(Courtesy of Mario Mairena)
In late December, Congress passed HR 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The $2.3 trillion comprehensive package included $1.4 trillion for the 12 appropriations bills to fund the government through FY 2021 and $900 billion for COVID response and relief. A key provision included in the bill was a one-year extension of the 2-Wheeled Plug-In Electric Vehicle Credit which allows for a 10% tax credit on the purchase price on a new plug-in electric motorcycle up to a maximum of $2,500. The tax credit includes dual-use plug-in motorcycles that are licensed for on-road use, but also used off-road.
Although the $900 billion stimulus package is half the size of the $2.2 trillion stimulus law passed in March, the package contains additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Below are the Key PPP Funding Provisions:
Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM), a first-term congresswoman, has been nominated to be the next Secretary of the Interior. Rep. Haaland recently served as chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands and was on the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States. If confirmed, Rep. Haaland would make history as the first Indigenous person to serve as a Cabinet secretary.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District, Sierra Front Field Office is seeking public comment on the Proposed Action for the Moon Rocks Project. The purpose of the project is to facilitate improvements within the designated OHV Open area and main access roads by addressing immediate public health and safety-related concerns and to manage environmental impacts caused by an observed increase in visitation to the site. The Proposed Action would address public health and safety issues, increase regulatory oversight, provide adequate on-site security and safety of government agency personnel and property, and reduce impacts to natural resources.
Whether or not to construct recreational area improvements and manage the Open OHV area as a developed recreation site is the decision to be made. A decision to move forward with the Proposed Action would allow area improvements to enhance visitors’ experiences and mitigate environmental impacts in the area.
BLM welcomes the participation of the outdoor recreation community and encourages that comments be specific as possible. Comments are due by January 21, 2021.
Public comments can be submitted by mail to the BLM Carson City District, 5665 Morgan Mill Rd., Carson City, NV, 89701, attention Arthur Callan, or by email to acallan@blm.gov.
On Dec. 3, the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission held a virtual meeting. In attendance was Armando Quintero, CA State Parks Director, Sarah Miggins, Director of OHMVR, and all appointed commissioners. The Commission received reports from the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S Forest Service. It provided updates on recreational opportunities through electric bikes, the 2020 soil conservation standard and guidelines, the grants and cooperative agreements program, the 2022 OHMVR program report, and the OHV Planning Program. The meeting’s highlight was the Public Comments on Oceano Dunes, as impassioned callers expressed their frustration. Some of the callers included Nick Harris, AMA, State Senator Mark Maynard (WV), and Don Amador (QWR). The comments centered on the Commissions’ inability to:
As states continue to reopen from COVID-19 restrictions, they increase recreational access to roads, trails, picnic areas, restrooms, and wilderness. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to work with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and use a phased approach to increase access on a case-by-case basis.
The following recreational area increased access in December:
BLM has lifted fire restrictions for the following areas:
BLM closed the following areas:
(Courtesy of Don Amador) MIC, SVIA, and ROHVA Continue to Advocate to Keep Oceano Dunes Open In late October, the California Coastal Commission held a meeting to discuss the future of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, and Commissioners …
ROV Noise Concerns Prompt New Restrictions in Moab, UT On Oct. 20, the Grand County Commission and City of Moab held a joint meeting to vote on three joint resolutions affecting all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). The impetus for the meeting was the record nu …
(Department of Interior Photo) Tweet by @SecBernhardt. (2020, October 4). Great partnership at the local level has led to @BLMNational providing an incredible opportunity for socially distanced recreation at Glade Run Recreational Area. Get out and enj …
Share this page: