The fight for Slade needs your help

[coachholland]

The FS has a proposal in the works to close down the Sand Lick area. Things have been trodding along for a while, but the time has finally come and things are coming to a head.

http://www.kentuckykrawlers.org/foru...php?f=3&t=5975

With the August 17th update, it's imminent at this point. Scroll down towards the bottom of the page.

http://www.kentuckykrawlers.org/foru...5975&start=105

Jeff (wayneraintree) has been at the forefront of this fight from the beginning and has requested copies of all documentation relating to the upcoming proposal un the Freedom of Information Act. They initially denied that request under an exemption. On my recommendation he has a FOIA request in that was approved and by those rules, there should be an exemption of associated fees.

The 1986 FOIA amendment mandates reduced or waived fees if disclosure "is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations and activities of the Government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester." 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A)(iii).

However, the FS have applied their own exemption and have refused to wave those fees.

They got back to me today, after denying me exemption from any fees surrounding this request, based on another stretch of an exemption of their own, and told me that it is going to cost me $423.62. This will get me 152 double sided copies of pertinent communications as per the request and as a result of their search.

So, we need help raising these funds. So far he has $150 in hand from donations and more on the way which he will receive at the Zoe FD Benefit Ride.

We've already lost The Narrows and many other trails at the Gorge. The Sand Lick area that they are targeting includes trails to Widowmaker, Little Widowmaker (which the exit is already blocked off due to timber harvests) and access to Carb Hill, Devil's Brew and more. This will be a significant closure!

Anything that can be sent will help. He has a PayPal account set up at wayneraintree at gmail dot com. We will also be accepting donations at the ZFD ride for those attending.

Jeff has sacrificed many hours over the years trying to keep ahead of the curve on RRG issues with the FS. Let's help him out and have a unified voice on this one.