UPDATE ON IDAHO FISH AND GAME MOTORIZED CLOSURES
BILL SUMBITTED AND IS IN PLAY
PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS!
Dear BRC Idaho Action Alert Subscriber,
Two weeks ago, we asked you to contact your legislators in support of a bill to restrict Idaho Department of Fish and Game's (IDF&G) authority to limit motorized use of roads and trails on federally managed lands.
Yesterday we received an update from Sandra Mitchell at the Idaho Recreation Council (IRC) and David Claiborne from the Idaho State ATV Association (ISATVA).
Sandra and Dave report that a bill has been introduced. The bill number is HB 542.
The first stop in this much needed legislation is the Idaho House Resources and Conservation Committee. The Committee is scheduled to hold its first public hearing on Thursday, March 1, 2012, and, as we write this update, HB 542 is on the agenda.
For those of you who missed our previous update, HB 542 is a very short bill that, quite simply, establishes that the Idaho Fish and Game has no authority to restrict the use of motor vehicles, such as OHVs, on federal lands.
The hearing on March 1 is public. Sandra and Dave are encouraging you to attend if possible. Below is an email from ISATVA with some suggestions on how to make your voice the most effective.
Thanks in advance,
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102
ISATVA ACTION ALERT:
Dear Idaho ATV Enthusiasts,
The ISATVA Bill to get Idaho Fish & Game out of the business of closing roads and trails on federal lands will go before an Idaho legislative committee for hearing on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 1:30 pm. The location if Room EW40 of the Idaho Statehouse. The hearing will be before the Idaho House Resource and Conservation Committee.
We really need member support to help publicize the bill and encourage lawmakers to support its passage. We have a very strong group of legislators sponsoring the bill, so we are very optimistic, but WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please forward this on to all your interested contacts and club members. Please encourage attendance. If a person cannot attend, encourage them to contact their legislator.
I have attached an informational flyer regarding the purpose of our bill. The actual bill can be found at http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2012/H0542.htm.
We want to coordinate our presentation, so if anyone plans to attend the hearing and to testify, please have them contact me so we can arrange a pre-meeting at about 1:00 to discuss the topics of testimony and make sure we have an impressive impact.
Thank you for your help!
David Claiborne
dpc@ringertlaw.com
tel. (208) 867-7062
Idaho Fish and Game White Paper
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/2012_IDFG_White_Paper.pdf
Idaho House Bill 542
http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2012/H0542.htm
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. 1-800-BlueRib - www.sharetrails.org
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