It's not the document we feared. Let's get that out of the way right off the bat. No, it's not perfect, but then again, what ever is? Recently, Off-Road.com was invited to attend the video/teleconference held at BLM Field offices throughout the country on the new OHV Strategy draft, and by and large, we came away with a good feeling. In a nutshell, the draft creates no new rules and regulations, but rather reorganizes and attempts to make sense of the many regulations already in effect - but never truly implemented.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, we'll let the Blue Ribbon Coalition's Adena Cook provide the details.

On December 4, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Draft of the National Off-Highway Vehicle Strategy. The Draft Strategy is intended to provide recreation opportunity for OHVers on public land while protecting environmentally sensitive areas. The agency has set a January 4 deadline for public comment.

The Draft Strategy reflects extensive public input gathered during 49 "listening" meetings held across the country last summer. They received 2,627 e-mails, 877 returned mailers, and 1,400 letters.

The BLM had characterized the process as a means to gather management techniques in a "toolbox" that local managers could draw upon in managing OHV recreation. However, they received so many good suggestions that the "toolbox" will be compiled in an "OHV Management Field Guide", which is an action item in the Draft Strategy. The Draft Strategy makes no changes in existing regulations, but identifies certain regulations that could be changed in a separate process.

"Particularly" Amazing When she's not doing needlepoint during an important BLM OHV presentation, the Sierra Club's Jane Feldman faxes her concerns over particulates (I.E.: "dust") in the Las Vegas valley. Despite the efforts of a large number of officials, groups, and concerned citizens, the Sierra Club remains unconvinced that dust occurs naturally in a desert.

The BLM suggests expanding the types of vehicles covered by the strategy to reflect new equipment, changing technology, and broadened recreation interests. It will cover vehicles all the way from trucks to ultra-lights in the motorized category and bicycles to roller blades and land sailing yachts in the mechanized/human powered conveyance category. The agency has recognized that these diverse forms of outdoor enjoyment need both individual attention and integration into recreation management as a whole.

The Draft Strategy establishes goals and action items that elevate the importance of OHV recreation within the agency. For example:

. They propose national level coordination with other land managing agencies and interest groups will be improved through the establishment of a national level "Stakeholders Group" and a BLM National OHV Advisory Board chartered under the Federal Advisory Committees Act (FACA).l

. There will be a BLM OHV "Strategy Action Team" that works on improving the strategy in a continuing process. Each BLM State Office will identify an OHV coordinator. In most states, this will be a full time position.

. The BLM will pursue legal access to isolated parcels of public land where appropriate to improve access to public land.

. More money will be spent on educating recreationists in user ethics and responsible use, as well as scientific research on OHV issues. There will be special OHV training for managers and staff.

. The agency will carefully plan and gather factual data to support requests for funding from Congress. It will improve its capability to get funds from outside sources like challenge cost-share, state OHV grants, the Recreational Trails Program, donated equipment, and, in some cases, user fees.

. The agency will improve its inventory of roads and trails, improve monitoring, and better coordinate with other resource management.

. The agency will establish a more consistent policy for requests for special access, such as big game retrieval for people with disabilities.

. There will be better road and trail design, maintenance, signing, maps and public information.

Some of the goals and action items could cause OHVers some problems. For example:

Not what they bargained for Jeremy Garncarz of the Friends of the Nevada Wilderness group was less then thrilled with the BLM strategy governing OHV usage. The BLM's message that ""Decisions will be made on sound, not "junk" science" has dealt a potentially crippling blow to the anti-access agenda.

. It appears that their goal addressing Endangered Species Act compliance is overly enthusiastic. It proposes that all BLM lands containing either proposed or designated species and habitat be either closed or limited. Many, many species are proposed for listing. There are thousands more acres habitat acres proposed for one species or another. OHV impacts to species should be scientifically established before restrictions are considered.

. The Draft Strategy proposes a change in regulations for management of all Wilderness Study Areas. It would restrict OHVs to roads and trails that were on the BLM inventory before the WSAs were designated. These inventories were likely incomplete. A more complete inventory for each WSA needs to be accomplished before restrictions are imposed.

. The Draft Strategy suggests that the BLM could administer a registration or licensing system for selected areas. This is a bad idea. The states have always maintained authority over licensing, registering, and permitting, covering everything from highway vehicles to hunting. Federal licensing would not only duplicate current state programs, but would usurp state authority.

