ARRA Members Support Proposal to Rescind BLM’s Public Lands Rule
The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA), and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) submitted comments in support of the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to rescind the Public Lands Rule. Additionally, ARRA members, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), and the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) submitted comments in support of the proposal.
In a release announcing the proposed repeal, Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum highlighted the negative impacts of the rule, “The previous administration’s Public Lands Rule had the potential to block access to hundreds of thousands of acres of multiple-use land – preventing energy and mineral production, timber management, grazing, and recreation across the west. The most effective caretakers of our federal lands are those whose livelihoods rely on its well-being. Overturning this rule protects our American way of life and gives our communities a voice in the land that they depend on.”
MIC/SVIA/ROHVA comments on the repeal repeated the summary included in comments on the draft rule, “We strongly believe that the proposed changes are too broad in nature and sweeping in scope to realistically be implemented or even understood in totality. It is impossible to understand how a brand-new conservation leasing program will work when, at the same time, a newly defined “conservation” is being elevated to a use on equal footing with other uses. We also believe that some of the proposed changes to the management of BLM lands are foundational changes not envisioned by FLPMA (Federal Land Policy and Management Act) and are convinced that the proposals taken in total warrant Congressional action to implement as a whole.”
Duane Taylor, director of Safe and Responsible Use Programs for MIC/SVIA/ROHVA commented, “The associations are excited not just that the Public Lands Rule is set to be rescinded, but also by what may take its place. Secretary Burgum made it clear that he hopes to bolster access for multiple uses, including recreation. We look forward to working with Secretary Burgum and BLM to support responsible OHV access.”
Court Rules Off-Road Vehicle Use at California’s Oceano Dunes Violates Endangered Species Act
In response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, a U.S. federal court ruled that the California Department of Parks and Recreation violated the Endangered Species Act by allowing a protected shorebird to be harmed by off-roading in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The Endangered Species Act prohibits unintentional harm known as “incidental take” of protected animals.
In 2020, the Center for Biological Diversity sued the Department of Parks over the incidental take of Western snowy plovers, which are shorebirds designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. On Nov. 20, Judge Anne Hwang ruled in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service designated certain parts of the Oceano Dunes as critical habitat for the snowy plover, including some areas where off-roading is authorized, according to the ruling.
The court’s summary judgment decision found that the department’s continued authorization of motorized vehicle use in snowy plover habitat results in the illegal “take” of protected birds. The Endangered Species Act prohibits killing or harming snowy plovers without authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
State Parks has not commented on pending litigation and on Nov. 21, applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an incidental take permit for the Oceano Dunes. An incidental take permit for the snowy plover allows for the legal taking of this threatened species during otherwise lawful activities, provided that the permit holder implements measures to minimize and mitigate harm to the birds and their habitat. This is necessary to comply with the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which protects the snowy plover and other endangered species from harm.
Report Reveals Outdoor Recreation on Public Lands and Waters, Pumping an Average of $351 Million into the Economy Every Day
In early November, the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable released the report, Outdoor Recreation on Federal Public Lands & Waters: A Valuable American Asset. This new report emphasizes that conserving and maintaining access to our shared natural resources for recreation is not just a business necessity but also a reliable, high-yield investment in the nation’s health and economic growth.
“Outdoor recreation on America’s public lands and waters isn’t just about life-changing experiences—it contributes to our economy in a major way and is one of our greatest investments in people and communities. When we care for these special places and keep them public, they give back tenfold—fueling local economies, strengthening rural businesses, improving public health, and connecting us to our shared outdoor heritage. This new report shows that access to outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters can sustain our nation’s well-being and prosperity for generations to come,” said Jessica Turner, president of ORR.
The report underscores the value that outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters generates every day:
- $351 million is added to the U.S. economy each day from recreation on federal lands and waters – the equivalent of hosting eight Super Bowls every month in economic impact. Every hour, these lands generate about $14.6 million in economic value from recreation.
- Through receipts, permits, entrance fees, leases, and other payments, outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters directly adds at least half a billion dollars each year to federal revenues.
- Protecting federal public lands for outdoor recreation is a smart investment that provides significant returns. These benefits include $128 billion in economic activity, nearly $6 billion in federal tax revenue, and valuable contributions to Americans’ physical and mental health.
- Of the 5 million American jobs created by outdoor recreation, one in five depends on federal public lands.
According to the report, outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters is a sustainable and appreciating asset. It provides cumulative benefits for our economy, promotes public health, and preserves opportunities for future generations.