Early in December, BLM's long-awaited National OHV Management Strategy finally hit the streets, and as expected, it offers virtually nothing for on-the-ground protection of our wild public lands. Instead, it's a mish-mash of vague and unenforceable suggestions that offer nothing more than empty promises and additional bureaucracy, with the focus on maintaining riding opportunities for local ORV groups.

Astonishingly, BLM lacked the courage even to kick ORVs out of existing Wilderness Study Areas! The strategy is available at http://www.blm.gov/ohv/index.htm and the 30-day COMMENT PERIOD WILL EXPIRE ON JAN. 3 -- after that, this lame plan will be finalized! Please send your comments right away to:

Specifically, let the BLM know that you are fed up with seeing ORVs damage BLM lands, and that it is time for the agency to impose some limitations.

1. Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) should be closed to ORVs
2. BLM should manage our public lands as closed to ORV use unless posted open
3. ORV use should not be permitted except on "designated" (not just "existing") routes identified after full NEPA analysis and public participation.

Your comments are needed to give BLM the backbone to get tough on ORVs. The ORV people are sending their own comments demanding to drive their machines wherever they please -- those of us who care more about wilderness must outshine them! Please write by Jan. 3rd.

We are reprinting The Wilderness Society's alert in its entirety here, with more background for your comments. Note their WEB SITE FOR EASY COMMENTS for those of you who don't have time to mail a quick letter.

Earlier this month, the Bureau of Land Management released its draft Off-Highway Vehicle Guidance Strategy. Sadly, the plan is a huge disappointment, leaving 94 percent of the 264 million acres managed by the BLM essentially open to off-road vehicles. Tell the BLM to provide real protection to our public lands, at:

http://www.wilderness.org/standbylands/orv/blm_strategy.htm (DEADLINE IS JAN. 3rd.)

After a year-long process, 49 public hearings, and thousands of public comments in support of protecting fragile lands from damage caused by dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles (ORVs), BLM's ORV management proposal only offers inconclusive "guidance" for future ORV plans. This is in spite of the admission by the agency that the damage caused by off-road vehicles is widespread and escalating. A scant 6 percent of the 264 million acres managed by the BLM are protected from the damage caused by off-road vehicles.

The plan should have provided immediate protection to the deserts, canyons, and range lands of the West from the severe and escalating damage caused by dirt bikes, all terrain vehicles, and other off-road vehicles.

To provide real protection to the public lands managed by the BLM, the agency must incorporate the following management directives in the guidance:

1. Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs), inventoried roadless areas, and all other wilderness-quality lands must be closed to off-road vehicles.

   The draft Guidance itself acknowledges the need to provide additional protection for WSAs and other special designation lands. But rather than draft management direction that reflects its legal obligation to protect WSAs, the BLM's only goal is to provide more information about its WSA Interim Management Policy.

   BLM has been managing WSAs for *20 years* under this policy. By now, management staff should be well versed in the agency's responsibility to prevent damage to WSAs. It should recognize that this policy is resulting in damage to WSAs, and should close them to off-road vehicle use. (WSAs account for just 6.4% of the land managed by the BLM.)
   

2. Outside these wilderness areas, BLM must do more to rein in ORV use.

   In the proposal, BLM claims it doesn't have the authority to create a default national designation of areas that are "closed unless marked as open" -- which would protect BLM lands from the widespread damage caused by ORVs. Yet two Executive Orders, from Presidents Nixon and Carter, *do* give the agency the legal mandate to do just that.
   

3. Off-road vehicles should be allowed only where the BLM can demonstrate it can monitor the impacts of ORVs and enforce rules protecting the land from ORV damage.

The BLM is taking public comments on its proposal until January 3, 2001. In order for the BLM to strengthen its plan, the agency must hear from you. Send your comments from

• Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs), inventoried roadless areas, and all other wilderness-quality lands must be closed to off-road vehicles.
• Outside these wilderness areas, BLM must do more to rein in ORV use. Specifically: 
  • off-road vehicles must stay on routes where the BLM has determined that environmental damage can be minimized; 
  • these authorized routes should be clearly marked with signs indicating they are open to off-road vehicles; and 
  • off-road vehicles should not be allowed on any routes that do not have these open signs.
• Off-road vehicles should be allowed only where the BLM can demonstrate it can monitor the impacts of ORVs and enforce rules protecting the land from ORV damage.

Mr. Jim Keeler, Bureau of Land Management
National Recreation Group (WO250) 204LS
1849 C St NW
Washington, DC 20240-9998
EMAIL: ohv_comment_manager@blm.gov
FAX: (202) 452-5124