National Park Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2004

Park Service Announces Temporary Winter Use Plans Finding of No Significant Impact Approved

The National Park Service today approved winter use plans for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway that provides visitors with a range of winter recreational opportunities for a three-year period while protecting park resources. A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Temporary Winter Use Plans Environment Assessment ensures that park resources are protected and allows for the use of snowmobiles and snowcoaches in the parks on roads that automobiles use in the summer.

The American Recreation Coalition has submitted comments to the National Park Service regarding the Environmental Assessment of the Temporary Winter Use Plans for Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway. Expressing general support for the assessment’s Preferred Alternative, ARC stated, “We believe that [the Preferred Alternative] honors the National Park Service’s longstanding policy that snowmobiles are a legitimate means of transportation allowing their riders to see, sense and enjoy the national parks in unique and memorable ways.” To read the comments, click here.

Managing Off-Highway Vehicles

ARC Submits Comments to Forest Service Draft National OHV Policy

On July 7, the Forest Service announced its draft proposal for managing motorized off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in national forests and grasslands. Details on the proposal can be found at www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv.

ARC submitted comments to the Forest Service on September 13.
To view the html version of the comments, Click Here
To view a .pdf version, Click Here

ARC Comments to Forest Service OHV Rule

Click Here to view pdf version

September 13, 2004

Proposed Rule for Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
c/o Content Analysis Team
P.O. Box 221150
Salt Lake City, Utah 84122-1150
Fax: (801) 517-1014
E-mail: trvman@fs.fed.us

Dear Policy Team:

The American Recreation Coalition is delighted to submit comments on the Proposed Rule for Management of OHV. Activity on national forest lands. This is an important issue affecting both OHV enthusiasts and others who seek to use national forests for healthy outdoor fun. We offer our comments as an organization comprised of more than one hundred organizations representing diverse components of the $400 billion per annum recreation industry and millions of recreation enthusiasts.

We are pleased to offer our support for two of the core principles reflected in the proposed rule. We believe that OHV enthusiast use, like most activities on public lands, can and should be managed to enhance safety and access while minimizing environmental and social conflicts. We therefore support the principle of encouraging OHV enthusiast use on designated routes and in certain designated areas. We also support strongly the concept that designations of routes and areas should be accomplished through locally-based forums and processes.