NightTime Speed Limit AB-840 has been submitted to the Legislature.

The 55 MPH night time speed limit bill AB-840 has been submitted to the Wisconsin State Assembly on November 23, 2005. This bill establishes a statewide overall maximum speed limit for snowmobiles during the hours of darkness: 30 minutes after sunset, until 30 minutes before sunrise. It will also apply any other time when there is not enough natural light to clearly see a person or vehicle 500 feet away. This is a reasonable response to the increased deaths last season and will help keep the trails safers as well as make it easier for law enforcement to get some of the 'bad guys' off snowmobiles.

The bill also includes some funding for Accident Reduction Teams staffed by specially trained teams of DNR wardens who will move around the state focusing on areas that have had the most accidents, and encouraging safe snowmobile operation as well as law enforcement. You can keep track of this bill's progess by checking the History and status of AB-840 periodically.

This act will take effect on January 1, 2006, or on the 15th day after publication, whichever is later.

On December 5th, 2005, This bill with favorable ammendments was passed out of the Joint Finance Committee and referred to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

December deer hunt north of Hwy 8, needs comment by Oct. 21, 2005.

We are asking you to mail or email the DNR today and comment about your opposition to December deer hunting north of Hwy 8 because of its impact on snowmobiling and tourism.

If you care about snowmobiling in Wisconsin in the month of December it is important you take action NOW! Please send written comments against a statewide December antlerless deer hunt.

This is important or we could lose the right to snowmobile until mid December. In your comments please site land access, tourism, and the need for trail preparation as reasons we are against this hunt.

Definitely state that we oppose any December deer hunt north of Hwy 8 where trails have traditionally opened on December 1st . Send your comments to:

Keith Warnke
101 s. Webster St.
Box 7921
Madison, Wi. 53707-7921

OR

E-Mail to: Keith.Warnke@dnr.state.wi.us

ALL COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 21, 2005

GET THEM IN TODAY! PROTECT OUR RECREATIONAL SPORT

DO YOUR PART!

Sound bill AB-566 has been submitted to the Legislature.

The sound bill AB-566 we have been looking for has been submitted to the Wisconsin State Assembly on July 18, 2005. This bill will establish reasonable sound limits for snowmobiles. You can keep track of this bill's progess by checking the History and status of AB-566 periodically.

On August 9, this bill had a favorable hearing before the Assembly Tourism Committee, but a quorum was not in attendance to vote the bill out of committee.

On August 10, The fiscal estimate was received from the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Executive Budget and Finance, which indicates no State Fiscal Effect, primarily due to 60 DNR wardens already trained, and sound meters already purchased.

On November 10, with some favorable ammendments it was passed out of the Assembly and sent to the senate. The companion bill in the Senate is SB278.

On Decembe 1st, A public hearing on SB-278 was held before the senate committee on Natural Resources and Transportation

Public Scoping for Winter Use Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Yellowstone Park ends September 1, 2005!!

When you have an opportunity to review some of the initial supporting research and recommendations, Please submit some comments regarding how important it is to keep Yellowstone Park roads groomed and open to Snowmobiling in the winter.

...the National Park Service (NPS) website is Winter Use Plan Environmental Impact Statement. 

The NPS also has received an independent assessment by Dr. Cormack Gates, of the University of Calgary, on the effects of groomed roads on bison movement during the winter in Yellowstone. Entitled, “The Ecology of Bison Movements and Distribution in and beyond Yellowstone National Park,” the report is now available. I found that paragraph 14 on page 8 of chapter 7 and paragraph 21 which is on the 9th page of chapter 7, was especially interesting.

The site to submit comments is http://parkplanning.nps.gov.

Comments will be accepted until midnight September 1, 2005.

Conservation Congress Spring Hearings are Monday April 11,2005!! AWSC Legislative Alert Pink Letter...

The proposed rule may be reviewed and comment electronically submitted at the following Internet site:

http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov Search on 2005 spring hearing

Current Issues of Interest

There have been several recent articles in the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel that have to do with the Snowmobile Fatalities in Wisconsin.

3/19/05 Snowmobile Laws Lag

3/21/05 Editorial: Toughter Snowmobile Penalties

3/21/05 Boy, 11, dies after snowmobile crash

Stationary Snowmobile Sound Testing.

