November 2, 2005 (Missoula, MT) - A national coalition of conservation interests today said the US Forest Service’s new off-road vehicle regulations fail to adequately address urgent threats and pressed the agency to halt the continued creation and use of unauthorized, renegade routes in America’s forests.

While welcoming the Forest Service’s recognition of the serious problem, the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition said threats from these unplanned routes made by ATVs, dirt bikes, jeeps and other off-road vehicles will not be controlled under the new regulations. Such routes damage wildlife habitat, create conflicts with other forest users, and facilitate trespass onto adjacent lands. In fact, the regulations weaken the agency’s authority granted by President Nixon’s Executive Order requiring off-road vehicle use to be "controlled and directed . . . to protect the resources of (public) lands . . . and to minimize conflicts" with other forest users, like hikers, hunters and ranchers.

The Forest Service should require that off-road vehicle route webs they designate are manageable and enforceable. Further, these routes must be designated according to the clear criteria articulated in the off-road vehicle Executive Orders. In addition, more funding is needed to increase law enforcement. The coalition urged the Forest Service and its local forest managers to adopt the following measures:

• Require that designated off-road vehicle routes be manageable and enforceable, minimize damage to wildlife habitat, and head-off conflicts with other forest users and neighbors.
• Adhere strictly to the Presidential Executive Orders 11644 and 11989 requiring that “[off-road vehicle] areas and trails shall be located to minimize damage” and “conflicts.” The new regulations shirk this responsibility by directing agency staff to designate routes “with the objective to minimize” these avoidable problems.
• Assess which trails are best suited for hiking, biking and horseback riding, which routes are sustainable for off-road vehicle routes, and which roads are needed for public access by assessing the impacts of vehicles on wildlife, water, neighbors, and other forest users.
• Dedicate funds for implementation and enforcement of trail, route, and road s.
• Require that “collaboration” to designate routes be balanced so that the millions of “quiet recreationists” and other stakeholders are heard--including, hunters and anglers; homeowners, ranchers and farmers; outfitters, guides, and other small business owners; and hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers.

The conservation coalition said long-term success depends on agency commitment and effective enforcement. Jim Furnish, retired Deputy Chief who served for more than 30 years at all levels in the Forest Service, said, “I applaud the Forest Service for taking on the off-road vehicle issue. However, the Forest Service has simply failed to create a solution capable of beating the problem. What's lacking is the assurance of tough enforcement and evidence of backbone needed to bring this runaway problem under control.”

Without a solid timeline and dedicated funding for designating vehicle routes as well as non-motorized trails, unmanaged off-road vehicle use will continue to adversely affect wildlife habitat, quiet recreation, and private landowners. “When your home is under threat, you expect the authorities to act quickly,” said Judith Spencer, a homeowner in Arnold, California. “Folks shouldn’t have to wait decades for the feds to stop dirt bikes and ATVs from trespassing and surrounding their homes with dust and noise.” After 18 years of pleading and pushing, Spencer and neighbors from four towns adjacent to the Stanislaus National Forest recently got authorities to close several off-road vehicle routes that ran by private property and to put more law enforcement personnel on patrol.

While acknowledging the new regulations do contain some positive provisions, the coalition said the rules and budget requests simply fail to reflect the urgent need voiced by the Forest Service Chief himself in January 2004 when he said, “This is not an easy issue to tackle, but if we wait a day, a week, or even a year, the impact on the land and the issues surrounding the problem will become even harder to deal with. We need to address the issue now.”

“The millions of hikers in America await meaningful changes on the ground,” said American Hiking Society President Gregory Miller. “Until the Forest Service commits real resources to combating uncontrolled off-road vehicle use and effectively implementing the regulations, our forests, and the quiet, natural experiences they provide will continue to be put at risk.”

The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition works to protect and restore all public lands and waters from the damage caused by dirt bikes, jet skis and all other off-road vehicles. The Coalition has a membership of 125 conservation, quiet recreation, and sportsmen organizations from across the country.