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CCMA Closure; the continuing Clear Creek access struggle

Butch

Butch

poseur
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 5, 2002
Location
San Jose, bottom of dirty 130
Moto(s)
‘18 Alta EX006, ‘17 Alta MX019, 06R6, 05TM530, 01TM250 2T, ‘24 Yam Tenere 700, Lightning Spark
Name
Butch
BARF perks
AMA #: 1093637
Jeeze, I'm way behund updating this.
Please go to "riders right" to see that Sam Farr ha introduced a bill to create CC national recreation area, to be tied to tha proposed Pinnacles Natl Park.. 8/14/12...

today 10/4/2011
Don Amador Blog:
the San Benito County Board of Supervisors voted today 5-0 in favor of a Resolution to petition Congress to designate the Clear Creek Management Area as a National Recreation Area.


HQ’s Don Amador gave a presentation regarding the need for Congress to step in and bypass the local land manager when he/she is not acting in the best interest of the public. Besides Amador, a number of OHV recreationists and a local newspaper owner stepped up to the podium and supported the County’s effort to champion access on behalf of their constituents.

Chairman Margie Barrios also cited the many campgrounds the Hollister Field Office had ripped out over the last several years and the recently constructed multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded “decontamination center” as prime examples of government waste.

Link to blog (with photo) of 1.7 million dollar boondoggle
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/01/jan-14-clear-creek-meeting-blm-and-epa.html

HQ believes access champions have taken one giant step in this long journey. Certainly the trail will be rough over the next few years while efforts are made to have Clear Creek designated as a National Recreation Area. However, it is a journey that all of us should be prepared to take.

PS - I plan to post the Resolution once the county publishes it and provides a link. Based on the comments by the county supervisors, I expect it to reflect the appropriate NRA related land management tenets in my July 22 Congressional testimony.


... this is old: Yesterday I went to the Timekeepers MC meeting and campaigned. I've gone and met with my Congresperson Zoe Lofgren (rep actual) since...

Here’s what to do now, updated 6/9/11
We are waiting for the release of the Proposed Environmental Impact Study EIS/ Resource Management Plan RMP.
Rick Cooper said late fall 2011.

We are waiting.

Meanwhile, we can inform all our congress folks. I met with Zoe Lofgren's (district 16) office last week. It was easy, and opens a dialog they cannot ignore.

Can folks step to meeting their congressperson’s aide?

It looks like
N Bay, District CA6 & 7
E Bay CA8, 9 & 10
Delta CA3
Valley CA11, 18 & 19
SF CA12
Penn CA14
SClara CA16
Salinas etc CA17
Coalinga etc CA20

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd

from before...
the moto politics is getting pretty damn complicated.
SBR has a good forum
http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=141

Updated 4/5/11: The OHV Division did their own asbestos study confirming the deception of the BLM. There is an OHV Commission meeting today in Hollister. I will be there. ET;s blog is a nice summary http://www.salinasramblersmc.org/tobin/blog/blog.htm

Updated 1/29/11 from http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area/ccma_prmpfeis.html

Status Update: Clear Creek Management Area Proposed RMP and Final EIS

Due to the complexity of working with other local, State, and Federal governments the Clear Creek Management Area Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (CCMA PRMP/FEIS) has taken longer to complete than originally anticipated. The Hollister Field Office has submitted the Notice of Availability (NOA) for the CCMA PRMP/FEIS for review and approval by the BLM California State Office and BLM Washington DC National Office. The new anticipated date for the CCMA PRMP/FEIS available for public review will be March/April 2011.

BLM will announce release of the PRMP/FEIS through local newspapers and the CCMA mailing list once the NOA is published in the Federal Register. A 30-day public protest period begins upon release the PRMP/FEIS. More information about the public protest period and resolution process is available at the BLM Resource Management Plan Protest Resolution informational web page.

Following the 30-day public protest period, BLM must resolve protests before approving any changes to the CCMA's land use decisions. This usually takes 3-6 months. The final Record of Decision (ROD) for the CCM PRMP/FEIS will replace the current Temporary Closure Order for the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

We are trying to use Friends of Clear Creek Management area as the primary outlet for information on actions we the public should take. The website http://foccma.org/html/home/LatestNews.php is kind sketchy tho.

The SBR site has the most passion... [http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=144] there is a lot of noise to sift thru. I'll try to do that for you.

These should also be good:
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/
Ed Tobin/ ET:
http://www.salinasramblersmc.org/Tobin/Blog/blog.htm
Ed's summary:
http://www.salinasramblersmc.org/Tobin/Blog/BOS Handout3.pdf

Latest:

The final Environmental Impact Study EIS/ Resource Management Plan RMP is scheduled to be released this month. The BLM has not been responsible in executing its duties, so we will see. After that we get to protest.