Karl Brooks (DNR Snowmobile/ ATV Administrator)has prepared the proposed Natural Resources rules change for Stationary Snowmobile Sound Testing this adds NR6.03 and changes NR6.08. It is a Microsoft Word document that can be downloaded LE-40-03 MS Word document. Hearings have been setup:

The DNR is requesting to have hearings on changes to their administrative codes (Chapter NR6) that regulate snowmobile sound testing. Some of the pertinent sections that are likely to be affected can be found with: Search Administrative Code for snowmobile sound info.

The classic snowmobile registration bill has been presented. It is Assembly Bill 432 (AB-432) The AWSC is supporting this. It has an accompanying AB-432 fiscal impact estimate. To stay informed of this bill's progress, take a look at AB-432 status and history.

The final public comment period for the proposed Winter-Snowmobile Rule for Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park is under way.

Please go to the Legislative Page and respond by October 14, 2003

The AWSC has identified several issues in the Proposed Plan for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests that will affect snowmobile access.

Please go to the Legislative Page Comment time ended August 11, 2003

Support for modifications included in budget being presented to the Governor. Please go to the Legislative Page Comment time has expired.

You should start following a future effort for: Support for Reauthorization and Expansion of U.S. Recreational Trails Program currently only 17.5% (approx. $50 million) of the collected $286 million in federal excise taxes are appropriately returned. Below is information about some pertinent legislative actiity...

the Highway Funding Equity Act of 2003(to increase the minimum allocation provided to States for use in carrying out certain highway programs): U.S. Senate Bill S1090 and House bill HR 2208

a monstrous restructuring bill (twin bills actually) Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (Introduced in Senate)[S.1072.IS] (Introduced in House)[H.R.2088.IH]. This provides $60 milion for the Recreational Trails Program for each year 2004 thru 2009

There is also a Senate bill to earmark a minimum amount of these funds for financial support of winter motorized Trail Users (tracked Snowmachines) S917

Deadline is October 14, 2003!! AWSC Legislative Alert Pink Letter...

The final public comment period for the proposed Winter-Snowmobile Rule for Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park is under way. Please respond by October 14, 2003

Snowmobilers:

Your last chance for input into the future of snowmobiling in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is here, and the final public comment period on the proposed Winter-Snowmobile Rule for Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park is under way. Deadline for comments is October 14, 2003!

The Rule will implement the Record of Decision signed on March 25, 2003 in Denver, Colorado by Karen Wade, Director of the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service (NPS). The decision sets strict limits on both emissions and the numbers of snowmobiles allowed in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Yes, we now have a new decision that allows continued snowmobile access to Yellowstone. The decision paves the way for development of a new rule to implement the decision. That rule was just released on August 27, 2003, and your comments are needed!

Please use the form letter provided at our rapid response center. Please click the link below:

http://capwiz.com/share/issues/alert/?alertid=3473001

The BlueRibbon Coalition is collecting these prepared comment letters and will forward them to the NPS (Park Service) in time to meet the October 14, 2003 deadline. ALL THE LETTERS WILL COUNT! In addition to filling out the letter at the rapid response center. Please consider sending additional personal comments to:

Winter Use Comments
Planning Office
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190

We have come a long way since the first legal action in 1997 and we must stay the course to maintain snowmobile assess to Yellowstone National Park! Together the BlueRibbon T.E.A.M. will prevail!

We are asking you to write as many letters as possible to our Governor James E. Doyle at the following address:

Governor James E. Doyle
Office of the Governor
115 East State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702 or email governor@wisconsin.gov

Ask him to support the modified budget as it affects the snowmobile program. All letters must be sent by Thursday, June 26, 2003.

There are a number of themes which obviously should be found in any letter to the Governor.

First, snowmobiling is at the heart of Wisconsin's winter tourism season. 33,000 families in the 610 snowmobile clubs provide the volunteer base that maintains North America's largest snowmobile trail system which creates the job base for Northern Wisconsin tourism during the winter.

Second, user fees alone will not cover the maintenance and operation of the massive trail system. Therefore, for several budget cycles now, we have seen supplemental monies provided by the State to assist the snowmobile program.

Third, we need the wardens to participate in the snowmobile program to help enforce the laws and maintain safety.

Finally, the revenues that have been provided will allow us to continue to provide high quality trails and the resources necessary for the volunteers to maintain and groom trails during our winter tourism season.

We encourage you to forward your letters to the Governor as soon as possible. Individual letters are also encouraged besides those that are sent on Club stationary. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Morris Nelson at 608/884-8461 or Peter Peshek at 608/255-8891.

Thank you for your help. We want to stress how imperative it is that you get your letters to the Governor's office as soon as possible. Time is of the essence.

