Submitted By: Slater on Mar 23, 2006

Add Comment 

[Ed. - The following is a letter sent March 21,2006 by Camp San Luis commander Kelly Fisher regarding the restriction of climbing access to Cerro Romualdo in San Luis Obispo, California]:

>>Background on the issue

-------------------------------------------------------

We have determined that your request for access to Cerro Romualdo for the purpose of recreational rock climbing is a non-military request for a high risk, non-doctrinal and unfunded recreational activity. Although your request for access is reasonable; it is subject to the rules and procedures prescribed in Camp San Luis Obispo (CSLO) Regulation 350-1, dated 1 July 2002. The approval to conduct this activity therefore is contingent upon a favorable environmental review, reversal of current Judge Advocate General (JAG) position on prohibition of such activity on National Guard property, and a strict adherence to Federal, State, and local laws (including CSLO Regulations) and applicable safety guidelines for the conduct of such activity.

An initial review of your request by our environmental staff has determined that the proposed activity requires environmental documentation per the California Environmental Quality Act. This process must be started with an Initial Study which must result in a Negative Declaration stating this activity holds no potential for negative impact on the environment. However, if it is determined that this activity does hold a potential for adverse impact, a Comprehensive Environmental Assessment of the area and associated activity in question must be accomplished at no expense to the California Military Department. The Environmental Assessment must determine the extent of risk to the environment and any mitigating measures that may be taken to accommodate this activity. In either case, you, as the project proponent, will be required to fund the Initial Study and any subsequent required environmental review. If you choose to provide funding to accomplish the necessary studies and subsequent mitigation for this recreational activity, our environmental staff will gladly work with you as the lead agency.

Upon completion of the environmental review, and the receipt of a Negative Declaration or a favorable Environmental Assessment, the CSLO Operations Directorate will work with you to develop the best protocol for conducting this activity safely and in concert with the primary mission of CSLO. The agreed upon protocol will then be forwarded to the Judge Advocate General’s Office for review and recommendations. These recommendations will be incorporated as necessary; the final revision will be reviewed by me, or other designated representative, for final approval. All protocol measures will be focused on insuring safety and a high standard of environmental stewardship.

Mr. Slater, I further invite you to download CSLO Regulation 350-1, so that you may become familiar with the installation’s use policies. This regulation can be found on the internet at:

http://www.calguard.ca.gov/cslo/Operations/Operations_Ranges>>>>>

Much of the information contained in this regulation will be incorporated into the protocol for use of this facility, should the aforementioned actions accommodate this type of activity. I have included a brief synopsis of this regulation as an enclosure to this letter. Please review it at your leisure. I am also forwarding a copy of this letter to Mr. Katcho Achadjian, San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, Ms. Karin Driesen, Times Press Recorder and Ms. Deanne Buck of The Access Fund. Please contact my Director of Operations, CPT Mario V. Acevedo at CML (805) 594-6512, or e-mail at mailto:Mario.Acevedo@us.army.mil, if you should have any questions. We look forward to working with you on this worthwhile endeavor


Sincerely,

KELLY A. FISHER
Lieutenant Colonel, California Army National Guard