New Interior Economic Report Scrubs OHV Recreation

Last week, I testified before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public lands about the Hollister Field Office obliterating all evidence that OHV recreation had existed at the Clear Creek Management Area. And, the unit had even scrubbed all OHV symbols from their main website.


In 2005, the Forest Service published a recreation report that stated approximately 23% of Americans participate in some form of OHV recreation each year.

2005 FS Recreation Report (a good and informative read)
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/OHV_final_report.pdf

Just as Obama’s Great American Outdoor program failed to reference or acknowledge that OHV recreation even existed, Interior’s newly published Economic Report failed to reference OHV recreation. The Report failed to acknowledge that OHV recreation is an important element of the recreation opportunity spectrum and is also an important economic multiplier.

Interior’s June 21 New Economic Report (sans OHV)
http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/upload/DOI-Econ-Report-6-21-2011.pdf

June 22 SLT Article (no mention of OHVs - guess all those wheelers at Moab don't count)
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/52057632-79/million-economic-jobs-report.html.csp


In HQ’s opinion, this Interior report has little if any credibility. By ignoring the huge off-road aftermarket (custom shops, parts, wheels, tires, etc.) and industry (4WDs, dirt-bikes, ATVs, RVs, trailers, and UTVs) and service industry (hotels, food, restaurants, fuel, etc) – the report ends up being nothing but a propaganda tool used to champion the agency’s non-motorized political agenda.

HQ supports both non-motorized and motorized recreation. Hiking, fishing, biking, and other uses are important. But what Interior has done is try the old divide and conquer techniques that at the end of the day are ineffective. Again, this report only serves to daylight the administration’s non-motorized political agenda.

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An NCA or Monument is Coming to a Riding Area Near You

The Recreation HQ has been very busy over the last few days dealing with a number of access issues and wants to share its thoughts with you regarding the ARRA news release on August 6 about the rest of DOI’s “secret documents” related to the creation of National Monuments by the Obama administration.

ARRA link to DOI Documents
http://www.arra-access.com/site/DocServer/Treasured_Landscapes.pdf?docID=281

News Article on Document Find
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11872071

As you know, The General is a veteran of many battles in OHV Wars starting with Clinton’s War on the West in the mid 1990s. Those fights included the Clinton/Gore unholy triad of Forest “Rules.”

Planning Rule – This rule birthed the subsequent Bush-era planning rules that were successfully challenged by environmental groups and the new Obama planning effort that excludes the topic of recreation from the proposal.

Transportation/Roads Rule – This rule spawned the Bush-era TMR that has been perverted on many Forests to close thousands of miles of OHV routes.

Roadless Rule - This rule continues to be litigated. BRC and others are still in court on this issue.

The simple lesson learned from those battles is when the environmental/political industrial complex fronts such proposals that you as a rider will see some manifestation of those plans enacted into law or created by presidential fiat.

What is interesting - albeit very disturbing - about the newly acquired documents is that DOI is recommending to the White House that if local NCA or National Monument proposals are not worked out with the local users that the president should bypass the collaborative process and designate the project area as a National Monument.

While it is commendable and certainly appropriate to object in principle to a NCA designation in areas that are already “protected” by federal land use laws and regulations, The General believes that OHV should be involved in any local stakeholder process regarding proposed NCA or National Monument legislation.

BRC Support of the Collaborative Process in S. 2921
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/BRC_Written_Testimony_on_S.2921_05.25.10_FINAL.pdf

Should riders and clubs continue to object to the misuse of the Antiquities Act by the president to make restrictive land designations? The General believes the answer is a solid yes.

However, when OHV is given the opportunity to participate in a stakeholder group - regarding upcoming legislation - we should. That is the current political paradigm - like it or not.

A big salute to all of you who remain engaged during these very difficult times.

Obama Outdoor Alert - Young OHVers Needed at July 23 SF Bay Area Event

The General will be on the North Coast of CA at various OHV meetings from July 21-25. However, HQ wants young people to be aware of a great opportunity to have their voices heard on July 23rd in the SF Bay Area.

The following alert is from HQ’s good friends at ARRA

ARRA Website
http://www.arra-access.com/

ARRA recently sent an alert notifying you that earlier this year President Obama held a conference on America’s Great Outdoors and established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to be led by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Chair of the Council of Environmental Quality. The initiative is tasked with reconnecting Americans, especially children, to the outdoors and to receive public input and ideas.

Part of this initiative includes a series of Listening Sessions around the country, including a July 23rd youth session for Bay Area young people (Age 16-25) in Berkeley, California to discuss land conservation, recreation, and reconnecting people to the outdoors.

