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Blue Ribbon Alert - Tellico - NC
Blue Ribbon Alert - Tellico - NC
Rescue Tellico
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save Tellico Now
Before There Is Nothing Left To Save
SFWDA, UFWDA, BRC files Law Suit
On Thursday, May 22, 2008, The Southern Four Wheel Drive
Association (SFWDA) along with United Four Wheel Drive
Associations (UFWDA) and the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) filed
suit in US District Court Western District of North Carolina
against the US Forest Service to restore access to improperly
closed off-highway recreation trails located in the Upper Tellico
Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) Area in North Carolina.
A Little Background
On June 28, 2007, Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed a
"notice of intent to sue" the USFS on behalf of the North Carolina
and Tennessee Councils of Trout Unlimited, as well as Public
Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Southern
Appalachian Biodiversity Project. SELC's threat demanded that the
Forest Service permanently close trails, and seasonally close the
entire system.
Caving under the pressure of SELC and TU, the Forest Service
announced on December 18, 2007 there would be a seasonal closure
of the entire trail system and Trails Lower 2, 7, and 9 would be
closed for a year to assess the condition of the trails to see
what needs to be done.
Closing trails does not address the issues and SFWDA feels that
the Forest Service took steps that are not correct. This lawsuit
is intended to reopen the trails that were improperly closed.
SFWDA has worked with the US Forest Service in the Tellico OHV
area for over 20 years, providing free maintenance and restoration
work to address the agency-wide maintenance backlog estimated
nationwide at over $100 billion. The trail maintance, clean up,
and volunteer work we have donated to the area is well over
$100,000 just in the past few years. SFWDA values the
relationship we have with the US Forest Service and plan to
continue the work, volunteering and cleaning up as we've done in
the past.
What are the effects of the closures?
The impact of closing the trails has greatly wounded the economy
in the area. Not only are there fewer places to ride in the Upper
Tellico area, but local businesses have felt the impact. Cabin
Rentals, Campgrounds, parts stores have all seen a decrease in
business. Outside of the impact to the economy, this act sets a
precedent for large special interest groups to bully our
government to preferentially close access to public land to one
user group.
What you can do
Frankly, law suits are not cheap. We need your donations. You
can donate online at www .SFWDA.orgor Tax deductable at
www .sharetrails.org/rescue-tellicoor donate tax deductable through
the United Land Action Fund at P.O. Box 15696, Chesapeake, VA
23328. You can purchase Rescue Tellico Items at
www .cafepress,com /rescuetellico. All proceeds are donated to the
Rescue Tellico Fund.
At the very least we need your membership. If you are not a
member of any or all the below mentioned groups we need you.
Please join us so that you can have your voice counted in unison
with ours. If you have always wondered, what does my membership
get me, here is your answer. SFWDA, UFWDA, and BRC are fighting
to keep trails open so we have places to ride.
Please spread the word. This is not only a 4x4 problem but ATV,
Motorcycle and UTV's are affected as well.
Who's Who
The Blue Ribbon Coalition is a national recreation group that
champions responsible use of public and private lands, and
encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents
over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business
members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists
nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www .sharetrails.org
United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international
organization comprised of four wheel drive enthusiasts, clubs,
associations, and businesses dedicated to providing community
services around the world, education in responsible land use and
safe vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources
through conservation practices. 1-800-448-3932. www .ufwda.org
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987
to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands
accessible for motorized recreation. Since the formation of
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, the focus and mission is to
promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands open
for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities
and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association,
please visit www .sfwda.orgor contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet
Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
Get BRC's Latest News & Alerts via RSS!
http :// feeds.feedburner,com /BlueRibbonCoalition
----
Team NCS Off Road
----
Rescue Tellico
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save Tellico Now
Before There Is Nothing Left To Save
SFWDA, UFWDA, BRC files Law Suit
On Thursday, May 22, 2008, The Southern Four Wheel Drive
Association (SFWDA) along with United Four Wheel Drive
Associations (UFWDA) and the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) filed
suit in US District Court Western District of North Carolina
against the US Forest Service to restore access to improperly
closed off-highway recreation trails located in the Upper Tellico
Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) Area in North Carolina.
A Little Background
On June 28, 2007, Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed a
"notice of intent to sue" the USFS on behalf of the North Carolina
and Tennessee Councils of Trout Unlimited, as well as Public
Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Southern
Appalachian Biodiversity Project. SELC's threat demanded that the
Forest Service permanently close trails, and seasonally close the
entire system.
Caving under the pressure of SELC and TU, the Forest Service
announced on December 18, 2007 there would be a seasonal closure
of the entire trail system and Trails Lower 2, 7, and 9 would be
closed for a year to assess the condition of the trails to see
what needs to be done.
Closing trails does not address the issues and SFWDA feels that
the Forest Service took steps that are not correct. This lawsuit
is intended to reopen the trails that were improperly closed.
SFWDA has worked with the US Forest Service in the Tellico OHV
area for over 20 years, providing free maintenance and restoration
work to address the agency-wide maintenance backlog estimated
nationwide at over $100 billion. The trail maintance, clean up,
and volunteer work we have donated to the area is well over
$100,000 just in the past few years. SFWDA values the
relationship we have with the US Forest Service and plan to
continue the work, volunteering and cleaning up as we've done in
the past.
What are the effects of the closures?
The impact of closing the trails has greatly wounded the economy
in the area. Not only are there fewer places to ride in the Upper
Tellico area, but local businesses have felt the impact. Cabin
Rentals, Campgrounds, parts stores have all seen a decrease in
business. Outside of the impact to the economy, this act sets a
precedent for large special interest groups to bully our
government to preferentially close access to public land to one
user group.
What you can do
Frankly, law suits are not cheap. We need your donations. You
can donate online at www .SFWDA.orgor Tax deductable at
www .sharetrails.org/rescue-tellicoor donate tax deductable through
the United Land Action Fund at P.O. Box 15696, Chesapeake, VA
23328. You can purchase Rescue Tellico Items at
www .cafepress,com /rescuetellico. All proceeds are donated to the
Rescue Tellico Fund.
At the very least we need your membership. If you are not a
member of any or all the below mentioned groups we need you.
Please join us so that you can have your voice counted in unison
with ours. If you have always wondered, what does my membership
get me, here is your answer. SFWDA, UFWDA, and BRC are fighting
to keep trails open so we have places to ride.
Please spread the word. This is not only a 4x4 problem but ATV,
Motorcycle and UTV's are affected as well.
Who's Who
The Blue Ribbon Coalition is a national recreation group that
champions responsible use of public and private lands, and
encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents
over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business
members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists
nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www .sharetrails.org
United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international
organization comprised of four wheel drive enthusiasts, clubs,
associations, and businesses dedicated to providing community
services around the world, education in responsible land use and
safe vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources
through conservation practices. 1-800-448-3932. www .ufwda.org
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987
to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands
accessible for motorized recreation. Since the formation of
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, the focus and mission is to
promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands open
for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities
and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association,
please visit www .sfwda.orgor contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet
Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
Get BRC's Latest News & Alerts via RSS!
http :// feeds.feedburner,com /BlueRibbonCoalition
----
Team NCS Off Road
----
