WASHINGTON, D.C. — SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, joined with the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) and the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) to sponsor a “Washington Summit for Motorized Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation” on July 12 and 13. Summit participants asked members of Congress to support Endangered Species Act (ESA) reform legislation and continued off-highway vehicle (OHV) access to federal lands.
A comprehensive review ordered by U.S. House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) concludes that a new approach is needed to get better results from the decades old law. The ESA has not achieved its goal of protecting threatened animals and plants. Nevertheless, millions of acres of land have been closed to the off-highway vehicle community over the past 30 years and more set-asides are in the works. The law needs to be revised to achieve its goals without unnecessarily depriving the OHV community of recreational opportunities and reducing sales of off-road vehicle equipment. Chairman Pombo is working with other members of Congress, state and local lawmakers of both parties to craft legislation for adoption this year.
“SEMA supports increased involvement by state and local officials and the enthusiast community when making species recovery plans,” said SEMA Government and Public Affairs Manager Jason Tolleson. “The government must also employ the best available scientific information when establishing species listings. In this litigious environment, SEMA also supports the use of mediation prior to the filing of lawsuits. The listing process should be made transparent by posting ESA documents on the Internet.”
During the two-day Summit, the House Resources Oversight Committee held a hearing on “Motorized Recreational Use on Federal Land.” Participants used this opportunity to reinforce the importance of preserving our national resources while protecting OHV access to federal lands.
“SEMA supports managed care of the nation’s public lands in a manner that balances responsible recreational opportunities with the health of our federal lands and the safety of patrons,” added Tolleson. “SEMA is actively working with the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service as all three agencies update their rules on OHV use. Now is the time to make important changes to these laws and regulations while decreasing unnecessary burdens on landowners and the motorized recreation community.”
Dan Kettelson, owner and operator of Performance Truck Centers in Alabama, participated in the Summit representing SEMA’s Light Truck Accessory Alliance (LTAA). The LTAA is comprised of more than 600 SEMA member companies that manufacture, distribute, sell or install accessories for the light-truck market. The off-roading hobby is a significant segment of this growing industry.
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