[Trdma-l] Fw: Possible blocking of traditional access trails south of Fairbanks

[Tom McGrane]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Eric Troyer
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 7:35 AM
Subject: BLM Public Access meeting next week


Hello all,

The Federal Bureau of Land Management is holding a public meeting to
hear concerns from citizens about public access across land being
conveyed to Ahtna Native Corporation. The agency is considering
whether to give up easements across that land. The meeting will be
held next week. Below is a notice written by a couple of concerned
citizens who want to make sure the public's voice is heard before
decisions are made to give up access easements. If you use public
lands in the area described, consider going to the meeting to get more
information and, if necessary, let your voice be heard.  For more
information call the Fairbanks BLM office at 474-2200.

Eric Troyer

NOTICE – Public access at risk!:

For trail riders, paddlers, hunters, fishers, skiers, hikers, etc.

Do you have favorite trails and access points to them and to rivers
off the Denali, Richardson & Parks Hwy south of the Alaska Range?

Have you told BLM about them?   Example: A trail from the Parks Hwy to
State land in the Yanert River valley.

Has BLM recognized and recorded those trails and access points and
their public uses?

If your answer is “NO”, you may soon be told “NO” when you go back to
use that access.  We’ve already lost several public access points.

BLM Public Meeting on public access across Ahtna Corporation lands –
Thursday, April 17, 4-7PM, Fairbanks BLM Office on University Avenue.

BLM always hears what Native corporations recommend, but not often
what the public wants – until the access is lost!

Þ     Go to the access meeting.
Þ     Find out about 17b easements.
Þ     Make sure that BLM knows about YOUR interests and past public
use of access across Ahtna selected lands.

Þ     Deadline for comments on 17b easements on Ahtna lands is April
28, 2008.

BLM makes its decisions on previously identified trails and access
points. Many were identified years ago.  BLM is required to consider
the interests of BOTH the land owner, AND the public.

BLM is in the final stage of reviewing conveyance of federal land to
Native corporations as mandated by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Act.  The law requires BLM to determine where public access to and
from public lands and waters or transportation routes across Native
corporation lands should be reserved by public easements. The
easements are called 17b easements, and can be a trail or a staging
area.

In general, public access across those lands is lost if 17b easements
are not reserved at the time lands are conveyed to a Native
corporation (exceptions are rare and hard to come by).

For general info on 17b easements, go to 
www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/lands_realty/17b_easements.html

Please forward this message to others who might be interested.

 From Dick & Mary Bishop