Policy

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. 

The Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday that it would waive environmental laws for the construction of the remaining 470 miles of border fence in an effort to get that fence built before the end of 2008. The Washington Post article mentions significant potential impacts to wildlife, water quality and vegetation.

A bipartisan group of state representatives in Arizona is pushing mandatory ATV registration.  From the Arizona Daily Star:

The Washington Post reported yesterday that the Government Accountability Office has begun a study to look at the pros and cons of moving the Forest Service from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Interior.

On March 13, the Subcommittee On National Parks, Forests And Public Lands held an oversight hearing on “The Impacts Of Unmanaged Off-Road Vehicles On Federal Land.”  All of the written testimony from the invited witnesses for the hearing can be found here. Other individuals and organizations also submitted written testimony.