This e-mail newsletter is distributed by:
New York State Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Assn., Inc.
PO Box 338
Ravena, NY 12143-0338

Please copy and distribute to all interested parties. Your participation affects the quality of this newsletter: Please submit your pertinent material for inclusion in subsequent issues.

Editor: Alex Ernst, aernst@albany.net

Our Official Homepage is located at http://www.nysorva.org

An index of past newsletter issues is available at http://www.nysorva.org/news/newslist.htm

To request an addition to or removal from the list, e-mail aernst@albany.net listing name and e-mail address.

Contents:

1. ATV Trail Funding Legislation Progress Report
2. Proposed Trail Bike Ban, Aldrich Pond WF
3. Membership Drive, ATV Raffle
4. Champion Lands Recreational Easement - Update
5. National Recreation Trails Grant Rounds for 1998-2003
6. Wayne County Trail Planning
7. Unit Management Plans in Progress
8. Snowmobile Trail Fund Bills Need Support
9. Thruway Toll Reduction Bills A244/S1074

1) ATV TRAIL FUNDING BILLS

We have gained two important allies in the push for passage of S632/A1060, the bills to re-establish a dedicated ATV trail development and maintenance fund: AMA District 3 president, Larry Schwartz, and Albany area ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Towards Education) activist, Bob "Prospector" Boellner. Both these gentlemen lobby the legislature on a weekly basis on their personal time for no compensation whatsoever. They are lobbying for all motorcyclists’ rights bills, specifically including the trail funding legislation. Their help is of much value, and NYSORVA extends its great appreciation for their work to help use get our trail fund back. We look forward to working continuously with ABATE and AMA until the bills are passed, and beyond.

On February 3, I went with Larry and Bob to meet with the Chief of Staff to Senator Caesar Trunzo to discuss the position of the Senate bill going into committee. Sen. Trunzo is the Transportation Committee Chairman. The Senator’s staff has stated to us, without committing, that pending a few details, they will recommend to move the bill effectively through committee so that it may be scheduled for a vote in front of the full Senate. Larry has visited several of the committee members, and they have all expressed to him their favor for the bill. This too will be very helpful in quick movement of the Senate bill.

It remains for us to meet with the Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman, Representative Gantt, and with committee members to get the same response on the Assembly side for A1060.

NYSORVA has requested of both bill sponsors that they meet to make the bills match in language as "uni-bills."

We continue to request that everyone write, call and e-mail the respective Committee Chairmen, Assembly Speaker Silver, Senate Majority Leader Bruno, and the Governor asking that S632/A1060 be passed. See documents at www.eguides.com/nysorva for the information previously released by NYSORVA for addresses and additional detail on the matter of the bills.

2) TRAIL MOTORCYCLE BAN PROPOSED

Aldrich Pond Wild Forest in the Western Adirondacks is the home of about 40 miles of "motorvehicle trail" that ATV’s may use year-round. As you know, this forest unit is one of only two current places on DEC land (the other is Brasher Falls in the same region) where the general public may legally operate an ATV on certain trails. (Obtain information about these two areas by calling the Potsdam Region 6 DEC office at 315-265-3090.)

Recently a ban was proposed that would eliminate access by trail bikes to the Aldrich trails. This was proposed under the purely anecdotal notion, without any evidence, that trail bikes are more damaging to the trails than ATV’s.

Members of Adirondack ATV Riders Club (www.adirondackatv.org) have met with regional DEC officials over this matter. Club members came out of the meeting with the impression that DEC will not move forward with the ban if enough opposition to the ban is received from the public.

NYSORVA strenuously objects to any wedge of this sort being driven between any OHV user groups. The Vehicle & Traffic law classifies ATV’s as any 2-, 3-, or 4-wheeled off-highway vehicle. Therefore, it is our contention that 2-wheeled ATV’s (trail bikes) can’t be discriminated against since the Aldrich UMP specifically provides for ATV access to motorvehicle trails within the unit.

This is where you come in: We request that everyone either write or call the offices of the officials noted below. A letter template is available from me for the asking.

