Three groups join lawsuit for vehicles in forests

A judge is allowing supporters of motorized recreation on public lands to fight a lawsuit that seeks to stop expansion of motorized routes in the Pike and San Isabel national forests.

Senior U.S. District Judge John Kane last week, granted the request of three motorized-recreation groups to join the U.S. Forest Service as defendants in the lawsuit.

Five environmental groups sued Jan. 31, asking the judge to bar the forest service's plan to expand motor vehicle routes in the two forests by 500 miles.

The motorized recreation groups — Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, Trails Preservation Alliance and BlueRibbon Coalition — are asking the judge to throw out the lawsuit.

Kane has given both sides until January to finish filing a series of written arguments for and against the lawsuit.

The areas for expanded routes are the Salida ranger district, including west of Buena Vista; the Leadville district, including Collegiate Peaks, Mount Massive and Holy Cross wilderness areas; the South Park district; the San Carlos district, including Spanish Peaks, Wet Mountains and Sangre de Cristo wilderness area; the South Platte district; and the Pikes Peak district.

The environmental groups that sued are the Quiet Use Coalition, the Wilderness Society, Wildlands CPR, the Center for Native Ecosystems and Great Old Broads for Wilderness.

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Source: http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/three-groups-join-lawsuit-for-vehicles-in-forests/article_412696c4-84ef-11e0-a927-001cc4c03286.html

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