GAO Report Looks at Managing Off-Road Vehicles

Posted on October 6, 2009

GAO Report Looks at Managing Off-Road Vehicles

In June 2009 the General Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report to the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands on managing off-road vehicles on public lands. Entitled “Enhanced Planning Could Assist Agencies in Managing Increased Use of Off-Highway Vehicles,” the report examined trends in off-road vehicle use and its environmental and social impacts, agency planning processes and actions in the field, as well as executive orders and agency regulations.
The 60-page report found that off-road vehicle use (both authorized and unauthorized) increased from 2004 to 2008, along with varying impacts. Interviews with land managers show that most field units cannot manage existing OHV areas in a sustainable manner — communication and enforcement
were among the areas most in need of improvement.

The GAO recommended that the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management improve strategic planning in order to protect resources while providing recreational opportunities. Specifically, it recommended adopting more results-oriented goals and performance measures, as well as strategies
and time frames to achieve goals. To see the full report visit: www.eenews.net/public/
25/11990/features/documents/2009/07/31/document_gw_01.pdf