It is vitally important that the Administration hear from you about how you recreate on and enjoy public lands. If you can attend, please take this opportunity to make it clear that millions of Americans responsibly enjoy motorized recreation on public lands.

If you can not make it to the session you can still submit comments on the America’s Great Outdoors website here: http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/

More details about the Berkeley Youth Listening Sessions:

When:
Friday - July 23, 2010, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

What:
Youth Listening Session on President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative

Where:
David Brower Center
2150 Allston Way
Berkeley, California 94704

Who:
This event is hosted by the Department of the Interior (DOI), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

Register:
Send an email with your name, email address, and telephone number to Megan_Dunn@ios.doi.gov

The Recreation HQ would urge young riders to attend the meeting and speak out for responsible OHV recreation and what it means to you and your family.

Thanks for your service!

Dirt Rider Magazine Article on Obama Outdoor Program

The Recreation HQ wants to give some major kudos to the gang at Dirt Rider Magazine for sending a crew to the Obama Outdoor event at Occidental College. DR did a great story on this event with a number of key observations that can be found below. It is worth the read.
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PHOTO: Jimmy Lewis telling riders not to be spodes while riding in the SVRA at a DR 24 Hour at Gorman

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DR Article on Obama Event
http://blogs.dirtrider.com/6695808/editorial/america-s-great-outdoors-initiative/index.html

Jimmy Lewis and Chris Denison at DR have long been strong supporters of the fight for access to public lands. Next time you see them at an event feel free to thank them for taking the time to write about OHV access issues.

As some of you riders know, HQ gave overviews of the Obama CA events held in Davis and LA.

Blog on Obama LA Event
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/07/ohvers-attend-obama-outdoor-event-in-la.html

Blog on Obama Davis Event
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/07/conservation-easements-and-confusion-at.html

As the DR article and HQ blogs have shown… the events have excluded OHV and have been mostly a forum for people to ask for handouts. According to a report that HQ received yesterday, the Obama event held in Ashville, NC last week was no different than the CA events.

Be assured The General will continue to monitor and give updates on the various Obama Great Outdoor events being held throughout the country. HQ encourages all riders to stay engaged in the process.

S. 2921, Wilderness, and Land Use in the 21st Century

The Recreation HQ wants to expand a bit regarding BRC’s support for S. 2921 - the California Desert Protection Act of 2010 as highlighted in The General’s blog regarding the Obama Outdoor Event in LA.

Blog on Obama LA Event with CWC Mention of BRC Support for S. 2921
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/07/ohvers-attend-obama-outdoor-event-in-la.html

BRC Testimony/Support for S. 2921
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/BRC_Written_Testimony_on_S.2921_05.25.10_FINAL.pdf

At the LA event, HQ talked with a number of OHVers and other public land access interests about S. 2921. There were a lot of OHVers who support the bill as it is currently written. Other OHV groups might have supported it but were concerned the bill language would change in committee (a valid concern). Several access groups were adamantly opposed to the bill. Good news it that most of us respect the other group’s opinion and when at odds – we can respectfully agree to disagree.

HQ knows the bill is not perfect and that it is a compromise piece of legislation. If this was 1975 would OHV be supporting this bill? I don’t think so. However, a lot has changed since the old days of 1960-1980s era Big Gulp Wilderness Bills where enviros would push through land use bills that did not have consensus nor support from local stakeholders, county officials, and users.

That old Wilderness paradigm was changed in the 2006 Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act. (HR 233). Just as in HR 233, proponents of S. 2921 held endless meetings with local stakeholders, participated in numerous field trips to ground-truth routes, and although it designated a lot of new Wilderness…not one legal OHV route was closed in HR 233.

HQ believes S. 2921 captured HR 233’s spirit of collaboration by designating OHV use in a number of OHV areas similar to the 2006 Cow Mountain Recreation Area where OHV use was codified.

A great read on the efforts of BRC and others to make sure OHV and access were included in HR 233 is archived at MTB Action
http://www.mbaction.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=8B813024BC72495897FB8773FBFD174A

Just as with Obama’s Great Outdoor Initiative, OHV must be actively engaged in the political process. S. 2921, HR 233, and Obama’s GOA prove The General’s now famous axiom that “All land use decisions (and associated processes) are political decisions” and is a cornerstone of modern OHV advocacy.

Is S. 2921 perfect? No. Compromise bills never are. However, the other option of staying home is not viable either. Will green groups continue to push for new Wilderness and NCAs after S. 2921 is signed into law? Yes. To counter that, OHV must be just as committed to champion our access rights to public land and to stay engaged.

Thanks for your service regardless of if you support S. 2921 or not.