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permanent road closures. In addition, "The plan shall indicate on which 

 remaining roads motorized travel and/or recreation, such as by automobiles, 4- 

 wheei dnve vehicles, motorized dirt bikes or snowmobiles, shall be allowed, as 

 well as. ..mountain bikes." That doesn't leave much in the way of dispersing the 

 growing demand for wholesome recreation, a program that needs to be 

 encouraged if we expect the American public to appreciate and protect our 

 environment. 



Such road closures immediately restrict large percentages of the 

 American public. If you are slightly handicapped, elderly, in poor physical 

 condition, or simply have bunions on your feet, it is becoming increasingly 

 difficult for you to ever see the American wilderness. It is only in a National 

 Forest that one can ride or drive into the back country on existing dirt roads to 

 see vistas and breath-taking views that few Americans enjoy because of the 

 difficulty of backpacking or climbing in the National Parks and wilderness areas. 



A tangible example of how it affects the average American 

 is illustrated by my own family. My wife has congenital hip 

 displasia. Physically she cannot get out and enjoy the remote 

 groves unless it is opened up by timber roads that are accessible 

 to the public. She has seen many of the remote groves because 

 we are currently allowed to drive back on rugged dirt roads to see 

 them. My mother, like many Americans, is overweight, and my 

 grandmother is elderly. Do we really want to keep these people 

 out of our public lands? Even my sister is affected. She is a 

 diabetic. When she was growing up she was able to attend a 

 summer camp every summer because the camp is allowed a 

 special use permit within the National Forest. Such programs are 

 not possible in a Park or a Preserve. 



By setting aside vast areas of land for National Parks, Forests, wilderness 

 and roadless areas. Congress has already insured the protection of large areas 

 of Public Lands. This is a great thing. However, there is a continuing push to 

 isolate so many areas that the average American is being forced away from the 

 lands they have a rigfit and desire to enjoy. In this case it is a land that is 

 already protected and well managed by the Forest Service. If the giant sequoia 

 were threatened we would agree that legislation be introduced. But it is not 

 threatened, if it were the Endangered Species Act would have it listed as such 

 and appropriate actions would be taken. 



HR2153 establishes restrictions that will limit, and in some cases 

 eliminate, many recreational uses. If such users had a negative impact on any 

 aspect of the forest, the Forest Service is mandated by. Congress to intervene 

 and put an end to any such activity. We all want to save these great trees for the 

 future. Our hope is that this great forest will earn the respect and protection it 

 deserves by encouraging education, proper recreation and use by people who 

 will then see and learn to appreciate an environment that is far bigger than even 

 the largest trees on earth. 



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