Salazar Backs Down On Wild Lands Policy

ATV and off-road motorcycle riders scored a victory today, as U.S.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has backed down from his Wild Lands
initiative, which could have closed off access to millions of acres
of public land.
In December, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid dropped his
controversial bill, which would have designated millions of acres
of public land as "wilderness." Any land designated as "wilderness"
remains public property, but OHV (off-highway vehicle) riders would
not be able to ride on them as they could other public
property.
While Reid backed down, Salazar attempted to circumvent legislation
by signing Secretarial Order 3310, commonly called "Wild Lands."
This would have essentially done the same thing, but did not
require Congressional authority to do so.
The move was largely met with outrage and controversy, as it seemed
to be a blatant attempt to ignore the legislative process.
Fortunately, the backlash was such that the order never went
anywhere. In fact, President Obama's April signing of the Fiscal
Year 2011 Continuing Resolution, essentially a temporary budget
agreement, included specific language blocking the Bureau of Land
Management from instituting the policy.
Since then, Salazar has said that he will instead work with
Congress and local initiatives for wilderness designations.
"This is a major victory for motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle
riders and others concerned about appropriate access to public
land," said American Motorcyclist Association president Rob
Dingman. "But we must remain vigilant. Anti-access groups will
continue pushing for legislation to inappropriately close off
millions of acres of public land to OHVs."