Sand Mountain needs help!

Your help is needed!!!

Sand Mountain Nevada is facing a closure of over 1/4 of the area open to OHV's. Please write a letter today. Please use some or all of the points below to help form your letter. Please put your letter in your own words as this will have much more impact to BLM. Below are some points to help you form your letter and the address to send it to. Thank you in advance for you help on this important issue.

Regardless of the decision made by the BLM, it is just a matter of time before the Center for Biological Diversity files a petition to have the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly emergency listed under the ESA.

If you need more detail or have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks

Don Klusman

Sample Letter

Send to the following:

Mr. John Singlaub
Field Manager BLM Carson City Office
5665 Morgan Mill Road
Carson City Nevada 89701

Writing points:

It is unfair to users to close the area without first properly educating users. BLM has known about the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly since 1994, but has done little to educate users in regards to Tread Lightly even though SMRA is designated as "open" to OHVs. BLM should immediately begin a program via signs, handouts and law enforcement instead of making a knee-jerk decision to close any area. Fee Demo also just started in March and the tie from a users perspective (charge us then close it) could seriously impair BLM's efforts for Fee Demo elsewhere in Nevada.

BLM should make sure that they are relying on good science instead of making a "feel good" type decision. There are currently no species at Sand Mountain that are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Many of the species of concern have only recently been "discovered", and some of the studies are still in draft form.

BLM & USFWS should immediately begin a program to learn how to grow the plants that are necessary for sensitive species survival (mainly Kearney Buckwheat). With this knowledge, any habitat loss can be mitigated, and we can encourage growth in areas that areas that are closed to OHVs. I have repeatedly requested their assistance with getting a program off the ground, but have received no positive feedback from the BLM.

BLM should carefully consider the economic impacts of any decision to close portions of Sand Mountain.