Editor's Note: Cedar City, Utah resident Tom Biller is a retired BLM ranger who offered some very interesting insight with regards to the BLM's handling of events.
I really enjoyed reading your recent article on the OHV fatalities the occurred at the race in the California Desert District of BLM. You showed good insight into what occurs at some of those races. I retired from BLM as a Ranger a few years ago.
During my 13 years with that bunch I worked at numerous races, and
experienced many other activities around the West, including assignments at Primm and Glamis Trying to keep the drunks back from the race course and OHV riders from killing each other is a full-time job! Now I'm hearing that there was only one BLM Ranger patrolling that ill-fated race when the accident took place. BLM management was probably trying to save a few dollars!!
Working for BLM I saw first hand how the managers, mostly products of the "Peter Principle", dealt with similar situations --- first they dove for cover, then attempted to deflect blame, finally, they'd form a committee to study the problem.
The results of the "study", numerous pages of BS, were relegated to a
dusty file cabinet, resulting in no observable changes to the program. Any comments to management by Rangers, who usually have a pretty good idea of what is taking place on the ground, are ignored or reacted to with hostility.
Over the last couple of decades BLM has developed a negative bias towards law enforcement Rangers. This has lead to a reduction in Ranger positions, less active patrolling, resulting in increased lawlessness and damage to our natural resources.
A few years ago the State of California published a warning that,
due to this lawlessness by a fringe group of the OHV crowd, it was dangerous to camp or ride ATV's in the Imperial Sand Dunes Rec Area. I wonder if we'll see the same type of warnings put out by other states in the Western USA?
To get a local perspective, call the Cedar City District BLM office and ask them how many Rangers they have on staff to patrol the 3 counties they have the responsibility to manage and protect.
When I was working as the Cedar City District Ranger I covered Washington, Iron, Beaver, and part of Kane Counties.
The last I heard there in NO ranger assigned to that area. I hope this gives you a little more background on what is going on out in your public lands.
