ACTION REQUESTED - Forest Service to grant exclusive tribal access

[SemperFidelis97]

What really needs to happen.......We the people need to pull in the reigns of the FS, or as they should be called....

Not to derail, but I was literally standing next to that building two days ago.  Great little town.

[cboom]

http://nwsportsmanmag.com/editors-blog/mt-baker-snoqualmie-nf-districts-travel-plan-notable/

Everyone remember the public meetings and comment period that Forest Service offered this spring regarding decommissioning certain logging roads?  Well apparently they made their decisions on what roads to close and keep open.  Oh, and they also decided to add a special provision (that was never discussed this spring) to grant North Sound Tribes exclusive motor vehicle access to Wells Creek Road and parts of Glacier Creek Road here in Whatcom County.  For those of you that don't know, these are the main access points to 2 of the 3 Mt. Baker Goat units as well as miles and miles of great deer and bear hunting country. 

Of course the comment period has passed and you are only allowed to submit an "Objection" to the new rules if you commented on the road closures during public comment period this spring. 

Ultimately, I don't care whether these roads are decommissioned altogether or maintained and stay open.  As long as the tribes are honoring their tribal rights, I don't even care where they hunt.  I understand the budget shortfalls USFS is facing right now.  But from what I've read, this proposal would continue to use FS dollars to continue to maintain these PUBLIC roads and then grant exclusive motor vehicle access to tribal members only.  I see no reason whatsoever why tribes should get exclusive access to public roads that are maintained by our tax dollars.

To say I'm fuming right now would be an understatement. 
  r

The revised proposal was written Erin Uloth, District Ranger (Mt. Baker Ranger District).  If you want to talk to her about it, her direct line is 360-854-2601 and her email is euloth@fs.fed.us.

I was at the meeting in Kendall this spring. There were three options discussed on which roads our tax dollars would be spent on maintaining, A,B, and C as they called them. Never once was an option D brought up where our scarce tax dollars go to maintaining roads only the tribes can use. My understanding is there is a meeting at Chair 9 tomorrow evening at 5 and Erin will be there. I sure encourage anybody that can be there. I will try to confirm early in the day tomorrow is in fact the case. I'm not 100% sure on this but have been led to believe Erin Uloth made this decision completely on here own. This is after there were two public meetings in which nothing like this was brought up.

[huntnphool]

 "Treaty tribes depend on the current road system to access fish and wildlife populations."

 What happened to "usual and accustomed"?

[Dan-o]

"Treaty tribes depend on the current road system to access fish and wildlife populations."

 What happened to "usual and accustomed"?

There is that...... but also.....

How about "Non treaty people depend on the current road system to access fish and wildlife populations".?

Why does it matter that treaty tribes are used to having these roads for access, but it doesn't matter that other citizens are used to using these roads for access?

[trophyhunt]

Blood pressure is up again, I just can't wait till it happens down here in greenwater.

[Duckslayer89]

Blood pressure is up again, I just can't wait till it happens down here in greenwater.

They are already preparing by shutting down that corral pass road.

[trophyhunt]

Blood pressure is up again, I just can't wait till it happens down here in greenwater.

They are already preparing by shutting down that corral pass road.

And a bunch more, you know the mucks will get keys! 

[jackmaster]

Legalize gambling. Simple as that. All leverage would be removed.

you damn right, if we legalize gambling it takes ALL the power away from every tribe with casinos, WE the regular people have the leverage then, tribes would lose so damn much money that they would relinquish all kinds of stuff!! Money is the only way to fix this and it's through the CASINOS!! Why do you think the tribes spent millions in slander campaigns against non native casinos??

[Fl0und3rz]

Some interesting reading on the topic.

http://www.ghcog.org/DemoTables/Economic%20Tables/Econ_Fiscal_Impacts_IndianTribes_WA.pdf

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/1997/04/21/editorial2.html


What it seems to leave out is whether any tax benefits afforded to these sovereign governments' casino operations remunerate back to non-tribal governments, politicians, and their lobbyists to lobby for special considerations only for tribal members concerning WA or federal public resources.


The most glaring example of this type of activity seems to be this. 

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Tribes-give-big-to-Gregoire-avoid-sharing-casino-1276446.php

[WAPatriot]

I would fully support conquering these sovern nations and turning them into the USA. Seems like it would be easy enough for U.S. military to conquer these independent nations and expand the U.S. Territory.

[JimmyHoffa]

Almost sounds like FS is scared of the tribes.  Give them what they want and not get sued and have to deal with some SJW from Congress.

[trophyhunt]

I would fully support conquering these sovern nations and turning them into the USA. Seems like it would be easy enough for U.S. military to conquer these independent nations and expand the U.S. Territory.

yup, should have done that many years ago!

[MountainTracker]

Why does it matter that treaty tribes are used to having these roads for access, but it doesn't matter that other citizens are used to using these roads for access?

I've always been curious about this ^^^^, none of these roads existed when the treaties were signed.  Go ahead and hunt as per the agreements, but don't act like these roads make the difference for that to happen.

[Fl0und3rz]

We all know that various groups use the fourth branch of government to achieve what they could not otherwise through the use of the ballot box or through legislative efforts, both of which have some measure of accountability to the people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_branch_of_government#Administrative_agencies

We've heard of various sue and settle schemes whereby interest groups have sued various friendly administrative agencies, and then the suit is "settled" out of court, including a legally binding stamp of approval from a friendly federal judge.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/252444-sue-and-settle-shenanigans

I am sure that the FS is not immune. 

Fortunately, US regulatory agencies are required to adhere to the Administrative Procedures Act in conducting its rule-making activities.  The APA prescribes, notice, hearing, and comment procedures to be followed to enact valid agencies rules.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_Procedure_Act_(United_States)#Standard_of_judicial_review


Also fortunately in this instance, it appears that the agency responsible may have run roughshod of the APA in attempting to sneak this one through. 


Someone could attempt to get an injunction against enforcement of these new regulations, if it is, as it appears, to be an improper exercise of federal agency rule-making.

[Russ McDonald]

The draft decision notice for your reading pleasure http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic.download.akamai.com/11558/www/nepa/102294_FSPLT3_3817679.pdf