PICKERINGTON, Ohio — American Motorcyclist Association Chair Maggie McNally and several U.S. lawmakers are scheduled to speak at the AMA E15 Fuel for Thought Lobby Day on Wednesday, June 19, at the nation’s capital.

The AMA is inviting all motorcyclists to take part in the Washington, D.C., event to help educate lawmakers about the need to research the possible harmful effects of E15 fuel on motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle engines.

E15 is a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved its use in 2001-and-newer light-duty vehicles, which include cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles, none of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs currently in use are on the EPA approved list, and no manufacturer has approved E15 for use in its motorcycles and ATVs. Furthermore, use of E15 may void manufacturers warranties.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — As Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx is being considered in Washington, D.C., to be the U.S. transportation secretary, the American Motorcyclist Association is reminding lawmakers that the secretary is responsible for the Recreational Trails Program.

The AMA’s concerns were raised at the nomination hearing by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). She asked Foxx: “If confirmed, will you work to ensure that this valuable program [RTP] continues to meet the needs of all trail users in Minnesota and across the nation?”

Foxx responded that he “looks forward to working with you [Klobuchar] on these issues.”

Those trails are very important for tourism and rural economies, are a way to explore the nation’s natural beauty and provide a way to enjoy physical activity, wrote Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, in a column that appeared in the Washington, D.C., newspaper The Hill on May 21.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has approved first quarter awards providing funding from its OHV Access Initiative, the industry leader in Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails (GRANTs), to deserving organizations across the country.

“Yamaha has approved new GRANTs to support organizations that span the country, from California to Vermont, serving the mission to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS marketing manager. “Yamaha’s reach through the OHV Access Initiative is national, but the heart of the program resides in the local communities that enjoy increased family fun and economic development through safe, responsible OHV access.”

ORBA Marketing Director Jeff Knoll traveled to Washington DC in April at the request of Congressman Paul Cook to testify before the House Natural Resources Committee in support of HR1676 The Johnson Valley Off-Highway vehicle Recreation Area Establishment Act.

The Bill was created based on a White Paper Knoll created as the Chairman of the California Motorized Recreation Council Save the Hammers Committee.
Read the full text of the Bill Here

ORBA is still in need of much needed funding for this special project. The CMRC Goal for June is $30,000. 100% of the funds for this project are spent on saving the Hammers.
If you can help get us to the finish line please contact the ORBA office. 661-323-1464

CYPRESS, Calif. – April 30, 2013 – Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., has received the 2013 National Trails Corporate Award from American Trails in recognition of its significant, sustained service to trails planning, implementation and recreation across the country.   American Trails is the only national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of trail interests and supporting cooperation and communication between all types of trail users today.

The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative GRANT program recently celebrated its fifth anniversary in funding projects serving the diverse needs of the OHV community.  To date, Yamaha has awarded more than 200 GRANTs and more than $2 million in funding and equipment in pursuit of the program’s mission of promoting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable access.

A recent press release from the BlueRibbon Coalition notes that the National Park Service (NPS) has announced the release of a Proposed Rule concerning winter use in Yellowstone National Park for public review and comment. The rulemaking process is in addition to, but separate from, the public review on the Final Winter Use Plan/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) which was released on February 22, 2013.  The Final SEIS did not have a comment period.  The Proposed Rule will have a comment period. BRC and our partners will be reviewing the Proposed Rule, and will have suggested comments soon.

The Proposed Rule, published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2013, will have a 60-day public comment period ending on June 17, 2013.

The proposed rule will more effectively manage access for snowmobiles and snow coaches in Yellowstone National Park, while minimizing impacts on visitors, air and sound quality, as well as wildlife. The proposed rule will guide management of winter use in the park and will implement the preferred alternative in the Final SEIS.

BlueRibbon Coalition sent over this news item today:

As an interested party in recreational access on Idaho’s public lands, we thought you’d want to know about a great opportunity provided by the Idaho Non-Profit Center to help you support the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) and that cause!

The “Idaho Gives” day “is a unique celebration of the important role that our many nonprofits play in our communities,” according to Lynn Hoffmann, Executive Director of the Idaho Nonprofit Center. “By focusing the public’s attention on the great work our nonprofits do, we hope to spur people into action on May 2, allowing them to pick their favorite charity, learn about other charities, and make a donation through the Idaho Gives web site.”

According to a recent press release, there’s a new group helping protect access for off-roaders in Nevada. The Nevada Four Wheel Drive Association is officially launched  alive and well, protecting access to Nevada’s Public Lands for 4×4 recreation and all of us.

Incorporated with the assistance of the Calif. Assoc. of 4Wheel Drive Clubs (CA4WDC), in close partnership, along with assistance from the BlueRibbon Coalition, N4WDA has a Board of Directors and President to get things going.

Larry Calkins is the founding President, a resident of Dayton, NV.  The Board consists of:

Carole Vance, of Dayton, NV, Vice President.
Don Spuhler, of Georgetown, CA, Secretary.
Phil Bender, of Reno, NV, Treasurer.
Mark Cave, of Visalia, CA, Board Member at Large

Earlier in the month, we posted a news item about the BlueRibbon Coalition working to raise funds through the sale of an Easter Jeep Safari-themed t-shirt that would be sold in the Moad Diner. The shirt, designed by RCH Designs, would generate money to help keep trails open to four-wheeling in Moab, Utah.

We at Off-Road.com try to stop in at least once to the Moab Diner for some of their famous green chili, and we were pleasantly surprised to see some off-road-themed tables throughout the joint during the 47th Easter Jeep Safari.

Moab, Utah - BFGoodrich Tires, in collaboration with Tread Lightly and United Four-Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA), announced in Moab yesterday the recipients of the 2013 Outstanding Trails program. Nominated for uniqueness, terrain type and enthusiast following, the trails selected for this year’s program are:

- Dutch John Trail at the Uwharrie National Forest in Troy, North Carolina- Kansas Rocks Recreation Park in Mapleton, Kansas
- Truckhaven in Salton Sea, California