What's
New in the aSa
DECEMBER, 2008
In
this Issue:
The
Cost of
Duners, Dollars,
and the Disappearing Dumpster.
The collection of trash from
the dumpsters is paid for out of money collected through recreation fees.
The 2007/2008 season brought rising fuel costs and dwindling fee revenues.
These two factors combined to price this service out of range. As
a result, beginning
February
1, 2009, trash service will no longer be available.
Why does
ASA support the BLM plan to remove the ISDRA dumpsters?
During the past year it has been clearly obvious that the ISDRA fee collection
program will not support all of the services currently provided by BLM.
There are several choices. Among the alternates considered was the reduction
of visitor services such as emergency medical services or trash collection.
Of course, an increase in the ISDRA fee could be used to pay for trash
collection. With these options in mind the ASA chose to support the BLM
decision.
When dumpsters
are unavailable (or full) as you leave the area, please
do the right thing and
Please Pack
Your Trash Home.
Trash left on
the ground is not only a citable offense,* but a significant eyesore and
health & safety issue.
*CA Penal
Code 374.4 or 43 CFR 8365.1-1(b) 1-6; punishable by a fine not to exceed
$1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.
10 good reasons to pack your trash home |
Chances are you already pay for trash service at home. Do you really want to pay for it twice? |
It will save you money. Leaving trash on the ground earns you a hefty ticket. |
Helps keep recreation fees down and visitor services up. |
Allows park rangers to concentrate on providing more useful visitor services, rather than picking up your trash. |
Encourages recycling, at the dunes and at home. |
Improves the image of duners, and the perception others have of you. |
Your kids play in this sand. Think about it. |
Protects wildlife and natural resources. |
Reduces congestion at exit points, getting you on the road that much sooner. |
Instills a stewardship ethic and encourages responsibility amongst youngsters. Besides, it's the right thing to do. |
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Union
Pacific Railroad Plans
The aSa
has learned that due to the recent down turn in the economy the Union
Pacific railroad will cut back on their double track project adjacent
to the dunes. They will double track as far as the Cactus Siding this
year, which is closer to Olgiby along the RR tracks (at approximatley
Wash 40). The long term plan of the Railroad is to begin construction
of the section from Cactus to Niland in 2010. The Railroad plans to ultimately
double track the entire length along the dunes and replace all of the
culverts, including Wash 10. The new Wash 10 culvert will NOT accommodate
vehicles.
The Railroad plans
to start a fence project this week or next. It will be from about Wash
29 to Wash 1 near the BLM kiosk. It will be open at each wash in
increments of 10 feet (i.e. 30 or 40 feet). The Railroad believes the
train wreck a year ago was caused by sand. The fence is intended to minimize
this concern.
The Railroad will
continue to allow the BLM and the public to access the dunes via
the Wash Road which is within their right of way. However, that could
change as the Railroad management may elect to withdraw this privilege
at anytime. Remember when you are driving or riding on Wash Road you are
on Railroad property!
The only place
to cross the railroad tracks will be at Highway 78. All other railroad
crossings will be removed or chained off. This includes the crossing at
Wash 38 and Wash 23.
Please respect
the Railroad's property. Be cautious of changing conditions along Wash
Road during construction and in the future.
A note of
caution--- The local Union Pacific manager understands the value
of the Wash Road to the ISDRA visitors. However the Omaha management will
make the call on the Wash Rd. Factors such as dust abatement and liability
issues resulting from irresponsible speed, crossing the tracks with OHVs,
etc will be important factors in their assessment. It would probably be wise
to limit the contacts to Union Pacific to the BLM. BLM understands
the value of the wash road and has been successful in maintaining duner
access so far.
Ted
Kipf Road to Bordmanville
According
to the ICSO, Ted Kipf Road in the ISDRA, as Wheeler and Pane
Roads in the Superstitions, is a county maintained/improved road by
the Public Works Department of Imperial County. This means that
Off Road traffic is permitted to be on the road only when crossing
at a 90-degree angle and is not permitted to drive down this road.
Any vehicle that is not street-legal navigating this road is subject
to a citation from a Deputy/Officer/Ranger.
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Do
you know the speed limit on Gecko Road?
While much of Gecko Road is designated as 35MPH there is a section
near the Cahuilla Ranger Station, that is designated as 15MPH.
Law Enforcement IS enforcing this speed limit and tickets have been issued
to violators recently. Please know and obey the POSTED speed limits or
run the risk of being cited.
