Vermont

Terri Hallenbeck

Two all-terrain-vehicle trails come to an abrupt halt in Brighton. If only they had access to about 500 feet of land along Vermont 105, ATV riders could go from one trail to the next.

The state Agency of Natural Resources posted its final proposed rules Wednesday that would allow use of state land for ATVs to connect existing trails.

Kate Duffy

ATV riders who are now limited to private lands could soon have more trails to ride on. The state may allow all-terrain vehicles on small amounts of public land -- short corridors that would link existing trails on private land.

"It's been a long summer waiting to get to this point so I was glad to see it come out," said Danny Hale, executive director of the Vermont ATV Sportsman's Association, or VASA.

Howard Weiss-Tisman

BRATTLEBORO -- A controversial rule that would open some state lands to all terrain vehicles will likely go before a legislative committee for consideration soon, an attorney for the Agency of Natural Resources said.

ANR general counsel Warren Coleman said more than 2,000 comments came into the agency on the proposed rule that would set up a new policy allowing the all terrain vehicles on state land.

EDEN – Two ATV riders are facing a number of court charges after state police investigated an incident July 9 in the town of Eden.

James Cochran, 25, and Luke Salvas, 21, both were involved in a case in which state police saw them driving south on Route 100 in Eden. A short pursuit with one of the ATVs ended when the ATV drove off the road where police could not follow.

A second incident occurred shortly after on Old Deuso Road, where an ATV purposely drove past a state police cruiser in an attempt to begin another pursuit. Police did not pursue, but eventually tracked down the ATV at Cochran's residence. When Cochran returned, he fled again but was eventually cited for negligent operation, driving while license is suspended, and a probation violation.

HARDWICK, Vt. (AP) - Vermont state officials are wrapping up a proposal that would establish a rule that allows ATV access to public lands. But the proposal has triggered a furor, with opponents concerned about potential land erosion caused by the vehicles' tires, water pollution, wetland destruction and noise.

The Agency of Natural Resources has received nearly 2,000 letters on the issue, and the topic has been debated in letters to the editor at newspapers across Vermont.

Natural Resources Secretary Jonathan Wood said opening up state lands will cut down on renegade riders. He compares it to snowmobiling, saying instead of being everywhere and uncontrolled, snowmobilers now use the trail system.

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=10833242

Lisa Rathke

HARDWICK (AP) -- When Danny Hale bought an all-terrain vehicle in 2000 he quickly learned that finding a place to ride it would be challenging.

The old logging roads and rough dirt roads his family used to drive -- his grandparents in a Model-A and his parents in a retrofitted VW bug with pickup tires -- were now gated or closed to visitors.

So, he formed a local ATV club and worked with landowners to develop ATV trails on private land for members to use. He also joined the Vermont All Terrain Vehicle Sportsman’s Association, eventually serving as vice president, president and now executive director. The group has developed a network of trails covering 600 miles on private land and town roads.

Tom King

The recent letter in the Times Argus from Mr. Mason in regard to ATVs being allowed on hiking trails on state land in Vermont is quite incorrect and very misleading.

I have hiked all the trails in Vermont, in Massachusetts and New York, and most of them in the White Mountains. I can tell Mr. Mason that I have seen extensive damage to trails caused by ATVers.

Case in point, Mr. Mason: Take a walk up the Taconic Crest Trail off of Berlin Mountain in Williamstown, Mass., and view for yourself all the damage to the trail. There are huge mud holes, water running down the trails caused by ATVs ruining the run-off diversions, and water holes so deep you cannot cross them.

Candace Page

MONTPELIER — Those who have expressed serious concerns or outright opposition to opening state lands to all-terrain vehicle travel include biologists, ecologists and land managers who work for the agency proposing the change, a review of state records shows.

In comments made between 2004 and this year, the scientists and managers cite the the damage heavy, four-wheeled vehicles can do to vegetation, water quality, wetlands and wildlife habitat.

Natural Resources Secretary Jonathan Wood said last week he expects to create a new regulation that would allow ATV connector trails in state forests, parks and wildlife management areas. Authority to designate the corridors would lie with Wood.

Thomas W. King