Here is the news release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
Heather Spivey
1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road
PMB # 222
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
hspivey@bellsouth.net
678-463-7376
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association Protecting
Environmental Health of the Upper Tellico ORV Area
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) is acting to address statements made against the U.S. Forest Service alleging violations of the Clean Water Act and other federal and state laws at the Upper Tellico Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Area in the Tusquitee Ranger District in the Nantahala National Forest. The North Carolina Council of Trout Unlimited and Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited accompanied by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project have threatened to sue the United States Forest Service on grounds that they have violated the Clean Water Act and other federal and state environmental regulations. The groups are demanding the Forest Service close a significant number of the designated ORV trails. This notice represents a formal threat of suit clearing the grievants' path to the courthouse should the agency refuse to capitulate to their demands.
Known as the Upper Tellico Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Area, Tellico is one of the premiere facilities for four wheel drive enthusiasts in the country and offers a variety of experiences for different types of off-highway vehicles. The Tellico ORV Area also provides significant economic benefits to the tri-state region surrounding the area, including North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia
Commenting on the recently filed notice, Heather Spivey of the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, said, “We are reviewing the notice of intent to sue and intend to provide more accurate information for the US Forest Service to consider.”
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) provides extensive environmental stewardship in the area including restoration of trails and surrounding environment, installing silt screens and traps, building bridges to protect stream quality, and constructing trail head facilities such as parking lots, loading ramps, signs, bulletin boards, and restrooms.
Spivey, who has over a decade of water quality regulation experience, also stated, “It appears at first blush that the erosion issues recently publicized by the involved parties are inaccurate. They failed to account for the significant investment from Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) and their membership to improve erosion control measures and to remedy siltation issues within the Upper Tellico ORV Area.”
In 2005 and 2006 alone, SFWDA volunteers contributed thousands of hours of labor, equipment, and materials valued at over $100,000.
“Southern Four Wheel Drive Association is committed to preserving the Upper Tellico ORV Area while protecting the water quality and trout populations of the Tellico River. Our Association is made up of member clubs consisting of sportsmen that also hunt, fish, and believe that everyone should have the right to enjoy their public lands, including motorized family recreationists”, stated David Borum, nationally-known Director of Legislative Affairs for Southern Four Wheel Drive Association.
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association is working with the BlueRibbon Coalition and United Four Wheel Drive Associations and their attorneys to ensure that motorized recreation stakeholders interests are protected when legal proceedings are initiated by the involved parties.
# # #
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. Since the formation of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, the focus and mission is to promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands open for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit
www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) is the global leader of all-brand four wheel drive enthusiasts. UFWDA is a group of individuals, clubs, state, regional, provincial and national associations and businesses in the United States and around the world with members spanning the globe from the U.S. and Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan, South Africa, and Iceland. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of this effort contact United Four Wheel Drive Associations today at 14525 SW Millikan Way #22622, Beaverton, OR 97005-2343, 1-800-448-3932 or visit
www.ufwda.org.
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742 -
http://www.sharetrails.org
