What's New in the ASA
October, 2006

Dear Fellow ASA Member,

Welcome to the first in a series of semimonthly update e-mails: What's New in the ASA?
We will be sending these out in the months we do not publish the quarterly newsletter to help keep our members better informed on issues, events, and happenings with the ASA.

February - Newsletter

May - Newsletter

September - Newsletter

November - Newsletter

Sand Sports Super Show at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA September 15-17.
Here's a quick look at the show as it relates to the ASA:

ASA 2006 Volunteer Awards
Steven Bochard of the BLM presented the 2006 Jerry R. Seaver Volunteer Service Award to Julie Krogh for her outstanding efforts.
The ASA Jump Start Award was presented to Tim Gantz

Memberships
We signed up about 1730 new members of which approximately 100 were NEW supporting members. Many new business sponsors also signed up at the show.

ASA Raffle Car Winner
The winning raffle ticket was drawn Sunday September 18th at the Sand Sports Super Show. Greg Islas of Fountain Valley Ca. won the Tatum car. CLICK HERE FOR PIX

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2006-2007 ISDRA Permits:
Permits are available by calling call 800-278-0165 and online here: http://www.imperialsanddunes.org/isdraMain.html
Prices same as last year.

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Checkered Flag Bag Stuffing Party
Volunteers are needed for the annual stuffing party in Orange County. Each year we fill our Checkered Flag bags with information to be passed out at the dunes. Please come and give an hour or so of your time to help put checkered bag information kits together for the new 2006-07 season.
Date: Thursday, Oct. 12
Time: 6 PM - 8 PM
Location: Lazer Star - Weekend Concepts
1330 N. Blue Gum St. (91 freeway / 57 freeway)
Anaheim, CA 92806-1749
Contact: Jon Pergl here CheckeredBags@asasand.org for conformation and any questions.

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New ASA Website Launched
Scott Swenka and the rest of the ASA Web Team announced the cut over to the new ASA Web Site on September 30th. Please report any problems encountered to the Web Team here: newsitetest@asasand.com

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AZ Pound Sand Show
Volunteers are needed for the ASA booth at the Pound Sand Event Saturday October 14 and Sunday October 15, 2006 9:00 a.m. We are looking for people to spend an hour or two while at the show either signing up new members or selling raffle tickets for the Dejong raffle car. The show will be held at the
Orangewood RV Center
11449 W. Bell Road
Surprise, AZ 85374.

If you are going to be there OR want to come to Pound Sand to give a couple of hours to help the ASA please contact Don Johnson at donsbusbox@cox.net.

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ASA offers ATV Training Classes
The ASA has sponsored Joe Brunasso to become an ATVSI certified Instructor and is offering classes free of charge to all ASA supporting members. Attendees must be 18 years or older. Please contact Membership@asasand.com for details

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ASA Calendars Available
2007 ASA Calendars are available for purchase now through the ASA Web Store. They are $8.00 each and 100% of the proceeds benefit the ASA. CLICK HERE to buy yours now!

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4th Annual Partners in Action Report
The report is an overview of the public safety and stewardship activities at the Imperial Sand Dunes. It demonstrates the value of partnership building to the local communities, the land manager, the law enforcement agencies and the sand sport enthusiasts. CLICK HERE to read the report.

8Mb download

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Dog Laws Are for Real

Question - Does my dog have to be on a leash?

Answer - Both the BLM and County have rules regarding this issue.
The BLM rule states:
Animals must be kept on a leash not longer than six feet and secured to a fixed object or under the control of a person, or otherwise physically restricted at all times. (43 CFR 87365.2-1{c})

Imperial County Ordinances state:
6.08.120 Dogs running at large prohibited.
No dog owner shall cause, permit or allow his or her dog to run at large (i.e., be neither effectively confined by a building, structure or enclosure nor restrained by a rope, strap, chain or other material) in any portion of the unincorporated area of the county, except as hereinafter provided. (Prior code § 54600)

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THIRD Dunes Outreach Trash Truck

A second truck and volunteer and now a THIRD Dunes Outreach trash truck will be added a season earlier than expected. CLICK HERE for more details

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Legal Update

On Wednesday September 27, Judge Illston issued her final ruling in the lawsuit that is keep the TEMPORARY closures in place.
Generally, it does not appear to contain any real surprises; and most important, the Order does not impose new or additional closures. The interim closures remain in place without change. Those aspects of the Order that are complex and confusing relate primarily to the interim status of the critical habitat (CH) designation.

The only hard deadline imposed by the Court relates to the Critical Habitat Designation. According to the Order, FWS must "submit a new final critical habitat rule to the Federal Register for publication therein no later than February 1, 2008." (Of course, FWS is free to issue a new CH rule prior to that date if it is prepared to do so.)

We had initially requested that FWS and BLM complete the new BO and EIS within 12 months. However, with a firm deadline that soon, they wouldn't be able to guarantee the quality of the work.

The rest of the Court's Order breaks down as follows:

1. All parties retain their right to appeal.

2. The Biological Opinion for the ISDRA RAMP is vacated and remanded to FWS for further action and consideration consistent with the Court's ruling of March 13, 2006.

