Climbing Advocacy Groups Help Stop Sell-Off of Public Lands Climbing Areas
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December 14, 2005, Boulder, CO – Thanks to the help of the Access Fund, our affiliates, and members of the Outdoor Alliance, US Congressman Jim Gibbons pulled his mining reform provisions from the Budget Reconciliation Act ( H.R. 4241) last night (Dec 13th). The provisions would have impacted climbing areas on millions of acres of public lands across the country.
For background information: www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_3306642
“We helped stop what could have been the largest sell-off of public lands since the Homestead Acts by joining forces with other outdoor recreation groups, hunting and fishing advocates, and environmental organizations” says Jason Keith, the Access Fund’s Policy Director. See: http://www.accessfund.com/pdf/HR4241RecSignon.pdf for a copy of the Senate letter which dozens of local climbing and recreation groups signed demanding that our public lands remain public.
This mining “reform” legislation will likely reemerge next year but for now, thanks to all the people who stepped up and made their voices heard, our public lands are safe from these provisions.
Since 1990, the Access Fund has been the only national advocacy organization that keeps climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. The Access Fund supports and represents over 1.6 million climbers nationwide in ALL forms of climbing; rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and bouldering. Five core programs support the mission on national and local levels: public policy, stewardship & conservation (including grants), grassroots activism, climber education, and land acquisition.