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May 30, 2009

Dear friends and supporters of CalUWild:

We try not to send out many emergency alerts, but sometimes they’re unavoidable. This month, the urgent first item is a topic outside of our normal scope, but one which we’ve discussed before: the potential closure of most of California’s State Parks due to the state’s budget crisis. Please get in touch with Sacramento on Monday.

There are a few other items of interest this month, too. Read on!

Thanks for your interest and efforts to preserve our public lands, state and federal, for all Americans to use and enjoy. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or critiques, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Best wishes,
Mike

IN CALIFORNIA
1. Governor Threatens to Close State Parks
Faxes & Phone Calls Needed Immediately
DEADLINE: Monday, June 1
(URGENT ACTION ITEM)

IN UTAH
2. OHV Protestors Stage a Ride through Wilderness Study Area
In Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
3. Controversy Continues over the December 2008 Oil & Gas Lease Sale

IN NEW MEXICO
4. Appeal Court Rules Against Oil & Gas Leases on Otero Mesa

IN GENERAL
5. Guns in Parks, Again

IN MEMORIAM
6. Brian O’Neill,
Superintendent of Golden Gate National Recreation Area

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IN CALIFORNIA
1. Governor Threatens to Close State Parks
Faxes & Phone Calls Needed Immediately
DEADLINE: Monday, June 1

(URGENT ACTION ITEM)

Late this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that almost all of California’s state parks would be closed, effective July 1, as a cost-cutting measure. He made the announcement in response to the defeat by voters of the package of propositions in the special election held on May 19.

The proposal is even more drastic than that made last year, which was defeated by an outpouring of opposition. It’s important that concerned Californians make their voices heard once again.

The Legislature’s Budget Conference Committee is holding a hearing on Tuesday, June 2 to consider the proposal, so if our state parks are to remain open, it is important that the public weigh in immediately, both to the State Senate and Assembly, and also to the Governor himself.

The California Wilderness Coalition and the State Parks Foundation sent out alerts yesterday, and the talking points below come from those.

— The General Fund budget that state parks receive account for less than 1/10 of one percent of the entire state budget.

— Last year alone, there were over 80 million visitors to state parks – and all indications are that this year was going to be even higher.

— For every dollar that funds the parks, $2.35 is returned to the state’s General Fund through economic activities in the communities surrounding the parks.

— The state park system is an investment that the Governor and the Legislature have been entrusted with safeguarding. We are all, today, beneficiaries of the work of leaders, activists, and park supporters who had the vision to identify and preserve places that are part of the park system’s legacy. It is not a legacy that they can or should undo.

Personalize your comments somewhat by also mentioning how the parks are important to you .

Please contact your state Assemblymember, Senator, and the Governor. Because of the very short time frame (Monday) contact them, in order of preference, by fax, phone, or via their websites.

Contact and comment information for the Legislature may be found by following the links here:

Assembly: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/defaulttext.asp
Senate: http://www.senate.ca.gov/

The Governor may be reached at:

Hon. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Fax: 916-445-4633
Phone: 916-445-2841
Email via his website at: http://gov.ca.gov/interact

If you have time, send a copy to the State Parks Foundation office in Sacramento, so they can present the letters at the hearing as part of their testimony.

Fax: 916-442-2009
Email: Linsey@Calparks.org

IN UTAH
2. OHV Protestors Stage a Ride through Wilderness Study Area
In Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

On Saturday, May 9, outside of Kanab, Utah, a group of some 300 off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders decided to protest the BLM’s policies on roads in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. They decided to ride up the Paria River, though the Paria-Hackberry Wilderness Study Area. The riverbed is not listed as a road in any of the Monument’s planning documents.

The protest was announced well in advance, but BLM issued no citations to any participants, but reportedly did take photos of vehicle for possible later identification.

Kane and Garfield Counties, which make up the Monument, have lost several lawsuits against the federal government over their road claims, yet they persist in arguing that they have valid rights-of-way over the Monument for motorized vehicle travel.

