|
 As
users of off-highway vehicles, we all love Mother
Nature's creatures and creations as much if
not more that the average citizen. Most of us
use our vehicles to get out into the backcountry
to enjoy its' beauty.
Unfortunately, that's not how environmental
extremists are portraying our sport and they
have been using the laws like the Endangered
Species Act to close down access to public land.
The Endangered Species Act was never about saving
species. It was about land use, and environmental
extremists quickly turned it into a devastating
legal weapon. The ESA attempts to protect species
at all costs, with no consideration for trade-offs
or compensation for human needs. The ESA in
its current form causes unnecessary human suffering
while failing to effectively protect endangered
animals and plants.
There have been numerous examples of how the
ESA has had adverse impacts throughout the country,
and in the last few years we in the OHV community
have learned its' effect first-hand at places
like Oceano Dunes and the Imperial Sand Dunes.
Too often, environmental extremist use the ESA,
and little or no science to file lawsuits against
our government to close down access to public
land. And our understaffed and unorganized government
agencies typically agree to close down an area
rather than fight in court.
With the midterm elections behind us, and power
in Washington shifting towards a more favorable
climate for sensible use of our public lands,
now is the time to turn up the heat. Please
take a few moments to write your representatives
in Congress, and urge them to reform the Endangered
Species Act.
Proposed improvements to the ESA listing process
should include:
-
Preference for field tested and peer reviewed
data
-
Independent scientific review
-
Historical context such as population trends,
ranges, and fluctuations
-
Data from all sources including property
owners and other interested parties
-
Public access to the listing process
You can find out how to contact your representatives
at
http://www.congress.org/.
Jon Crowley
http://www.crowley-offroad.com/
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