ARRA Newsletter

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ARRA Website

Washington Newsletter

August, 2006

Director of the National Park Service Resigns

On July 26th, Fran Mainella, the 16th Director of the National Park Service announced her resignation after having served almost six years in the post. Director Mainella stated her reason for resigning was to spend more time with her family, especially since both her parents and in-laws are dealing with health issues. No word yet from the White House on who might be tapped to become the next Director.

NPS Draft Management Policies

The day before Director Mainella announced her resignation, she testified before the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, defending the Draft Management Policies that her agency released on June 19th in a press conference with Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Since that release, the National Park Service has faced strong criticism from a variety of recreation groups, including ARRA, over the scope of the Management Policies and the failure to adequately emphasize the importance of recreation (enjoyment) in National Parks. The policies, once official, are guidelines Park Service professionals will use when managing park lands/facilities.

Back in the November 2005 ARRA newsletter, we wrote about how an earlier version of the Draft Management Policies was strongly criticized by anti-access groups because the proposed policy “took a more open approach towards on and off-road recreation in our National Parks.” Unfortunately, the latest draft takes an opposite tact. In fact, it really downplays the importance of recreation on Park Service land.

ARRA, along with a number of other national recreation groups, has taken exception to this revised policy. We have written to both the Secretary of the Interior and to the Director of the National Park Service to express our views. If you would like to read ARRA’s letter, please click here.

At the July 25th subcommittee hearing, Chairman Steve Pearce (R-NM) said, “I am very concerned that the final draft, while making some notable improvements, appears to retreat back to the 2001 management policies, which failed to provide an effective balance between enhancing visitor enjoyment and conservation. Achieving such a balance remains a critical priority.” The 2001 management policies were put into place during the very last month of the Clinton Administration. Needless to say, those policies were not very friendly towards recreation.

Director Mainella countered such criticisms by stating in her testimony, “these management policies are not against recreation.” The fact that she felt it necessary to make such a declaratory statement is an indication of the Park Service’s sensitivity to the controversy surrounding this latest version.

It’s hard to predict where all of this will end up. Director Mainella’s pending resignation may complicate chances to make further improvements to the policies. Clearly the anti-access folks have struck pay dirt with the Park Service management, but the recreation community isn’t giving up.

We will have more to say about this in the future. But for the time being, the National Park Service seems to be embracing an anti-recreation attitude. No wonder fewer and fewer Americans seem to be visiting our National Parks (see May, 2006 newsletter).

First OHV Workshop

We have kept you informed on the planning work that has gone into designing a series of OHV workshops associated with the implementation of the Forest Service Travel Management Rule. The workshops, planned for both FS personnel and OHV enthusiasts, are designed to enhance the OHV designation process to the benefit of all users of our national forests. The first workshop will be held in September for primarily the Tonto National Forest region. The workshop will be held in Tempe, Arizona. ARRA will be notifying its members living in Arizona and neighboring states with more specific information about this workshop.

We will keep you informed as more workshops are scheduled in other parts of the country.

The Land Access Notification Database (LAND)

The new database, LAND, has been launched! ARRA in partnership with the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA), the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), United Four-Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), and the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) have joined together to develop this important tool to collect and disseminate information regarding the U. S. Forest Service Travel Management Rule.

To read the ARRA press release announcing this program, please click here. To check out the LAND, click here.

We encourage all ARRA members to familiarize themselves with this database and to begin using it so that we can have access to the latest information relating to the implementation of the Travel Management Rule. Active participation on the part of ARRA members will help ensure that when the implementation process is completed, as many roads and trails as possible will have been designated for off-highway vehicle recreation.

August

This is the time of year that Washington empties out with the Congress in recess and many Federal bureaucrats taking vacations with family and friends. August can actually be a nice time to be in Washington. The weather is generally not a warm as July and the traffic is a lot less.

Congress leaves town with an approval rating of only 28% and a disapproval rating of 58%. President Bush has an approval rating of 36% and a disapproval rating of 55%. What this all means is anyone’s guess, but for now, Republicans are nervous and Democrats are optimistic about the November elections!

When Congress returns in September, intense political jockeying between the two political parties will begin in earnest. We are predicting a wild ride, so be prepared to strap on your seatbelts. Some political pundits are predicting major shifts of political power from the Republicans to the Democrats. Whatever happens, we will be following the political trends closely in order to keep you apprised on how any change in political winds might affect recreation policy.

So in the meantime, we are going to rest up and try to enjoy August. From a political standpoint, September and October are going to be mighty hot! Until then, visit your favorite public lands, recreate safely and responsibly, and be prepared for a very interesting fall political season.

Sincerely,

Larry E. Smith

Executive Director