SECOND TRIP TO WASHINGTON LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS
BY FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES!

During September of 2002, ORBA President, Roy Denner, with help from ORBA's Lobbyist, Pete Conaty, organized a second trip to Washington, DC to meet with Federal Representatives. Government leaders were informed that Federal Land Management Agencies are still operating under the "Management by Closure" philosophy.

During a previous trip to Washington in April, Denner and Conaty were assured by Assistant Secretaries of the Interior Craig Manson (Fish & Wildlife) and Rebecca Watson (BLM) that the new administration would be demanding good supporting science to back up land management decisions by federal agencies under their control.

During meetings with the same Assistant Secretaries on this trip, Denner, who is a member of the BLM's Desert District Advisory Council, provided examples showing that Federal Agencies are continuing to make planning decisions based on "warm and fuzzy" feelings about the environment, without concern for good science to back up those decisions! National BLM Director, Kathleen Clarke, was present at the meeting. It was clear that the government leaders at the top were unaware of many events taking place in the field that are closing millions of acres of public lands to public use.

As a result of Denner's urging, National BLM Director, Kathleen Clarke, made a trip to the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California in November. She was treated to a sandrail experience in the dunes that she said was "awesome"! State BLM Director, Mike Pool and CA Desert District Manager, Linda Hansen also enjoyed the sand dunes tour in "dune buggies". This on-the-ground experience should lead to a better appreciation by federal representatives of the family bonding sport of off-road recreation.