USMC Land issues in the California desert

[Sgt Grunt]

Just thought I would pass this along. A while back someone posted something about being upset with the Marine Corps about closing some trails.



Marine Corps submits withdrawal application to Bureau of Land Management
8/19/2008
Division of Public Affairs HQMC Media Branch


3000 Marine Corps Pentagon, RM 4B548
Washington, DC 20350-3000

703-614-4309

WASHINGTON —
The Marine Corps submitted a land withdrawal application to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for approximately 422,000 acres contiguous to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

The application is part of an ongoing study by the Marine Corps for possible base expansion, along with the establishment of corresponding special-use airspace, necessary to train a Marine Expeditionary Brigade at the Combat Center.

The Marine Corps will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement that will analyze the reasonable alternatives for meeting the MEB-training requirement. The Department of the Navy intends to publish a Notice of Intent to undertake the EIS in early November and conduct public scoping meetings in early December.

During the EIS analysis period, the Marine Corps will continue to work with recreational and business stakeholders to include energy companies, the airline industry and off-road vehicle enthusiasts. The recreational use of this land remains the same as prior to the withdrawal application.

Together with the BLM and the Federal Aviation Administration, we will study the best path forward for the Marine Corps to meet its training requirements, while analyzing and weighing the impact of the various alternatives on natural and socio-economic resources.

 

[astateofmike]

It sucks to loose land access, but give those men and woman all the room they need...without their training, I may not be ALLOWED to go wheeling!

 

[goodtimes]

It sucks to loose land access, but give those men and woman all the room they need...without their training, I may not be ALLOWED to go wheeling!

The area in question has a high density of "hard core" rock crawling trails. Losing this area would have virtually eliminated all of the SoCal "hard core" trails (the hammers). In the persuit of multi-use, is it not best to leave some terrain open to the folks who persue the rock crawling hobby? Let them have a decent place to play...they deserve it as much as we do. There are other areas out there (in the same geographic region) that would have less impact on the recreation community if it were annexed by the corp.

I'm not into 'crawling anymore....but I think this is a good move.

 

[astateofmike]

The area in question has a high density of "hard core" rock crawling trails. Losing this area would have virtually eliminated all of the SoCal "hard core" trails (the hammers). In the persuit of multi-use, is it not best to leave some terrain open to the folks who persue the rock crawling hobby? Let them have a decent place to play...they deserve it as much as we do. There are other areas out there (in the same geographic region) that would have less impact on the recreation community if it were annexed by the corp.

I'm not into 'crawling anymore....but I think this is a good move.

I think that if an offroad group approaches the USMC and offers to steward the land and will be happy to shut it down for off roaders for maneuvers, then a compromise will be worked out. It is really about "schedules". The military had theirs and they need their time. We want them trained and ready when the time comes. But if a civilian group would work with them so that there is a time to play and a time not to, and it is approached as a benefit to both, I bet something gets worked out.

It's that whole cost benefit thing. You need something, I need something and how can we do this together. One thing is that if that access issues gets worked out in the beginning, that land will be "protected" from development and private purchase for a long time.

Now, I am not saying this will be easy to get all done, as I have seen the military be very stubborn, but when the right group talks, I have also seen them very supportive.

 

[adventureduo]

Glad they're looking into alternatives. The hammers is a great place, lot of great wheeling memories there.