Jerry Fouts: Land being ‘opened’ has been used by off-roaders for 50 years
In “2 House bills would open lands to off-road vehicles” (Page 4B, Dec. 10) The Bee misrepresents “lands open to off-road vehicles.” The lands mentioned are already, or have traditionally been, used for off-road recreation for many years. The Clear Creek lands have been used for over 50 years by both off-highway and non-motorized users until the BLM restricted use to paved roads due to a politically motivated and questionable asbestos study.
The Bee fails to cite the latest asbestos study done by an independent third party that shows after collecting more samples than collected in the EPA study, that the risk is 50 times lower than limits set by BLM elsewhere. Compared to the dust I must breathe during harvest season, this is insignificant.
The desert lands mentioned are lands already used for recreation by a multitude of families for everything from off-road recreation to hunting and mining. The Feinstein “monuments bill” includes them for a change instead of excluding them from public land .
Off-road recreation has become a well-regulated, sustainable activity that brings together families and teaches something lost on today’s youth – self-reliance, stewardship of public lands and respect for authority.
Jerry Fouts, American Motorcyclist Association District 36, Oakdale
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Jerry Fouts: Land being ‘opened’ has been used by off-roaders for 50 years."