Donna White
Scott Makowski
Morris Nelson

Assembly Bill 88 to change BAC from 0.10 to 0.08%

This is for your information primarily, there is not much we can/should do about this. The federal government will start withholding part of the federal highway construction funding that goes to the state DOT's beginning in Fiscal Year 2004, if the state has not changed the prohibited Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) to a 0.08% or less. There is also a $110 million 'bonus incentive pool' for states that enact this prior to 7/15/03.

AB88 changes Wisconsin statutes to the 0.08% threshold for all operators of motor vehicles as well as all-terrain vehicles, boats or snowmobiles. This is for first offense infractions. It also continues zero tolerance for persons under the legal drinking age (under 19 for ATVs and snowmobiles). It is expected to take effect on September 30, 2003. Please look at current status of AB88 if you are curious. Signed by Gov. James E. Doyle July 3, 2003.

* Rails to Trails Project approved by Joint Finance *

Monday May 5, 2003 at about 2:15pm the Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance gave final approval to the purchase by the Department of Natural Resources, of seven segments of Railway Right-of-Way from the Canadian National Railroad and it's subsidiaries. Support from the members of joint finance was basically unanimous. The DNR can now complete this purchase transaction, and the counties involved can then start preparing the trails for use.

A genuine Thank You goes to the legislators that were supportive, as well as those snowmobilers who made calls and emails to them. The DNR staff did a great job in preparing the request for this program and negotiating the purchase details with the railroad. The AWSC lobbying efforts culminated with personal calls and contacts made by President Donna White, Vice President Scott Makowski, Legislative Chairman Morris Nelson, Executive Director Sam Landes, Past President Bill Pfaff and others.

This purchase will be funded by moneys from the land acquisition subprogram of the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program 2000. Up to $2,984,500 will be paid for approximately 1,443.27 acres totalling 112.6 miles of railroad grade in Kewaunee, Waupaca, Brown, Calumet, Washington, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Forest, Langlade, and Winnebago Counties.

Five of these segments were previously approved as part of the Federal Rails to Trails program and the other two segments had been formally abandoned by the railroad.

The State of Wisconsin now has about 1,400 miles of these railroad right-of-ways converted to recreational trails.

Rails to Trails Land Acquisition (updated April 12, 2003)

The Joint Finance Committee has under consideration approval for the purchase of 7 segments totaling 112 miles of Rails to Trails Corridors in ten counties in the State of Wisconsin. This purchase from the Canadian National Railway Co., would represent the largest block of Rails to Trails ever secured by the State of Wisconsin. As you also know, Wisconsin leads the nation in securing Rails to Trails corridors across the country.

There appears to be some resistance on Joint Finance for approval of this land purchase. The purchase is handled under a process called Wis. Statute 13.10 (a 13.10 approval in the jargon of Madison).

We need you to contact the members of Joint Finance to express strong support for this purchase. We also need you to contact your local legislators to encourage them to talk to members of Joint Finance regarding this important purchase.

The purchase involves portions of seven separate rail corridors and would be the largest single acquisition of unused rail corridors in Wisconsin history. The land involved includes sections along the Wolf River and wetland headwaters of the Milwaukee River. Three of the track bed corridors would become extensions of existing recreational trails: the remaining four would become new trail projects, including one between West Bend in Washington County and Eden in Fond du Lac County.

The state is offering nearly $3,000,000 for the corridors, with the money coming out of the state's Stewardship program. Since land acquisition is the sole reason for the Stewardship fund, this deal strikes us as a pretty good use of taxpayer money and another enhancement to the quality of life in Wisconsin.

"This project shows that Wisconsin is maintaining its leadership position in the national rails-to-trails movement," said state Parks Director Sue Black. She's right: With the proposed addition of 112.6 miles, the state would offer 1,412 miles of public trails on former track beds. That's more than any other state, according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy in Washington, D.C.

  PROJECT                         COUNTY  MILES  ACRES
Ahnapoe State Trail (Extension    Kewaunee 16.7  214.1
from Luxemburg to Keqaunee)

Tomorrow River State Trail        Waupaca  11.0  152.43
(Extension from Scandinavia to 
Manowa)

Fox River State Trail (Extension  Brown &  11.0  134.0
from Greenleaf to Hilbert         Calumet

West Bend to Eden                 Washington 24.6 310.53
                                  Fond du Lac

New London to Seymour             Outagamie 22.8  281.71

Crandon to White Lake             Forest &  26.0  345.9
                                  Langlade

Little Lake Butte de Morts        Winnebago  0.5    4.6
                                    TOTAL  112.6 1,443.27