The nearly decade-long court battle over a road-building ban in national forests took its latest twists and turns in Denver yesterday. That's where the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the appeal of a lawsuit filed by the state of Wyoming that seeks to overturn the 2001 Clinton-era roadless ban.

That ban provided blanket protections for some 58 million acres of rugged, forest lands - including more than four million in Colorado.

Mary Baskerville

BRAIDWOOD -- Residents united Tuesday night to oppose a proposed ordinance that would have regulated the use of all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and off-road motorcycles.

At issue were the more than 100 complaint calls investigated by Braidwood police in June, July and August.

Bob Cuddy

The county Health Commission is urging the Board of Supervisors to take “any and all” steps within its power to revegetate and stabilize the Oceano Dunes state park — a move that could, in theory, lead to a temporary shutdown of parts of the recreational area.

The commission voted Monday night to send a letter to supervisors recommending that they take immediate steps to address the public health problem on the Nipomo Mesa created by particulate matter that blows to the mesa from the Dunes.

The San Luis Obispo Health Commission took a bold heroic step at its March 8 meeting, regarding the APCD Phase 2 Study.  It passed two motions to advise the Board of Supervisors to do everything possible to stop the health-threatening air pollution from the ODSVRA immediately, and to inform the public about the dangers. Among the actions the BOS can take are:

1. Use its police powers to impose a temporary moratorium on off-roading to protect public health, as authorized by its Planning area (South County) Standards for Pismo State Beach and State Vehicular Recreation Area, and California Coastal permit.

R. Scott Rappold

Environmentalists and ATV owners, hikers and dirt bike riders — the groups have a long history of being at each other’s throats in Colorado.

At least 180 of them came out Wednesday night for a public meeting on a U.S. Forest Service proposal to limit off-highway vehicle use in the heavily used Rampart Range northwest of Colorado Springs, where 125 miles of illegal trails exist.

A measure that would allow wardens and other law enforcement officers to stop ATV's operating on privately-owned property without suspicion of a violation prompted heated debate yesteday in the Maine house. 


"Read the state constitution, read the federal constitution -- you'll never find a right to trespass, a right to be on sombeody's property without permission," said Rep. Thom Watson, a Bath Democrat. "So we're not stepping back saying we're taking away any rights, because to begin this process, as an ATV operator, you don't have any right to be where you are unless you have landowner permission."

Sean O'Donoghue

HAMLIN - Hamlin's voters will get to decide on the municipality's all terrain vehicle (ATV) regulations in this coming June's elections. The town council voted by a 4-1 majority to put the matter to a vote when citizens go to the polls on June 8.

The town council met in regular session, Monday evening, March 1 at the town hall. Opening the ATV discussion, Mayor Brian Barrett recalled last fall's extensive deliberations and action by the council on ATV use in the town. At that time, a number of town residents argued that sanctions against ATV riders with disabilities in the town were unfair, as the ATV was often the only means of transport for those individuals.

After a lengthy debate and series of votes, Maine lawmakers failed to decide what to do with a proposal to tighten enforcement of all-terrain vehicles on private land.

The bill before the House of Representatives on Tuesday would allow game wardens to stop ATVs on private property without a reasonable suspicion a law's been broken. Present law says officers must have probable cause to stop ATV users on private land.

Steve Virkler

LOWVILLE — While Lewis County has a separate checking account for all-terrain vehicle permit revenues, expenditures are subject to the same oversight and regulations as other county spending.

"The county dollars are very well protected," County Treasurer Vicki A. Roy said.

This is an open letter to Millville city commissioners.

Our position is that you should not make another concession to the New Jersey Motorsports Park by amending the agreement. However, if you decide you are going to amend the MDA to allow an ATV course in the existing park, you owe the residents an explanation and more.