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The National Park Service has withdrawn an order issued last month that opened Utah's national parks to off-road vehicle use. The rule, first announced on September 24, would have allowed "street-legal" off-road vehicles on hundreds of miles of paved and unpaved roads throughout the state's twelve national parks. The change would have been significant, since ORVs are not allowed in the vast majority of national parks throughout the country.
Over the past month, the change drew criticism from many people with concerns about the effects on the environment and visitor experience, and the lack of public input throughout the process. Conservation groups and towns adjacent to national parks, such as Moab, celebrated the reversal. "I don't think everything belongs in every place," stated Scott McFarland, who owns a Hummer and ATV business in Moab.
The Interior Department stated that after further consultation, they found the rule to be unnecessary, and directed parks to maintain the original ORV closures.
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Public involvement is really critical, particularly at a local level. Folks that know those lands, that work on those lands, that are dependent on those lands for their livelihood or places to play need to come together—and that's the benefit of [Resource Advisory Councils].”