DEC Region 6 -- Regional Director: Sandra L. LeBarron, 317 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601-3787, (315) 785-2239

DEC Commissioner-- John P. Cahill, NYSDEC, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12233-1011

518-485-8940, Fax 518-457-7744, e-mail: jcahill@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Governor-- George E. Pataki, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224, or to Email The Governor:

gov.pataki@chamber.state.ny.us

3) MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, ATV RAFFLE

Over the next month, NYSORVA will be running a membership drive to obtain funds to support its operational expenses and especially for supporting its work in getting the ATV trail funding bills passed, including hiring a lobbyist. All OHV clubs known to us will receive a mailing requesting donations at a minimum of $100 to become a voting member (individual voting membership donations are accepted at $15). Donations at any level will be graciously accepted.

This year, an inducement of club-level membership will be participation in our ATV raffle. Member clubs may sell raffle tickets to be sold at $5 each (5 for $20) for a Foretrax 450es ATV (donated by American Honda). The club keeps 50% of the sale of each ticket yielding an effective fundraising device for both club and NYSORVA.

Current 1999 member clubs include the three NYTRO chapters: Eastern NY/NCATV, Rochester/Central NY, and Western NY. Thank You!

If you would like more information about membership, call me at 518-756-3366 (or see our web site at http://www.eguides.com/nysorva).

4) CHAMPION LANDS RECREATION EASEMENT - UPDATE

Earlier in the month I reported information about a plan that potentially provides for 150+ miles of ATV trail and roads on three tracts of forestry lands in the North-Northwest Adirondack Forest Preserve. As a requirement of the transfer of these lands from Champion to Forest Land Group of NC, access by the public for various recreational purposes, including ATVs and trail bikes, is being negotiated as part of a public recreational easement to the deed. This is a premier opportunity that if it comes to fruition, will make this region the OHV recreational capital of the Northeast!

An area ATV club, ATV Ruffriders Club, Inc., is taking the lead to represent the interest of OHV enthusiast by meeting with DEC officials. I will report later on the outcome of the club’s February 24 meeting with DEC officials. One unresolved issue is that the 47 hunting clubs that have leases with Champion on its lands have hundreds of miles of trails on or leading to the leased parcels. Will these be official trails, be maintained by DEC, or even allowed (now, or after the lease are grandfathered out in 15 years as proposed)? And what will the actual ATV trail mileage be? Numbers are flying about, one of which is 150 miles, but this seems very low compared to actual existing road and trail mileage in the tracts.

Please help ATV Ruffriders any way you can. If you can lend a hand by attending meetings, making calls or writing letters, please contact:

Brenda White, Secretary

ATV Ruffriders Club, Inc.

Main Street

Dickinson, NY 12930

Phone (518) 856-9339

E-mail bwhite1@slic.com

Your participation will be greatly appreciated by Brenda’s club and by NYSORVA too.

5) NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL FUNDING GRANTS FOR 1998-2003

In 1998, Congress reauthorized the National Recreational Trail Fund, AKA Simms Act, for 1998-2003. The "Transportation Enhancement Act for the 21^st Century," or TEA-21, sets aside a portion of the federal gas tax for block grants to states for recreational trails projects. Each state administers a grant program funded by the federal block grant with trail funding targets of 30% for motorized, 40% for multi-use (combined motor/non-motor), and 30% non-motorized. Grants are made available for appropriate projects, to organizations that have matching funds or volunteer commitments equaling a match. Grant applications will be available in the near future, and applications will be reviewed for disbursements starting this June.

In NY, the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is the agency administering the grant program. Applications are obtained by writing Robert Reinhardt, Division of Planning, OPRHP, Agency Building One-Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12238. Or call (518) 474-0415.

Under the predecessor to TEA-21, ISTEA, 16 grants were recommended in 1997 (totaling $438,379), but only 9 were authorized in 1998 (totaling $148,307). Most of these projects were non-motorized, but some combo-motorized/non-motorized. Two that I could identify as motorized-only were for snowmobile projects (a groomer, and a trail system). No ATV trails were funded. This is too bad considering the money is there for the taking with the appropriate application and matching. And as long as there is not NYS trail fund, this is the only way of getting public funding for ATV trail projects.

For more information about TEA-21 see http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tea21 for more information.

6) WAYNE COUNTY TRAIL PLANNING

The NYTRO-Rochester (Central NY) Chapter is taking the lead in working with Wayne County planners who are seeking input on the possible development of ATV trail facilities in the county. Trail Works, Inc. has been set up by the county to develop a trail system with different trails for all users. If you have interest in helping Trail Works create ATV trails in Wayne County, contact either NYTRO-Rochester, or the Planning Office directly.

