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ASA
Citizens Group Recommends Increased Public Involvement
In BLM
Public Involvement In Bureau
of Land Management Fee Development Wanted
Canyon Country, CA (12/20/2011)
- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California
Desert District Advisory Council (DAC) met on
Saturday December 3, 2011 in Redondo Beach, CA.
The DAC is a citizen’s advisory council,
appointed by the US Secretary of Interior that
provides advice and recommendations to the BLM
on the management of 11 million acres (17 thousand
square miles) of public lands in eight counties
of Southern California.
Last year, the BLM tasked the DAC with a review
of recreation fee policies. The DAC took this
review on at their December 3, 2011 meeting and
have made several recommendations to the BLM that
affect implementation of user fees at the Imperial
Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) and Dumont
Dunes.
The DAC recommendations encourage the BLM to develop
a "Standard Report Format" that provides
the public with information relating to fee revenue
collected and how this revenue is used. A yearly
budget was specifically requested.
In addition the DAC requested that BLM investigate
the implementation of a second vehicle permit
for the Dumont Dunes and the ISDRA. It was suggested
that this program be available for the 2012-13
recreation season.
And most important of all, the DAC asked the BLM
to reduce the cost of fee collection before any
additional fee increase is proposed. This is particularly
important since the cost of collection currently
approaches 40% of the revenue collected at the
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
American Sand Association (ASA) President, Bob
Mason said "this is a major step forward
in providing the dune visitors a greater voice
in the determination of recreation fees."
Mason further noted that "these recommendations
are clearly supported by the intent and spirit
of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
adopted by Congress in 2004." Mason continued
by asking "Sand Sport" enthusiasts to
contact BLM Management to encourage them to seriously
consider implementing these DAC recommendations.
Send your support of the DAC recommendations
to Margaret Goodro, BLM El Centro Office Field
Manager at 1661 S 4th Ave, El Centro, CA, 92243
or mgoodro@blm.gov
Full DAC recommendations to the BLM made be downloaded
at:
About the American Sand
Association:
The American Sand Association is a non-profit
organization of approximately 32,000 members dedicated
to preserving the use of public lands for sand
sport enthusiasts’ use, improving OHV safety
and promoting responsible land use. Some local
sand sport areas include the Imperial Sand Dunes,
Oceano Dunes (Pismo Beach) and Dumont Dunes in
California, Sand Mountain in Nevada and Hotwell
Dunes in Arizona. The ASA is an all-volunteer
organization with no paid staff. We rely on the
financial support of sand sport enthusiasts and
small businesses. Most of the members are family-oriented,
have a rich family history going back for generations
enjoying the sand sport; and most have a significant
financial investment in their equipment, gear
and campers. Additional information can be found
on our web site at www.americansandassociation.org.
www.americansandassociation.org
P.O. Box 1872
Canyon Country, CA 91386
(888) 540-7263
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