The ATV debate

State officials say the change is intended to allow ATV riders to legally ride on trails on public land that would connect segments of the current 600-mile trail network maintained by the Vermont All-Terrain Vehicle Sportsman's Association (VASA). Opponents see the ANR proposal as an ill-considered move to open state land to motorized recreation.

Judging from the more than 200 people who attended a public hearing in Montpelier on Monday, passions are running high on both sides and these debates never end peacefully. With 468 square miles of state-owned land in Vermont, one would think there would be enough room to accommodate ATV riders and hikers.

The theory behind the rule change seems reasonable enough -- give responsible ATV riders an opportunity to set up a legal trail network, and it will cut down on the damage by the irresponsible riders. Right now, ATV riders in Vermont can only legally ride on private land with the consent of the landowner and on Class 4 roads with the approval of the municipality.

Under the proposed rule, the ANR secretary would decide which trails will be designated for use by ATVs. Only established Class 4 trails on state lands would be considered and conflicting uses and environmental impacts would be taken into consideration. The secretary would also have the authority to designate trails for only certain times of the year. VASA would be the official authority that petitions the secretary about proposed lands, and would also be responsible for maintaining the trails.

By all accounts, VASA does a good job policing its members, and its 21 clubs around the state already put in a lot of effort each year on trail maintenance. There are 21 local clubs in the state with about 600 miles of legal trails.

By providing safe and legal riding opportunities for the 16,000 registered ATV riders in Vermont, VASA also offers a good economic boost for rural communities, much like snowmobiling has become a lucrative source of winter tourism dollars in northern New England.

And even if the rule change is approved, ANR officials say applicants will have to prove that connector trails won't unduly alter the environmental qualities of the state lands on which they're proposed. Local boards would have to sign off as well.

Unfortunately, ANR doesn't appear to have the resources to monitor and enforce the rules. But even if there were enough personnel, it would probably not satisfy the people who oppose any motorized vehicles in state parks. Opponents say the agency has failed to do any meaningful study assessing the impacts of ATV use on state lands.

The Agency of Natural Resources will be accepting public comment via e-mail until June 22 at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it before it submits the proposed rule change for review before the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules.

We think the ANR has put itself in an impossible spot. On one side are the nearly 2,700 members of VASA, who say that, as taxpayers, they deserve as much of an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors as a hiker or a camper. On the other side are outdoors enthusiasts who believe motorized vehicles have no place on public land. To balance the needs of both will be tough to do.

Source: http://w3.nexis.com/new/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T6807248121&format=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T6807248125&cisb=22_T6807248124&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=279934&docNo=1

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites