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Help Solve the Off-Road Vehicle Problem

Target: U.S. Forest Service
Sponsored by: League of Conservation Voters

Urgent! Only a few more days to make your voice heard!

Tens of millions of Americans visit public lands and waters every year to experience scenic wonders, our rich cultural heritage, and the naturalness and solitude that can only be found in these special places. Americans understand that there must be a balance between different types of uses of lands and waters. Our system of public lands, the most diverse in the world, was developed with that balance in mind.

But we are losing that balance today as dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other off-road vehicles push further and further into the backcountry, causing pollution and other impacts on our public lands, as well as displacing other visitors.

The U.S. Forest Service has proposed new rules to govern the use of off-road vehicles on AmericaÂ’s National Forests. Although the rules represent a step forward, they fall far short of what is needed to address what Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth terms one of the greatest threats to our National Forests.

"This is not an easy issue to tackle, but if we wait a day, a week, or even a year, the impact on the land and the issues surrounding the problem will become even harder to deal with. We need to address the issue now," Chief Bosworth said. Now the Forest Service needs to hear from you to ensure our forests are protected.

Our forests suffer greatly from highly damaging and uncontrolled off-road vehicle use and your comments are needed to let the Forest Service how people feel about this issue. Please urge the Forest Service to strengthen the draft rules by sending your comment today. Consider adding your own personal comments in the petition which can be done after you hit "Sign This Petition!"

deadline: 8-26-2005
goal: 15,000

15,678
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Proposed Rule for Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
c/o Content Analysis Team
U.S. Forest Service
P.O. Box 221150
Salt Lake City, UT 84122-1150

I urge the Forest Service to significantly strengthen the proposed rule for designated routes and areas for motor vehicle use. [Your comments here.]

I support several elements of the proposed rule and urge that they be retained, including the:

General prohibition on motorized cross-country recreation;

Requirement that off-road vehicle use be authorized only on those roads and routes specifically designated as open on use maps; and

Conclusion that forests are not required to inventory and/or map unauthorized - or renegade – routes prior to commencing the route designation process.

I urge the Forest Service to ensure that any final rule requires each National Forest to:

Complete off-road vehicle route designations within 2 years of the effective date of that rule;

Designate roads and routes, including any unauthorized, renegade route, for off-road use only after public participation and site-specific analysis of environmental impacts and user-conflicts;

Immediately end use of all unauthorized, renegade ATV and dirt bike routes pending site-specific study and official designation; and

Ensure that it can afford, maintain and manage any system of roads and routes designated for off-roads vehicle use.

[Your additional comments here.]

Sincerely,

We signed the “Help Solve the Off-Road Vehicle Problem” petition!

# 15,684:

9:30 am PDT, Sep 14, Lily Copenagle, Oregon
My family frequently enjoys backpacking and hiking far away from roads

Several times we have had wildlife scared away and invariably we see the damage done to trails and open spaces by ATVs.

# 15,683:

9:27 am PDT, Sep 14, Name not displayed, Mexico
My husband and I like to travel to them and take our children to enjoy the beauty of the nature.

When we are on the forest, feeling the beauty of the nature, we don´t want anything disturbing the serenity of that place.

# 15,682:

9:25 am PDT, Sep 14, Name not displayed, Colorado
Peace and quiet to me isn't park rangers wearing respirators to protect themselves from dirty exhaust fumes in Yellowstone or any other national park.

While cross-country skiing in Yellowstone and almost being run over by about 1/2 a dozen snowmobiles and then having to choke on the fumes and listen to the loud roar of the engines. Very peaceful indeed.

# 15,681:

9:21 am PDT, Sep 14, Name not displayed, Washington
i like to ride my motorcycle on the trails to secluded areas and enjoy the views.

never. Different People find enjoyment in different activities.

# 15,680:

9:19 am PDT, Sep 14, Bernardette Bosley-van ace, New Jersey
The beautiful sounds of nature are why we go to national forests.

A lovely walk through the woods with the birds singing, then the roar of ATV's crashing through!

# 15,679:

9:17 am PDT, Sep 14, Linda Price, Pennsylvania
I enjoy the tranquility of being alone with my thoughts. The peace and quiet,enjoying nature.

fortunately I haven't run into that situation yet and I am hoping not to.

# 15,678:

9:17 am PDT, Sep 14, Debbie Ireland, Ohio
When I go to a national forest I go to get away from all of the cars, trucks, and noise of the city.

I've never had the misfortune of being disturbed by an ATV while in the forest but I'm sure that I would not have been pleased.

