Making a complaint does not necessarily lead to an investigation. I haven't heard of any complaint to DOA's IG, to which you refer, being accepted for investigation like Mojavegreen's complaint to the Interior IG was.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The U.S. Forest Service does not have an Inspector General (IG), but it's parent, the Department of Agriculture (DOA), does. The DOA IG is Roger C. Viadero, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington DC 20250. I haven't heard of any investigation by the DOA IG into the DCHS access issues.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Katrina: I believe the Inspector General (IG) you referred to is from the U.S. Interior Department, not the Department of Agriculture. BLM is part of Interior, while the Forest Service is in the Agriculture Department. I understand the Mike Castro situation was one small part of the IG's investigation, which covered allegations of intimidation against local citizens by a BLM official, and alleby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The residents of broad beach hired some goons to enforce their desire not to share the beach in front of their homes, when it appeared the public had an easement. They made the mistake of ejecting a member of the Coastal Commission, who visited the beach unannounced. Now it appears the residents will have to share the beach.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
When the Interior Department Inspector General's investigators were out here last Winter, one thing they asked several people involved the Willow Fire rehabilitation accounts. The investigators seemed incredulous that the Chief Ranger seemed to be personally directing the spending from these accounts, which was the responsibility of the former Field Office Manager. With the pending departureby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
More than $1million is a lot of money for something that's just going to wash away again, maybe the day after it's completed. While the horrendous delay in getting this repair job underway isn't all the fault of the Board of Supervisors, didn't appear to be particularly concerned in the weeks following the washout. This road urgently needs a bridge, and this has not been made a priority.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Cheaper alternatives to oil are needed to be developed today, and I agree with Paul that the energy companies are going to do everything they can to disrupt these innovations. Are they really technologically feasible, and Will they be developed before the oil supply runs out? I tend to be a pessimist here. The world has too many people for its finite resources, and I have doubts that technolby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Excellent article in today's L.A. Times regarding water shortages affecting areas surrounding Las Vegas, and aquafiers beginning to drop. This is a threat to several endangered species, as well as drying up springs and wells. Las Vegas, which wastes colossal amounts of water, ironically owed its early existence to being the only source of potable water for miles around. To be fair, the developby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
There was another interesting article in today's SB Sun just short scroll down from the Lake Arrowhead water article. This one ,"Pilfering the Past", concerned large-scale thefts of paleo artifacts in the Rainbow Basin, a BLM administered area North of Barstow. "The problem is quite severe, but we don't have enough rangers to patrol the area" according to Ken Shulte, Barstoby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I read this criticism of the Chief Ranger on another forum: "... where Law Enforcement leadership is based upon hypocrisy, cronyism, and favoritism. There is the 'In group', people who are described as all on the 'Dark side' who make their own rules. They hire, fire, and transfer based upon who they like. They fabricate stories, change the 'rules' to fit their needs and just basicallby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Good observation. I've been advised that Ed Waldheim, head of CORVA (California Off-road Vehicle Association) has already contacted BLM State Director Mike Pool, to ensure that El Mirage is adequately patrolled after the recent departure of the area ranger, and the pending departure of Chief Ranger Nelson. Meanwhile, Juniper Flats and other problem areas are seldom patrolled.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Rick: You must be clairvoyant. Scuttlebutt from the BLM is that he has accepted a lower-level ranger job out of state. If true, Hurray!!!by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Laughingbear: I believe you soon will be, if my sources are correct.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I made an error in the last paragraph of yesterday's post. Actually, the BLM has no authority to patrol private property adjacent to BLM-managed public lands. This is largely because, a few years ago, San Bernardino County Sheriff Gary Penrod revoked a longstanding cooperative law enforcement agreement with BLM law enforcement. The complaints from Friends of Juniper Flats and others concern tby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Tough laws are an important element in a strategy to reduce impacts on private property from uncontrolled OHV use. The proposed San Bernardino County OHV Ordinance, now in the discussion phase, is a step in the right direction. However, laws by themselves won't do the job. The BLM has laws dealing with OHV use on the public lands it administers, and the local BLM office has not utilized muchby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The