UPLA has always been proud of the fact that we are an all volunteer organization with no paid employees. Our fight to keep our public lands accessible has increased dramatically in both intensity and complexity, and for this reason the Board of Trustees will soon launch a search to hire a Public Policy Director to lead our efforts in a deep understanding of public land issues, staying informed on proposals being considered, and developing policy statements and comments that represent a balance of all outdoor recreational users.

We are still fine tuning our job description and finalizing our strategy, but following is a draft version.

if you know of someone that might be qualified and interested, please email Loren Campbell.

Public Policy Director Job Description 120523 Draft

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) plays a pivotal role by requiring federal agencies to assess the impact of their proposed actions. One crucial aspect of the NEPA process is the public comment period, during which concerned individuals and organizations can provide feedback on proposed projects. Writing effective comments is a critical step in preserving access for all users to our public lands. UPLA together with BlueRibbon Coalition and Salt Lake Offroad Expo (SLOREX) are partnering to bring you a training seminar on how to write effective comments in NEPA actions.

Understanding NEPA and Public Participation: NEPA, enacted in 1970, aims to integrate environmental considerations into federal decision-making processes. It mandates that federal agencies assess the environmental impact of proposed projects and involve the public in the decision-making process. Public participation is a cornerstone of NEPA, as it recognizes the diverse perspectives and expertise that the public can bring to the table.

The Importance of Effective Comments: Effective comments play a vital role in influencing the outcome of NEPA actions. Agencies are required to consider and respond to substantive comments during the decision-making process, making it crucial for comments to be well-reasoned, fact-based, and relevant to the environmental analysis. Well-crafted comments can highlight potential environmental concerns, propose alternatives, and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the project’s impact.

Challenges in Comment Writing: Despite the importance of public participation, many individuals and organizations face challenges in writing effective comments for NEPA actions. Common issues include a lack of understanding of the NEPA process, technical complexities in project documentation, and difficulties in navigating regulatory language. As a result, comments may not effectively convey concerns, suggestions, or alternative solutions.

The Solution: UPLA, BlueRibbon, and SLOREX will be offering free training at the Mountain America Expo Center on February 29, the day before SLOREX opens. The session will be recorded and professionally edited as a valuable online resource we can use in the future.

Save the Date for now and Watch for more information about attending the session.

Today, a coalition of off-road groups took their challenge to the federal government’s arbitrary and illegal closure of over 300 miles of trails near Moab, UT, to federal district court for the District of Utah. The federal court filing follows a ruling by the Interior Board of Land Appeals to deny a stay of the closures earlier this month. Now it will be up to a Utah federal judge to decide whether the trails will remain closed while the litigation is pending, or whether they will be open and available to the hundreds of thousands of Jeepers, mountain bikers, dirt bike riders, and others who have enjoyed them for decades.

The coalition, which consists of the BlueRibbon Coalition, Colorado Off-Road Trail Defenders, and an individual named Patrick McKay, is asking the federal court to issue a preliminary injunction that will allow the trails to remain open while the litigation is ongoing.

“The government has already announced that they would begin re-vegetating, bulldozing, and otherwise erasing these trails the moment they were closed,” said Matt Miller, a Senior Attorney at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and lead attorney on the case. “That is why an immediate injunction is necessary. If these closures are not immediately reversed, there could be no trails left after this litigation concludes, even after the plaintiffs win.”

“The federal government’s closing of these world-class routes ignores the evidence on the ground, the needs of the community, and the rich history of off-road recreation in the area,” added TPPF Attorney Nate Curtisi. “Worse yet, this government overreach was done in violation of a myriad of constitutional and statutory protections that were made specifically to avoid these kind of arbitrary and capricious actions.”

“After reviewing the legal deficiencies with this decision, we committed to our members that we would do everything we can to keep these popular trails open,” said Ben Burr, BlueRibbon Coalition Executive Director. “Now that they are closed and the Bureau of Land Management will get to work erasing these trails from the landscape, the irreparable harm to our members will be difficult to quantify. It’s impossible to place a value on generations worth of traditions, experiences, and meaningful connections to these spectacular lands. The BLM didn’t just close 317 miles of trails, they closed 317 miles of some of the best trails, and we are prepared to do what it takes to keep them open.”

