| SAN JOSE,
CA (June 9,
2005) -
Trail access groups today
took legal action against a summer closure of the popular Clear Creek
Management Area located near Coalinga, along the central California
coast . The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently ordered 30,000
acres in the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) closed to all users
including hikers, mountain bikers, off-roaders, hunters, and amateur
gem explorers. The temporary closure was announced on May 25, 2005, and
is in effect from June 4 until October 15. Paul Turcke, lead
counsel
for the recreation
groups, states, "The BLM has previously and extensively studied the
'asbestos issue' and has properly concluded the naturally occurring
short-fibered Coalinga chrysotile asbestos presents little or no risk
to human health. Specifically, the size and nature of the particles in
question allow them to be expurged from the lungs or broken down by
natural body processes and rendered harmless. There is no bona fide
emergency which justifies this drastic and hastily-reached decision."
On June 9, 2005, the
Recreational Groups filed
court documents seeking to challenge the legality of BLM's closure.
Recreationists feel the BLM's closure violates required procedures and
is based on faulty data and unfounded concerns stemming from an interim
report issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about
exposure to naturally occurring asbestos. The access organizations
involved in the case are the Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club, American
Motorcyclist Association District 36, California Association of 4 Wheel
Drive Clubs, Off-Road Business Association, the California Off Road
Vehicle Association, and the BlueRibbon Coalition. The Recreational
Groups' motion is scheduled to be heard in the U.S. District Court for
the Northern District of California in San Jose on July 15, 2005.
Don Amador, western
representative for the
BlueRibbon Coalition, said, "I think it is important for recreation
groups to challenge what appears to be an unwarranted closure based on
junk science and an unwillingness by the BLM to properly and carefully
evaluate the EPA's interim reports."
"Off-roaders have
endeavored to build bridges with
the agency and work in a collaborative manner to enhance recreational
opportunity and protect resources at CCMA. I feel this closure is a
punch in the gut and throws cold water on those efforts. It's my hope
that we can reopen the unit for motorized and non-motorized
recreationists to enjoy. This closure to all users simply must be
challenged," Amador concludes.
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