U.S. Interior Department's Inspector General's (IG) office sent their own investigators out here to investigate Chief Ranger Nelson in February. The IG oversees all the agencies in the Interior Department, including BLM. I've been told the Inspector General himself has their report, and what he will do with it is anybody's guess. An investigation by a BLM Special Agent would most likelyby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Katrina, In one of your posts about Mojavegreen's fence, you referred to Barstow BLM Chief Area Ranger Barry Nelson as your source of information. Since when do you consider this person a credible source? Don't you know he is under investigation by the Interior Department's Inspector General?by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Good points. The bail amounts (fines) aren't revised often enough, and many are out-of-date and not much of a deterrent to possible violators. Many of these need to be raised so that they are a true penalty.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Forest Service and BLM Rangers have the option, with any violation, to make it a "Mandatory" court appearance, which is the same thing as a summons. This is at the discretion of the officer. If given a mandatory court appearance, you are compelled to appear in Court before a federal judge, who decides how much your fine is going to be, and in some cases whether jail is appropriate. Tby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I just love all the credit Bill Postmus, local county supervisor and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, gave himself for the future reopening of Rock Springs Road. Seems to me he was asleep at the wheel and very late to realize the closing of this artery is a major problem to his constituents. You are on the mark, Rick! The County has failed to see or meet the need for this and other criticby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'm glad your friends are responsible campers who help keep up the area and pack out other people's trash. However, "Respect" includes obeying rules and regulations which are set up to protect an area, whether you agree with them or not. The Forest Service has put a "No Camping" regulation in the area, which I "Respect" by not camping down there, as much as I wouldby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Good thoughts, Wizard and Paul. Sometimes you can't do anything about the people, but you can do something about the resource. Many times I've filled my daypack with other peoples's trash upon leaving DCHS, but at least the area is cleaner. Areas that are trashed out attract even more trash than areas that are clean. Your efforts are appreciated.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I have heard that Brad Burns, the Forest Service officer who patrols DCHS, had some kind of recent operation, and may be on light-duty for a while. If so, I hope his supervisors are substituting other officers for him. Not that this is easy, since Brad does a good job. He has the right attitude and temperment for the DCHS environment. My only complaint is that we don't see him often enought dby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Lots!by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Regardless of whether they have State Authority or not, federal law enforcement officers can enforce federal laws and regulations without the approval of the county sheriff. Furthermore, some State laws have been incorporated into the federal codes, in effect making them federal law also.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Interesting article, though obviously slanted against federal officers. What the article didn't mention is that many county sheriffs, including Riverside County, are very satisfied with their cooperative agreements with BLM Law Enforcement, and have been quoted as stating they don't know what they would do without it. San Bernardino County Sheriff Penrod revoked his department's longstanding cby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Owners of a chicken cited for allowing it to cross the road in a small community. The chicken's owners believe that this ticket was in retaliation for their complaining to the Sheriff's office about off-road vehicle abuse. Chief Ranger Nelson may not be completely alone with this attitude.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Good point, Paul. Keep up the good work. When you're disrespectful, unresponsive, intimidating, and dismissive of a significant portion of the public, including a lot of taxpayers who pay your salary, sooner or later it's going to come back around to you. The BLM will suffer, in good working relationships gone sour, for a long time after this individual is gone.by Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I'm not surprised that an outside investigator, viewing Juniper Flats from the air, calls it a "Mess". One reason I believe Chief Ranger Nelson pulled the patrols from areas like Juniper Flats, in order to concentrate on the OHV Open Areas, is this: The large numbers of recreationists in the Open Areas, such as El Mirage Dry Lake, make it easy to write lots of tickets. Nelson is notby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
The basic problem is that the BLM has altered its course from a relatively balanced multiple-use program into one which is much too heavily weighted toward single-use, that is the OHV users. Each group has its own interests and concerns, and I believe there is still enough land out there for everybody. The abandonment of enforcement patrols by BLM outside the designated OHV open areas is unjustby Steamboat - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California