Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) on Thursday, Nov. 18, introduced the bipartisan Outdoor Recreation Act, which would boost outdoor recreation opportunities nationwide. Here are a few of the act’s provisions:
- Establishing a pilot program to modernize campgrounds on Federal land, and financing projects that would help make communities located near National Forest Service lands more popular recreation destinations.
- Clarifying that recreational climbing is appropriate in wilderness areas, and directing the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to designate new shooting ranges on National Forests and BLM land.
- Providing technical and financial assistance to local businesses that support visitation of public lands.
- Extending the period of time that recreation areas on Federal land are open to the public during shoulder seasons.
- Identifying broadband connectivity needs at Federal recreation sites, and working with the Rural Utilities Service to construct broadband internet infrastructure at those sites.
- Protecting against aquatic invasive species by establishing a competitive grant program within the BLM to help non-federal partners conduct inspections and decontaminate watercraft at reservoirs administrated by the Department of the Interior.
- Increasing the amount of non-motorized and motorized access to federal lands.
The act has broad support among outdoors groups and associations.
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I do hope to see more ATV/UTV trails as well as outdoor shooting ranges. Hopefully most trails will be near campgrounds and ranges a reasonable distance from same. I boondock a couple times a year fall and spring on BLM land along the eastern slopes of the Sierras that reach the desert floor of the Mojave desert and it is great to be able to off road and target shoot across close to my campsite.
I totally agree, Lazy. I just wonder how much taxpayer money this will require. I’m shocked that a Democrat AND a Republican could agree on ANYTHING!
Joe Manchin is not a Democrat in ideology, just runs as one, he’s all big business.
That’s about right. Don’t take away his coal cause he owns a lot of it. He doesn’t want anything to help his state as long as he has them still working in the coal mines making him richer.
yea, that is just what we need, more freaking noise!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Good thing you have wheels on your RV, roll right on past and find the option you like, probably a glamping resort in the city. Having places like this should help reduce the damages to our land, won’t stop it because there will always be stupid but it lessens it when people have a legal spot to enjoy their recreation.
I totally agree with you Lazy Q. And I’m just as surprised as Tommy Molnar that a Democrat and a Republican came up with this idea. No RV yet, but the wife & I are currently shopping for one.
Would be awesome to have that outdoor range near the campsite.
The people who tend to enjoy ATVing and shooting also tend to enjoy drinking, being obnoxious and littering. Maybe those are the types that should roll right past our once quiet and litter-free forests and public lands, imo….
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Those who assume that all or most target shooters are drinkers and litterers, are incorrect. Many of us are the ones who clean up public lands.
I haven’t seen it…
I 2nd that statement. I actually grew up camping and was taught to never pass up garbage on the ground. I always pick up garbage. I even picked up a needle one time. very carefully of course.
What in the WORLD are you talking about? I have to assume you are not attending the same ATV’ing and other off-roading events I’m attending.
I’ve been trying to learn of such events. Any info for me. Still need to get my feet wet and very excited to meet people that have the same interests. I’m a 4* something female that camps solo with 3 dogs often. Haven’t had the opportunity on blm as of yet. would love to do this.
I can’t imagine a person as negative as yourself ever enjoying much. BLM is a space where so much good health and awesome times happen. To put fees and restrictions on this is obsurd.
There’s no place for guns in campgrounds.
I’d like to see you say that to a mountain lion or bear coming after you. I own my firearm for my own safety while camping.
Furthermore, Target Shooting is a sport. People practice their sport on blm land because it’s safe and unpopulated. Targets can be modified, moved etc. Guns on federal lands are not the problem.
It’s the guns in the cities that are posing ALL the problems we have today. I haven’t heard of any headlines saying “1 dead caught in the line of fire on blm land where shooter was target practicing”.
I love that RVing and camping is something that everyone can get their arms around and looking forward to the great improvements this could bring all of us.
Perhaps this would mean that the National Forest Service will stop locking up all of the NFS campgrounds in Colorado the day after Labor Day. Here in Colorado we could use those campgrounds for another 4-6 weeks most years. It’s a shame to have to drive by all those beautiful empty spots on really nice weekends in September!
I should note that Colorado’s State Campgrounds are open much earlier and later in the year than the NFS campgrounds. Some of them have some parts of the campground open year round.
Agreed, but they would need to find camp hosts that are willing to work those extra days. That might be difficult, as many of them are snowbirds that head south at the first sign of a cold day.
Before they do all this crap, perhaps they should establish a victims fund to help those who have everything stolen at a BLM. This led to my being homeless.
camping is dangerous. Guns don’t belong in campgrounds – stupid idea
Read the fine print. This is about the RV and campground lobbies shutting down fee free camping on federal lands.
Sounds like they’re going to make things more expensive, more crowded and noisier. More ATVs and shooting ranges just means more empty beer cans, more empty shell casings and more loud-mouth yahoos who don’t respect the land or the people who use it.
“Sounds like”, a negative statement unless you have witness such activities. I’m sure n hopefully when n if these new laws go into effect that the laws specifically spell out, what will happen if anyone breaks the law, no questions asked n the Community come together as a unit. Peace.
More fees are probable. The rangeland and forest camping world is being overrun by the numerous new RVers created by Covid-19. Success depends on all the users out there.
I do not support this whatsoever despite being an RVer for years. I do not want shooting ranges in parks! I do not feel we are responsible for financial aid to businesses nearby, it won’t go to the mom and pop businesses, this is ripe with opportunity for corporate welfare and America has enough of that. I hope people read between the lines and think very carefully on this. Part of getting away is lack of cell phone towers not looking for more of them.
This will result in the end of any free or affordable camping. And guns do not belong there.
Great..more guns, more motorized vehicles..terrible idea.
He’ll no! There are plenty of glamping sites close to national parks for those who insist on bringing their homes on wheels
This is another attempt to privatize our national treasures!
The idea is to keep out the junkers but typically, the implimentation is handed to idiots who focus in dates rather than condition.
Those junkers happen to be people who call the outdoors their home. You should watch your judgements because a time will come one day that judgement will be passed on you by an entity that actually matters, whatever or whomever that may be.
I don’t recall having an opportunity to vote on this. WTH!? This is terrible! people go OFF GRID TO ACTUALLY BE OFF GRID. People utilizing these lands do so for health and to be in touch with nature. This will take the nature out of OUR VERY OWN NATURE and desire to be with the beautiful safe healthy outdoor environment. Who can stop this if not for the People?
Absolutely oppose shooting ranges in National Parks, State, County or City Parks. Absolutely oppose motorized travel EXCEPT on paved roads or unpaved roads in designated camping areas in all parks. Researchers doing scientific studies and Documentary filmmakers should be allowed motorized access when necessary to conduct study that cannot be accomplished any other way. Each case to be determined by those tasked with protecting our environment at the local level, not in DC. Private businesses on private land don’t need or deserve taxpayer money designated for Parks and Conservation. Capitalism doesn’t need taxpayer money according to their own cheerleaders.