Until we get the Endangered Species Act reformed, the anti-access groups will always have a tool to use against us.

Congressman Pombo has been an outstanding supporter of ESA reform. Yes, it's a weekday, but imagine what an impact it will make when we fill the hall with off-roaders.

==========================

The following is an update on Congressman Pombo's Resources Committee Congressional Hearing to be held at the Hub Science Center at Seaworld, in San Diego, on Monday, August 18th. Please forward this to all interested parties and encourage attendance at this important hearing. Congressman Pombo is committed to reform of the Endangered Species Act.

There will be three panels to testify at the hearing. The first will be local government agencies (Boards of Supervisors) headed up by Jon McQuiston, BoS from Kern County. There will also be representatives from Imperial, (Wally Leimgruber), San Bernardino (Bill Postmus) and someone from Riverside County.

The second will be a Stakeholder's Panel headed up by Roy Denner. Jim Bramham will be speaking on the ISDRA and Roy will be speaking about the CDCA in general. We will also have representatives from Mining, Filming, and Ranching on this panel. In addition, attorney David Hubbard will testify regarding legal issues.

The last panel will be composed of representatives from the Federal Agencies (BLM & F&W) who will respond to the input.

Each presenter will have 5 minutes. After the presentations each panel will be asked questions by the Congressional Representatives present. Written testimony may be submitted as supporting information. Other people and organizations who would like to provide written input can submit it through their panel representative for the hearing. Written testimony will become part of the Congressional Record and is considered extremely important by the Committee. All input for this hearing must be submitted through the respective panel leaders It will be hard to get everything in - with questions - in the time slot allowed, which is 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This is important folks. Lets get out in force .

It's not to often we get a Congressional hearing on the management (or lack of it) in our deserts.

If you plan on attending the hearing ,the color of the day will be ORANGE.

If at all posible be there we need these guys to carry a strong message back to D.C.

IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS -- Aug. 4, 2003
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2003...pinion/ed02.txt

Our Opinion: This is congressional?

If Richard Pombo, the big mustachioed, big cowboy hat wearing (and we don't know him but we would bet cowboy boot swaggering) congressman from Tracy in Northern California wants to have a meeting regarding the Imperial Sand Dunes for off-roaders and their supporters, he has every right to do that. If everyone invited and allowed to speak is a supporter of the dunes being as open as possible, if everyone is on the same side, and there is a lot of preaching to the choir, he can call it a get-together, he can call it a rally, heck, he even call it a dunes revival meeting.

What he shouldn't call it is a congressional hearing. That gives it the aura of respectability, of fairness to the planned Aug. 18 sand dunes "congressional hearing" at (ironically) SeaWorld Adventure Park in San Diego. And from what he have heard, fairness is not exactly being sought at this shindig.

Pombo has invited speakers from the off-road community, county supervisors from Kern, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties and representatives from the mining, ranching and film industries. Who Pombo, chairman of the House Resources Committee, is not inviting are environmentalists. Also not invited is the congressman in whose area the dunes lie, our own Bob Filner.

The invitation to the hearing states, "All input for the hearing must be submitted through the respective panel chairs," which indicates that any exchange of ideas will not be encouraged and maybe not tolerated. Anyone can attend the hearing and submit written comments (although the price to get into SeaWorld is $45 for adults) but time constraints will not allow everyone to speak, according to a Pombo staffer. Hmmm, we wonder just which folks won't be allowed to speak.

Environmentalists insist Pombo is known for his anti-environmental rhetoric and is just going to conduct "a dog-and-pony show," or maybe more appropriately a seal-and-porpoise show, at SeaWorld. As much as we disagree with the often extreme rhetoric and litigious nature of some environmentalists, they seem to be hitting the cowboy on the head in this case. Why Pombo is conducting the hearing, other than for some sort of self-aggrandizing or grandstanding for higher office, we can't understand. It's not as if the off-road community doesn't feel free to vent and isn't getting listened to by the Bush administration.

We would suggest Pombo be a good congressman and good American and allow a real exchange of ideas on our dunes here. Then we will have respect for the hearing and a bit more respect for Pombo.

:.(. poor 'greenies' :.(.

THINK IM GONNA BARF !!! its back I'm going !!!

Anyone here planning on going to the hearing ? Grant

So who will be there?

We all complain that no one is paying attention... well, on Monday they 18th they are.

Just received this update...

Monday, August 18, 2003

2:00 p.m. in San Diego, California at the Shedd Auditorium / Hubb-SeaWorld Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109.

Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands
Field oversight hearing on "Access to The California Desert Conservation District with emphasis on the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area."


This could change the future of the Imperial Dunes.

Vicki

is it really going to cost $45.00 to get in?

QUOTE

is it really going to cost $45.00 to get in?

Egad, roped in by a Bluesky post!

The Shedd Auditorium is on Ingraham Street. Seaworld is on Seaworld Drive.

There may be an admission fee to ender Shedd... haven't heard yet. But the Imperial Valley Press really shoulda oughta done some research before trying to be witty.

Vicki

NEVER roped by browneye. Fact is, I knew the it was near, not at SW.
But it did need to be cleared up so as not to scare people off.

And that you just did.

Please dont ever think Blue is smarter than me.


BTW, Vicki, wanna car pool? anyone else? I can take 5 others in my super duty.

QUOTE

Please dont ever think Blue is smarter than me.

I absolutely did not, not for a minute.

Read it? Yes. Trust it? No.

Bluesky is an Internet Troll through and through... and like the little dolls I remember from long ago, I don't think Internet Trolls have anything under all that plastic and frizzy hair but stale air. You, on the other hand, have a great deal more rattling around up there.

And you're right, it did need to be cleared up. If anyone has a minute to check on whether there is an admission charge for that event, that would be wonderful!

Let's talk about that carpool thing... great idea.

Vicki

Got this via email:

QUOTE

I am advised by Roy that the facility for the afternoon hearing only seats 150 and that the enviros are planning to come early and stage their protests. Seating, except for those giving testimony, is on a first come, first serve basis and they will be forming the line early.  The reason Roy recommended all ACCESS attendees to wear ORANGE because the message to the MEDIA will be something like, \"All those wearing Orange here today support our Public Access to Public Lands.\"

GET THERE EARLY.

QUOTE

BTW, Vicki, wanna car pool? anyone else? I can take 5 others in my super duty.

Looks like we'll be staying for the reception after, so we won't be heading back until some time after 10:00 pm.

But I know of a couple other people who have mentioned carpooling so it would be great to get you all together and share the ride. Okay if they just email you?

Vicki