Breaking News

New video explains registration, licensing process
for motorbikes, ATVs and specialty off-highway vehicles

Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation News Release
Contact: Jennifer Wernex, 208-514-2254, jennifer.wernex@idpr.idaho.gov

BOISE – (Dec. 15, 2009) – The Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Public Outreach Campaign worked together with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) to produce a new educational video on how to register and license off-highway vehicles in Idaho. The video is now live on YouTube, and it is posted on the IDPR web site, www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov, and the Idaho OHV web site,

Forest off-road maps roil many

By Dana M. Nichols Record Staff Writer
December 04, 2009 12:00 AM [The Record]

SONORA - The Stanislaus National Forest unveiled new maps of where motorized vehicles will and won't be allowed to go in the forest, and many of the more than 80 people gathered to see those maps Thursday night in a conference room in Sonora were not happy. "We're going to appeal. There will be others also appealing," said John Buckley, executive director of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center...read more

Yellowstone Snowmobile Case Is Moot, Court Rules

By ANNIE YOUDERIAN Thursday, December 03, 2009
[Courthouse Nwes Service]

(CN) - A November rule allowing 318 snowmobiles per day in Yellowstone National Park overrides the latest chapter in the heated legal battle between snowmobile enthusiasts and park conservationists, the 10th Circuit ruled. The Denver-based appeals court dismissed an appeal by the Conservation Association, which challenged a Wyoming federal judge's decision to reinstate the National Park Service's 2004 rule, which capped snowmobiles in Yellowstone at 720 per day...read more

SFWDA, UFWDA & Blueribbon Coalition File Appeal With USFS

by JC on December 2, 2009 at 7:37 pm
[NC4X4]

The Rescue Tellico coalition, SFWDA, UFWDA and Blueribbon Coalition have filed an appeal with the Forest Service asking for the Decision Notice to permanently close the Upper Tellico OHV trails to be overturned. Blueribbon Coalition counsel, Paul Turke, filed an appeal on Monday, November 30th. The appeal can be read here. SFWDA member and registered Environmental Engineer Flint Holbrook also filed an appeal through his company’s legal counsel last weekend...read more

Lawmakers postpone ATV decision

By Louis Porter Vermont Press Bureau
Published: December 2, 2009 [Times Argus]

MONTPELIER – Lawmakers Tuesday postponed a decision on whether all terrain vehicles should be allowed on state lands, putting the matter off for at least two more weeks. At the heart of legislators' concerns is whether Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Jonathan Wood has the authority to allow ATVs on state lands or whether lawmakers would have to approve a bill granting that authority...read more

ATV Debate Gets Feisty

Montpelier, Vermont - December 1, 2009
[WCAX.com]

The hotly debated subject of whether to allow all ATV's on state lands is growing even warmer. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources had hoped the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules would vote Tuesday on a plan that would allow small connector trails to be built on state land, but the committee has delayed a vote...read more

Hundreds of miles of trails authorized for off-highway vehicles

by Bob Kelleher, [Minnesota Public Radio]
December 1, 2009

Duluth, Minn. — The Superior National Forest is implementing a new Off-Highway Vehicle use plan that authorizes hundreds of miles of new trails for motorized vehicles, and makes others off-limits. The plan just approved is very similar to one floated a year ago; a plan to create new loop and long distance routes for off-highway vehicles in Northeast Minnesota's Superior National Forest. That plan was delayed on appeal over a couple of concerns, including a potential safety problem...read more

Forest Service 'Dramatically Reshaping' Plans in Response to Climate Change

By NOELLE STRAUB of Greenwire
Published: November 30, 2009 [The New York Times]

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell has directed the agency's regions and research stations to jointly produce draft "landscape conservation action plans" by March 1 to guide its day-to-day response to climate change. In a memo (pdf) earlier this month requesting the plans, Tidwell said climate change is "dramatically reshaping" how the agency will deliver on its mission of sustaining the health and diversity of the nation's forests. He focused particularly on water management...read more

New snowmobile policy could help Edinburg's winter economy

Published: Monday, November 30, 2009
By PAUL POST, [The Saratogian]

EDINBURG — The Adirondack Park Agency recently approved new snowmobile policy changes that could boost traffic and Edinburg’s economy during the long, cold winter months. The new rules probably won’t benefit this year’s activity, but should be in place for the winter of 2010-11 and beyond. Among other things, connector trails may now be nine feet wide instead of eight, and up to 12 feet on steep slopes and sharp curves. In addition, self-propelled groomers may be used on connector trails...read more  

Feds should leave land-use issues to the area's residents

November 29, 2009
[The Spectrum]

One of my most closely held political views is that the level of government closest to the people on any given issue is the best suited to act. One-size-fit-all solutions mandated from a distant power rarely truly serve all of us. The federal government, it seems, often forgets the need to balance power not just between branches of government, but between federal, state and local governments as well. Some issues are best solved by looking at the big picture, and some are better handled by those who are in the trenches every day...read more

Rehberg evaluating Tester's wilderness bill

Associated Press Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:20 pm
[Billings Gazette]

TOWNSEND — U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg said Tuesday he is still evaluating a plan from Sen. Jon Tester that aims to both expand wilderness and increase logging in Montana. The bill was the big topic among attendees at a town hall meeting that Rehberg held in Townsend, while the health care overhaul gripping Washington D.C. barely came up. Rehberg told the crowd that he agrees more logging is truly needed. But the Republican wants to make sure the proposed legislation from Tester, a Democrat....read more