3. Controversy Continues over the December 2008 Oil & Gas Lease Sale

Earlier this month, oil & gas exploration companies and three Utah counties separately sued Interior Secretary Ken Salazar over the Department’s cancellation of 77 leases close to national parks and in proposed wilderness areas. A federal judge had already ruled in January, before the new administration came in, that the leases were illegal because BLM had not properly analyzed their environmental impacts, so it’s not quite clear why Secretary Salazar’s actions are the subject of another lawsuit.

These leases were offered in December 2008, at an auction where a University of Utah student, Tim DeChristopher placed bids designed to drive up the prices. A grand jury indicted Mr. DeChristopher in April despite the fact that the lease sale had been ruled illegal, and proceedings against him are pending. A further irony is that, reportedly, BLM has refunded all the bids it received to all bidders — except Mr. DeChristopher.

The final twist was that Utah’s Sen. Bob Bennett had placed a hold on the nomination of Deputy Interior Secty. David Hayes in an attempt to express his displeasure with Secty. Salazar’s cancellation of the leases. The Senate, mid-month, was unable to come up with the 60 votes necessary to override Sen. Bennett’s hold. Sen. Bennett later withdrew the hold, having received assurances from Secty. Salazar that Utah’s concerns over the leasing process would be listened to, and Mr. Hayes was confirmed.

IN NEW MEXICO
4. Appeal Court Rules Against Oil & Gas Leases on Otero Mesa

Good news came from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, when it ruled that BLM improperly changed one of its planning alternatives for Otero Mesa, a large wild grassland in southern New Mexico, home to a unique ecosystem. The court said that BLM had to consider protection of the area as one of its planning alternatives, rather than only consider options that allowed oil & gas drilling.

The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance had inventoried the Otero Mesa and found that 500,000 acres qualified for designation as wilderness. And the area sits on top of an aquifer, threats to which BLM downplayed or ignored in its planning analysis.

This means that BLM will now have to undertake a planning process that includes real alternatives and offers the possibility of real environmental protection.

IN GENERAL
5. Guns in Parks, Again

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) caved in and allowed an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would allow loaded guns in national parks. The amendment was attached to the credit card reform bill, a piece of legislation popular with Democrats and considered “must pass.” Pres. Obama then signed the legislation into law after it passed the House, making no mention of the gun provision.

Most park conservation and employee groups opposed the amendment, claiming that national parks are already among the safest places in the U.S., so there is no real need for loaded weapons. Additionally, wildlife poaching is growing problem in our parks and refuges, and this makes it easier to engage in that type of illegal activity. Finally, there is concern about general public safety as well as the safety of park employees, who will now have to face visitors knowing that they might be armed.

The Bush Administration had proposed a rule allowing guns in parks late last year, but a federal court overturned it. The Bush rule in turn reversed a regulation from the Reagan years banning them.

IN MEMORIAM
6. Brian O’Neill,
Superintendent of Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The Bay Area and the National Park Service lost a great friend in Brian O’Neill when he passed away on May 13, at age 67, following complications from heart surgery. Brian was appointed Superintendent at GGNRA in 1986, and had been Assistant Superintendent before that. Prior to coming to the West Coast, Brian had worked for the federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (later the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service).

While at the BOR he helped with the initial planning for Gateway National Recreation Area, at the entrance to New York Harbor and convinced then-Pres. Richard Nixon to support the establishment of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). He also played a role having the Eel, Klamath, Trinity, and Smith Rivers in California designated Wild and Scenic Rivers.

His passion was public service, with the idea that all Americans should be able to enjoy their public lands. Thus he was an early strong supporter of the concept that national parks should also be located near urban centers. While at GGNRA he oversaw the transformation of Alcatraz, the incorporation of the Presidio and other old forts into vibrant parts of the park, and the restoration of Crissy Field from an old runway into a functioning tidal marsh.

Brian always had a ready smile for everyone and was able to share his enthusiasm for parks and people. He realized that people would work to protect their parks best if they had an emotional attachment to them, so he worked hard to instill that bond in the citizens of the Bay Area.

He will be missed, but his work will be carried on.