PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2005
Contact: John Stewart
Director of Environmental Affairs
United Four Wheel Drive Associations
619-390-8747 or E-mail: landuse@ufwda.org

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UFWDA MEETS WITH FOREST SERVICE

San Diego, CA (July 14, 2005): On July 12, United Four Wheel Drive 
Associations (UFWDA) met with Forest Service officials in Washington, 
D. C.  Joining John Stewart, UFWDA Director of Environmental Affairs 
and Carla Boucher, UFWDA Legislative Advocate in the meeting were 
representatives from the UFWDA member associations California 
Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Arizona State Association of Four 
Wheel Drive Clubs, and the BlueRibbon Coalition.

The meeting agenda included discussions about the pending proposed 
National OHV Rule, the Forest Service route designation process, and 
collaborative/volunteer efforts.  Jerry Ingersol, USFS OHV Program 
Coordinator, stated the final rule will be released later this year. 
He also reaffirmed that route designation is part of an overall 
travel management plan that provides for multiple use, including 
recreation opportunity.

He further stated that route inventories and roads analysis are 
information collection processes that will be used to develop the 
inventory of routes to be evaluated under the route designation 
process.  Upon completion of the route designation phase, the Forest 
Service will have an inventory of designated routes.

UFWDA Director of Environmental Affairs, John Stewart, stated, "We 
look forward to the release of the final OHV Policy rule.  We are 
concerned that initiatives to designate routes in absence of the 
final rule may lead to controversy."

Carla Boucher, Legislative Advocate for UFWDA, expressed concern that 
the Forest Service roads analysis process was being improperly used 
to limit routes for consideration for during the route designation 
phase.  She noted that 'roads analysis' is conducted outside the 
public review process and may be used to limit the number of routes 
available for public review and comment during Forest Planning and 
route designation review.

The meeting was held during a week long Motorized Recreation Summit 
hosted by the BlueRibbon Coalition and the Off Road Business 
Association.  Over 50 OHV recreationists representing eleven states 
and 15 organizations attended to address issues of concern with 
elected representatives and agency officials.  The House Subcommittee 
on National Parks together with the Subcommittee on Forests and 
Forest Health held an oversight hearing on how federal land 
management policies have impacted motorized recreational use on 
federal lands.

UFWDA (www.ufwda.org) is an international association representing 
over 15,000 members involved with motorized recreation.

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John Stewart
Director, Environmental Affairs
United Four Wheel Drive Associations, http://www.ufwda.org
Natural Resource Consultant
California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, http://www.ca4wdc.com
Recreation Access and Conservation Editor, http://www.4x4wire.com