In a nutshell, here is the process:

1. Scoping
2. Dec 4, 2009 Release of Draft Management Plan/ Draft EIS
3. 90 day comment period;
4. Release of Proposed Management Plan/ Final EIS; Rick Cooper said Jan 2011. Now March/April 2011 NOW WE WAIT
8. 30 day comment/ protest period
6. Record of Decision

CCMA closed CCMA on May 2,2008.



contacts that may need updating:
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar http://www.doi.gov/contact.html

Senators to the federal government
Boxer, Barbara - (D - CA) Class III
112 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3553
boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/

Feinstein, Dianne - (D - CA) Class I
331 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3841
feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactU...

Congress for the fed gov
find yours here: http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a23/
Zoe Lofgren http://www.lofgren.house.gov/

State Senate & Assembly
find yours here: http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/legislators/your_legislator.html
Elaine Alquist http://dist13.casen.govoffice.com/
Joe Coto http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a23/


I will continue to update this.

I'll post up when i get more information. This thread is a good resource:
http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246402&highlight=CCMA
 
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So those crooks have managed to keep clear creek from us for 3 years. Great.
 
The Clear Creek Story

from our friends at SBR, names changed to protedt the innocent. I am going to revise and hand carry to my representative's agent.

Sorry I have been so cryptic lately but, I can't wait any longer. There has been so much going on behind the scenes. Start calling your local and state representatives and tell them what is happening.

I'm not done yet, keep checking back here, I will have more to share later.

K

Dear Congressman Farr, 04-07-2010

I am a Police Officer with the City of Santa Cruz and have been employed there for almost 18 years. I wanted to pass on a little information I found that I hoped would garner your support to re-open the Clear Creek Management Area. I have been recreating in the Clear Creek Management Area since I was a young boy, 1968.

The Friends of clear Creek Management Area who I am a member of requested from the BLM's Hollister field Office, information regarding Clear Creek under the Freedom of Information Act. After going through many of the reports, memos and emails I found some interesting information that you needed to be aware of.

I also requested using FOIA the photographs the EPA took during their test to record their "as close to real life" testing procedures.

On September 28, 2005 the EPA conducted their dry season dust sampling and took many photographs to document their study. The CCMA was closed to the public during the test due to the BLM enacting a dry season closure. In the photos and DEIS comment I attached you can clearly see the roadway where the ATV's and motorcycles are riding, it is very dusty. What I wanted to point out is the CCMA road has had tons of gravel placed and compacted on it over the years to keep vehicle traffic safe and to control erosion. In the photos the EPA took during their testing they photographed a portion of the roadway from Oak flat back towards the entrance. In these photos you can clearly see tractor tracks and scrape marks on the roadway, which appear to cover the fresh tire tracks. Per the BLM Hollister field Office there are no records of road maintenance during this time period and per their own policy they do not conduct road maintenance during dry the season.

The BLM purposely softened the roadway using a tractor to create dustier conditions just prior to the EPA test. This action severely undermines the public's trust in the BLM and EPA. I have attached the photographs for viewing.

On March 4, 2008 at 0831 hours, Mike Poole sent Henri Bisson an email titled: Clear Creek Asbestos Problem-Serious. The following is from the email. I attached the complete email for your viewing.

“If the EPA risk assessments hold true in their final report to be completed late April or early May, we plan to close the area off to public use. This temporary/emergency closure would encompass approximately 32,000 acres-perhaps even more to logically secure the area at key points. Subsequently, we will revise the Clear Management Plan and decide on a preferred alternative regarding future use.”

“The exposure rates are much higher than expected.” “Both the BLM Toxicologist Karl Ford and the Departmental industrial hygienist Tim Radtke have reviewed the draft EPA findings. At this stage, they have not disputed the risk assessment to human health. This includes the EPA protocols for sampling, analysis and modeling outcomes. We anticipate the closure will go into effect around May 1-concurrent with the posting of the final report by EPA.”

I have the Karl Fords memo to Rick Cooper dated February 8, 2008 regarding review of “Clear Creek Management Area Asbestos Exposure and Human Health Risk Assessment,” Region 9 EPA. Ford had many concerns about the EPA test results.

The HFO BLM had been in direct contact all along with the EPA regarding their test results and knew the EPA’s position regarding the risk assessment was “uncertainty or perhaps zero.” The draft is not yet out yet and when they do receive it, it still states “uncertainty and perhaps zero.” The EPA’s report does not reflect a need to close CCMA.

On 03-07-2008 at 1:32 pm Rick Cooper sent Jim Abbott an email titled: Discussion on Clear Creek.