# 15,677:

9:11 am PDT, Sep 14, Christina A. Wilson, Colorado
I find renewal of my spirit in wilderness. Without wild places, inaccessable to the noise of machinery, my spirit would die as will the animals that will lose their habitat if we open up our national forests to those who do not go there to rejuvenate and restore their spirits, but only to conquer the wilderness in the most loud, uncaring manner. Chief Seattle was right when he said, "Whatever happens to the animals will happen to man." Pay attention! It'sonly a matter of time unless we wake up.

I was riding a horse in the national forest when an ATV roared up out of nowhere, frightening my horse, and causing me to nearly be thrown. The driver of the ATV made no attempt to slow down or even to make a way around my horse and me. He was quite rude.

# 15,676:

9:10 am PDT, Sep 14, Mary Roland, Colorado
I walk and meditate in our forests when I get a chance to travel to them.

All over our nation back wooded areas are mow being over run by ATVs to the point that it is a challenge to find a quiet place to just listen to nature. If I were to finally make it to our national forests and found this same problem going on, I would consider it a sell out of our national treasures.

# 15,675:

9:10 am PDT, Sep 14, Wendy A. Barner, Idaho
Protect the Quite, Birds, Animals, Peace, & Escape from our insane society.

Protect the Quite, Birds, Animals, Peace, & Escape from our insane society.

# 15,674:

9:06 am PDT, Sep 14, Shannon Mayfield, Oregon
I don't wish to see or hear human intervention. Wild lands should stay wild.

I live in a climate where it rarely snows... I haven't been disturbed by an ATV unless you consider that I'm disturbed by the idea of noisey stinking snowmobiles in a park or wildland where nature should be our peoples #1 priority. We dirty up enough of the earth... why mess every place up. If I do travel to these snow covered places, than I don't want to waste my time time looking at human's fouling of something that should remain natural.

# 15,673:

9:02 am PDT, Sep 14, JIM HEAD, Michigan
I can run-away from the stress of every day problems.

While thinking an ATV rider came by and did a donut,throghing dirt into my face,as he laughed and drove away.

# 15,672:

8:49 am PDT, Sep 14, Mary Blake, New York
it is only through the peace and quiet of the forest,that can we find the small voice of reason within each of us

Luckily I've not had a problem with the noise since I haven't been to a national forest in many years and have no wish to go as long as ATVs as allowed

# 15,671:

8:48 am PDT, Sep 14, Barbara J Plaskett, Washington
These natural places have survived on this earth for billions of years, serving the good of the planet. In the grand time line of this planet we are in our teens and we are acting like it. We think we know it all and we are invincible. All the while we ignore the fact that there is a speeding train aimed at our head and we are still stacking pennies on the track.

destruction

# 15,670:

8:45 am PDT, Sep 14, Rena Rouse, Kansas
When I go to a national forest, I want to hear the wind in the trees and the birds singing, not the roar of off-road vehicles. If I wanted to hear that, I would just stay home and open my windows.

People on ATVs feel that they have the right-of-way wherever they go. If I am hiking, I have to make sure to get out of the way or risk getting run over.

# 15,669:

8:42 am PDT, Sep 14, Lee Walker, Florida
Nothing is more sacred to me than the moments of peace and serenity at national forests. Honoring the beauty with silence and natural vibes touches my soul...

Trying to teach my children well, ATV's ruined many moments of meditation and enjoyment. It was insane.

# 15,668:

8:30 am PDT, Sep 14, Meredith Waterloo, Michigan
I go to the National Forests to witness nature in it's pure form. It is increasingly difficult to do that and we need to protect the limited space that is left where real peace and quiet is still available.

ATV's have disturbed me many times when trying to connect with nature

# 15,667:

8:16 am PDT, Sep 14, Gerri Reaves, Florida
walking quietly, listening and watching for birds and other wildlife, breathing deeply, appreciating the beauty, and being in the moment, away from the frenzy of day-to-life.

When I lived in Idaho, that definitely happened. And, here in South Florida, ATVs are a plague.

# 15,666:

8:08 am PDT, Sep 14, Adrienne Ware, Texas
nature is about peace and quiet. there are plenty of places for people to use snowmobiles. our national parks are not one of them.

it's an awful disturbance.

# 15,665:

8:04 am PDT, Sep 14, Marcia Peters, Massachusetts
I go to the wilderness for quiet, not noise; clean air, not two-stroke fumes.

