UFWDA intervenes in lawsuit to defend OHV

From: Carla Boucher ccboucher@cox.net

Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 2:40 PM

To:

Subject: UFWDA intervenes in lawsuit to defend OHV use

For immediate release

Contact: Carla Boucher, Attorney - 757-546-7969

UNITED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATIONS joins law suit to prevent off-road vehicle closures in National Park Service units

United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) and other organizations, including the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance, filed a motion in U.S. district court for the District of Columbia today to intervene in a suit brought against the National Park Service by Friends of the Earth, Bluewater Network Division, National Parks Conservation Association, and Wildlands Center for Preventing Roads (known as Bluewater Network).

Bluewater Network is asking the court to stop all off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in all National Parks and to stop all OHV use in all recreation areas, seashores, lakeshores, or preserves until such units adopt special regulations for OHV use. Bluewater is hoping the court will issue an injunction to immediately stop all OHV use at places such as Canyonlands National Park, Big Bend National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Death Valley National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Cape Code National Seashore to name a few.

"This case is of vital importance to four wheel drive users and OHV users of all kinds", stated Carla Boucher, long-time attorney for UFWDA. Boucher said, "This case is typical of the mindset of anti-access organizations such as Bluewater and Wildlands Center for Preventing Roads who believe OHV use should be banned in all National Park units, even units such as Cape Hatteras National Seashore that is in the midst of legal planning for OHV management".

Cape Hatteras has allowed OHV use since it was established in 1953. Its implementing legislation guaranteed OHV access and the Park Service convened the negotiated rulemaking process in June of 2005 to create a fair and balanced OHV management plan by local stakeholders.

UFWDA has been nominated to represent OHV interests on the Hatteras rulemaking advisory committee. A similar OHV rulemaking process was completed by the National Park Service at Fire Island and Padre Island, yet all three national seashores are subject to the ban Bluewater is requesting.

"It appears from the complaint that Bluewater and friends do not want public access at our National Park units, even in those units where the public, the Park Service, and other environmental organizations have worked diligently to establish proper OHV management plans", concluded Boucher who is a nationally recognized land use authority and conservation advocate. UFWDA feels strongly that motorized interests can only be protected from sweeping closures of legal OHV use in our national parks if we intervene in this suit and demonstrate for the court the fallacy of Bluewater's claim and the dire impact wholesale closures will have on public lands access in this country.

United retains a full time attorney dedicated to four wheel drive access issues and is privileged to collaborate with chief council on this case Holland & Knight, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world.

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United is the leading representative for four wheel drive enthusiasts in the U.S., Canada, and abroad. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of this effort to keep America accessible contact United Four Wheel Drive Associations today at 7135 S. PR Royal Springs Dr., Shelbyville, IN 46176, 1-800-448-3932, legisadvoc@ufwda.org , or call Carla Boucher at (757) 546-7969.