Press Release
DRED COMMISSIONER'S REQUEST TO ALLOW ATVS ON PUBLIC RAIL TRAILS DENIED BY FEDS

ATV Watch Director Andrew Walters issued the following statement this evening regarding the federal denial of a request by Commissioner George Bald of the Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) to allow ATVs on federally-funded rail trails in NH:

" Today, our government worked. For more than a year, conservation advocates and state leaders opposed to allowing All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) on NH's federally protected rail trail corridors have petitioned the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to enforce federal law, to deny DRED's request, and to keep ATVs off NH's public rail trails.

For more than a year, DRED and the staff at the Bureau of Trails have worked to subvert the federal laws prohibiting ATV use on the rail trails by arguing that in New Hampshire an ATV is essentially a snowmobile. Today, FHWA clearly rejected their efforts.

It is encouraging for public lands advocates in New Hampshire to know that while ATV registration fees paying the salaries of officials at DRED may dictate State policy, that influence does not stretch all the way to Washington. We applaud FHWA for standing up for sensible management of these important public resources.

ATV Watch thanks its members, supporters, and collaborators for their thoughtful, steady and vocal opposition to Commissioner Bald's request. Pressure and common sense arguments from grassroots organizations and like-minded legislators made the difference."

Contact:
Andrew Walters, Director
ATV Watch
(603) 785-7722
Andrew@ATVWatch.com
www.ATVWatch.com

BACKGROUND:
Current Legislation

The New Hampshire legislature is currently considering two bills which would prohibit the use of ATVs on New Hampshire’s federally funded rail trails. One bill is currently being studied by the Senate Transportation and Interstate Cooperation Committee. The House is scheduled to vote on the second bill this Thursday. ATV Watch believes that passage of these bills is still critical in setting forth legislative intent and balanced policy concerning ATV use on public lands.
Link to House Bill 1264
Link to Senate Bill 424


ATV Watch Right to Know Lawsuit

ATV Watch believes that public policy should be developed in public, not behind the closed doors at DRED or the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT). In January ATV Watch filed suit in Merrimack County Superior Court asking the court to force NHDOT to release information to the public regarding NHDOT’s development of the policy that ATV use on the rail trails is appropriate. The Court is continuing to consider ATV Watch’s Petition but recently ordered NHDOT to release to the public an index of the documents which they are withholding. NHDOT has thus far not complied with the court order and has asked the court to reconsider.
Link to ATV Watch Right to Know Legal Action

Link to FHWA Letter to NHDOT

Link to Additional Background Information