blm emails and op orders setting up commissioner lyman

e:\the petroglyph\recapture - federal court - case 2014\4.1 2014 ops plan recapture protest ride 5 2 14.doc

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

CANYON COUNTRY DISTRICT MONTICELLO FIELD OFFICE

RECAPTURE CANYON PROTEST RIDE OPERATIONS PLAN

LA

MAY 8-10, 2014

CONFIDENTIAL

LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE FOIA EXEMPT 7A-73


RECAPTURE CANYON PROTEST RIDE OPERATIONS PLAN

May 8-10, 2014 GENERAL

San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman has proposed, and is planning to lead, an illegal, unauthorized ATV/OHV ride in Recapture Canyon on May 10, 2014. Lyman initially proposed the illegal ride on his Facebook page on March 2nd, 2014. Since the initial posting, Lymans proposal has garnered a great deal of national and local media attention. The exact number of participants is unknown at this time but it is expected to be greater than 150 riders based on past protests. At a San Juan County Commission meeting it was mentioned that the number of riders could be closer to 15,000, but there is no intelligence showing this to be a realistic number. Recapture Canyon is located on public land just outside the city of Blanding, Utah. The canyon contains numerous archaeological sites ranging from midden on the canyon floor to cliff dwellings on the canyon walls. Recapture is closed to motorized vehicles and has been a subject of debate in the area. ATV enthusiasts want to build and maintain an ATV trail through the canyon while environmental groups want to keep the canyon closed to such use. San Juan County currently has a right of way application in with the BLM for the construction and maintenance of a trail in Recapture Canyon but a decision has not yet been made as to whether or not this ROW will be granted. There is a great deal of concern over how many and what types of user groups will be present on May 10th. In addition to the motorized vehicle enthusiasts, it is believed that the Great Old Broads and Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance may possibly be on site as well. If this is the case, they are almost certain to try and stop the ride. Additionally, it is highly likely that so called States Rights advocates or members of certain militia groups may be at the protest ride as well. This is of concern to the BLM and San Juan County as the proposed ride is following on the heels of the Bundy cattle impound in Nevada. If these groups are on scene the possibility of physical confrontations are almost certain. Every effort will be made to keep these groups separate. BLM Law Enforcement Rangers are coordinating with managers on the local and state level, the BLM Solicitor and the United States Attorneys Office. Rangers are also working closely and communicating with San Juan County Sheriff Rick Eldredge. The San Juan County Sheriffs Department will have a command post set up and have officers on horseback and foot throughout the canyon. Approximately 20 deputies will be working the event. Deputies from Grand and Kane Counties will also be available to assist if necessary. Initial information shows Lyman plans to start the ride at Recapture Reservoir and ride down the canyon. This is subject to change.


LAW ENFORCEMENT STAFF The following Rangers are assigned to the event.

Jason Moore Canyon Country District Ranger Greg Meuth Monticello Field Staff Ranger Bill Stoner Monticello Field Staff Ranger Dan Barnes OLES Special Agent

Additionally, if the need arises, the following Rangers are stationed nearby and available to assist, but are not assigned to the event. The need for additional assistance will be determined by the District Ranger. Response times will vary from one to three hours.

Tyler Fouss Field Staff Ranger Canyon Country District Moab Field Office.

Don Lum Field Staff Ranger Green River District Price Field Office.

Logan Briscoe Field Staff Ranger Tres Rios Field Office Dolores, Colorado

Sean Waggoner Ranger Tres Rios Field Office Dolores, Colorado

Scott Watson US Forest Service LEO Manti La Sal National Forest Monticello, Utah

The Moab Field Office will have one to two detailed Rangers on this weekend that will be available to assist if needed.

COOPERATING AGENCIES San Juan County Sheriffs Office

435-587-2237 San Juan County Sheriff Rick Eldredge Chief Deputy Alan Freestone

LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS/PRIORITIES Employee Safety Above all else, law enforcement efforts will focus on personal and employee safety. Rangers will provide security at the Monticello Field Office during office hours on May 8th, and 9th. The original date of protest ride was scheduled for May 8th and there is some concern that protestors may arrive at the office on that day or May 9th. ABSOLUTELY NO BLM EMPLOYEES, other than law enforcement, will be present at the protest ride on Saturday May 10th. There will be no trail monitors set up on the rim of Recapture Canyon or at any access points. BLM employees will not be present at government facilities on Saturday May 10th with the exception of the Kane Gulch Ranger Station. Employees at Sand Island will not be present there on Saturday May 10th. Ranger Stoner and SA Barnes will be patrolling in the vicinity of Recapture but will not be in the canyon or near the rim of the canyon. They will be available for immediate assistance if needed. In the event of an emergency call out for an employee, that employee will coordinate with the District Manager and the District Law Enforcement Ranger.

Protection of Archaeological Resources Every effort will be made to document sensitive/significant archaeological sites prior to May 10th. Law enforcement will coordinate with Monticello Field Office archaeologists and determine which sites warrant the placement of trail monitor cameras. Canyon Country LE has approximately six cameras which can be set up throughout the canyon to monitor the illegal riders and their activities at these sites.


