no more trails say its not so

KC · 2004-07-08T13:51:53+00:00

Off-roaders may be tied to trailsForest riders who go cross-country would be outlawsPublished July 08. 2004 7:30AMBY BILL THOMPSONSTAFF WRITEROCALA - Federal foresters proposed a new regulation on Wednesday foroff-highway vehicles in national forests and grasslands in an effort to cutdown on habitat destruction caused by outlaw trail riders.The proposed regulation will force 176 federal recreation areas around thecountry to identify individual systems of designated trails, roads and areaswhere motor vehicles will be allowed to travel.The bottom line for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts is that "cross countrytravel won't be allowed once this rule becomes final," said Jack Troyer,regional forester for the U.S. Forest Service's Intermountain Region andleader of the agency team that developed the new rule.Troyer and other officials who participated in a nationwide conference callannouncing the rule on Wednesday acknowledged that the agency's attempt toestablish something that now doesn't exist - a consistent policy regardingoff-highway vehicles, or OHVs, that puts the Forest Service on the same pageacross the country - might create a ruckus in some areas where OHVs cantravel cross-country unfettered.But the announcement seems to hold little impact on Florida, home to threenational forests, including the nearly 400,000-acre Ocala National Forest.That's because OHV trail networks were already in the works for them.Roberta Moltzen, deputy regional forester for 13 states across the South,said agency staff in Florida will simply "keep on with what they've beendoing" in defining those areas.Denise Raines, Forest Service spokeswoman in Tallahassee, saidenvironmental-impact guidelines, including for OHV use, have already beenset for the Osceola National Forest near Lake City.A similar document for the Ocala National Forest is expected to be completednext month, although it will cover only about half of the forest. The reviewof the rest of the forest should be finished next...

Jul 08, 2004 26 Replies

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Mike 22 years ago

"> "> > stupid cops

and guns

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Jim85CJ 22 years ago

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DougW 22 years ago

Mike did pass the time by typing:

And donuts!

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Paul Calman 22 years ago

They didn't offer us any when we were picketing the US Forestry office yesterday, but they did offer us sodas.

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DougW 22 years ago

Paul Calman did pass the time by typing:

Sodas are good.

My emotions are mixed on this issue. On one hand I agree that folks need to keep to established trails. On the other I think there needs to be areas where the general public can try there equipment and nerves.

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Cherokee-LTD 22 years ago

Hey Doug, we were all young and stupid... now I'm older and... anyway, it must be a bitch to find gloves for your three hands.

-Brian

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Cherokee-LTD 22 years ago

The next two weeks will be dedicated to renovating my daughters rooms and building furniture while they are away. Something always seems to come up

-Brian

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