Please show your support to the sponsors of these actions!

Following are copies of both the Lawsuit Complaint and the Injunctive Relief Request

Federal Lawsuit ComplaintMoab-District-Court-Original-Complaint

Moab-Motion-for-injunction

Watch the Fox 13 News story about the David & Goliath story of BLM and SUWA stripping 317 miles of OHV access in Moab Labyrinth Canyon. This decision only appears to affect motorized OHV now, but the decision details will affect many others including equestrians, photographers, mountain bikers, rock hounders, and even base jumpers.
We need to start acting as big as we are. Get involved and support BlueRibbon Coalition with your time and your money by Donating Here.

The Labyrinth Canyon/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan has created a lot of uncertainty. If you’d like to understand what’s happened and where we stand in Moab with the BLM’s decision to close 317 miles of trails, read on.

On September 28, Nicollee Gaddis-Wyatt, BLM Canyon Country District Manager, signed the Decision Record for the Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan (TMP) This Decision caused the closure of 317.2 miles of trails, or 28% of all trails previously open to motorized OHV. Additionally, another 98.4 miles of trails were limited closures, mostly pertaining to the type of motorized OHV on the trail, i.e. ATVs, E Bikes, mountain bikes, etc. This resulted in the closure of most of the major trails west of Moab including Day Canyon Point, Hey Joe Canyon, Mashed Potatoes, Ten Mile Canyon, Hell Roaring Canyon, Mineral Canyon, Hidden Canyon, 7-Up, and 2 of the 3 overlooks on Deadman Point. Additionally, the closures also includes many spur routes and 120 dispersed campsites being closed, which struck a hard  blow to overlanders in the area and primitive campers. In addition, the plan is suggesting that additional areas be considered being managed as areas with “wilderness characteristics.” This designation will open the door to additional closures and restrictions.

This is on top of the 2008 Recreation Management Plan, which although it closed a whopping 766 miles of roads, specifically identified many of these roads as having an overriding purpose and designated them to be kept open.

The changes and closures were to become effective after the end of a 30 day appeal period.

On October 30, BlueRibbon Coalition, Patrick McKay, and Colorado Offroad Trail Defenders filed an Administrative Appeal with a Petition for Stay. This granted a window where the TMP would not go into effect until the US Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals (DOI IBLA) issued their decision, meaning that trails remained open. The State of Utah, Colorado Trail Preservation Alliance, Ride with Respect and the Offroad Business Association also filed timely appeals which are not discussed here.

On November 27, Administrative Judge Kevin Haugrud denied the Petition for Stay, meaning that the TMP was back in effect and that the 317 miles of closures are CLOSED.  Although the Petition for Stay was rejected, the IBLA has still not issued their decision on the Appeal.

The denial of the Stay will allow a lawsuit to be filed in Federal Court along with injunctive relief that may restore access to the trails, BlueRibbon and the Plaintiffs are assessing their options.

In Summary:

• The 317 miles of roads listed in the Travel Management Plan are CLOSED, and UPLA strongly encourages that all users obey the closure orders and don’t drive on the closed roads. Here’s a great map of the closed trails.
• The Appeal is still pending. You can read BlueRibbon’s appeal here.
• Read about the 5 Actions that BlueRibbon is taking, and learn how you can take action.
• Support Utah Public Lands Alliance by donating to our campaign for BlueRibbon’s Legal Defense Fund. UPLA already contributed $69,672 to the BlueRibbon Coalition Legal Defense Fund, and will match dollar for dollar approximately the next $15,000 in donations. You can donate here online, or if you prefer to write a check, designate in the memo line “Legal Defense Fund” and mail it to:

Utah Public Lands Alliance
PO Box 833
St George, UT 84770


Be Informed and Stay Engaged!

Together, We Will Win,

But We Can’t Do It Without You!