Update on Johnson Valley OHV Annexation by 29 Palms

The Traveler · Apr 18, 2014

Got an e-mail from Senator Feinstein after months of sending my own to her office.

Sounds like good news to me, as I can deal with 2 months of use by the military and 10 months of OHV use for that smaller area.

I'd like to see a map though.

Dear Mr. Moghaddam:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the Marine Corps' efforts to acquire land within the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area. I appreciate the time you took to write, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

I strongly believe that conservation, renewable energy development, recreation, and military priorities can and must co-exist in the California Desert. Following several years of studies, the Department of Defense proposed an expansion of the Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms to accommodate Marine Corps training requirements. After considering a number of alternatives, including a westward expansion that would have required the use of all 188,000 acres of Johnson Valley, the Marines agreed to consider and ultimately adopt a more limited option that I proposed (Alternative 6). Under this proposal, a portion of Johnson Valley is preserved for recreational uses.

In working with Representative Paul Cook (R-CA) and Marine Commandant General James F. Amos, we were able to improve upon that basic framework to come to an agreement that was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2014 (Public Law 113-66).

This agreement balances the training needs of the Marine Corps with recreational priorities. It preserves approximately 100,000 acres of Johnson Valley as the "Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area" and also allows the Marine Corps to expand Twentynine Palms Marine Base to a portion of Johnson Valley known as an area of shared use. This shared use area consists of 53,231 acres and will be under the jurisdiction of the United States Navy for 60 days per year for Marine Corps training. For the remaining days of the year, the shared use area will be under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior for Off-Highway Vehicles and other recreational uses.

I am proud that the final agreement will preserve much of Johnson Valley for recreation and permanently designate a portion of Johnson Valley for OHV recreation. You may also be interested to know that the "California Desert Protection Act of 2011" (S. 138), a bill I introduced in 2011 and plan to reintroduce this Congress, creates even more areas designated for recreation.

Please know that I appreciate hearing your support for maintaining OHV recreation in Johnson Valley, and I will keep your views in mind should the Senate further debate OHV recreation areas in the coming months.

Once again, thank you for writing. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841, or visit my website at www.feinstein.senate.gov. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
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Germ · Apr 18, 2014

She's still a see you next Tuesday.

DSMJRV · Apr 18, 2014

heading out there tonight! this compromise is better than losing it for good

lembowski · Apr 21, 2014

The 60 days they get is every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Halloween till Easter. We get it Monday through Thursday lol

The Traveler · Apr 21, 2014

lembowski said: ↑

The 60 days they get is every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Halloween till Easter. We get it Monday through Thursday lol
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HAHAHA no way!!! I thought it was 60 days consecutive.

That is absolutely ridiculous.

HBtaco02 · Apr 21, 2014

I will believe senator Frankenstein when HELL freezes over. That old Rat has lied so many times she has no ideal what the truth is anymore... I doubt she gives a crap about anything other than her personal agenda.

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Update on Johnson Valley OHV Annexation by 29 Palms

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The Traveler [OP] Desert Chief

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Germ Master Navigator/Zipper Operator

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DSMJRV Well-Known Member

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lembowski Well-Known Member

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The Traveler [OP] Desert Chief

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HBtaco02 Well-Known Member

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Update on Johnson Valley OHV Annexation by 29 Palms

#1 The Traveler [OP] Desert Chief

#2 Germ Master Navigator/Zipper Operator

#3 DSMJRV Well-Known Member

#4 lembowski Well-Known Member

#5 The Traveler [OP] Desert Chief

#6 HBtaco02 Well-Known Member

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#1
The Traveler [OP] Desert Chief

#2
Germ Master Navigator/Zipper Operator

#3
DSMJRV Well-Known Member

#4
lembowski Well-Known Member

#5
The Traveler [OP] Desert Chief

#6
HBtaco02 Well-Known Member

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