Snowmo's charge past me while I attempt to cross-country ski in the White Mtn Nat'l Forest. I choke on fumes. I have to worry about my dogs' safety.

# 15,664:

8:02 am PDT, Sep 14, Natalie Robison-Hejny, Texas
hiking, walking, and observing nature

no experience with this thus far

# 15,663:

7:57 am PDT, Sep 14, R Stanton, New York
I visit a national forest to escape the pressures and noises of city life. I quietly walk or hike along the path, thinking and enjoying nature

ATV make noise. They disturb the serenity of a place.

# 15,662:

7:56 am PDT, Sep 14, William Miller, Idaho
I expect to find places that are not filled with the sounds of off-road vehicles.

Virtually any time I hike in Idaho, I have a difficult time avoiding areas with ATVs. This is especially difficult w/ our 5 yr. old--many ATV users don't seem to be concerned with the safety of others.

# 15,661:

7:56 am PDT, Sep 14, Brenda J. Hansen, Illinois
the one place a person should be as one with our natural environment!

I haven't and would never want to because it is in the forrest I seek peace and closeness to God the Almighty Creator of tis elegant beauty!

# 15,660:

7:53 am PDT, Sep 14, Jenny Becker, Tennessee
Usually when I visit a National Forest I am hiking with a friend and there is very little talking going on simply because of the fact we are too ingulfed in our serene surroundings to speak. The wind dancing through the trees is my most favorite sound in the world. There is nothing like it.

About two months ago my boyfriend and I were canoeing in a National Forest and we floated by two or three LOUD atv's. We never did actually see them due to the tree's, but boy, we sure did hear them!

# 15,659:

7:49 am PDT, Sep 14, Name not displayed, New York
the forests are a place where everyone goes to recharge from our too fast paced lives. We need quiet, untouched places to retreat to.. and so do the animals we share our world with..

Allowing motor vehicles to desecrate these areas is a crime

# 15,658:

7:48 am PDT, Sep 14, Patricia McShane-Gearhart, Illinois
Parks, forests and especially the national forests are sanctuaries of serenity for me. A place to be in the stillness and wonder of creation.

ATV's are about the thrill of moving quickly, experiencing excitement and sport. I honor others needs for that and believe a place should be designated - a track or field. However, I have a right for my needs to be honored also - that of peaceful union with nature. I have not had a personal experience of being disturbed by an ATV while in a national park but have experienced noise pollution in other forms. It's a distrubing intrusion. Hopefully this effort will raise the collective consciousness of the importance of keeping a place of serenity and peace in our increasingly chaotic world.

# 15,657:

7:43 am PDT, Sep 14, Jack Palin, Connecticut
ATV's only distroy our precious widerness and terrorize the animals!! The must be stopped!!

Just recently I camped in the Jefferson National Forest in Virgina and you could hear ATV's and dirt bikes almost costantly within the Forest area!

# 15,656:

7:38 am PDT, Sep 14, Terri Rolland, New Mexico
it's not just about humans seeking peace and quiet it's about the ecosystem being damaged and animals and plants losing their habitats because of selfish people with loud destructive machines between their legs.

atvs cause erosion and noise and pollution. they don't belong in the forest. the forests are the lungs of the earth.

# 15,655:

7:32 am PDT, Sep 14, Buchet Alexandre, Belgium
zzzz

BBRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!

# 15,654:

7:32 am PDT, Sep 14, Soledad Posac, Argentina
Peace of the forest is the sound of life that I am looking for when I am there. That feels my soul, and also my body with great feelings

When I am on the forest, feeling the life around me, seeing the nature, nothing can disturb more than the motor of any kind of vehicle, and I dont want this

# 15,653:

7:32 am PDT, Sep 14, Midge Anthony, Texas
Please tighten the rules on the use of off road vehicles and ATVs in Yellowstone Park. Let the animals rest in peace and be happy.

I have only been to the park once and that was before the vehicles were so popular and all over the place.

# 15,652:

7:30 am PDT, Sep 14, Diane Kasnick, Illinois
I like to be able to listen to the sounds of nature

I usually go to an area where not even motor boats are allowed because I don't want the possiblity of motorized noise

# 15,651:

7:28 am PDT, Sep 14, Name not displayed, Michigan
It's hard to find peace in ANY forest anymore because of the obnoxious sound of ATVs and other off-road vehicles.

Usually you just hear them and sometimes see them fly by. What's also very disturbing is the huge amount of damage left behind on the ground and on the trees.

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Help Solve the Off-Road Vehicle Problem

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