3. The EIS for the ISDRA RAMP is vacated and remanded to BLM for further action and consideration consistent with the Court's ruling of March 13, 2006.

4. BLM's 2005 Record of Decision (ROD) approving the RAMP is vacated and remanded back to BLM, pending completion of a new EIS and new BO. However, BLM may continue with whatever portions of the RAMP not otherwise prohibited by the Order or inconsistent with the Court's ruling of March 13, 2006. (The Court was exceedingly vague as to what this meant.)

5. The Incidental Take Statement (ITS) authorizing take of desert tortoise is remanded to FWS for further action and consideration consistent with the Court's ruling of March 13, 2006. The ITS is not vacated, however, and BLM may rely upon the take exemption provided in the ITS pending remand.

6. FWS's decision in August 2004 to exclude certain habitat from its Critical Habitat Designation (CHD) is vacated, as is the accompanying economic analysis. Both are remanded to FWS for further action and consideration consistent with the Court's ruling of March 13, 2006. FWS must publish a new CHD rule on or before February 1, 2008.

7. While the new CHD rule is being prepared, the August 2004 CHD rule shall remain in effect with respect to those areas designated as critical habitat. For those areas that were improperly excluded from the CHD, the August 5, 2003 CHD rule shall be reinstated and shall apply until the new rule is published -- i.e., February 1, 2008.

8. While the documents are on remand, the Temporary Closures (described in 66 Fed. Reg. 53,431 -- October 22, 2001) shall remain in place. BLM shall provide continued public notification of the closures via brochures and maps. BLM shall also provide written reports to all parties summarizing the results of the over flight monitoring.

9. All injunctive relief running in favor of the plaintiff (CBD) shall expire 90 days after BLM issues a new ROD for the RAMP (which will include the new BO, EIS, and CHD).

10. Upon completing the new BO, EIS, and CHD, BLM and FWS shall provide all parties with copies of the final documents and file a Notice with the Court indicating that the documents have been issued. Once the Notice is filed, any aggrieved party must file its objection to the documents within 90 days. Failing that, the Order will expire by operation of law. In the event an objection is filed within the time prescribed, the Court will decide what action to take.

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Comp Hill Curfew

As ASA Chairman Bob Mason discussed on the phone with Vicki Wood, Manager of BLM El Centro Field Office, our objective is to develop criteria ( A yardstick) to measure the progress that has been made since the curfew was implemented.

Using these criteria, we can work together to develop the measures that law enforcement managers can use to evaluate progress and develop a strategy that will return Comp Hill to pubic use. Mason asked the BLM to consider the following discussion topics as they develop their agenda:

• Assess the impact of the Comp Hill curfew on activities at Oldsmobile Hill.
• Define the criteria for an “unlawful assembly.”
• Identify the correlation between Comp Hill activities and ISDRA-wide serious and fatal accidents. Discuss the status of the TRT request to gather ISDRA historical info on this subject. Invite Imperial County District #5 Supervisor Wally Leimgruber to attend the 9/28/06 meeting to discuss his concerns on this subject.
• Develop criteria to be used during the 2006-07 season to measure conditions deemed appropriate for lifting the Comp Hill curfew.
• Establish a time line for the development of a plan for the reassessment of the need for the Comp Hill curfew.

During the July 28, 2006 ISDRA TRT meeting, the TRT passed a motion requesting the BLM, ICSO, and various user groups to reestablish the Competition Hill Solutions Team. Aside from this motion and request, there has been considerable discussion throughout the dune community for the need to reassess the Glamis Comp Hill Curfew.

We are pleased to report that the first of what is hoped to be a series of meetings coordinated by the BLM, took place on September 28, 2006, at the BLM El Centro Field Office. CLICK HERE for a summary of the history, events, recommendations, and actions associated with the Glamis Competition Hill Curfew. The summary concludes with notes taken during the 9/28 meeting.

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BLM Radio System Upgrade

The BLM radio system will be upgraded soon to improve ISDRA in-the-dunes communications. ASA has donated $10,000 via UDG to help this happen. It will enhance officer and public safety.

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Take Time out for Safety Campaign

• The Glamis store Weekend Warrior billboards will be updated with new artwork.
  Weekend Warrior will have a similar safety message on their Glamis service truck.
  Fleetwood RV has leased two billboards in El Centro.
• BLM and ICSO will refresh message on the "Break the Law Go to Jail" signs on the highways approaching ISDRA. Check with Neil Hamada (760 337 4451) on the new message.
• The artwork for the 2006-07 Leo/Safety Bug trash bags will be finalized this week. New bags should be available by Halloween.
• ISDRA rule signs-13 different signs - 20 business sponsors. Contact Tim Gantz for the details (619 519 3781)
  

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UDG Visitors Guide

This is a yearly publication produced by the UDG and is distributed at the ISDRA. It contains abundant information that dunes visitors need. The 2005-06 issue was an outstanding success.

Here is the link to the 2006-07 edition. CLICK HERE

3Mb download

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