Washington Newsletter

September 2009

GAO Report on OHV Recreation

At the end of July, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on OHV recreation, prepared at the request of the House Natural Resources Committee, was released to the general public. GAO investigators interviewed agency personnel, OHV rider and industry representatives and environmental group representatives. GAO issued a number of findings in terms of OHV recreation on public lands, but frankly, none of the findings were a surprise to us.

GAO found that OHV recreation is growing in popularity and that more Americans are seeking access to federal public lands via their OHVs. Second, the report found that the federal land agencies could do a better job of providing signage and general outreach to the recreating public so that visitors to public lands have a better understanding of where they can and cannot ride their OHVs. The report also focused attention on the inadequacies of law enforcement and the inconsistent scale of fines and penalties for inappropriate behavior on public lands. GAO found that the land agencies were stretched, both in terms of financial resources and personnel, and that other pressing concerns, such as fighting wildfires, apprehending drug criminals and border control issues kept agency personnel from devoting the necessary time to make public lands more accessible to recreation visitors.

GAO looked into the issue of environmental damage caused by OHVs and found such damage is far less than some observers believed to be the case. Another finding was that agency personnel work well with OHV user groups on trail maintenance projects.

The report's conclusions confirm what we have known for a long time about OHV recreation on public lands and provide further reason to continue working on our priority issues. ARRA intends to carry on our efforts to support law enforcement reform legislation as well as seek additional funding for better signage, maps and trail maintenance. Working with the Congress and our land agencies, we can create an environment where OHV recreation can continue to grow in popularity as more American families look to explore and enjoy the great outdoors.

Forest Service and BLM Outreach

Federal land agencies seem to be taking to heart the recommendations of the GAO Report we just discussed. The Forest Service and BLM in Nevada have jointly launched a new advertising campaign. Utilizing highway billboards along with radio spots to be aired in September to coincide with the fall hunting season, the theme emphasizes appropriate behavior with the overall message, "Use your Power Responsibly - Stay on Trails."

We are pleased the agencies are going the extra mile to reach out and educate people on access issues. We hope this effort is replicated in other national forests as well. The advertising campaign will be more effective if the agencies ensure that there is adequate signage on the ground and that good quality maps are available for those visiting our public lands.

August Recess

In the last newsletter, I wrote that the Senate and the House would be in "recess" for much of August. I used a dictionary definition that defined recess as "a temporary cessation from work, especially for Congress." Well, little did I know how different this August recess would be for most Members of Congress! That difference came down to an American tradition called Town Hall meetings which most Members hold during the August recess to take the pulse of their constituents and where the issues of the day are discussed and debated. August 2009 will go down in the history books as a very different month, indeed.

The difference was the sheer number of people who attended the Town Hall meetings as well as the heat generated by the topic of debate, namely health care reform. Many members were very surprised by the intensity of debate and the strong feelings on the part of some of their constituents.

Regardless of where you stand on the health care reform issue, the lesson learned from these Town Hall meetings is that in a democratic society, the people have a right to petition their elected representatives. That is exactly what we do on a daily basis here at ARRA and why, on a regular basis, we ask you to contact your elected representatives on public lands issues. Your involvement is what makes a difference when it comes to keeping access open to our public lands.

A Lion Dies

Senator Ted Kennedy died this week after battling brain cancer for more than a year. Kennedy wasn't very active on public lands' issues, which probably stemmed from the fact that he represented the small eastern State of Massachusetts. He did love to sail, however, and keeping access to the Nantucket Sound was a passion of his. When the Cape Wind Energy project proposed building 130 windmills in the Sound, thereby interfering with mariner access, Kennedy announced his opposition to the project!

Senator Kennedy spent most of his 47 years in the Senate focusing on social issues and I seldom was in agreement with his positions on many of those issues. He was, however, a very effective Senator and I respected his strong work ethic. Born into privilege and wealth, Kennedy had his own personal flaws and his family had more than its share of tragedies, known to us all. He could have easily spent most of his life clipping coupons and sailing, but instead, he took his job as a United States Senator very seriously and over time, he became very good at it. More often than not, while he never shied away from a good partisan fight, he befriended Republicans and could work with them to cut a deal in order to get legislation passed. He was a true legislator. The Senate will be a lesser place because of his absence.

Sincerely,

Larry E. Smith
Executive Director
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access