BLM plan to close over 1,000 public routes riles western Colorado

Watchdog ^ | May 13, 2015 | Marjorie Haun

[george76]

A plan that will close nearly 2,000 miles of public roads that have previously been open for use by the people of Mesa County is creating a public backlash against the Grand Junction field office of the federal Bureau of Land Management.

The BLM’s resource management plans (RMP) regulate the access and types of traffic allowed on roads on public lands. Road maintenance and seasonal closures are also detailed in such plans.

But the most recent RMP in Mesa County indicates the BLM’s intent to limit access to public roads which have traditionally been open to motorized, horse, and foot traffic. Accessible routes will decrease from the current 3,469 miles to just 1,777. The BLM has not offered a clear justification for its planned road closures, which has left many in Mesa County frustrated and baffled.

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported that people with physical disabilities are especially troubled by the BLM’s plans.

...

There also appears to be conflicts between federal law and the BLM’s proposed closures. According to Brandon Siegfried, the President of the Public Lands Access Association,—as quoted in the Daily Sentinel—“Most of the routes facing closure were established 50 years ago or more. Federal law requires the BLM to treat such historic routes like highways, which cannot be closed through a resource management plan.”

[george76]

>> If the peons are driving all over the Public Lands, they’ll find the pot fields. <<

True. It happens.

The drug cartels will then be less able to send in so much campaign cash to the dear leader.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

The closing down of America by the Radical Left...

[JOAT]

BLM now goes up against progressive fellow travelers - what kind of response you think they’ll get - a barrage of tweets and arugula?

I assume you're referring to the invaders?

Colorado, Texas, Montana and other western states have borne the brunt of Commiefornia immigration, bringing their 'values' with them to our schools, voting patterns and housing prices.

There is still a strong conservative base here, as evidenced by ousting sitting RAT politicians during off years, but the pot-smoking dirtbags in the big cities pay attention during presidential elections and hose us.

[FreedomPoster]

And beyond, on that last. The amount of Federal lands in Western states is completely absurd.

[panaxanax]

“Knock the gates down and prevent them from being replaced.”

We used to do just that many years ago in northern CA when BLM & Southern Pacific blocked off access to our favorite fishing holes & gold panning sites. Now there’s a camera watching every move you make.

[GSWarrior]

Why do you say closed forever? Can’t these restrictions be overturned someday by an administration that respects liberty?

[dware]

Can’t these restrictions be overturned someday by an administration that respects liberty?

Well sure they could, but thus far, they have not been. BLM's been closing roads and access for some time now. BUT, it's like legislation - once it's done, getting it repealed is an uphill battle.

[WVKayaker]

I used to go hiking with my children on the mountains along Skyline Drive in Virginia.

One weekend, we approached the bottom of the trail leading to Hawksbill Mountain overlook, only to find some yellow tape declaring it closed. We ignored it and started our trek up the mountain. Near the top, we were greeted by a guy with his dog, declaring that we should not b there. They were releasing some falcons back into the wild and didn't want anything to disturb the birds.

I looked at the IDIOT and asked him how he could keep a straight face when he had a DOG with him. He looked at the dog and then back at me, and invited us to join them.

Some people think they own what the rest of us have to pay for!

[familyop]

The EPA is to the right of the locals. There are already the impact fees, the Animal Protection Act, New-York-ish planning and building regulations, vandalism, gossip, false accusations, talk about wetlands, demands for more taxes, animal migration routes, complaints about any light seen at night...all from the locals. And most of them are from New York, Long Island, New Jersey,...

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Roadless area conservation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadless_area_conservation

[familyop]

"The amount of Federal lands in Western states is completely absurd."

Yes, through yet another sick tool of "progressives," Teddy Roosevelt--about 230 million acres.

[familyop]

Just in case you had something to add, what’s the EPA going to do? So far, we have mandated expensive wood stoves and water heaters, thanks to global corporates (investors in appliances) and local government interests nudging the EPA with sweetheart suits and other pretenses.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

PING!

[hal ogen]

BLM commie tyrants! These aholes wish all taxpayers would keep themselves off the BLM “public” lands. What idiots and fools.

[dware]

Anyone interested in getting involved with the battle to keep these roads open should see the Public Lands Access Association website - PLAA - they are the group fighting this the hardest, and they have a lot of very knowledgeable folks on this issue!

[Colorado Doug]

The administration is working overtime trying to shut down oil and gas.

[george76]

War on [ the working people ] coal, too.

[Colorado Doug]

Yes, good point. I forgot about coal in that area.

[cherry]

this is the future...thx voters...the govt class will eliminate simple pleasures on public land for no reason at all...then they’ll cry when the forests are burning down or that deer grow in such number they devastate endangered plants....

[george76]

Ted Turner , Bill Ayers, and their pals want to round us up ... Larry Grathwohl on Ayers’ plan to kill tens of millions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMIwziGrAQ