Since the Douglas Administration’s controversial 2009 rule allowing ATV use on state lands, CLF and a coalition of citizens and partner organizations have been fighting to restore protection of state lands from the environmental damage and public safety risks posed by expanded ATV use. In an exciting development last week (you can read about it here and here), Governor Shumlin’s new leadership team at Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources took the first steps toward putting the brakes on the 2009 rule by starting a new process to repeal the ATV Rule. CLF needs your help to ensure that Governor Shumlin and Secretary Markowitz follow through on this important campaign-trail promise and withstand the pressure from ATV clubs.
- Call the Governor and Secretary Markowitz and leave a message thanking them for starting the process to restore protections for sensitive state lands and ask them to follow through by reversing the Douglas Administration’s ATV Rule
Governor Peter Shumlin’s Office: 802-828-3333
Secretary Deb Markowitz’s Office: 802-241-3600
- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper explaining why you oppose opening state lands to ATVs and thanking Governor Shumlin and Secretary Markowitz for their proposal to protect state lands from the significant environmental impacts ATVs would create
CLF opposes ATV use on state lands because the powerful machines damage trails, severely degrade fragile ecosystems like wetlands, and can injure wildlife and fragment sensitive habitats, while also radically altering the backcountry experience with noise and air pollution. The widespread practice of “mudding”—churning up wetlands and stream banks–dumps significant quantities of sediment into water systemsand destroys the native vegetation.
CLF applauds ANR’s decision to reverse direction. If ANR leaders follow through on the more responsible course they are now charting to reverse the wrongheaded 2009 Rule state lands will for the moment once more be off limits to ATVs, even though illegal ATV use on public and private lands will still be a problem draining agency resources and requiring better enforcement. Notwithstanding the positive direction Secretary Markowitz is heading, she has not ruled out opening state lands in the future. As much as the potential reversal would be a victory for the Conservation Law Foundation and for everyone who opposed the presence of ATV’s on state forests and parks, this is not the end of the matter.
In the coming weeks, ANR will announce a public hearing and provide an opportunity to provide additional written comments. Last time around, CLF and our allies opposing the rule outnumbered ATV clubs by a 4-1 margin. Yet ATV groups have vowed to fight on and so we must raise our voices until the new ANR process is done and protections for state lands are restored. Stay tuned to this blog for more information about how you can make your voice heard.
Todd Harington
You people try to control everything !!! Nanny state gone wild……. The more you try to control everything … the more things go bad ! Shame on you !
people in VT are only going to take so much of this bull—- !! Soon your going to want to make everyone Vote for less Government involvement !!! I miss MR Douglas already !
Art Coates
We need to protect what little natural habitat remains. Our breathable air, potable water and nourishing food all depend on uncontaminated resouces. Recreation that not only respects those, but appreciates their awesome beauty is fine, but the wilderness is no Route 66. Damage to, and destruction of those resources is never a good thing for anyone or anything. Consideration of stewardship in thinking about our natural resources needs to replace exploitation.
Gordon
As it stands now, illegal riding is an ongoing problem and the evidence is widely visible. With the current trend toward environmentally responsible uses of our dwindling resources, adding ATVs to the list of motor sports allowed on state land is a step back. The noise, fumes, and high speed of these vehicles make them incompatible and dangerous to wildlife as well as humans and domestic pets that share our public lands. ATVs continue to evolve in power and size along with a corresponding destructive and annoyance factor. Public lands and money should not be used to support the ATV industry.
Tree Hugger
There are trails for hikers, horse back riding, lakes for boating and everyone goes after the ATVers.
Did you ever consider that without ATVers, most of the trails would be overgrown?
Without them, the E.P. have less money to operate.
Without them, less money would come into Vermont.
Look at a satalite view on google maps, are they really doing that much damage, you can hardly see the trails!!!!
I love the trees and land as much as the next guy but the only reason we can walk around in the woodlands of Vermont is because they cleared the path for us. If they stopped riding, it would be so overgrown we could not even hike in the woods.
Keep the ATVers, the help me get to remote locations because of their trail system.
Hug a tree but leave the ATVers alone.