Clear Creek Recreation Area Bill H.R. 1913 Re Reintroduced, Update April 2017

[Butch]

first post updated

Update 12/11/15
Video thanks to Don Amador, BRC; key points, so you don't have to wade through two hours:

"...highlights and key testimony/discussion related to H.R. 1838. Understanding that folks have limited time, the HQ has noted key times and discussion themes.

This is a must watch video for all of us who have been engaged in efforts to reopen Clear Creek to OHV use.
LINK to VIDEO
http://naturalresources.house.gov/videos/?VideoID=ZpUG0f-KhT0

00 – Chairman Tom McClintock and Ranking Member Debbie Dingall
06:49 – Cong. Sam Farr (history of issue, assumption of risk, OHV commission, economic hit to local business, thanks CA’s odd couple, Tobin, and Ron the Townhall King, etc.
023:50 – Cong. Sam Farr (wild and scenic rivers)
025:15 – Cong. Sam Farr (assumption of risk, closure is unacceptable)
035:29 – Cong. Jeff Denham (public land should be open for public use, user fees to support mang)
036:21 – Cong. Sam Farr (discusses user fee program to support mang)
037:12 – Cong. Jeff Denham (values local support, etc.)
RECESS

1:25 – Cong. Tom McClintock (assumption of risk, use of public lands)
1:27 – Kristin Bail/BLM (BLM’s position on the bill and reasons for closure)
1:38 – San Benito County Supervisor, Jerry Muenzer (risk models, economic import, support for bill)
1:43 – Chairman McClintock (questions Muenzer on closure)
1:44 – Chairman McClintock (questions BLM on closure, hx of serpentine in CA, etc.)
1:48 – Cong. Sam Farr (expresses concerns about BLM’s decision to close and need to find a way to manage the unit for OHV and access)
1:48:46 –Cong. Doug LaMalfa (questions BLM on risk assessment)
1:51 – Cong. Doug LaMalfa (questions Muenzer on EPA and 40 years of no health cases at Clear Creek)
1:53 – Cong. Bruce Westerman (talks about closures being a national issue, need to create access for youth and not create obstacles)
2:04 - Cong. Tom McClintock (closing remarks about closures being an important issue)

 

[Butch]

this is good

1:44 – Chairman McClintock (questions BLM on closure, hx of serpentine in CA, etc.)

 

[Butch]

Phil at SBR just talked with Rick Cooper the other day...

http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/threads/149718/#post-2041961

Interesting.

 

[louemc]

I'm totally out of the loop..But will say, the riding at Clear Creek was the best in California.

The other area's are too groomed and regulated.

It has to be knarley, for me.

 

[Butch]

I'm totally out of the loop..But will say, the riding at Clear Creek was the best in California.

The other area's are too groomed and regulated.

It has to be knarley, for me.

Still is. Woods Ranch as many miles on the perimeter, and camping and good times.

Plus, CCRA will probably be reopened in a few years after our competent legislature returns things back to 2008 after blowing millions of your dollars for nothing. The decontamination station cost like $750K.

I wish we could get a movement going to get Rick Cooper fired, without his pension. Think about it. You guys who work you asses off. He won't stand up for what is right. Think. We can crush that guy. He has provided an utter disservice to the public that he is bound to serve. Endangered his staff, wasted millions, destroyed infrastructure. Broken the law of the NEPA. I have not yet begun to figure out why. Perhaps his back pockets are being filled by someone.

Do we accept this level of competence? If so, shame on us.

 

[WFO]

You can still ride in Clear Creek like you can drive 70 on the freeways around here.

It's illegal, but you probably won't get into any trouble unless you make an ass of yourself.

 

[Butch]

update in first post:
Per Don Amador, CCRA has cleared the public lands subcommittee and is waiting for mark up. The Senate or House could pick this up as a stand alone bill or bundled with other legislation.

They might be too obsessed "the Donald" to do that though.

 

[Butch]

this just in from our friend Don Amador and the BRC:
...for those of you who have been following the effort to get Clear Creek reopened:
We are moving one step closer to getting legislation passed/enacted when the House Committee on Natural Resources marks-up HR 1839 on Wed. March 16

Link to Mark Up Notice
http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=400090

Thanks to all who have been supporting this 5-6 year legislative effort!
Don

H.R. 1838 (Rep. Sam Farr), To establish the Clear Creek National Recreation Area in San Benito and Fresno Counties, California, to designate the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness in such counties, to designate additional components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. “Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act”

If you guys contacted you congress person and our senators it would help. I'll try to get a letter generator linky.

 

[Butch]

according to Bruce Brazil of CORVA, and from SBR:
"It looks like HR 1838 was passed by unanimous consent by the full committee. There was no discussion of the bill.
Ride on
Brewster CORVA".

This is good. Update to follow on what our next step should be.

 

[Butch]

update in first post

 

[Butch]

Clear Creek Moves Forward

Clear Creek Recreation Area
Clear Creek Recreation Area, BLM California

Legislation that would restore OHV riding in the Clear Creek area in San Benito and Fresno Counties in California, H.R. 1838, authored by Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), was approved by the House of Representatives on July 5, 2016. This important legislative milestone has been a long time in the making and something on which ARRA has worked closely with the Farr office. The measure now goes to the Senate for action. We have already begun to work on the Senate side in hopes that similar action can be taken before the conclusion of this session of Congress. This is a priority of ours and we will keep you posted as developments occur.

