ACTION NEEDED! Preferably by Tuesday, March 26
Here are the opening lines of an anti-access bill, HF 2791, submitted to the legislature and is being heard in the House on Tuesday at 3pm:
“The legislature finds that the state of Minnesota has an abundance of natural resources and that there is growing interest in the use of off-highway vehicles by its residents. The legislature further finds that as the use of off-highway vehicles increasingly encroaches on the state's natural resources, including aquatic and wildlife habitats, it is necessary to ensure that the regulation of off-highway vehicles is undertaken in a manner that……….” It goes on to list several reasons.
We are asking people to contact their legislators as well as Rick Hansen (https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/12282), the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee Chair; rep.rick.hansen@house.mn.gov. Find your Representative by going to the Who Represents Me page for the MN Legislature (https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/).
Please try to contact these people prior to the Tuesday hearing.
Start the e-mail with a note that says either why you ride (stress relief, physical activity, being in the woods or on a track, etc.) or who you ride with (family, buddies, kids, etc.). These comments are critical because any note that is solely copied and posted or form letters count as 1 letter so matter how many thousands are received. A quick 1 or 2 sentences at the top make it personal, show you care, and make each note count.
Then state that you oppose HF 2791 as you believe it is an anti-access bill. Below are some reasons why you can oppose the bill. Pick a few to add to your comments.
• The basis for the legislation is a 2003, which ignores much of the progress that has been made in the past decade and would take us backwards.
• The legislation unnecessarily calls out off-highway vehicle recreation such as:
o Limiting use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) in areas where cars and logging trucks are legal to drive.
o Requires all OHV trails to go through an Environmental Assessment Worksheet unless it is for a reroute of less than a mile, whereas non-motorized trails only need an EAW if it is 25 miles.
o Limits OHVs from being within 300 feet of aquatic life-supporting body of water or 150 feet of other bodies of water on an unpaved surface. This includes crossing the body of water via a culvert or bridge.
o Puts greater requirements on trail locations for OHV recreation versus non-motorized recreation.
• Removes the clause of “except as otherwise allowed by law or rules” which introduces unnecessary issues for other laws.
• Requires all forests north of Hwy 2 to be moved to a Limited Forest. Any forest currently listed as Managed has already gone through extensive review by the Communities and the MN DNR prior to keeping that listing. Any forest may already be reclassified, if needed.
• Gives Good Cause exemptions to the Commissioner of the DNR to go around any OHV law or rule.
• Uses OHV funds to be used to implement this bill versus being used for trail maintenance.
Close the letter thanking them for their time. Include your City and State, and optionally your phone number.
You are also invited to attend the House Hearing on Tuesday at 3:00pm in Room 10 of the State Office Building (the older building across the street from the Capital).
Thanks for all of your help!