Please help us protect Utah's Coral Pink Sand Dunes from closure!
This is a follow-up to the USFWS Proposes listing of Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle, reported in our Utah Land Use Update.
On October 2, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced their proposal to list the Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Cicindela albissima, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The proposal would designate the vast majority of the Coral Pink Sand Dunes geological formation as "critical habitat," which would likely close Utah's Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to all OHV use.
Just recently, Utah's U.S. Representatives Rob Bishop, Jason Chaffetz and U.S. Senator Mike Lee sent a letter to the director of US Fish and Wildlife Service requesting a 90-day extension to the comment period. They have also requested that they extend the date by which the public can request a hearing on the proposal until 60 days into the 90-day extension. Read their letter HERE.
BRC appreciates Rep. Bishop, Rep. Chaffetz and Senator Lee's involvement. We encourage our members to thank them for their support. You can locate their contact info HERE (simply enter your zip code).
What you can do to help:
Earlier today, ARRA (American's for Responsible Recreational Access) blasted an action alert with a link to the USFWS webpage where you can join Utah's congressional representatives in requesting a extension. We've pasted ARRA's blast below, but you can link directly to the action item HERE.
Once there, you can use the following to make your request:
As an off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiast, I request an extension of at least 90 days to the comment period on the Proposed Rule on Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Threatened Status for Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle and Designation of Critical Habitat. It will be impossible to review and develop comprehensive comments on this complex rule and related materials by December 3rd. The 60 days currently allotted is particularly insufficient as only comments that are made "solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available" will be considered by the Fish and Wildlife Service in making a determination. This rule would have a significant impact on motorized recreation so it is imperative that other OHV enthusiasts and I have adequate time to fully understand and comment on the proposal. Thank you for your consideration.
We'll have more on this important issue as it moves along in the process. Please feel free to forward this alert to friends and family. As we noted in our update, SUWA has been trying to close the Coral Pink Sand Dunes for years. We'll need all the help we can get to stop this latest attempt!
