Closed area on Ark.? Options

[traddoerr]

I was just talking to a gentleman about the Ark. river North of Beuna vista and they said that is has been closed by the BLM for any prospecting from the GPAA claims down to jump rock, has any one else heard this as well, I haven't had the chance to call the local office yet to confirm. I have fished spots along that stretch but was going to try a little prospecting there this year as well.

[traddoerr]

Thanks CP for your input, I will join as a member as soon as we get a handle on finances (changing carriers).

You are absolutley right about the laws and that you can prospect/mine in wilderness/primitive areas, what my assosiate is saying is that there are new LAWS (not rules or regs) pertaining to use on the public lands that are being designated as primitive/wilderness, these laws were passed along with the US budget, and it pertains to disturbance by use of the public/buisness.

They claim that many of the current roads in use were not put there by the USFS and there for are being closed under the roadless act/managment plan, this hurts every one accross the board from recreationalists/live stock ranching/other industries that relyed on this access and motorized use.

I also know what your saying in the current laws saying about being able to use motor vehicals to access mining claims, ect., but what he was telling me is that motorized use is about to change in these areas until you have an actual claim in place, and he stated that miners/fire wood Co./live stock ranchers and others that rely on some motorized use to aid them is going to be impossible to get approved.

To answer the ? what is the true managment powers of the USFS, it is surface managment, timber/agriculture use/roads & trails, any other surface disturbance that may accure, that is why one has to get a plans of operation filed with them, and then approvel, correct? And the term/law of roadless areas he said means just that, NO new roads/trails. He is trying to get more info this month and lititure that has everything in black and white.

I also asked him what if I want to use a dredger in this area to prospect, he said as it reads, no motors can be used in wilderness/primitive areas with out first getting POO approved, and good luck getting that he said. Now I'm not trying to upset any one or stir the pot sort of say, but, I'm starting to get pi$$ed off about all these new laws, and who backs them.

To give you all a little bit about myself, I have been part of a watch dog group sence 1994, we have lobbyists that we work with and legal consultants, we keep an eye/ear out for any and all outdoor activiteys and small buisnes's, anything that comes along that we feel needs more involvement we try to help, when the CDOW did its first five year season structure for biggame hunting, they (CDOW, Kim Burgess) came to us to get more people involved, Don't think that the USFS only picks on the miners/prospectors (but they may be the smallest group), we have fought battles with them in lots of areas of use, and won most. But with so many liberals in office its getting tougher by the year. As I mentioned when he gets back to me I will post what info I get, my opinion is every one will have to work together to keep what we have now and try to gain back some.