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In An Emergency
It is usually best not to transport an injured person from an accident scene before medical personnel arrive. Moving a victim improperly can make an injury worse, particularly when the injury is to the head, neck, or back. If possible, send someone to notify a Bureau of Land Management Ranger or call 911. Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates are extremely useful in locating the victim quickly.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Don Wharton
REACH Director of Business Development / Pilot
760.427.3244
REACH Air Medical Services Provides Helicopter Service in Southern California
Critical Life-Saving Medical Resource in Imperial Valley and Beyond
EL CENTRO, CA – Nov. 7, 2008— REACH Air Medical Services (REACH) extended its emergency helicopter service to Southern California on July 1, 2008. REACH, located at Imperial County Airport, is available 24-hours-a-day, and provides rapid response to patients in need of emergent air medical flights from the scene of accidents or from hospitals throughout the region.
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El Centro Regional Medical Center and Pioneers Memorial Hospital have entered into an exclusive arrangement whereby REACH will provide air medical services for patients requiring emergency air transports to or from their respective facilities.
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REACH ’s Imperial County base operates a Eurocopter EC 135, helicopter which will be used jointly between the two local hospitals to provide air support in the event of medical emergencies.
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The Eurocopter features the latest aviation and safety technology: night vision capabilities, Federal Aviation Administration-approved global-positioning system and twin engines for quicker response times. The EC 135 helicopter is able to reach any part of Imperial County within 20 minutes.
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REACH is staffed 24/7 with a pilot, a critical care flight nurse and a critical care paramedic.
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In addition to emergency transport services, REACH also provides the hospitals with a one-call patient referral and transport center through REACH’s 24/7 Critical Access communication center.
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In addition to emergency helicopter services, REACH, in partnership with Aeromedevac, will provide 24/7 emergency airplane services as well.
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REACH has a membership program, REACH for Life. As a member, you pay nothing for emergency air medical transport provided by REACH or one of our reciprocating service partners (Cal-Ore Life Flight of Western Oregon and Enloe Flight Care of Chico, California). We will bill your insurance carrier and accept their payment as payment in full. This allows you or your family member to focus on getting well instead of worrying about the expense of your injury or illness.
About REACH: REACH Air Medical Services, headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, supports operations in Concord, El Centro, Lakeport, Lodi, Marysville, Redding, Sacramento, and Santa Rosa, California as well as Corvallis, Oregon. REACH provides air medical transport services utilizing rotor- (helicopter) and fixed-wing (airplane) aircraft regionally, nationally and worldwide and has performed approximately 40,000 air ambulance missions since its inception in 1987. REACH offers a membership program, REACH for Life; a primary benefit of membership is the guarantee of no out-of-pocket expenses when members are transported by REACH or a REACH service partner within the areas served. REACH has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) since 1998.
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Did
you know that the aSa
has an On-Line Bulletin Board?
Looking
for a new Dune Group to camp with?
Want
to ride the Summer Dunes of the ISDRA under a full moon?
Want
to join our 2008 Monster Ride?
You
can find it all here!
You can ask
questions, post an Ad for a vehicle you might be selling, or just chat
it up with a friendly community of like minded duners.
In the Duner Connection Forum, you can connect with our family oriented
members, meet out in the Dunes and camp & ride together.
"After being an aSa
Member for years, I discovered the Bulletin Board one day on aSa's
Website. Since then, it has proven to be the vehicle to stay informed
of current issues and get to know other duners", stated Mike 'Woodglue'
Reber, aSa
Bulletin Board Moderator.
Get all the
information you need for the Dune Season from the aSa's
Bulletin
Board!
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NEW
FEE STRUCTURE BEGINNING OCTOBER 2008
Effective
October 2008, permits purchased at the dunes will cost $120.00 for a season
and $40.00 for a week. Save yourself time and money by purchasing your
permit before arriving. Pre-purchased permit fees remain unchanged, $90.00
for a season and $25.00 for a week. Permits can be purchased online, by
phone, from a vendor on the way to the dunes or best of all, through the
aSa!
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Metal
in firewood could get you a Ticket
Do not burn pallets or wood with nails! |
Effective January 1, 2008, campfires at Ocotillo
Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area and
Heber Dunes State Vehicular
Recreation Area must contain only untreated wood products
free from metal, petroleum products, and other toxic substances.
In addition, no persons shall possess,
ignite, or burn pallets of any kind including those made of wood,
fiber, or plastic within these recreation areas.
At the ISDRA,
the burning of pallets will get you a citation for nails in
your fire pit on the basis of the rules that cover littering.
ISDRA is in the process of adopting a rule similar to that of the
Barstow Field office for Dumont Dunes. See below.
The Dumont
Dunes staff enforces the CA Firewood Rule.
