Hollister Hills Roadside Clean up - April 2011

Thank you to everyone who stepped up to join us for the roadside clean up at Hollister Hills this weekend. It was a glorious weekend and we had a strong turn out.

The HHORA meeting went until just before noon and when it let out, the ED4 crew had gathered. There was a slight mix-up with the park staff in that they had apparently just cleaned the roadside the day before. So we reduced the number of road side crew and send ten of the 16 folks into the upper ranch to do some trail clean-up. Josh, Greg, Mike, Tom, Ole and myself attacked the road. Even with them just having cleaned the roadside we still collected 5-6 bags of trash.

BTW, in my estimation the number one item picked up was beer cans/bottles with the second category of fast food wrappers.

After 2 hours we met up back at the HHORA training building and piled up our junk. Great photo opp for the crew. We had bags of garbage, tires, signs and other crap. We ended the day with a legislative update from Jeff on Clear Creek and the offroad trust fund situation.

I appreciate that ED4 stepped up to help out with this clean up. It was great to see such an out pouring of support both from new members and old timers. Multiple drivers shouted out their thanks as they drove past. With all of the battles around offroad access it is important that the offroad community put their best foot forward. Opportunities like this clean-up day help keep us in good standing with the local community.

Thank you to everyone who came out.

Attendees:

David Grubman, Trail Boss Brian McMinn Rick Montez Greg Quintana Joshua Farnsworth Daryl Nelson Micheal Sickels Brian Ryder Connie Wison Tom Vella Ellen Layendecker John Ruiz Michael Cline Loro Paterson Richard Beard Howard Knutson Ole Stortroen Jason Green Jim O’Leary

Fighting for Clear Creek

Hello Esprit de Four,Some members/prospective members attended the Public Comments on the Clear Creek Closure last night.

Bill Farley Ole & Sherry Stortroen Jim O'leary Jason Green Richard Beard

Chris Mains Coby ???? (I apologize if others attended and we didn't see you)

This meeting was an opportunity for the public to make a comment about the park closure. Keep in mind, although the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) was in attendance, they were clear that what was said last night had no bearing on their decision. Essentially it was more or less a government process that they had to follow. However, it was certainly a good opportunity for many of us to show up, and demonstrate that there is a force behind our cause. It was also a good opportunity for me/us to hear the arguments against the closure and include these in the comments we make.

For us to be effective, we must make a written comment, whether it be via snail mail or e-mail.

Not only do I encourage you, I am asking you, to take time out and send in a comment, even if at this point your are only asking for an extension on the comment period, which currently has a deadline of March 5, 2010. (You can use the argument that it took the EPA, 19 + months to come out with a report, why should we have such a short period to make comments)

-> For those never having been to Clear Creek - I am one of those. You may be asking, or reasoning to yourself, it's not familiar to me, it doesn't affect me. The truth is, it does. If we don't stand together in support of our sport and our activity when we can, soon, we will stand alone and it will be easier for them to knock us down. They will come to your park next! Furthermore, you may have not used it in the past, but wouldn't you want the opportunity to have to use it in the future?

Here are some of the arguments I heard last night - I didn't write them down so it's coming off of memory: 1. The asbestos found at Clear Creek is not the industrial type that leads to health issues, the EPA has bastardized/generalized them into one category and made the wrong presumption. 2. The presumptions and or assertions of the EPA's report are based on questionable data, and there should be more time to allow an independent organization to conduct their on research. While that is being conducted, the park should be kept open. It's been open for the history of the country, why now the urgency to close it - keep it open, until facts are agreed upon.

....Others whom were in attendance, please add other things you heard, so that our membership can leverage that. You do not have to include everything in your comment, but please include something. Here's the BLM's website: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area.html

You can also find the DEIS at the bottom of this page: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area/CCMA_RMP.html

You can send your comments to:

Mail: Bureau of Land Management Attn: CCMA RMP/EIS 20 Hamilton Court Hollister, CA 95023

E-mail: cahormp@ca.blm.gov

Fax: (831) 630-5055 Attn: CCMA RMP/EIS

For everyone, please make your comment, and if you do nothing, else, please support the organizations that are fighting this fight on our behalf: (Donate or become a member)

Friends of Clear Creek Management Area - http://www.ffocma.org Blue Ribbon Coalition - http://www.sharetrails.org Facebook Group - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=131594804989&ref=mf

I apologize if this e-mail got a little long, but I hope you all understand the magnitude of what action and inaction on your part means! The government, it's entities should work for you and me, not against us. Remember these few numbers, 15% of all house holds are OHV users, in any election there is only 50% of the population that votes, by my calculations, that means we are 30% of the voting population. Now I'm not a union leader and I'm not telling you how to vote, but if you feel like you're alone, you're not.

Kindest Regards, Michael Phorn President, Esprit de Four

P.S. Please feel free to add, and forward this to all your friends & aquaintances, we must spread the message and keep up the fight and bring it to them (even though, they should be working for us)