Oh, Goody - New Trump Rule Means ORV Users Can Drive Literally Anywhere In National Parks, Monuments, National Forests
The Trump administration is executing a controversial plan to allow dirt bikes, ATVs, trucks, snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles to drive through tens of millions of acres of public lands and national parks, which environmental groups warn threatens endangered species and the environment. The plan’s opponents say the impacts will be wide-ranging and that the vehicles will likely destroy sensitive habitats, harm waterways, drive large predators like grizzly bears into contact with humans, and otherwise damage pristine public lands and parks.
The Nixon administration more than 50 years ago issued an executive order that limited off-road vehicles’ access with the aim of protecting wildlife and preventing disputes on federal land. The Carter administration issued a second order providing similar environmental protections.Since then, the popularity of off-road sports has exploded, and the vehicles are far more powerful than they once were, which advocates say makes the restrictions even more necessary today.
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The Nixon-Carter executive orders required off-road vehicles to use roads or trails that the federal agencies established to minimize ecological harm. The Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service already have more than 500,000 miles (800,000km) of roads available for use between public lands and parks. The National Park Service also allows limited snowmobile use in Yellowstone national park. However, the Nixon-Carter restrictions prevented the vehicles from going everywhere in a park, which they will now be able to do.
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Already, the US Forest Service is preparing to open 5m acres (2m hectares) of parkland to vehicles, mostly in Idaho and Montana, according to the New York Times.“ As the United States marks 250 years of independence in 2026, we must shine a light on our nation’s greatest natural treasures and ensure every American can recreate on these majestic lands,” a Forest service spokesperson said in a memo announcing the opening.
Ed. - Fuck you, Forest Service spokesperson, and the elephant you rode in on.
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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/15/trump-public-lands-wildlife-off-roading