Letter: ATV rule flouts public

Written by Rutland Herald

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

ATVs are not allowed on Vermont public lands. A proposed rule change to enable the designation of ATV routes on state forests, parks, wildlife management areas and other state lands was introduced by the state Agency of Natural Resources. This proposed change allows ATVs because it is difficult to control them. Citizens submitted about 2,000 comments, which ran four to one against this ruling. The Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, a bipartisan committee, reviewed documents of the Agency of Natural Resources public comments and considered whether the ATV rule conformed to proper administrative procedures. In December, the committee ruled 7-0 against the agency.

Congratulations to the committee for its thoroughness and wisdom. The Legislature is the proper place to make public policy. Agency recommendations, the interagency ATV Collaborative Report (2004), scientific evidence and public opinion all should be considered by the Legislature. Gov. Douglas announced after the ruling that he will override the committee and issue permission.

It is my hope that the Legislature will pursue this issue and that the governor will see the wisdom of being a leader who supports proper government procedures instead of being an advocate. In this season, it is difficult to consider public policy issues, but without citizen involvement and the support of the media, democracy cannot function properly.

Betty Little

Rutland

Source: http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100105/OPINION02/1050306/1037/OPINION02

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Community Voices

“During the past decade, I have personally had six out of seven elk hunts ruined by the careless intrusions of ATV operators. This epidemic has forced me to abandon one prime hunting area after another, only to encounter the same situation elsewhere. The shameful part of this picture is that the overwhelming majority of these ATV’ers are young and healthy, not decrepit or physically challenged. Maybe these riders would be more respectful of other people's outdoor experience if they knew we could ID them."

- Bill Sustrich, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers