WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren addressed the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in a hearing today on restricting off-road vehicle use within federal land. Boren sought to emphasize the on-going issues surrounding off-road vehicle use in the Ouachita National Forest. Boren addressed the panelists, which included officials from the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, highlighting his constituents concerns over the proposed restrictions for sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts. Boren also questioned officials on their consideration of the economic impact these restrictions would have on several communities in eastern Oklahoma.
“Since the announcement of these rules in the Ouachita Forest, my office has received hundreds of calls and letters from constituents concerned about the restricted use of ATV’s,” said Boren. “I wanted to be clear about the concerns I have on the economic hardship these rules could have on my constituents in southeast Oklahoma that depend on open access for their tourism industry.”
Boren questioned the panel on several aspects of the Travel Management Plan including the Forest Service’s public input procedures, and the factors and data that contribute to local managers’ decisions in determining the locations of roads and trails. Boren also asked for clarification of the Forest Service’s testimony on the definition of the difference between “roads,” “trails,” and “areas” in the designation of the Forest Service’s national system.
“I asked the officials if the goals for locating roads are chosen by local managers arbitrarily or if there is actually scientific data that is used in determining them. Furthermore, I wanted clarification on what steps are being taken to ensure that local officials are considering “areas” for designation in addition to roads and trails.”
Boren highlighted the fact that there are several reasons for vehicular access, including hunting, fishing, year-round wildlife tracking, big-game retrieval, and the transportation of disabled veterans or individuals with disabilities who wish to access the national forest.
“As an avid sportsman, I firmly believe the management of our national forest must strike a balance between the protection of natural resources for the benefit of future generations, and the protection of our rights as Americans to have access to these public resources. With these closures, sportsmen not only lose access for hunting, fishing, and game retrieval, but also the ability to track wildlife year round that they intend to hunt during the season. Also, several Oklahomans require vehicular assistance to reach the back-country and enjoy all that the Ouachita has to offer.”
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