First bulleted paragraph: "Making a decision the minute the final report comes out gives the appearance that BLM dis not even take time to consider the report. The intent of the RMP was to analyze land use on the project area utilizing the assessment data. It is in BLM's interest to have an open public process (even a short one) prior to making a decision for closure and may aid in our defense of any appeals."

Second bulleted paragraph: "BLM will need to close all county roads in CCMA to effectively close and control access to the Hazardous Asbestos Area. Not fully disclosing BLM's intent (closure) with key audiences identified in the Pre Comm. Plan and then 2 weeks later closing the CCMA could be detrimental for our long term relations ad credibility with our stakeholders."

On 04-11-2008 at 1105 hours, After receiving the final draft EPA Executive summary report regarding the asbestos test/study of Clear Creek, Timothy Moore sent Rick Cooper an email regarding the EPA's report. Also included with the executive summary is a three-fold information sheet titled "Asbestos in the Environment at the Clear Creek Management Area."

Mr Moore writes: Rick, On the FAQ's- we need to change the information packet we sell that contains, "Asbestos in the Environment at the Clear Creek Management Area." some of this information in this three page handout conflicts with the new EPA data, such as pg 2 "low levels of asbestos are not likely to be harmful to your health."

"I think the BLM needs to develop its own FAQ's for the CCMA EIS process."

"Questions could be:"

"Why the emergency closure?"

I have attached Timothy Moore's original email for your viewing.

On 04-11-2008 at 0142 PM Rick Cooper sent Jere Johnson and Arnold Den of the EPA an email regarding the Executive Summary. Subject: uncertainty in model.

Jere and Arnold,

Just reading through the executive summary. The last paragraph places some doubt as to the adequacy of the model used. The risk could be lower or zero. I am aware that the EPA has been consistent in mentioning this and it was in the previous draft.

I am sure the BLM will be asked “why make an emergency decision on a model that may not accurately portray the risks to the public?”

The basis for this decision is the models depiction that most of the activities exceed the acceptable risk range of 1in 10,000.

Any thoughts on a response?

The EPA’s report still reflects their position regarding the risk assessment, which was “uncertainty or perhaps zero.”

The EPA has not been very forthcoming with my FOIA requests for information regarding their communications between the EPA and BLM regarding the CCMA.

My investigation shows the BLM severely sabotaged the EPA’s dust sampling test in September of 2005. Also the BLM was in contact with the EPA throughout the study and knew the EPA’s opinion regarding the risk was “uncertainty and perhaps zero” not supporting an emergency closure. After the final EPA draft was provided to the BLM, the BLM convinced the EPA to change the wording to support an emergency then permanent closure of the Clear Creek Management Area.

I also learned through reading the emails the BLM met with you and your staff prior to the closure to garner your support. I believe you as was the rest of the public were misled by the BLM.

Congressman Farr, the people need your help in this matter.

Respectfully,

Timekeepers MC
Friend of Clear Creek Management Area
 
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About after four months, Feinstiens office responded to my email yesterday.

She suggested Rick Cooper and
Jackie Lane
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region IX
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 972-3236

I think I'll check that out
 
Butch said:
About after four months, Feinstiens office responded to my email yesterday.

She suggested Rick Cooper and
Jackie Lane
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region IX
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 972-3236

I think I'll check that out
Click to expand...

Why?

Just more of passing the buck on down the line to people who don't give a shit.
 
ApexMolester said:
Why?

Just more of passing the buck on down the line to people who don't give a shit.
Click to expand...

If we are to be successful, we must work with every organizatin involved. We have the resources to beat these bastids. They work for us, and there are alot of us. They might begin to give a shit when we have some clout. And effect their job security.
 
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I just spent over an hour with Skip. Er, I mean Sky. I have a "preliminary RMP/ EIS"...

Sky is a great resource and will tell us how things work. The BLM is in an interesting position, and if it fits Rick Cooper's ambitions, he could have great exposure battling the EPA in the power struggle that could ensue.

apex molestation has some Q's:
Ask Sky Murphy when they plan on giving vehicle access through Condon Peak to reach Joaquin Rocks/Ridge via Coalinga Rd. from the San Benito and Fresno County Line.
-all the alternatives include this. a couple would make for a big hike-

Ask Sky directly how can the BLM continue to operate in the CCMA as they do today without any type of popper respiratory and clothing protection if it's so dangerous there.
-employee heath standards ar more lax than those for the public-

IMO, Sky is another puppet of the BLM's chain of Misfits and all you will get is a bunch of BS fluff.
-yer wrong. he will do what he can to help us. his power is limited, but his head is in the right place. can you say mole? Only not; he is a good guy that is trying to serve the public, within the power he has...-

Better yet, Cooper is back from his vacation now so why don't you go directly to the puppet master himself?

