BLM Stipulations

[trimmers]

Have you seen the list of stipulations that BLM has put on the "Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA)"?  They're attached to the e-mailed March 2013 Straightaway News.  Just what are the boundaries of the SRMA, anyway?  If the Bend in the Road area is included, it'll mean no fires, no fireworks, no unleashed dogs, and lots of other "no's".  No. 10-c would even prohibit you from drinking a beer in your parked motorhome!

It says you can't land a fixed-wing aircraft there, but I guess helicopters, autogiro's, and dirigibles are still OK.  It also prohibits even operating one within the SRMA.  So, are they going to get the FAA to issue a NOTAM or TFR?  Or even make it a Restricted Area up to 50,000 feet like at Area 51?  Otherwise, how will they stop the low fly-overs?

Worst of all, it says where there is no posted speed limit, the speed limit is 45.  That will make it rather difficult to set new records in most classes.

Jeff in Boise

[Tman]

Just read that earlier. I was wondering some of the same things.

Looks like they want to take away the camping at the Bend.

[tauruck]

This world is full of Mother Grundys. It's as though these people have nothing better to do.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I read it, too.  I don't know if the intent of the rules is to deter camping on the inside of the Bend in the Road, but I do know the BLM has been trying to get campers to move to places other than inside the bend -- even if it's just across the road on the outside.  They've mention (repeatedly) using the old gravel pit location - which is farther up the hill, but otherwise pretty good.  Last year BLM personnel were stationed at the inside of the bend to remind campers not to camp on the gravel tight there - but they weren't turning campers away from the rest of the low-lying land.

Wherever the campground ends up -- we'll station a few porta-potties there.  I can't promise a bunch of them near each and every cluster of tents - but we'll try to make them available if you're willing to take a little walk.

Don't forget that last year camping was allowed at the parking lot for the new Bonneville Speed Museum.  It's a graded gravel surface across from CarQuest at the extreme east end of Wendover, Utah.  It's got a road and curbs (part of it does) and this year might even have a few street lights.  Last year there were a few porta-potties there, too -- but that was because Honey Buckets (the toilet vendor) set up their camp there and offered a few more than the single unit they needed for themselves.  I plan on checking with the mayor of Wendover (Mike Crawford) to see if there will be camping there again this year -- and I'll let you folks know when I find out.

[Stan Back]

Somewhere, someplace, earlier I've read about these regulations.  If I remember correctly, the whole race area and the bend and such are not governed under these rules.  Hopefully someone with better knowledge will clarify the issues for us.  Don't (immediately) despair.

[Elmo Rodge]

Last year, one of our guys was riding (NOT driving) in a golf cart going from the pits to the starting line drinking a beer and got a ticket for an open container.  He wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. Watch your step. Even if you don't know what the step is.    :cheers:Wayno

[Milwaukee Midget]

Yeah, I read it - standard issue boiler plate.

I wouldn't get my underwear in a twist over it.

[Steve Walters]

I don't think the rules have changed a whole lot over the years.

The magnizium burning would have to be old, when was the last time the historic burning of the Volkswagen block happened, or maybe I just haven't been invited to the right party. 

The no camping in the bend gravel came about when there were to many accidents created by the blind corner the camping caused.  The rule billboard at the gravel points out all these rules, its just that when your having fun who wants to read rules.  I constantly remind gear heads at tech and in impound, that the glass bottles are a no, no, and most of the time a roving BLM cop comes cruizin by just afterwards.

Thats one rule I can agree with, there are a lot of historical sites, and places to check out  around Bonneville, and nowhere have I found the lack of broken bottles.  Its like the rest of the US flies over Nevada and dumps their garbage there.  Truckers wait until Nevada to toss their pee bottles out.

  A lot of it is the casino help driving around the country drinking beer and shooting up everything on their time off.  I don't think it was the pioneers who settled Utah.    

Steve     

[Tman]

You guys have blinders on. The BLM folks were bad 2 years ago, really bad.  Last year there was no word of it since we were rained out of the Bend on Thursday and  very few stayed. It will be worse this year if the weather holds. There is one simpleton BLM Ranger that started stuff with a group I was with in 2011. I say simpleton since his police skills were less than the Keystone cops (story has been posted here). All the younger Rangers rolled their eyes as this guy talked. Wish I got his name and badge number but was having too much fun with him as it was!

[Dean Los Angeles]

From the BLM page:

Is overnight camping available? Overnight camping, fires and fireworks are prohibited on the salt flats to maintain public health and safety and protect natural resources. There are no developed campground facilities; however, camping is available on adjacent public lands. During events participants may camp on the mud flats next to the Salt Flats access road.

This the map of the area from the BLM:
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/salt_lake_fo/bonneville_salt_flats/pdfs.Par.16381.File.dat/BSF%20Area%20Map.pdf

Note that the area inside the bend is BLM and outside is state property. So is the south side further down from the bend. No BLM jurisdiction.

The BLM main page for Bonneville Salt Flats recommends Leave No Trace. When you leave your camp site there should be no evidence you were ever there.

[Steve Walters]

Tman, no matter what you do, or where you work, or where you play, there is always going to be a small percentage of idiots screwing things up.  In the navy we called them 10% rs', its just a fact of life we must live with, I'm not trying to lecture, I just don't want to judge all BLM workers, by the acts of one BLM Napolian.  My qualifications, come from being 86'd from both Yosemitee, and Yellowstone, for not reading the rules.  Who would have thought my basset hound could tree a bear.     

Steve   

[Tman]

Tman, no matter what you do, or where you work, or where you play, there is always going to be a small percentage of idiots screwing things up.  In the navy we called them 10% rs', its just a fact of life we must live with, I'm not trying to lecture, I just don't want to judge all BLM workers, by the acts of one BLM Napolian.  My qualifications, come from being 86'd from both Yosemitee, and Yellowstone, for not reading the rules.  Who would have thought my basset hound could tree a bear.     

Steve   

Steve, that is why I pointed out that it was ONE ranger. All the younger ones were great to deal with and respectfull. And I don't mind them doing their jobs. I do wish they would have hauled in the idiots in the Baja bug tearing around after the rain that year. You can read my comments on that one posted in a thread here on the board.

[bill78]

After reading stipulation #5 many times, I was thinking the word "or" could possibly be a typo and the word should have been "of". That would make more sense. Does anyone know of someone that could verify this?

[Glen]

The BLM reads this and other sites, Be careful what you say. It's best not to upset them. All of the users of the salt are aware of the rules. What outsiders do is not under our control.

[thundersalt]

"there is always going to be a small percentage of idiots screwing things up.  In the navy we called them 10% rs'"
Now we call them 47%ers

My view of camping on the mud flats at the bend is like getting to Pismo Beach at low tide and camping as close to the ocean as possible