 

[louemc]

Clear Creek Recreation Area
Clear Creek Recreation Area, BLM California

Legislation that would restore OHV riding in the Clear Creek area in San Benito and Fresno Counties in California, H.R. 1838, authored by Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), was approved by the House of Representatives on July 5, 2016. This important legislative milestone has been a long time in the making and something on which ARRA has worked closely with the Farr office. The measure now goes to the Senate for action. We have already begun to work on the Senate side in hopes that similar action can be taken before the conclusion of this session of Congress. This is a priority of ours and we will keep you posted as developments occur.

:thumbup Clear Creek is the Supreme Dirt riding.

The other parks have Groomed trails :wtf Dirt riding to have ALL the value it can have...
Has to be Raw, as is how it came.

 

[DefyInertia]

Thanks for the update. Love the creek.

 

[Butch]

Please join ARRA. http://www.arra-access.com
Free. And they are shit together.

 

[Butch]

update in first post. I think that unless we each contact our representatives we are screwed.

http://www.arra-access.com/newsletter/washington-newsletter-october-2016/

 

[Butch]

I am reviving this, as the Trump dust is beginning to settle; to Zoe Lofgren, Congress:

Subject: Town Hall Sunday and H.R. 1838. Clear Creek National Recreation Area
Date: March 10, 2017 at 9:54:24 AM PST
To: Soto Sandra <sandra.soto@mail.house.gov>

I was thinking Sunday’s meeting with the Congresswoman is not really the venue for my issue, so I will not be attending, contrary to my previous RSVP. I am sympathetic to the turmoil the Trump presidency has created that you guys have to deal with.

Still, the business of government must go on, and the wheels turn slowly, so I expect you all to take care of business. I suppose you are.
Still, I think Congress has been unresponsive in our local issue.

Old news, but still true:
10/2/2016 From ARRA
H.R. 1838. Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act
As we reported previously, the House of Representatives passed the Clear Creek legislation in July and the measure was sent to the Senate. The committee of jurisdiction, Senate Energy and Natural Resources, received the bill and held a hearing on the measure on September 22nd. This hearing was a key hurdle we needed to overcome in order to move the legislation forward to the full Senate. We are literally running out of time. To get this bill across the finish line, it has to be done during the Lame Duck session. The Director of the Bureau of Land Management did testify at the hearing and the Obama Administration has officially come out against the recreation portion of the bill, the very section we care about! The Director testified that while BLM supports the proposed Wilderness designation in the bill, it cannot support provisions that could increase the exposure of public lands users and employees to naturally occurring asbestos. This despite an independent risk assessment study commissioned by the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation that concluded management and operational strategies could be effectively employed in the area to allow OHV use without exposing the public to unacceptable risks.

Again, this closure is a complete fraud and disservice to many Americans, and a burden to local communities. I still wonder who the closure served, as I know nothing is random. The closure was inspired by some level of corruption.

Can yyou tell me the future of this subject bill?

One of the sad things about this is the disillusionment it create in young people. I think it leads some to believe the government is serving some special interest, ignores them, and they must break the rules. I try to inspire other to do the right thing, especially young folks (the future) but it is difficult when our leaders set a poor example. Millions of dollars have been spent on this process, seeming with a predetermined fate.

Perhaps the new administration will be good for our sport.
I will call.

 

[WFO]

I look forward to seeing the response. Last time I wrote a letter to Zoe Lofgren, the response I got was since I wasn't part of her constituency, she couldn't do anything for me.

 

[Butch]

I look forward to seeing the response. Last time I wrote a letter to Zoe Lofgren, the response I got was since I wasn't part of her constituency, she couldn't do anything for me.

Please write to your congressperson. We need to bring this to the attention of all of the members of congress in the western states.

There is a linky to find your congressperson somewhere here, and at the AMA site, and CORVA, and ARRA...

 

[WFO]

Or we could just ride our bikes at Clear Creek and not worry about the consequences. Many do with relative impunity.

 

[Butch]

CCRA H.R. 1913 Re Re Introduced

April 5, 2017 Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, California Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), David G. Valadao (CA-21), Jeff Denham (CA-10), and Paul Cook (CA-08) introduced H.R. 1913, the Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act. This bill directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reopen the 63,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area in San Benito and Fresno counties for use by off-road vehicles. The legislation would also protect 21,000 acres of BLM land adjacent to Clear Creek by designating the area the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness.

“As a Californian on the Natural Resources Committee, it is important to me to protect and preserve California’s public lands for future generations. This bipartisan bill not only bolsters our area’s conservation efforts, it also promotes recreation and tourism in our region,” said Congressman Panetta. “When this bill passes, locals and visitors will no longer be restricted from enjoying all that Clear Creek Management Area has to offer.”

“Californians have been enjoying the natural beauty of Clear Creek for decades. This legislation is a common-sense solution which not only reopens the land for off highway vehicle use but also directs additional land to be preserved for future generations,” said Congressman Valadao. “I am excited to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues and look forward to reopening the Clear Creek Management Area for our constituents and the entire state to enjoy once again.”

A similar bill, H.R. 1838, to reopen the Clear Creek Management Area for recreational use was introduced in 2015 by Congressman Sam Farr. Once considered a premier off-road vehicle recreation site, Clear Creek was temporarily closed in 2008 to the public after an Environmental Protection Agency analysis about the risk created by naturally occurring asbestos. The bill instructs the BLM to develop a rigorous plan to minimize the risk from asbestos exposure and educate visitors about the naturally occurring asbestos. The BLM would also be required to find ways to reduce the impact of off-road vehicles to protect the area’s habitat.