-ah, when the time comes. If he is a master, we want him to make the right puppets dance...-
 
Butch said:
I just spent over an hour with Skip. Er, I mean Sky. I have a "preliminary RMP/ EIS"...

Sky is a great resource and will tell us how things work. The BLM is in an interesting position, and if it fits Rick Cooper's ambitions, he could have great exposure battling the EPA in the power struggle that could ensue.

We all know how things work without Sky's chicken soup of more BS.

apex molestation has some Q's:
Ask Sky Murphy when they plan on giving vehicle access through Condon Peak to reach Joaquin Rocks/Ridge via Coalinga Rd. from the San Benito and Fresno County Line.
-all the alternatives include this. a couple would make for a big hike-

Nothing new there, just the same BLM crap on what could work. A real plan in black and white would be a good start.

Ask Sky directly how can the BLM continue to operate in the CCMA as they do today without any type of popper respiratory and clothing protection if it's so dangerous there.
-employee heath standards ar more lax than those for the public-

What a bunch of horse shit :twofinger

IMO, Sky is another puppet of the BLM's chain of Misfits and all you will get is a bunch of BS fluff.
-yer wrong. he will do what he can to help us. his power is limited, but his head is in the right place. can you say mole? Only not; he is a good guy that is trying to serve the public, within the power he has...-

Sky is no mole, and has no pull except when rick stuper pulls the strings. Man does Sky have you snowed over :laughing

Better yet, Cooper is back from his vacation now so why don't you go directly to the puppet master himself?

-ah, when the time comes. If he is a master, we want him to make the right puppets dance...-
Click to expand...

Oh Please, Rick best efforts in life are when he is sucking his thumbs. Sorry to have wasted your time Butch.
 
this whole this is verying interesting, if you think of it in terms of what the, er, our government is doing for us.

I understand BRC is working on some angle. I'm working on figuring that out.

Meanwhile, we need YOU, you taxpayers, that elect representatives, to let our elected officials, lemme repeat the, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, know what their constituents know what they should do.

We need to tell them what we want.

We are a BIG constituency. We have voting power.

This is really important now, more than ever. We cannot let out elected officials run loose. Especially with our money. It is happening now. You can stop it.

Target info to follow.
 
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so after four months, I finally read the entire scoping report.

Check out
pages 31-34 by Daphne Greene, Deputy Director Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division of the California Department of Parks and Recreation
and
pages 37-39 by Don Amador of the Blue Ribbon Coalition
and
pages 42-46 by the BRC lawyers...

Brilliant.

And then join the Blue Ribbon Coalition.

Please.
 
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ApexMolester said:
You want to know what's going on.....go find out!
http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=144
Click to expand...


thanx Steve. I have been using SBR because it is better than the BLM site, tho you guys make a lot of noise and I have to sift thru the chaff.

the latest, and your post:

Hey kids, they have postpined release of rhe EIS again, prolly another month. But we can bug them:

Everyone who has any interest in the current Clear Creek Management Area issues should be calling the local BLM Field office in Hollister Ca. non-stop and let them know how you feel about their incompetence thus far....as it is, they have nothing better to do then just talk on the phone to you and I.

Cooper will continue to put this issue off for as long as he can. As it stands now, he's been full of shit up to his little bitty brown eyes!

831 650 5000 is the open BLM BS-Talk Line....give it a go all day today, and then post your findings/comments here for all to see/hear what garbage it was that they (blm) attempted to feed you....


Heading off to go ride/camp for a few days, so fight this from teh safety of your armchairs non stop until the BLM's phone line catches fire
 
from our friends at SBR:


Not that any fuel is needed for the fire ... but here's the response I just got tonight after submitting a request for the Draft report off the BLM website (made one week ago ... and which by the way still says the release was to be mid-September):


Quote:
There have been repeated delays for the release of the Draft CCMA RMP/EIS because we are working with the Department of Interior to get the Federal Register Notice of Availability approved by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals.

The Draft CCMA RMP/EIS will be available on the Hollister Field Office's CCMA RMP/EIS website (linked below) once the Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register (approx. November 27, 2009):


If you would like to be added to our CCMA RMP/EIS mail list, please send a request with your name and mailing address.

Sky Painter Murphy
BLM Hollister Field Office
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister, CA 95023
(831) 630-5039
 
The BLM is supposed to to release the DEIS (report/ recommendations) this Friday 12/04. A year late. Assholes.

We get a 90 day comment period.

The time for action is near.
 
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) has been released.

Check out the first post of this thread.
 
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