In general, the Draft Strategy lays the groundwork for positive OHV management. The agency, in directing implementation of the strategy, should acknowledge that positive OHV management must consider expansion of opportunity as recreation increases. This is as equally important as restrictions. Additionally, while WSAs and other sensitive areas need special attention, the agency should also pay attention to the rest of the public lands to accommodate increased needs.

BLM OHV Strategy Video-Teleconference

As the conference unfolded, we came across some information that might come as a surprise to many, and a few points that were as predictable as the day is long.

* The BLM received a tremendous amount of input from the multiple use / OHV community, although some of it was outside the intent of the OHV strategy. The BLM attributed this to not properly communicating their intentions to the public.

* The BLM stated that almost to the letter, the OHV/MU community volunteered to work with, and help the BLM in whatever way they could.

* This was not the case with comments received from the anti-access groups like the Sierra Club, SUWA and others.

* The majority of comments received were pro land/multiple use.

* There were a large number of comments received concerning access to public lands by the disabled. This is a concern that is gaining momentum throughout the federal agencies.

* Comments from the BLM RACs (Resource Advisory Committees) reinforced a strong OHV / Multiple Use message.

* Over the ardent objections of the anti-access crowd, the BLM stated in no uncertain terms that OHV use was a "legitimate form of recreation, a legitimate use of public lands, and would not be summarily banned."

* In response to complaints of damage by "high impact" uses like OHV / Equestrian by the anti-access crowd, the BLM quickly pointed out that both hikers and Mountain Bikers have caused their share of habitat destruction, and were not "guilt free," much to the annoyance of those greenies in attendance.

* The anti-access groups continue to place unreasonable / unworkable / legally questionable demands on the federal agencies and politicians regarding OHV / multiple use of public lands.

* The courts have shown a great reluctance to adapt a "closed unless signed open" policy.

* The BLM stated an intention to base it's land use assessments on sound, rather than junk science.

* The state of signage throughout the public lands system is grossly out of date. Because of financial / staffing considerations, the BLM is very open to the idea of working with the OHV / MU groups to correct the situation. In other words, it's an area in which we can help.

* Under the OHV Strategy, the BLM is adopting a management style pioneered by former BLM Ranger Jack Waldron (now deceased) , which emphasized an in the field, "hands on" approach, rather than the current, often confrontational model. In other words, a kinder, gentler (though no less determined) BLM.

As you likely noticed, the anti-access groups aren't thrilled with the BLM over the OHV Strategy. Their overall view seemed to be summed up best by BLM Ranger Bob Bruno who later told us, "They don't think that the BLM goes far enough in controlling OHV use on public lands."

Throughout the conference, anti access groups called for the confiscation of OHVs for any violation of the laws governing land use, the closure of OHV parks, and indeed the elimination of OHVs from the public landscape entirely. Once again these groups reinforced their ultimate agenda. They and came to the conference with no intent whatsoever to work "with" other interest groups or land management agencies in any capacity other than as a conduit for the restriction / elimination of public access to public lands.

Perhaps the best example of this behavior was demonstrated by Jane Feldman herself. Acting as the Sierra Club's Toyiabe Chapter representative, Feldman arrived at the meeting, and began talking with BLM officials. As the conference began and the presentation took place, Feldman ignored the activities entirely, preferring instead to while away the time doing needlepoint from her seat in the front row.

Only when it came time for comments did she put her craftwork down. Feldman then sent a blistering fax off to the conference headquarters which was in turn read over the air. Clearly outside the scope of the BLM's authority, and completely contrary to their stated intentions regarding the OHV issue, Feldman's fax demanded that the BLM address air quality issues in Las Vegas - issues that the Sierra Club feels are the fault of the OHV community.

In truth, any air quality issues in Vegas are debatable at best. The county continues fighting a war with Carol Browner's Environmental Protection Agency - A group that can't seem understand that there's dust in a desert, and proposes paving or closing public land as a solution to the perceived problem.

If anything, the BLM's OHV Strategy has served to redefine the battle lines between the OHV / Multiple Use Community and the Anti-Access groups. While we're no closer to bringing the opposition into the fold, it does appear that the BLM is moving strongly toward a more neutral position. That's not to say that they jumped ship and are setting up tent in our campsite, but it does come as a very harsh blow to groups like the Sierra Club, who've traditionally used them like their own private enforcement wing. In short, the greenies are a little more than nervous about the OHV Strategy, and the growing influence of the OHV / Multiple Use community.

They should be.