Colorado County supports keeping federal lands public

Aspendailynews.com - Full Article by Collin Szewczyk, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer Thursday, June 25, 2015 Richards: Movement ‘alive and well’ to transfer public lands to state ownership Despite two measures to transfer ownership of federal lands to the states failing this year in Colorado, a movement backing the concept is growing on the national scene and the Pitkin County commissioners are being proactive in their opposition. The BOCC on Wednesday passed an amended draft resolution stating the county’s unwavering support to keep federal lands in the hands of the public, and to not see them turned over to the states. Opponents have criticized the effort to transfer governance of federal lands to the states as an attempt to privatize the lands, potentially exposing them to resource extraction... Read more here: http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/167225

Another campaign seeks transfer of federal land to states

Spokesman.com - Full Article Rich Landers JUNE 17, 2015 PUBLIC LANDS -- I loathe this campaign just as much as I despise other greedy efforts to rob Americans of their public lands heritage. Idaho official garners support for public lands group GRANGEVILLE (AP) — An Idaho official is trying to garner support from counties in western states to legally challenge the government’s ownership of public lands. The Lewiston Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1LehPkT) Idaho County Commission Chairman Jim Chmelik is traveling this week with the goal of getting 100 counties to sign on to support the Western Landmark Foundation. The foundation was formed in March with Chmelik as the registered agent... Read more here: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2015/jun/17/another-campaign-seeks-transfer-federal-land-states/

No Trails Means No Endurance Riding

June 23 2015 Information via the Back Country Horsemen of America (http://www.bcha.org) and the American Trails Symposium have made clear that proposed federal legislation (called "land transfer") may mean that federal public lands may be sold to individual states. Monica Chapman, AERC's Trails Committee Chair, says, "Half of the federal budget for public lands which is billions of dollars is spent on fighting wildfires. Do you think your states or counties can afford that? I don’t." Please read up on the issue at http://www.westernpriorities.org/news. Monica also urges you to join BCHA. Their website does have an easy link that can help you contact your legislators. No trails means no endurance riding.