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New
AZ OHV Law as of 1/1/09
Attached is a news release from the AZ G&F Dept re the new AZ OHV
Law and decal. There are a few unanswered questions remaining. The AZ
Motor Vehicle Division is responsible for setting the price before 1/1/09.
As more information becomes available aSa
will inform its members accordingly. Please contact Jim Harken AZGFD,
Public Information Officer 623 236 7223 to learn more.
| Arizona
Game and Fish Department |
| |
NEWS
RELEASE
For immediate
release, Nov. 10, 2008 |
| |
|
Learn
more about new OHV laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2009
|
The Arizona Game
and Fish Department has a new Web page designed to inform off-highway
vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts about new laws that will affect OHV
use starting Jan. 1, 2009.
A Web link at www.azgfd.gov/ohv
will take you to a list of answers to frequently asked questions
about the new laws and the rules and regulations. Some of the
provisions include:
- The requirement
to purchase an annual “OHV Decal” for any OHV
designed by the manufacturer primarily for off-highway use
and weighing 1,800 pounds or less, in order to operate that
OHV in Arizona. This generally includes all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs), side-by-sides (utility vehicles), dirt bikes, and
some sand rails. The OHV Decal can be purchased through the
Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division
(MVD) after Jan. 1. MVD should announce the cost of the Decal
soon.
- 4X4’s, trucks,
sport utility vehicles (SUVs), cars, and other recreational
vehicles (motor homes) are not required to purchase the OHV
Decal. You will need to purchase a State Land Recreational
Use permit to have your truck/trailer on any State Land, the
Decal only works for the OHV decribed above.
- Travel is limited
to roads, trails and areas that are designated open by the
land management agency for motorized vehicle use.
- Travel by motorized
vehicles that causes damage to wildlife habitat, riparian
areas, cultural or natural resources, or property or improvements
is prohibited.
- OHVs generating
sound greater than 96 decibels must have a muffler or other
noise dissipative device.
- Anyone under the
age of 18 will be required to wear a properly fitted and fastened
USDOT approved helmet when riding any OHV.
The new laws were
passed thanks in large part to a joint effort between Arizona
sportsmen, conservation groups, off-highway vehicle (OHV) user
groups, elected officials, and other members of the public.
The goal of the new regulations is to provide better OHV management
and protection of natural resources while maintaining access.
For more information go to: www.azgfd.gov/ohv
|
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|
|
-30-
|
| |
| The
Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the
basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in
its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been
discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities,
including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the
Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000,
(602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax
Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may
request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative
format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above. |
end press
release
The following
information has been provided by BLM El Centro Field Office Chief Ranger.
The Imperial County Sheriff's office and the CA State Parks Off-Highway
Motor Vehicle Recreation Division will follow the same procedure.
ATTENTION
AZ OHV OWNERS!
Until 1/1/09,
to be legal in California, you must have a California Non-Resident Sticker,
Arizona MC, or RV plate. Neither the California nor Arizona OHV registration
allows you to ride on highways in California. It allows you to ride
off-highway. If you have a VIN or other unique identification number
affixed to the OHV, and it matches your registration you are in compliance
with the law. Remember:
1) a VIN / identification
number must match your registration; and
2) you must
have a California Non-Resident Sticker, Arizona MC, or RV plate attached
on the left side, facing the rear, of your OHV.
3) Once the
Arizona OHV program is fully implemented, you will also be required
to comply with the Arizona OHV laws. California will honor your Arizona
registration and OHV decal as long as it is properly displayed.
California residents
must have a VIN / identification number affixed to the vehicle. The
VIN / identification number must match your registration, and you must
have an OHV green or red sticker.
Vehicles can
be impounded if they do not meet these requirements.
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Know
the ISDRA Rules & Regulations -- Law enforcement is cracking down!
ISDRA RULES AND REGULATIONS
Rules are designed to promote public safety in the Imperial Sand Dunes
and have been in effect since 1983. It is your responsibility to know
the law. These rules apply to public lands within the Imperial Sand
Dunes Recreation Area.
RECREATION PERMIT. A permit is required for all primary vehicles;
a primary vehicle is a street legal vehicle used for transportation
to the recreation site. Permits must be purchased on or before arrival
and visibly displayed in the windshield of the primary vehicle with
the date side facing out.
SAFETY FLAGS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES IN THE IMPERIAL SAND DUNES
RECREATION AREA (This includes two-wheeled motorcycles.) All vehicles
shall be equipped with a whip mast and a 6x12-inch red/orange flag.
Flags may be of pennant, triangle, square, or rectangular shape. Masts
must be securely mounted on the vehicle and extend eight feet from the
ground to the mast tip. Safety flags must be attached within 10 inches
of the tip of the whip mast with club or other flags mounted below safety
flag, or on another whip.
