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Go back to the news releases index October 13, 1999 Clinton plan could devastate trail riding PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- President Clinton's plan to shut down millions of acres of national forest land could have a devastating impact on off-highway motorized recreation nationwide, reports the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). The Clinton proposal, unveiled Wednesday in a speech in Virginia, calls for the U.S. Forest Service to take steps to curtail a variety of activities on 40 million acres of national forest land, most of it in western states. In addition, the president ordered officials to investigate whether an additional 10 million to 15 million acres of public land should be subject to the same protection. In all, 55 million acres of public land -- an area equal in size to the state of Utah -- is threatened under the Clinton plan. The proposal likely will mean an end to the use of these lands for commercial purposes, but it could also result in a ban on motorized recreation, noted Eric Lundquist, senior legislative analyst for the AMA. "It's clear that the president is moving toward a level of restrictions on these lands that would be equivalent to a `wilderness' or `wild lands' designation," said Lundquist. "Although motorized recreation wasn't specifically mentioned, past experience makes us wary that such a ban could be imposed under the rules to be developed by the Forest Service." And that, added Lundquist, would have a severe impact on the nation's 6 million off-highway motorcyclists and ATV riders. "These lands include the vast majority of motorized-recreation trails nationwide," he said. "Most of those trails already have been subject to review and analysis, and have been determined to be appropriate uses. "Trail riders have invested countless hours of their own hard work, plus millions of dollars in fuel taxes, into developing and maintaining trails in harmony with the environment," he added. "To change the rules at this stage and shut down these lands by presidential decree is a slap in the face to the millions of Americans involved in responsible motorized recreation." Clinton's proposal covers so-called "roadless" areas on Forest Service land. These are areas that would otherwise be considered for wilderness designation. However, that process would include plenty of opportunities for public debate concerning usage. In some states, that debate has already taken place, and wilderness lands have been designated. But with this order, wilderness-like restrictions could easily be imposed on the remaining lands, without any vote by elected officials. "This action circumvents the federal Wilderness Act, which calls for Congress, not the president, to designate protected lands," said Lundquist. "By taking this unilateral action, the president is trying to eliminate opportunities for those involved in recreation to have their interests represented in a public forum. "The scope of the president's action is clear in considering that since the Wilderness Act was passed 35 years ago, 100 million acres of wilderness land have been designated," he added. "With this one proposal, the president could essentially impose similar restrictions on an additional 55 million acres overnight." The AMA is calling upon concerned off-highway motorcyclists to send e-mail to President Clinton at president@whitehouse.gov in opposition to this proposal. The Association also will be working with U.S. representatives and senators in an effort to block this presidential order. | GO TO TOP |