NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: December 28, 2005
Contact: Stephen M. Razo (951) 697-5217
      CA-CDD-06-20

New Year's Weekend at Dunes Will Focus on Safety

With the approaching New Years weekend at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Imperial County Sheriff?s Office (ICSO) will emphasize safety and maintain a ?zero tolerance? policy on serious offenses.

?We will have a greater focus on safety and safety compliance this weekend as we encourage our visitors to recreate in a safe and responsible manner,? states Vicki Wood, BLM El Centro field office manager.

The ISDRA continues to enjoy support for law enforcement efforts throughout the Dunes area. In order to maintain a safe off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation environment, the multi-agency law enforcement and support team on-site this weekend will emphasize safety and responsible recreation through person-to-person contact as well as through several help stations located at: Cahuilla Ranger Station, Buttercup, and Dune Buggy Flats. These stations will be staffed by BLM personnel and volunteers to provide information and assistance.

?We can?t stress enough the need for off-road vehicle operators to think ?safety? every time they operate that vehicle,? states Ray LeLoup, BLM law enforcement ranger. ?If you wear the proper gear and comply with all laws, you will provide a safe environment not only for yourself, but the people around you,? adds LeLoup. Law enforcement officials remind duners to observe the 15 mph limit around campsites and within 50 ft of people and to carry a Global Positioning System (GPS) and/or a cell phone with them at all times when out on the Dunes system to facilitate response action if needed. The ICSO dispatch center can be reached at (760) 339-6312.

Competition Hill will continue to be closed on holiday weekends to all recreationists one half hour before sunset until one half hour after sunrise. Violations of the closure will be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or both. Also, interim lawsuit closures continue on a temporary basis due to procedures still in progress associated with the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP).

?Through the partnerships we enjoy at the Dunes, we are able to better promote a safe and enjoyable recreation experience for the thousands of enthusiasts who visit us throughout the year,? states Wood. ?I urge visitors to be safe and enjoy one of the most popular off-highway vehicle recreation areas in the country.?

-- BLM --