A 15 MPH SPEED RULE EXISTS ON THE SAND HIGHWAYS. No person shall
operate an OHV in excess of 15 mph on public lands within 500 feet of
Highway 78, Grays Well Road, Gecko Road and access roads within the
Gecko and Roadrunner recreation sites.
NO SAVING SPACES. Reserving of camping spaces is prohibited;
sites are allocated on a first come/first serve basis.
FIRES. The burning of potentially hazardous materials e.g.(but
not limited to) gas, oil, plastic and magnesium is prohibited.
NO GLASS BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ARE ALLOWED. Possession or use of any
glass, cup or bottle, empty or not, used for carrying any liquid for
drinking purposes is prohibited. Persons may pick up glass beverage
containers discarded by others to remove for deposit in approved trash
receptacles.
NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED WHILE RIDING ON BLM LANDS. No
person shall drink an alcoholic beverage, have in their possession or
on their person any open container that contains an alcoholic beverage
while operating in or on a motor vehicle or OHV on public lands administered
by BLM within California.
USE OF AUDIO DEVICES. No person shall operate or use any audio,
such as a radio, television, musical instrument, or other noise producing
device or motorized equipment between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
in a manner that makes unreasonable noise that disturbs other visitors;
or operate or use a public address system without written authorization
from BLM.
PUBLIC NUDITY. Public nudity is prohibited in the Imperial Sand
Dunes Recreation Area.
UNAUTHORIZED ORGANIZED EVENT. No person shall participate in
or sponsor an unauthorized organized event (Example bands, videos, movies
etc. ).
RIDING IN PICKUP BEDS AND OTHER UNSAFE ACTIVITIES. No person
shall ride in the bed of a pickup truck or any part of a motor vehicle
not designed for passengers on or off road.
AIRCRAFT. Taking off or landing of aircraft, including ultralights,
is prohibited within one (1) mile of Gecko Road.
DUMPING. Dumping of sewage (black) and/or gray water is prohibited.
CAMPING LIMITATIONS. A 14 day camping limit is in effect in the
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
PARKING RESTRICTIONS. No parking or camping within 10 feet of
pavement on Gecko Road.
SHOOTING. Shooting is prohibited within 1/2 mile of formal campgrounds
and should be conducted well away from other concentrations of people
and property.
LEASH LAW. 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.
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aSa
Giveaway Raffle Car & Trailer
This year,
the aSa
Giveaway buggy is a custom built Sand Limo. This is the SECOND
car that SAND LIMO has built for the aSa
Giveaway Raffle.
H & H Trailer Company of Kingman, AZ donated a flat
bed trailer that goes with the Sand Limo. This all aluminum trailer
includes a built in winch and a hydraulic tilting cylinder. This will
make your raffle tickets even more valuable. If you already bought tickets,
you are eligible to win this outstanding package. Tickets
are $20 each and the winner will be drawn at the 2009 Sand Sports Super
Show, September 20, 2009. You do NOT have to be present to win.
The actual trailer will be 20' long & 102” wide floor and drive
over fenders.
Christmas
Gift Special
Support the
aSa
and keep your dunes open - Purchase
your Sand Limo Raffle Car Tickets Now
The
more you buy, the more you save, the better your odds of winning
Buy
1 for $20, 3 for $50, 6 for $100, 12 for $200 or 24 for $400
Tickets are limited to
only 7,500. Purchase
your tickets now before they are all gone!
Winners
Need Not be Present (additional rules apply)
For Mail Orders Send
Check or Money Order to
Sand Limo Buggy Raffle
Box 1872
Canyon Country, CA 91286
If you
would like to help sell tickets for our annual fundraiser please send
an email to:
The aSa
Volunteer Coordinator
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Citations,
Where does your money go?
On numerous occasions posts
on the aSa bulletin board indicate that many ISDRA visitors do not understand
the disposition of the revenue collected as a result of citation
fines. I'm sure you have heard many reasons why tickets
are written. Some say that the the funds go to pay
for the LEO's wages. The following is the response to questions
that were posed to the BLM, ICSO and CA State Parks law enforcement
leadership:
Is there a difference between tickets written by BLM, ICSO and the State Parks?
Yes.
Is the fine the same for the same violation?
It depends on what type of citation is issued. County ordinances, state law, and federal law have different bail schedules. There are a variety of federal, state and county laws and ordinances that an officer can choose from when issuing a citation.
Do I have to appear in court for a federal, county or state citation?
