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Dedicated to conservation and multiple use of public lands for recreation opportunities.

Edited by: John Stewart

New Mexico Recreational Users File Suit to Reverse BLM Closure of Public Roads: Update

DATE: February 18, 2001

Las Cruces, NM - In June of 2000, the Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association (SWFWDA) and Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club (LCFWDC) filed suit against the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) challenging the agency's closure of public roads in the Robledo Mountains to motorized vehicles.

Terry Rust of the Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club, reports the suit is moving well and has the very real potential for national precedence to be set. "In essence," said Terry, "we are maintaining that BLM violated the law by simply ignoring it." The law in question is RS 2477 which protects pre-existing rights of way. Terry continued, "As you can see, once we win this point, every road closure that did not fully consider RS 2477 protection prior to closure will be illegal. We feel the impact could be huge when one considers that one of former DOI Secretary Babbitt's first orders to BLM was not to consider any RS 2477 assertions unless specifically ordered to by the courts. When we win, all of those closures during the Babbitt years are illegal."

The judge has granted intervenor status to the Wilderness Society and other anti recreation groups. Not only are recreational users fighting the BLM, but the untold millions available to the Anti Recreation lobby. According to Terry, "We are very confident, our attorneys are very confident, and clearly the anti recreation crowd recognizes the potential impact or they wouldn't have bothered to weigh in. This legal action will pretty much do in our land fund, that's why we started it, so we're asking like-minded recreationists to help us out with any spare funds they can afford."

Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association and Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club are requesting donations to help offset legal costs.

Any contributions should be sent to:

SWFWDA Treasurer
222 Bartlett #107
El Paso, TX 79912

Contacts: Related Links:

Terry Rust, Las Cruces Four Wheel Drive Club