SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
10:00 a.m.

• Official hearing transcript

OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:

• "Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation on Public Lands"

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Russ Ehnes
Executive Director
National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Scott Jones
Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Dick Lepley
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Off-Highway Vehicle Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Karen Umphress
Board Member
Coalition of Recreational Trails Users
Minnesota Motorized Trail Coalition
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Panel II

Don Amador
Blue Ribbon Coalition
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Tom Crimmins
Lead Spokesman
Professionals for Managed Recreation
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Sutton Bacon
CEO
Nantahala Outdoor Center
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Jim Akenson
Executive Director
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

The hearing will focus on access to federal lands for recreational use and the economic benefits of recreational activity on federal lands. Several of the witnesses will highlight the economic impact of motorized and off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. OHV users contribute billions of dollars to state and local economies through the purchase of vehicles, operation and maintenance of those vehicles, accessories, as well as food, fuel and lodging for daylong and extended recreational trips. In spite of this, the various federal land management agencies, particularly the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, continue to take steps to limit or outright restrict OHV access to federal lands.