W5BRM
05-03-2015, 07:55 AM
Got this via Oklahoma section manager
---------------
Recently, an Oklahoma amateur radio operator received a warning while
operating his radio within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.. As
a result, I had a pleasant chat with Refuge leadership. Below, Ron,
AF5Q, has explained the details of the new rules. The Refuge contact
related that the rule is new.
The Refuge representative advised of these new rules. Further
explanation included:
1. There is NO charge for the permit.
2. The permit is REQUIRED when the operator is operating, regardless
of location, for an extended period of time.
3. NO permit is required, IF the operator is mobile and using antennas
attached to their vehicle. In other words, if one is doing a Summits on
the Air ... http://www.sota.org.uk/ ... which requires the station be
something other than mobile, then a permit is required.
Here's the email that followed the phone call:
*Thanks for calling today. Yes, permits are required for special
amateur radio events. Within the past year or so, the Refuge's
Comprehensive Conservation Plan addressed new requirements for permits
for many public activities. The web page for the Wichita Mountains has
a Permits page link that lists the different types of permits and the
related uses. Permit application forms are available from that page
also.
Permits are not needed for individual amateur radio operators that are
passing through and stop for a short time and make a few contacts from
authorized parking locations. However, vehicles that have very large
antennas that require guy wires or the need to be anchored or tied off
fall into the category that require a permit.
We try to move the approval process as fast as we can but sometimes it
may take awhile, so please try to get the application request in as
early as possible.
Please call if you have any more questions.
Thanks,
Ralph Bryant
Deputy Refuge Manager
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge"
As I continue, remember the citation was a warning. Warnings are
designed to bring attention to behavior which should be avoided.
Warnings don't require appearance in court or incur a fine.
From the context of previous emails, it appears that the officer used
discretion in his citation. This is explained as:
"The classic example of police discretion happens when you get pulled
over for speeding. Sometimes you might get a ticket, while other times
you might just be let off with a warning. Oftentimes appealing to
police discretion is the best way to avoid hefty fines or tickets."
http://bit.ly/1EJGZHl
Therefore, thanks to Ron, AF5Q, and Mr. Bryant, this email serves to
advise of the new regulations and how the Refuge is providing the
permitting process as equitably and expeditiously as possible.
If you have an event such as Tour de Meers and/or Spirit of Survival,
one can reasonably expect to apply for a permit and follow the rules
regarding the use of the Federal property.
As always, the League Leadership of the Oklahoma Section stands ready
to help the membership and, by extension, the amateur radio community.
73
---
Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, Section Manager
813 Canterbury Blvd
Altus, OK 73521-4903
(234-564-2775)
kc5fm@arrl.org
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ron Grossman <af5q@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 1, 2015 at 1:14 PM
Subject: RE: [OKtraders] Digest Number 2033
To: "kc5fm@juno.com" <kc5fm@juno.com>
Lloyd,
Apparently this has been in effect since 2012. The individual in
question as operating near dark when the park official informed them
about the rules.
Below are some links; however, its not clear on the application what
type of amateur operation. I interpret it as any type of amateur radio
operation there in whether it be mobile, fixed, portable or what ever
have ya.
From the Wichita Mountains Web page
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Wichita_Mountains/visit/permits.html and it
states as well
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Wichita_Mountains/visit/FAQs.html
From the FWS Pages 139-142
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/PDFs/CCP%202012/WichitaMountains_DraftCCP_AppendixF.pdf
To me its solid and in stone, but on the National Parks webpage
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/visitors/permits.html
There is nothing about amateur radio permits. I have also been in
contact with the party on the incident.
73,
Ron, AF5Q
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Oklahoma Section
Section Manager: Lloyd Colston, KC5FM
kc5fm@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Recently, an Oklahoma amateur radio operator received a warning while
operating his radio within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.. As
a result, I had a pleasant chat with Refuge leadership. Below, Ron,
AF5Q, has explained the details of the new rules. The Refuge contact
related that the rule is new.
The Refuge representative advised of these new rules. Further
explanation included:
1. There is NO charge for the permit.
2. The permit is REQUIRED when the operator is operating, regardless
of location, for an extended period of time.
3. NO permit is required, IF the operator is mobile and using antennas
attached to their vehicle. In other words, if one is doing a Summits on
the Air ... http://www.sota.org.uk/ ... which requires the station be
something other than mobile, then a permit is required.
Here's the email that followed the phone call:
*Thanks for calling today. Yes, permits are required for special
amateur radio events. Within the past year or so, the Refuge's
Comprehensive Conservation Plan addressed new requirements for permits
for many public activities. The web page for the Wichita Mountains has
a Permits page link that lists the different types of permits and the
related uses. Permit application forms are available from that page
also.
Permits are not needed for individual amateur radio operators that are
passing through and stop for a short time and make a few contacts from
authorized parking locations. However, vehicles that have very large
antennas that require guy wires or the need to be anchored or tied off
fall into the category that require a permit.
We try to move the approval process as fast as we can but sometimes it
may take awhile, so please try to get the application request in as
early as possible.
Please call if you have any more questions.
Thanks,
Ralph Bryant
Deputy Refuge Manager
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge"
As I continue, remember the citation was a warning. Warnings are
designed to bring attention to behavior which should be avoided.
Warnings don't require appearance in court or incur a fine.
From the context of previous emails, it appears that the officer used
discretion in his citation. This is explained as:
"The classic example of police discretion happens when you get pulled
over for speeding. Sometimes you might get a ticket, while other times
you might just be let off with a warning. Oftentimes appealing to
police discretion is the best way to avoid hefty fines or tickets."
http://bit.ly/1EJGZHl
Therefore, thanks to Ron, AF5Q, and Mr. Bryant, this email serves to
advise of the new regulations and how the Refuge is providing the
permitting process as equitably and expeditiously as possible.
If you have an event such as Tour de Meers and/or Spirit of Survival,
one can reasonably expect to apply for a permit and follow the rules
regarding the use of the Federal property.
As always, the League Leadership of the Oklahoma Section stands ready
to help the membership and, by extension, the amateur radio community.
73
---
Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, Section Manager
813 Canterbury Blvd
Altus, OK 73521-4903
(234-564-2775)
kc5fm@arrl.org
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ron Grossman <af5q@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 1, 2015 at 1:14 PM
Subject: RE: [OKtraders] Digest Number 2033
To: "kc5fm@juno.com" <kc5fm@juno.com>
Lloyd,
Apparently this has been in effect since 2012. The individual in
question as operating near dark when the park official informed them
about the rules.
Below are some links; however, its not clear on the application what
type of amateur operation. I interpret it as any type of amateur radio
operation there in whether it be mobile, fixed, portable or what ever
have ya.
From the Wichita Mountains Web page
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Wichita_Mountains/visit/permits.html and it
states as well
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Wichita_Mountains/visit/FAQs.html
From the FWS Pages 139-142
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/PDFs/CCP%202012/WichitaMountains_DraftCCP_AppendixF.pdf
To me its solid and in stone, but on the National Parks webpage
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/visitors/permits.html
There is nothing about amateur radio permits. I have also been in
contact with the party on the incident.
73,
Ron, AF5Q
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Oklahoma Section
Section Manager: Lloyd Colston, KC5FM
kc5fm@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------