The next meeting of the planners will be on March 12, 1999. Areas under consideration for ATV trail development include Port Gibson and state land along the area’s canal.

Wayne County Planning Dept.: Contact Jill Marshall (315) 946-3919

NYTRO-Rochester: Contact Jo Anne Wemes (315) 986-4607

7) UNIT MANAGEMENT PLANS IN PROGRESS

Throughout the state at any given time, there are a number of state forest units that are undergoing unit management plans (UMP), a process where the use of the unit is decided upon and put in writing. The plans cover 5-10 year periods and dictate actions like what trails will be built (or closed), what timber will be cut, and other facility development plans. These plans are developed based partly on public input of how people would like to use the forest for recreational purposes.

So any time a unit management process comes to the forest unit close to you, and you want legal trails in the forest, your club needs to be a part of the process by going to meetings and writing letter to the planners of the UMP. I will put out notice any time I learn of a new UMP. Based on the DEC region, you will need to contact the regional office to connect with the unit planning staff member.

Note that for a forest unit to legally host ATV trails, it must be designated as Wild Forest or Reforestation, cannot be within the Catskill Park, and is severely restricted in the Adirondack Forest Preserve ("Motorvehicle Trail" only). Even though there are many places that fall into the affirmative categories, non-motorized recreation groups like the Audubon Society will vocally oppose any ATV trails anywhere in the state, just because that's what they like to do. NYSORVA will help to counteract opposition to your local ATV trail project by communicating to all clubs in the state asking them to write in favor of the project.

Here are the current DEC UMPs in progress:

Region Unit Name Areas (WMA=wildlife mgt. area, UA=unique area)

-------------------------------------

1 Barcelona Neck Barcelona Neck

4 Albany Albany #1, 3; Alb-Schoharie #1, Partridge Run WMA

4 & 7 Treaty Line Delaware #2, 4-9; Broome #2, Chenango #9, 15

5 Washington County Washington #1, 2, 3; Carter Pond WMA

6 Westward Waters Lewis #3, 20, 24, 30, 34, 35

6 Oneida Lake Plains Rome Sands Plains UA, Rome WMA

6 Black Creek Herkimer #1, 4

7 Salmon River Oswego #4-10, 12, 14; Oswego-Lewis #1; Salmon River UA

7 Fish Creek Oswego #1, 3, 11, 13

7 Nelson Swamp Nelson Swamp

7 McDonough Chenango #1, 6, 11, 26

7 N. Chenango Highlands Chenango #2, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 34

7 Tomkins-Tioga Highlands Tompkins #1, 6; Tompkins-Schuyler #1

7 Split Rock Split Rock UA

7 Camillus Woods Camillus Woods

8 Livingston County Livingston #1, 2, 3; Rattlesnake Hill WMA

8 Schuyler/Steuben Six Nations

[Note that the Six Nations UMP is now published and includes ATV trails in Cinnamon Lake and Dry Run State Forests. The UMP states that trail and parking facilities will need to be constructed. If you are in this area, your club’s help in construction of these trails will be appreciated.]

9 Otto-Zoar Valley Cattaraugus #15; Erie-Cat. #1

9 West Almond Allegany #1, 2, 4

9 Onondaga Escarpment Onondaga Escarpment UA

DEC Regional Offices:

8) SNOWMOBILE TRAIL FUND BILLS NEED YOUR SUPPORT

New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) is leading the way in getting Senate Bill S1152 passed which will increase the registration fee for snowmobiles from $15 to $35, in turn tripling the trail fund available for building and maintaining trails in the 8,000+ mile NYS snowmobile trail system. The bill also provides for registration reciprocity with other states to bolster snowmobile tourism.

Please show your support by writing to your state Senator in favor of S1152 (sponsored by Sen. DeFrancisco).

Please see NYSSA’s site http://www.nyssnowassoc.org/ for additional information.

9) THRUWAY MOTORCYCLE TOLL REDUCTION BILLS

A244/S1074 provide for the reduction of tolls for motorcyclists using the NYS Thruway. Currently, the same tolls are charge for any two-axle passenger vehicle (car, SUV, pickup and motorcycle). Motorcycles have a smaller maintenance impact on the facilities plus they reduce congestion. For these reasons, the state should encourage use of the toll roads by motorcyclist.

Please show your support by writing to your state Assemblyperson and Senator in favor of for A244/S1074.

[Back to News List]