A Victory for the OHV Community at Johnson Valley
Great news for the off-road community: the Johnson Valley OHV Area will remain open and unrestricted. Following a collaborative effort between the U.S. Marine Corps and the FAA, a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) has been released, ensuring that military airspace expansion won’t interfere with ground-level recreation. This is a major win compared to last year’s draft proposal, which sparked fears that new airspace restrictions could hamper emergency services, filming, and iconic events such as King of the Hammers.
The updated plan includes several protections designed to retain access for “Off-Highway Vehicles” (OHV), including:
- Unchanged Ground Access: Public recreational access remains fully open.
- The 1,500-Foot Buffer: When the airspace is active, military aircraft must remain at least 1,500 feet above the ground, maintaining a safe gap between flights and riders.
- Business as Usual for Events: BLM-permitted events and filming can proceed without additional red tape for low-altitude operations.
- Safety First: MEDEVAC and emergency flights retain immediate, priority access to the area without prior coordination.
The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and other OHV groups played a pivotal role in achieving this outcome. By highlighting the potential risks to rider safety and the local economy, they successfully advocated for a “common ground” solution. “Finding a compromise that allows for continued safe recreation… while meeting the needs of our Armed Services was always the best outcome,” said Duane Taylor, MIC director of Safe and Responsible Use Programs.
The Final EA clarifies that major events will proceed as planned, with organizers able to coordinate directly with the Marine Corps for any specific airspace requirements. This ensures Johnson Valley remains a premier destination for enthusiasts while supporting national defense training.
Mine Project Raises Growing Concerns for the Powersports Community
The public comment period for the proposed White Rock North Mine Project in Sacramento County officially closed on May 4, and it is increasingly clear that concerns about the project extend far beyond traditional land-use questions. What initially appeared to be a local mining proposal has evolved into a broader discussion of recreation access, the integrity of the environmental review, public health, cumulative impacts, and the future viability of Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA).
Prairie City SVRA is far more than just another riding area. It is one of California’s premier OHV recreation destinations and serves as an important economic, recreational, and cultural asset for Northern California riders, event organizers, families, and the broader powersports industry. The park also hosts nationally recognized events and provides a critical urban interface recreation opportunity for the Sacramento region.
During the DEIR review process, the Motorcycle Industry Council, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association submitted formal comments requesting that Sacramento County not certify the DEIR in its current form. The Associations raised concerns regarding what they described as significant procedural and analytical deficiencies under CEQA, including the apparent failure to meaningfully engage the California State Parks OHMVR Commission, Prairie City stakeholders, recreation users, and nearby communities early in the process.
The industry comments also highlighted concerns about the project’s cumulative impacts when considered alongside the nearby Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Project. The comments argued that the combined effect of surrounding industrial and energy development could gradually “box in” Prairie City SVRA and create long-term compatibility conflicts involving dust, noise, traffic, access, and operational pressures.
One of the more significant developments during the comment period came from federal and state environmental regulators. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency submitted comments expressing “significant concerns about the human health and environmental risks” associated with the project because the proposed mining activity would occur within portions of the Aerojet Superfund Site where contamination boundaries and cleanup levels remain unresolved. The EPA warned that mining activity could expose or spread hazardous materials and complicate future remediation efforts.
Similarly, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control raised concerns that mining activities on portions of the Aerojet Superfund Site “could result in risks to human health and releases to the environment.” DTSC also questioned whether the environmental analysis relied on incomplete contamination data and whether emerging contaminants, such as PFAS, had been adequately addressed.
With the public comment period now closed, attention is expected to shift to Sacramento County’s response to the substantial concerns raised by state and federal agencies, recreation stakeholders, industry organizations, and the OHMVR community. Stay tuned!
American Trails Urges Congress to Fund and Staff Outdoor Access During EXPLORE Act Hearing
On April 22, American Trails Executive Director Mike Passo testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, calling on Congress to match the promise of Title II of the EXPLORE Act with the staffing and funding needed to make it a reality.
Passo joined leaders from Dovetail Consulting, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Wounded Warrior Project, who collectively represented a unified voice for expanding access to public lands. His message was clear: without adequate federal workforce capacity, the EXPLORE Act risks falling short.
“This is one of the most important opportunities in a generation to expand access to public lands,” Passo said. “But without adequate staffing and funding, it risks becoming an unfunded mandate.”
Drawing on personal experience, Passo described how a spinal cord injury at age 20 reshaped his life and career, reinforcing his belief that access to outdoor recreation is fundamental. “People define themselves by how they recreate,” he told the Subcommittee. “When access is lost, the impact is deeply personal.”
Passo emphasized that federal land agencies are already struggling to maintain trails and implement projects because of staffing reductions. These shortages are stalling critical public-private partnerships, including American Trails’ own grant program, which has successfully leveraged volunteer labor to address deferred maintenance but now faces delays due to missing agency contacts.
He also highlighted a key opportunity: improving access through better information. Investments in tools such as the USGS Trail Explorer and Recreation.gov can quickly expand access by helping people understand which experiences are available to them.
Finally, Passo urged lawmakers to treat accessibility as a universal need, not a niche issue. “At some point in life, every American benefits from accessible outdoor spaces,” he said.
American Trails is calling on Congress to ensure that the EXPLORE Act is fully funded and supported by the workforce needed to fulfill its promise, so that all Americans can access and enjoy our public lands.