ALERT! FS RELEASES NATIONAL OHV DRAFT POLICY

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NEWS RELEASE
USDA FOREST SERVICE
Press Office
201 14th Street, SW
Washington, D.C., 20024
Voice [phone]
Web: www.fs.fed.us

Release No. FS-0418
Contact: Joe Walsh [phone]

FOREST SERVICE RELEASES DRAFT POLICY
ON OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE USE IN NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS


WASHINGTON, July 7, 2004– U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest
Service today released its proposal for managing motorized off-
highway vehicle (OHV) use in national forests and grasslands, which
will enhance recreational opportunities for the public and better
protect the environment by requiring units to establish a designated
system of roads, trails and areas.

"OHVs are a great way to experience the national forests, but
because their popularity has increased in recent years, we need an
approach that will sustain natural resource values through more
effective management of motor vehicle use. The benefits of
improving OHV use include enhanced protection of habitat and
aquatic, soil, air and cultural resources," said Forest Service
Chief Dale Bosworth. "The Forest Service wants to improve its
management by balancing the public's enjoyment of using OHVs with
ensuring the best possible care of the land."

In 2002, national forests and grasslands had more than 214 million
visits. Nationally, the number of OHV users climbed sevenfold in the
last 30 years--from five million in 1972 to 36 million in 2000. OHV
users account for about 1.8 million or five percent of visitors to
national forests and grasslands. Currently each of the 155 national
forests and 21 grasslands has guidelines regarding OHV use, with
some national forests managing use on a designated system of roads,
trails and areas, while other do not. As a result, the Forest
Service does not have a clear, consistent policy regarding motor
vehicle use on national forests and grasslands.

The proposed rule represents a nationally consistent approach to
travel management by requiring each forest and grassland to
designate a system of roads, trails and areas slated for motor
vehicle use. It would allow national forests to denote use of routes
and areas by vehicle type and, if appropriate, by time of year. Once
the designation process is complete, OHV use would be confined to
designated routes and areas, and OHV use off these routes (cross-
country travel) would be prohibited. Snowmobile use would continue
to be managed as it is currently—allowed, restricted or
prohibited
on roads and trails and in areas on National Forest System
lands.

"While some forests have begun to designate roads, trails, and
areas
for OHVs, I expect units to make significant progress in improving
management of OHVs in the next two years," said Bosworth. "We
want
to improve our management of outdoor recreation by having a system
of routes and areas offering the best opportunities for OHV use
while still meeting our responsibility to sustain National Forest
System lands and resources."

The proposed rule calls for the Forest Service to continue to engage
with motorized sports enthusiasts, conservationists, state agencies,
local governments, tribal governments, and others to identify routes
offering the best opportunities for OHV use while still meeting its
responsibility to protect the environment. The public would continue
to be allowed to participate in the process of designating roads,
trails, and areas or revising designations and would continue to
receive advance notice to allow for public comment on proposed or
revised designations. The agency has partnered with these groups in
the past to provide enhanced motorized recreation opportunities by
constructing, marking, maintaining and restoring trails as well as
by providing training and safety instruction to users.

OHVs include motor vehicles that are designed or retrofitted
primarily for recreational use off road, such as minibikes,
amphibious vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles, go-carts, motorized
trail bikes, and dune buggies.

The agency is accepting comments for 60 days after the proposal is
published in the Federal Register. The rule text submitted to the
Office of the Federal Register is available on www.fs/fed/us.

Written comments may be sent to:
Proposed Rule for Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
c/o Content Analysis Team
P.O. Box 221150
Salt Lake City, Utah 84122-1150

Comments also will be accepted by electronic mail to
[e-mail] or by facsimile to 801-517-1014.

Comments also may be submitted by following the instructions at the
federal eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov.

All comments will be analyzed and addressed in promulgation of a
final rule.