On a federal citation you have to go to court only if you want to contest the citation or if the mandatory appearance box was checked by the federal officer. You do not have to go to court for county ordinance citations. Most California Vehicle Code infractions do not require a mandatory court appearance. State Park regulations may be charged as either an infraction or a misdemeanor, but are rarely mandatory appearance.
Where does the money I pay go?
Federal citation
Funds collected from the payment of petty offense cases are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. The Crime Victims Fund was established by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 and is a major funding source for victim services throughout the country. For more information about the Crime Victims Fund and how the funds are disbursed, visit the Office for Victims of Crime website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/. The $25 processing fee is used to offset court costs.
State citation
California Vehicle Code (CVC) requires that fines and forfeitures for OHV violations (CVC Division 16.5) be used by the county for OHV enforcement (CVC 42204).
County citation
To Imperial County (ex: OHVEST, IC Arson & Bomb).
Can BLM Rangers write citations on a county ordinance?
Yes, if the County Sheriff has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with BLM giving BLM officers authority to issue citations for state and local violations.
Can BLM Rangers write citations on fireworks?
Yes.
Can BLM Rangers write citations on ISDRA permit compliance?
Yes.
Can BLM Rangers write citations on other violations?
Yes.
How does a federal citation differ from a county ordinance citation for failure to have an ISDRA permit?
A federal citation is for a federal offense.
County ordinance citations are for violations of county ordinances, enacted by the county.
Citations may also be issued under state law (Penal Code 537).
If I fail to pay the citation is my vehicle registration affected?
Yes. The penalty for nonpayment must be paid before you may renew your registration. A warrant may also be issued for your arrest (county, state or federal).
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Wrist
Restraints
We're
sure you know what wrist restraints are but, do you have them, and
if so, do you use them?
Recently, one of our members rolled his car in the dunes while making
a slow (20 MPH) right hand turn. The person following saw the driver's
arms swing over his head as the car rolled on to the left side then
come to rest on its roof.
The driver's left arm was trapped under the roll cage and his injuries
included a compound fracture of both the ulna and radius bones along
with broken bones in his hand.
He came extremely close to losing his hand. However due to some
very intricate surgical work, the surgeon was able to "lasso"
the bones together to keep them from splintering and eventually
installed metal plates, pins and screws. The surgeon said that it
would take at least 8 months to heal and if it didn't heal, the
only other alternative is to remove his hand and part of his forearm.
The bottom line is this, buy wrist restraints and use them every
time you drive your sand car.
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Acronyms
ADSB - Andrews Dune Scarab Beetle
AMA - Adaptive Management Area
ARA = Arizona Public Records Act
ASMAP - Peirson's Milk Vetch (technical)
BLM - Bureau of Land Management
BLM ECFO - BLM El Centro Field Office
BO - Biological Opinion
BOD - Board of Directors
CA PRA = California Public Records Act
CBD - Center for Biological Diversity
CCC - California Coastal Commission
CDCA - California Desert Conservation Area
CDPA - California Desert Protection Act
CEQA = California Environmental Quality Act
CNPS - California Native Plant Society
CORVA - California Off Road Vehicle Association
CVC - California Vehicle Code
DOJ - Department of Justice
DOI - Department of the Interior
EIR - Environmental Impact Report
EIS - Environmental Impact Study
ECFO - BLM El Centro Field Office
ESA - Endangered Species Act
FLPMA - Federal Land Policy & Management Act
FOIA - Freedom of Information Act
FoOD - Friends of Oceano Dunes (Pismo)
FoDD - Friends of Dumont Dunes
ICBoS - Imperial County Board of Supervisors
SDCSO - San Diego County Sheriff's Office
FTHL - Flat Tail Horned Lizard
FWS - See USFWS
GOL - GlamisOnLine.org
IC - Incident Command
ICSO - Imperial County Sheriff Office
ISDRA - Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
LEO - Law Enforcement Officer
MA - Management Area
NECO - North Eastern Colorado Desert Plan
NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act
NEQA = National Environmental Quality Act
ODSVRA - Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area
OHMVR - Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation
OHV - Off Highway Vehicle
OHVEST - Off Highway Vehicle Enforcement Safety Team
ORBA - Off Road Business Association
ORV = Off Road Vehicle
PA - Planning Area
PH SO - Sand food
PMV - Peirson's Milk Vetch
RAMP - Recreation Area Management Plan
ROD - Record of Decision
SDORC - San Diego Off-Road Coalition
SSSS - Sand Sports Super Show
SVRA - State Vehicle Recreation Area
TRT - Technical Review Team
UA - Unlawful Assembly
UDG - United Desert Gateway Communities (local to ISDRA)
USFWS - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WECO - Western Colorado Desert Plan
WSA - Wilderness Study Area
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