), United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), and the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC). "We are disappointed but not surprised by this outcome," observed Jay Bird of the Rescue Tellico Committee and Past President of SFWDA. "This was a mandatory step in an ongoing process, and it would be unusual for an agency that has been for years locked in on the outcome of closing Tellico to reverse co ... read more

SACRAMENTO, CA (January 20) - The BlueRibbon Coalition is working with a coalition of recreational access groups seeking to enter the latest lawsuit challenging motorized recreation on federal lands in California. The lawsuit was filed by the attorneys for the Western Environmental Law Center and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) on behalf of the Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation, CBD and the Forest Issues Group. It was filed against the Eldorado National Forest's Motorized Travel Plan. The preservationist plaintiffs contend the travel plan will adversely impact their recreational experience and that they will be irreparably harmed by the Record ... read more