We Need To Save Johnson Valley OHV!

[rollo]

Time to speak up, folks. The draft EIS has been out for a few months, and the public comment period closes on Thursday, May 26. We stand to lose JV unless we take a significant position against the expansion.

Online comment form:
https://extranet.tecinc.com/29Palms_DEIS/

Herald PE article:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/...5.23d2bb4.html

Pirate 4x4 threads:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=977597
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=977850

Letter generator:
http://dev.aldosgroup.com/LetterGenerator/

Dezert Rangers post outlining valid opposition points:
http://www.dezertrangers.com/vb/save...tm#post2617176

Photos of JV rallycross events:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=john...alley%20rallyx

Originally Posted by ARRA

All DEIS Alternatives Would Restrict Access

As you have no doubt heard by now, the United States Marines are seeking to establish a large-scale training range facility at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, California. To this end a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been released. Comments will be accepted until Thursday, May 26th.

The DEIS analyzes 6 alternatives for potential impacts to land use, recreation, public health and safety, air quality, noise, biological resources, cultural resources, geological resources, water resources and other resources. The preferred alternative is alternative 6.

The DEIS can be viewed here.

Unfortunately, any of the proposed alternatives, including the Marines’ preferred alternative, will ultimately result in the loss of OHV access and possibly a complete closure of the Johnson Valley OHV area.

Please review the DEIS and submit comments by filling in the attached webform found here. You can cut-and-paste the following or insert your own comments. Either way it is imperative that you weigh in before the comment period closes on May 26!

Suggested Comments:

As an off-highway vehicle enthusiast I write to urge you to support the “no action” alternative in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Land Acquisition and Airspace Establishment To Support Large-Scale Marine Air Ground Task Force Live Fire and Maneuver Training. I recognize that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) notes that no action “...is not a viable alternative since it does not meet the purpose and need…” However, none of the 6 proposed alternatives, including preferred alternative 6, adequately address all issues including providing for recreation, particularly motorized recreation.

Local riders, and many from adjoining regions, have been pushed off of public lands and out of many areas of the desert for decades. While I understand that the Marines have a vital mission, there simply must be a better way to provide for adequate training while not essentially eliminating responsible access to Johnson Valley for motorized recreationists.

I encourage you to withdraw the DEIS in favor of developing a new DEIS with a broadened range of alternatives that include options that allow for the continued responsible use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs), and that recognize the vital economic impact that motorized recreation has in the area.

[shakes]

do we know what happened, if anything, with JV?

[alosix]

From the best that I can tell its still in limbo. I'll be heading down there with the Jeep to volunteer @ the 2012 KOH race.. So it should at least be open till then.

[rollo]

Definitely not in limbo, they're still pushing ahead with it. Seems that they're leaning toward the split-use scenario, but there's a lot of skepticism in the off-road community about that.

Latest news:
http://www.marines.mil/unit/29palms/...ate%20rev1.pdf

The schedule for preparation of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been extended. The FEIS is studying alternatives for the Marine Corps to acquire sufficient range and airspace to meet training requirements for sustained, combined-arms, live-fire and maneuver Marine Expeditionary Brigade Training.

• More time is being taken to complete the related studies and documentation on Off Highway Vehicle Recreation, noise, protected species, and other natural resources and to respond to public comments on the Draft EIS than was originally scheduled.
  
• Taking this extra time ensures that the Marine Corps can complete a thorough analysis with the best available information of the potential environmental impacts associated with the six alternatives under study.
  
• The new schedule shows a Final EIS being made available for public review in April 2012.
  
• The new schedule shows the Department of the Navy’s Record of Decision (ROD) now being released in July 2012.

LA Times article from summer:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun...-road-20110619

[1ryot]

whats new with jv

[rollo]

I was wondering the same thing.

The final EIS was released in July 2012 as promised. It solidified their preference for "alternative 6" which still expands to the west, but is a shared use plan. They'd take ~140,000 acres, but allow public access to ~38,000 acres (including the Hammers) when they weren't training on it. They estimate 10 months a year of public access.

Our very own Soggy Lake is still within the area they want, but I can't tell if it would be part of the proposed shared use land. If you look at this map, Soggy Lake is just to the right of their "B" marker:
http://www.29palms.marines.mil/Porta...ong%5B1%5D.pdf

The Record of Decision (the final step) was slated for November or December, but it hasn't happened yet and is now being pushed into January.

A few things are still happening on the legislation side, including that HR4310, which included a JV-related amendment, was recently passed into law:
http://ultra4racing.com/featured/sav...-to-act-today/

And there some ongoing talks with the Marines:
http://ultra4racing.com/the-inside-l...ase-expansion/

Check these guys out to find out the latest scoop:
http://savethehammers.org
https://www.facebook.com/SaveTheHammers

[dhump4free]

Thought I would share this here.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pet...ublic/5r0C7Xw4