WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association, representing the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy and 5.2 million American jobs, issued the following statement in response to USDA’s Notice of Intent on their proposed Access Rule scheduled to be published on Monday, which would reform rather than repeal the U.S. Forest Service’s Travel Management Rule (TMR):
“We appreciate USDA’s decision to pursue reform of the USFS Travel Management Rule rather than a full repeal. This is a win for the outdoor recreation business community who is against full repeal of the rule that has governed trail use for decades. What comes next will be critical for the recreation economy and the rural communities that depend on it, so it’s important that the full spectrum of outdoor recreation industry perspectives are taken into account for the final rule.
“As we outlined to the Administration since last year, reform not repeal, is the right path. ORR’s members, motorized and non-motorized alike, have united around increasing public lands and water access, infrastructure, and funding, while also prioritizing conservation and sustainable management. We need bipartisan policy solutions and certainty so our industry can operate with confidence and provide safe and memorable experiences for millions of Americans and international visitors across all activities.
“While we are supportive of the reform rather than repeal strategy in the Notice of Intent, the proposed Access Rule needs additional guardrails and details to ensure all forms of recreation can benefit from increased access and reduced regulatory burden. Getting this rule right means caring for our public lands and waters responsibly, so they remain healthy for generations to come and ensuring all recreation activities have great access today and into the future. That stewardship and access also provide very real health benefits—physical and mental—that come from time outdoors, benefits our members help deliver to communities across the country every day.
“We look forward to submitting comments during the public comment period and working with the Administration to ensure that the guardrails, process, and conditions of the final rule provide the certainty businesses need to keep the recreation economy sustainable and growing across every activity type—now and for future generations.”