Keep our public lands accessible by opposing H.R. 980!

Sign the Petition : 11,518 Letters and Emails Sent So Far

Dear Elected Official,

As a concerned motorized outdoor recreationist and a registered voter, I am writing you today to voice my opposition to H.R. 980, the "Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act", and to ask that you oppose this legislation. If this bill passes, it would represent a fatal blow to the already struggling power sports industry and would negatively impact tens of thousands of businesses that directly or indirectly rely on public access to the lands in question.

H.R. 980 would designate 23 million acres of land in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming as Wilderness. This means each of these 23 million acres would be made permanently off-limits to motorized and mechanized recreation, including off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, 4x4s, snowmobiles and mountain bikes, closing all trails in these areas to responsible motorized and mechanized access. Forest Service studies show that less than 4% of total forest visitors use the existing wilderness and that the demand for motorized recreation is rising (www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/nvum, FY 2007 National Summary Report, p. 7).

In addition, much of the land that would be designated as Wilderness does not meet the criteria set forth in the 1964 Wilderness Act. Many of the federal lands addressed by H.R. 980 include roads, bridges, campgrounds, trails, etc. This contradicts the intent of the original Wilderness Act, which essentially defines wilderness areas as lands that show little or no signs of human involvement.

Most importantly, Congress should honor the established protocol of respecting State and local rights by not imposing wilderness designations on people whose elected Congressional delegation are not in full support of the designations.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue. Please oppose H.R. 980.		Keep our public lands accessible by opposing H.R. 980!

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People signing the "Keep our public lands accessible by opposing H.R. 980!" petition!

  1. Sun., Nov. 15, 2009 12:24 AM    link julie s. | Phoenix, AZ

  2. Sun., Nov. 15, 2009 12:23 AM    link raymond r. | Phoenix, AZ

  3. Fri., Nov. 13, 2009 1:52 PM    link edward c. | Edmonds, WA

    I love my country. It is the government I fear. Go green, recycle congress!

  4. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  5. Tue., Nov. 10, 2009 11:21 PM    link Jim S. | Boise, ID

    Let's make it illegal to walk on the streets of the United States Capital at the same time. Make it illegal to go into any govermant offices. Make it illegal to walk on any street in New York City because it could damage the concrete.

  6. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  7. Sat., Nov. 7, 2009 5:57 PM    link Richard H. | Idaho Falls, ID

    Sustainable land use requires diversity. Just look at the failures of the mono-culture agriculture cropping systems. Sustainability is all about land use diversity. Single use land management policies are not sustainable, just like mono-culture agriculture is not sustainable (e.g., look no further than the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia problems). Landscape diversity and land use diversity is the only sustainable option, NOT the single use or restricted land use strategies imposed by wilderness policies!

  8. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  9. Tue., Nov. 3, 2009 10:55 AM    link gary b. | Kalispell, MT

  10. Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 8:56 PM    link Cindy H. | Columbia Falls, MT

  11. Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 7:09 PM    link Name not displayed | Lakeside, MT

    how do these petitions get passed why do these people sneak this through why isn't someone watching out for the tax payer you know it stop with us everyday people they will be after everone eventually if you don't stop it now. remember it was just the loggers and all hikers and bikers said yeh lets get them well now it is your turn and believe you wiil be next stand up and stop gestopo

  12. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  13. Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 4:29 PM    link DAVE S. | Kalispell, MT

    WE ARE A MOTORIZED SOCIETY AND VERY FEW PEOPLE USE THE WILDERNESS. WE NEED MORE MOTORIZED AREAS OPEN.

  14. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  15. Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 3:35 PM    link Kevin P. | Columbia Falls, MT

  16. Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 1:16 PM    link Mitzi M. | Arlee, MT

  17. Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 3:05 AM    link geri s. | Columbia Falls, MT

  18. Sun., Nov. 1, 2009 12:52 AM    link mike a. | Nampa, ID

    we will get our country back one way or another .stop taking from us

  19. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  20. Sat., Oct. 31, 2009 9:46 AM    link Name not displayed | Meridian, ID

    It is just another big goverenment tactic to try and suppress the AMERICAN people.

  21. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  22. Sat., Oct. 31, 2009 2:48 AM    link Name not displayed | Garden City, ID

  23. Sat., Oct. 31, 2009 1:10 AM    link scott a. | Boise, ID

    Make Washington D.C. wilderness instead. There's lots of wild animals there already.

  24. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  25. Sat., Oct. 31, 2009 1:03 AM    link Name not displayed | ,

    It is a fearful thing, to take away lands from a people. No matter what pretty color the OFF LIMITS tag is. What about the "granfathered in" cabins that are privately owned in these areas? Is it lawful to cut off access to personal property?

  26. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  27. Fri., Oct. 30, 2009 6:38 PM    link Name not displayed | Boise, ID

    If no motorized vehicles are allowed how are the disabled to access these lands?

  28. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

  29. Fri., Oct. 30, 2009 2:04 PM    link Name not displayed | Nampa, ID

  30. Fri., Oct. 30, 2009 1:53 PM    link Steve O. | Meridian, ID

    The States know what's best for its resident population and the federal government should stay out of land management. The control over public lands in a State should reflect the mores and regional customs of that
    State. After all this is the land of the free and some where I remember something about being able to move about freely with out papers???

  31. This comment has been reported to the site manager. It will be reviewed and removed if inappropriate. Thank you!

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