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American Sand Assocication

ASA Continues Fight to Re-Open Public Land for ATV Use
Environmental Activists Appeal to Emotion, Ignore Science

La Verne, CA (3/26/2008) – As the 2007-08 Dune Season draws to a close, thousands of families have visited the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) this year. While there are still no on-theground changes as of yet, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently opened the way for a new Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP) to be drafted by finalizing its habitat designation for Peirson’s Milk Vetch (PMV). This designation is based on the past seven years of intensive study on PMV by several different scientists, as well as an economic impact study as required by the Endangered Species Act.

Officials from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), Desert Survivors, and the Sierra Club unjustifiably claim, “the critical habitat does not allow for an adequate recovery plan of the plant” and that the USFWS's Economic Analysis published January 10, 2008, is, “fraudulent and does not take into account all the costs involved.”

Further, they label the latest, peer approved plant data as "junk science." These same organizations offered no scientific data of their own in support of such staunch claims. They simply made their claim in expectation that it would be believed without verification. They have, in fact, filed notice of intent to sue and waste more taxpayer money on a needless lawsuit in an attempt to hold up the RAMP.

Until all of these issues are resolved, and the new RAMP is in place, the American Sand Association (ASA) is reminding all dune users to abide by the existing closures, to pack out their trash, and to obey the traffic laws in the dunes. For more information on the rules at the dunes, please visit the ASA website at www.americansandassociation.org or the Bureau of Land Management website at www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra/dunesinfo.html.

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.

American Sand Assocication
www.americansandassociation.org
La Verne, CA 91750

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