Revised Statute 2477 has been a convoluted, dangerous and entertaining part of Western public lands debates for many years. Some state and county governments use this obscure part of the 1866 Mining Law to prevent the protection of public lands, claiming that RS 2477 grants highway rights-of-way over most of the West’s backcountry.
Starting Monday and ending on Friday, KPAX TV News (Ch 8 - Missoula) has been running a series highlighting issues surrounding off-road vehicle use. View the first three segments here: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/category.asp?C=137562
What was supposed to be a brisk, weekend outing turned into a disappointment when hikers reached the top of Red Pryor Mt.and found monster trucks churning up the wet ground; none of the trucks had license plates. A letter by one of the hikers written to the Forest Service explained:
Earlier this week the Center for Biological Diversity and the Clean Air Initiative released the report Fuel to Burn: The Climate and Public Health Implications of Off-Road Vehicle Pollution in California, detailing the contributions of ORVs to greenhouse gas emissions. The report adeptly makes the argument that recreational use of these polluting vehicles should be regulated and included in the State of California's climate protection goals.
