Point Reyes National Seashore. Where the park service rewards lease violators with extended leases and an expansion of the violators' businesses.
This link will take you to all the leases currently in the seashore as listed by PRNS. This quote, from PRNS, says it all:
"While many of these lease/permits have expired, the NPS has issued letters of authorization to continue operations under the existing terms and conditions of these permits. The NPS will continue to issue letters of authorization pending completion of the Ranch Comprehensive Management Plan and issuance of new lease/permits."
The paragraph above verifies that the leases are expired, but the ranchers are allowed to operate anyway due to the expressed desire of the park service. The park service also admits that they fully intended to issue letters of authorization until they completed the ranching management plan that always intended to keep the ranches in the seashore.
"While many of these lease/permits have expired, the NPS has issued letters of authorization to continue operations under the existing terms and conditions of these permits. The NPS will continue to issue letters of authorization pending completion of the Ranch Comprehensive Management Plan and issuance of new lease/permits."
The paragraph above verifies that the leases are expired, but the ranchers are allowed to operate anyway due to the expressed desire of the park service. The park service also admits that they fully intended to issue letters of authorization until they completed the ranching management plan that always intended to keep the ranches in the seashore.
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It's curious that the park service desires to extend leases for people who have repeatedly violated their lease agreements in the past and who have proven to have devastating effects on the seashore's habitat with their practices.
A few of these violations are provided below. |
Lunny's Refusal to Pay and Overstocking
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Jeff Miller FOIA review of 21 documents released by NPS in August 2015
1. 1-4-94 Lunny Appraisal Western Region appraiser reviews Lunny special use permit regarding changes in use of property since 1989. Takes Lunny’s assertion as fact - without evidence - that Lunny is only using 180 acres for hay, rather than the 215 in his permit, to reduce rent by $350/year. Gives Lunny 25% rent discount ($3,000/year) on houses and structures due to “remote location allowance.” 2. 3-20-08 Lunny Notes “Windshield survey” by Park Service and EBMUD ranger of Lunny Ranch – counts 98 cows and 26 calves on G Ranch, plus 131 total head in the Coast Guard pasture. 3. 8-30-07 Neubacher-Lunny Lunny letter referring to NPS imposed removal of cows from Lunny Ranch; letter to PORE asking to be able to use corrals next to G Ranch, move cows from Coast Guard pasture to corrals for medical care, then back to pasture. Neubacher gives permission – wants to finalize Lunny permit 4. 9-14-07 letter Neubacher to Lunny Letter authorizing 232 AUMs on G Ranch for interim period from 9/14/07 to 12/7/07, when annual 1080 AUMs is available. Notes that Lunny claims has 580 AUMs left for year for this allotment and is requesting 580 AUMs for interim period. NPS will authorize if Lunny can substantiate claim. 5. 11-7-07 Turnbull to Lunny PORE sent Lunny Special Use Permit in December 2007. Lunny tried to negotiate terms, finally signed on April 11, 2007. Lunny raised issues in October 11, 2007 letter. NPS willing to resolve issues, including replacement of roof. Keeps penalties for Lunny at $50 per day even though standard penalty has changed to $100 per day. Issues to be resolved: number and location of acres to be cultivated, updated appraisal if cultivated acres are adjusted, type of tilling and cultivation allowed, relation of AUMs to feed lot and access to and from Coast Guard pasture, mutually verifiable grazing plan by month. Notes Lunny asserts he has not exceeded annual stocking level of 1080 AUMs – NPS has not resolved whether this is the case and whether compensation for additional AUMs will be required. DOWNLOAD THE FOIA DOCUMENTS
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Genazzi cattle trespassing outside pastoral zone into protected wilderness.
Genazzi grossly overstocking cattle beyond lease agreement.
Genazzi grossly overstocking cattle beyond lease agreement.
The number of cattle exceeded the lease by almost double WITHOUT even counting the calves.
DOWNLOAD THE FOIA DOCUMENTS
| foia_10.pdf |
Kehoe exceeding animal units by shocking numbers.
The park service counted 950 cattle at Kehoe Ranch. That exceeds the 2008 lease by 500 animals and the 2013 lease by 200 animals. Kehoe ranch was rewarded for its violations with the right to build a manure holding pond and barn.
2013
2008
Original Land Purchase Amounts
| keegan_ranch_acquisition___data_from_2012_foia__1_.pdf |
