The Blue Ribbon Coalition has been in contact with Boxer's chief staffer in CA, Tom Bohegan. They have
also been in contact with the Regional Council of Rural Counties in Sacramento and in fact are giving a
presentation on Backcountry instead of "Wilderness" to that organization next week. Meanwhile, a local
BRC member has been in contact with the Senator Boxer's San Diego staff aide, Humberto Peraza.
The BRC has asked for maps and other information via the Freedom of Information Act to the USDA Forest
Service in Region 5 and the BLM. Also, local BRC members have been asking for information from Boxer
field offices in the San Diego area. The request is in regard to meetings the Forest Service has held
over the last 2 to 3 years with wilderness activists.
A meeting has been tentatively set-up for next week between the BRC's Western Representative and Mr.
Bohegan to review the many access concerns related to designated wilderness.
According to a local BRC member, (an equestrian), many of the communities are in opposition to the
proposal and the 2 communities that have given support (Ramona and Julian) would probably reverse their
position given the level of opposition from the other groups. Boxer's staff has apparently been asked
by BRC members if they would be willing to remove the San Diego areas from the bill. The staffer got
nervous and said he could not promise that.
We will keep you updated as this and other wilderness proposals move forward.
(The Warrior's Society suggests mountain bikers stay up on this issue and contact Senator Boxer's staff
aide Humberto Peraza at (619) 239-3884 or by email at
Humberto_Peraza@boxer.senate.gov with their
concerns and request maps of the proposed wilderness areas in San Diego to see how they will be
affected.
If we receive any further wilderness alerts from the Blue Ribbon Coalition or information from their
Freedom Of Information Act Request we will forward it to our fellow mountain bikers. The Blue Ribbon
Coalition is an organization made up of recreationists whose motto is "Preserving our Natural Resources
for the Public, instead of from the Public." They have a web site at
www.sharetrails.org)
Click here for a list of all the wilderness alerts
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