Topic: Has anyone heard of the Trona Coalition? (want to take away our land!!)

[BigMike]

Source: http://www.ridgecrestca.com/news/x2009615363

By John V. Ciani
Daily Independent
Thu Jan 15, 2009, 10:05 PM PST

Trona, Calif. -

Many Trona and some Ridgecrest residents jammed the old bank building in Trona to hear a proposal from the California Wilderness Coalition to designate Slate Range and Great Falls Basin wilderness area.
The residents’ message was clear — no more wilderness.

Coalition Desert Field Organizer Laurel Williams and Policy Director Ryan Henson met with residents Tuesday to hear their concerns about the proposal.

Earlier in the day, the two met with Searles Valley Minerals Executive Director Arzell Hale and discussed the company’s concerns. He said the company will not be affected.

“With the agreement we have with the coalition after all-day meetings today, the company will be able to operate okay with their proposal,” he said.

He said the company representatives showed the coalition representatives what SVM could live with and what it cannot live  with.
“They were very cooperative. They gave us all of our requests to where it will not affect the company operations,” said Hale.

Engineer Jim Fairchild gave a presentation prior to the public comments.
“In Searles Valley, we are being affected by outside forces whether we like it or not,” he said.
He said the forces include off-highway-vehicle use, development of land resources such as solar power plants, military-base expansion and conservationists.

“What we have to decide is what we want our valley to look like,” said Fairchild. “Do we want it to look like Johnson Valley, or do we want to look like Searles Valley 10, 20, 30 years into the future?”
Williams said wilderness is publicly owned land Congress set aside for people to enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, photography and other activities.

“While it is true that motorized recreation is not allowed within a wilderness area, that doesn’t mean that your  favorite trails will be closed off,” she said. “We have been meeting with folks who have helped us figure out which routes are used, and we have excluded them from the wilderness proposal. Our goal is that those remain open.”

“Why do we need more?” said Ridgecrest resident Dr. Tom Martin. “Let’s eliminate some wilderness.”
High Desert Multiple Use Coalition Chair Ron Schiller asked if the wilderness coalition would support adequate setbacks and language to ensure routes will stay open.

“On the setbacks, absolutely,” said Henson. “I don’t believe in narrow cherry stems.”

“People want a commitment to ensure that you’re going to work with us to keep these open,” said Schiller.
Trona resident Robert Parks said he owns property in the proposed area.

“I love it so much that I bought it. I’m guaranteed access. That road will always be there forever. It’s gone,” he said.
Another resident, Louis Schilling said activities such as horseback riding, hiking are still available. “By designating this whole area as a wilderness area, all you’ve done is exclude the mechanical portion of it, which is what a lot of other enjoy here.”

“It is our view that we can have our wilderness and the vehicle access too,” said Henson.

“These are our lands,” said resident Bruce Cotton. “I respect the land.”
Resident Jeff Schultz said wilderness is a pristine area.

“This isn’t wilderness. People and their forefathers have worked and scratched their living out of it since the 1840s,” he said. “This valley is not a wilderness.”

Henson said most of the areas in the valley are not listed in the wilderness proposal.
“We are asking you please no more wilderness, period,” Martin said. “We want less wilderness. We live here. This is our backyard.”

[Rocksurfer]

One acre at a time until there isn't any left, they just keep pushing and pushing until it is all closed locked and gated.

[BigMike [OP]]