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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Paige" data-source="post: 58929" data-attributes="member: 38">Okay I got ahold of the BLM's OHV guy and here is the skinny ~  2 years ago they passed a rule - a nails in firewood rule.  The way the rule is written, possession of a pallet for use a firewood (why else would you have a pallett out there) can get you a ticket at the officers discretion.  The filming thing is old and Nathan is the one in charge of it. They have always required vendor permits, but about 3-6 mos ago they realized that those filming should be under a seperate permit, i.e. the filming permit.The race courses - they have indeed indentified two race courses in both Johnson and Stoddard. They are shorter - 34 - 40 miles - so a 400 mile race will be 10 laps - which is better for viewers I suppose.  He said that the Johnson longer course was broken in two.  I did ask about the fact that running a shorter course over an entire season can impact the deserts ability to repair itself.  He said that with a 3 month interval in between the use of each course  does help provide a sustainable approach to having designated race courses.  I pressed that folks in the CBD may use pics of the courses as their calling card for whatever they start to push in the future, and he said that is something they are continuing to look at.  I told him that I am concerned about shorter race courses that are used 3-4 times a year - over the course of a few years may have a detremental impact and then he spoke of possible course maintenance to help alleviate that problem.  I know that they do that on some of the motorcycle courses and that is standard for some trails as well.  SO who knows where this course designation will lead.The EMS personnel - with a 40 mile loop and the requirement of someone be every 10 miles, that is 4 people.  They would like first responders to the be the first on a scene, but are lowering the requirements to someone who is CPR and First Aid Certified.  The point is if someone crashes that there is someone to them in a short period of time that can stabilize any injuries until help arrives.  No mentioned yet in this thread - is an upcoming  fee demo for El Mirage, Stoddard, Johnson and Dumont.  They are going to try and roll this out apprarently to off-set the shift in their budget that will be allocated to implementing the WEMO plan when it is finalized. There is no $$ in the WEMO plan thus far....I was told that the fees will help to keep the open areas taken care of by the BLM.  So far they are planning on charging $20/week or $60/year on site for all the above listed locations.  If you purchase via phone, web or outside vendor there is a $5 discount.  The pass is for an RV camping unit, which would be everything that comes in behind an RV, Race car, ATV, whatever.    If you show up in your truck, then the pass is for your truck.. He said that they are going to release a business plan for thjs Fee structure that I'm sure they will take comments on.  It seems that the fee thing is something they are starting to do more and more to off-set the loss of funds. The only bonus is that the funds will then be used in the open areas for stuff like course maintenance, etc.  So that is what I got from the BLM Barstow.  In all it doesn't sound too unreasonable. The nails are a problem, so don't bring pallets - bring firewood, The filming thing sounds like a redesignation of who gets permitted, the EMS thing - I don't see a problem with more saftey personnel, and the fees, well those always get resistence - so I will be interested to see how those play out.</blockquote>

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