Pre-Protest Preparations On May 9th, BLM Rangers will meet with the Sheriff Rick Eldredge at the north end of the Recapture closure. At this time, they will discuss observation points where Rangers can safely observe and photograph riders illegally entering the closed area on the morning of May 10th. This may be from an observation point on the adjacent hill or near the trail where members of the media will be staging. Procedures will also be discussed that will identify escape routes, rally points and the use of a cover team to provide for the safety of the Rangers on scene in the event a confrontation occurs. Documentation of Illegal Protest Ride and Participants On May 10th, two plain-clothed BLM Rangers will be at Recapture Canyon along with the San Juan County Sheriffs Department. (Plain-clothed is defined as non-uniform attire that is devoid of any BLM or LEO insignias or designations. Rangers will be discreetly wearing their firearms and badges.) The Rangers will remain within close proximity to the Sheriffs personnel, but will maintain a low-key profile so as not to highlight their LEO-status. Sheriff Rick Eldredge has stated he will provide for the safety of the Rangers on scene. These Rangers will document the event and its participants using low profile collection methods, to include discreet photographic/video equipment on their person to the extent they feel their safety is not being compromised. To the extent deemed safe, every effort will be made to record license plates, vehicle descriptions and persons involved in the illegal ride. No citations will be issued on scene and Rangers will not engage the public in reference to Recapture Canyon or the countys right of way application. If at any time, up to and during the event, the Rangers feel the situation is unsafe, they will immediately disengage and return to a safe location which will be determined by the Canyon Country District Ranger and the San Juan County Sheriff on May 9th. The Sheriff has agreed to provide any necessary egress assistance if the situation warrants it. A uniformed BLM Ranger will be patrolling in the adjacent area along with a BLM Special Agent and available for immediate assistance if requested. These individuals will not/not be visible to the protesters nor will they engage with those involved in the protest unless there is an emergency.

Civil Unrest/User Conflict Every effort will be made by the BLM and San Juan County to keep opposing user groups separated on May 10th. The Canyon Country District Manager and the Monticello Field Office Manager will stay in contact with representatives from environmental groups and try to persuade them from being physically present at Recapture Canyon on May 10th. In the event environmental groups are present at Recapture Canyon on May 10th, the San Juan County Sheriffs Department will be responsible for controlling and handling any incidents of civil unrest or disagreements that break out between the varying user groups.

Communications/Public Affairs The Canyon Country District Manager and the Utah State Office PAO will stage at the Moab Field office and be available for media inquiries and questions. BLM Rangers will not answer questions from the media and will refer all requests to the PAO.

MEDICAL RESPONSE San Juan County EMS: Contact through San Juan County Dispatch Ground transports will initially go to Blanding, UT Blue Mountain Hospital 802 South 200 West Blanding, Utah


435-767-0517 Medical Flights are stationed in Moab, Grand Junction, Montrose, Durango, Farmington and Salt Lake City. Requests for these flights will be made through San Juan County Dispatch.

MOBILE VIDEO RECORDERS/BODY CAMERAS The use of MVR/Body Cameras will be used in accordance to GO 41.

To the extent possible and safe, Rangers will utilize MVRs to document the event with body cameras.

Recorded media will be retained as per GO 41.

COMMUNICATIONS Radio Frequencies

Primary dispatch will be through San Juan County. Secondary dispatch will be through Utah DPS Dispatch in Price on the Abajo frequency

BLM Canyon Country Contact Phone Numbers

Lance Porter Canyon Country District Manager: (435) 210-0920 Don Hoffheins Monticello Field Office Manager: (435) 459-9461 Jason Moore Canyon Country District Ranger: (435) 260-8013 Greg Meuth Monticello Field Staff Ranger: (435) 459-9387 Bill Stoner Monticello Field Staff Ranger: (435) 210-1126

Utah State Office Contact Phone Numbers Juan Palma State Director: (801) 440-5411 Jenna Whitlock Associate State Director: (801) 503-6254

Dan Love SAC Region 3: (801) 556-3723 Rand Stover ASAC Utah: (801) 592-5841 Eric Boik SCR Utah: (385) 226-1581

Other Important Phone Numbers

AUSA John Huber: Office: (801) 325-3237 Cell: (801) 7505429

BLM Solicitor John Steiger Cell: (801) 493-5155

CHALLENGE OF AUTHORITY BY STATE/LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT If you are confronted, detained, or placed in custody by State or local authorities while engaged in or on account of your official duties, cooperate, do not resist. Contact the SAC, ASAC, or State Chief Ranger.

CRITICAL INCIDENTS General Order 13 will be followed for all critical incidents.

Check list found at end of Utah Collateral Schedule.

Notify Canyon Country District Ranger immediately.


BLM LAW ENFORCEMENT SCHEDULE May 8 - 10, 2014

Subject to Change May 8th Ranger Stoner will provide building security at the Monticello Field Office from 0730 to 1700. Ranger Fouss will provide building security at the Moab Field Office. Hours TBD. May 9th

Ranger Meuth will provide building security at the Monticello Field Office from 0730 to 1700. Ranger Moore will provide building security at the Moab Field Office. Hours TBD.

May 10th

Rangers Moore and Meuth will document the illegal protest ride at Recapture Canyon. Hours TBD. Ranger Stoner and SA Barnes will be patrolling on public lands adjacent to Recapture Canyon and be available for immediate response if needed. Hours TBD.

May 11th

Security of out-lying facilities will be determined by the outcome of the events on May 10th. This includes Sand Island and Kane Gulch Ranger Stations.

Recapture Assignments

Call Sign Officer Patrol Schedule Cell Phone # Assignment

13B61 Jason Moore TBD 435-260-8013 Recapture/Plain

Clothes

13B64 Greg Meuth TBD 435-459-9387 Recapture/Plain

Clothes

13B5 Dan Barnes TBD 435-668-0589 Roving Patrol/Plain

Clothes

13B65 Bill Stoner TBD 435-210-1126 Roving

Patrol/Uniform

Huber emailpg1Huber emailpg 2Page1 alertPage2 alertpalma statementJuan Palma 1Lance other commission do like4.1 2014 OPS Plan Recapture Protest Ride 5 2 14

blm emails and op orders setting up commissioner lyman

Documents

canyon floor

canyon walls

proposed ride

illegal ride

recapture reserv

unauthorized atvohv

environmental groups

blm solicitor