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Crowdog
06-05-2002, 08:15 AM
Press Release – American Sand Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American Sand Association
PMB 108
1911 Foothill Blvd
La Verne, CA 91750

DATE:
June 5, 2002, El Centro, CA

HEADLINE:
Off-Road Groups Unite to Save Dunes

BODY:
A group of off-road organizations, led by the American Sand Association, today provided written comments to the Bureau of Land Management’s new Environmental Impact Statement and Recreation Area Management Plan for the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. “This was an unprecedented effort by many people who voluntarily put in hundreds of hours to study and respond to the BLM’s documents,” said Jerry Seaver, ASA President and Phoenix resident. This is the first time that such a large group of organizations has come together for a common purpose.

Organizations participating in the historic effort with the American Sand Association (ASA), a non-profit grass-roots organization dedicated to fighting for the rights of the sand sports community, included the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA), San Diego Off-Road Coalition (SDORC), California Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs (Cal 4WD), Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) and the American Motorcyclist’s Association (AMA

Over thirty representatives from the groups held two workshops in Ontario, CA in order to develop the comments. “The Draft RAMP and EIS are several hundred pages long and full of items that we need to comment on,” says Jim McGarvie Chairman of the San Diego Off-Road Coalition. “We needed a large group in order to ‘divide and conquer’ all of the issues that needed to be addressed.” Along with the workshops, the representatives have been using the Internet and email extensively to research information about Federal, State and Local regulations and policies, recreation management programs, resource protection, and to keep in touch and circulate their notes and findings with each other.

The BlueRibbon Coalition, a national multiple-use organization representing 700,000 recreationists, fully endorses and supports the efforts of the American Sand Association and all the organizations and businesses working collaboratively on the management and future of the ISDRA.

“It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we all join forces,” says Greg Gorman, ASA’s Media Relations Director. “We’ve put together over 20 pages of comments, suggestions, error corrections and new research that we expect the BLM to include in their final version of the EIS and RAMP,” he added. Jeff Taylor, ASA National Membership Director said, “The results of the workshops will go a long way towards helping the ASA membership and the off road community at large understand the BLM’s plans. We’re confident that many people will now be able to play a substantial role in the public process for managing the dunes.”

The American Sand Association has also been holding public information meetings in local communities around Arizona and Southern California throughout May and June. Bob Mason, ASA Vice-President said, “The turnout for the most recent meeting we had in Arizona was fantastic! Over 275 concerned ASA members and the public at large attended. The ASA increased its financial war chest and several duners committed to sending in comments on the DRAMP.”

Additional public meetings planned before the deadline to submit comments:
· Thursday June 6th, 7:00pm, Funco Motorsports, 1280 N. Fitzgerald Ave., Unit F, Rialto, CA; (909) 421-2558
· Saturday June 8th, 2:00pm, Orange County Fairgrounds, Building 17, Costa Mesa CA
· Wednesday June 12th, 6:30pm, KD Enterprises and Cycle, 2431 E. 16th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365; (928) 329-1908
· Thursday June 20th, 7:00pm, Sand Tires Unlimited, 42198 Avenida Alvarao, Temecula, CA; 909-296-6125
· Saturday June 22nd, 1:00pm, Creative Enterprises, 2919 N. Stone Ave, Tucson AZ; 520-623-1171
About the American Sand Association
The American Sand Association is a grass-roots, non-profit organization of approximately 20,000 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, 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 http://www.americansandassociation.org.
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