QWR STATEMENT ON COVID-19 - This Too Shall Pass

STATEMENT ON COVID-19

“This too shall pass”

The outdoor recreation community in California is all too familiar with having significant natural disaster events - such as the recent 2018 wildfire season - disrupt access to both casual trail use and permitted events.

Today, we are facing the coronavirus (COVID-19) that is another type of natural disaster which is not just restricted to forest lands in California but is impacting people and their activities – including powersports related events - on a worldwide basis.

The federal government has been directing the public to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to follow mitigation measures and other guidance from state and local government agencies.

CDC GUIDANCE on COVID-19

https://www.cdc.gov/

QWR would like to support guidance from the AMA, Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals, and other recreation groups who have issued statements about working in a cooperative manner with government officials and our land agency partners when it comes to cancelling or postponing scheduled permitted events or conferences.

GUIDANCE FROM GOV. NEWSOM’S OFFICE

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/12/governor-newsom-issues-new-executive-order-further-enhancing-state-and-local-governments-ability-to-respond-to-covid-19-pandemic/

Also, some jurisdictions may decide to allow outdoor group events based on site-specific information.  However, local government agencies may have a lower number of people that may be gathered at an event.  Always check with your local health agencies.

COVID-19 has now become a political issue with an uncertain outcome at this point.  It is the hope of many that the virus will run its course in a short period of time so we all can get back to a normal life.   However, there is the possibility that things could get much worse before the situation gets better.  We just don’t know.

As OHV, MTB, MotoGP, Supercross, and other competition events continue to be cancelled or rescheduled it is important to know that both motorized and non-motorized recreationists can still get out and enjoy casual trail use with family and friends in small group settings.

We will get through this natural disaster as we have so many times before.  That is what we do!

QWR President to Testify at House Subcommittee Hearing on June 22, 2011

Don Amador, president of QWR, just received his confirmation from the House that he will testify before the House Subcommittee on Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m.  The focus of the hearing is in regards to Recreational Opportunities (or lack thereof) on Public lands.  This will be Don's first trip as QWR owner to Washington DC to testify at a Congressional Hearing.  Don will also be representing BRC at the hearing.

Info on June 22 Hearing – It will have live video

http://naturalresources.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=246553

Amador will question the BLM’s decision-making process associated with the ongoing landscape level functional closure of the 75,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) to all user groups on May 1, 2008.  This unit is managed by the Hollister Field Office (HFO) and is located in Fresno and San Benito Counties in the Central Coast Mountain Range of California.

Amador expects to include in his testimony information from the new OHMVR Health Study, comments from previous public input, San Benito County, motorcycle riders, and other stakeholders.

Amador will also be ready to field questions from House Members regarding travel management.

QWR believes that land management decisions should be made on good science and not based on the personal or political agendas of unelected government officials.

The entire witnesses list below:

Panel I

Mr. Russ Ehnes

Executive Director

National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council

Mr. Scott Jones

Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition

Mr. Dick Lepley

Executive Director

Pennsylvania Off-Highway Vehicle Association

Ms. Karen Umphress

Board Member

Coalition of Recreational Trails Users

Minnesota Motorized Trail Coalition

Panel II

Mr. Don Amador

Blue Ribbon Coalition

Mr. Tom Crimmins

Lead Spokesman

Professionals for Managed Recreation

Mr. Sutton Bacon

CEO

Nantahala Outdoor Center

Mr. Jim Akenson

Executive Director

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Legislative Fix Needed to Address Denial of Special Recreation Event Permits

As more non-motorized and motorized clubs are being forced to cancel historic permitted events because of a burdensome administrative process, Quiet Warrior Racing believes it is time so seek a legislative fix to this issue.

For the last 13 years, I have worked sound tech at numerous motorized permitted events on Forest Service and BLM lands.  That opportunity has given me the chance to gain insight regarding this issue from both the club and agency perspective.  In recent years, QWR has seen an increased regulatory burden (cost recovery, insurance, agency staff shortages, excessive and/or unwarranted environmental review, etc.) directly causing a dramatic decline in the number of permitted events being authorized on federal lands.

For units that want permitted events to occur, that regulatory burden has made it almost impossible for the agency to authorize an event.  For units that want to eliminate permitted events, that same burden is being used as a convenient excuse for denying that activity.

Currently, the administration of special recreation permits (BLM) and special use permits (FS) is 100% discretionary with no appeal process.  QWR believes that recreationists will continue to see a decline in the authorization of permits unless a solution is found.

QWR is convinced that Congress is best suited to address this issue with a legislative fix.  That concept has evolved over the last several years after reviewing this issue with clubs, land managers, and legislators.

QWR will be encouraging and working with national recreation groups and legislators to find a long-term solution to this growing problem.  QWR believes that the goal of this legislation should be to streamline the administrative process and eliminate/reduce excessive or redundant environmental review specifically in recreation areas that have already been designated for a particular activity such as OHV, rock climbing, OSV, equestrian, and mountain-bikes.

In this climate of fiscal downturn, federal agencies should be working hard to encourage permitted events which often brings much needed economic benefit to the local community.  A solution is out there…now we just need a collective effort to find it.