Protecting public lands has long received bipartisan support
President NIxon issued Executive Order 11644 in 1972
An estimated 5 million off-road recreational vehicles–motorcycles, minibikes, trial bikes, snowmobiles, dune-buggies, all-terrain vehicles, and others–are in use in the United States today, and their popularity continues to increase rapidly. The widespread use of such vehicles on the public lands–often for legitimate purposes but also in frequent conflict with wise land and resource management practices, environmental values, and other types of recreational activity–has demonstrated the need for a unified Federal policy toward the use of such vehicles on the public lands.
President Carter issued Executive Order 11989 in 1977
… the respective agency head shall, whenever he determines that the use of off-road vehicles will cause or is causing considerable adverse effects on the soil, vegetation, wildlife, wildlife habitat or cultural or historic resources of particular areas or trails of the public lands, immediately close such areas or trails to the type of off-road vehicle causing such effects, until such time as he determines that such adverse effects have been eliminated and that measures have been implemented to prevent future recurrence.
During the administration of President George W. Bush, Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth identifies ORV use on national forest a threat to forest health.
“We believe that off-highway vehicles are a legitimate use of the National Forest System. But it’s a use that should be managed carefully. That’s what our new rule for OHV use on national forest system lands is all about: providing access that can be used and enjoyed into the future. And if we want to sustain that use, then we’ve got to work together.” Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth.
TMP implementation continues under President Obama
