Help Keep ATVs Off of State Land

ATVs could be revved up and making a beeline to our state lands unless Vermonters who care speak up now — and speak up loudly.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Contact your legislators if they sit on the decision-making Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR).
2. Write a Letter to the Editor.
3.  Contact the Governor. Call 802-828-3333 or 800-649-6825.

CONTACT LCAR LEGISLATORS

If you live in the district of a lawmaker on the decision-making committee known as LCAR, you are especially key. Let your lawmakers know where you stand on this issue.

Here’s what you can do:

• Go to the Vermont Legislative Directory to find out who your lawmakers are. 
• If any of these names pop up when you click on your town, you are in an LCAR district:
  • LCAR Senators: Diane Snelling, Mark MacDonald, Claire Ayer, Ann Cummings
  • LCAR Representatives: Linda Myers, Patsy French, Virginia Milkey and Richard Marek.

Let your LCAR representative know that the rule is ARBITRARY because:

• There is no scientific information in the rule.
• The rule ignores the recommendations of the ATV Collaborative.
• It wasn’t vetted in the Legislature by all the proper committees.

(NOTE: LCAR can make decisions on rules based on whether they are arbitrary or run contrary to legislative intent, among other things.)

WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Opening state lands to ATVs is shortsighted, ill-conceived public policy. And now is the time to elevate this critical issue and stop the idea in its tracks. Find out tips for writing LTEs at VNRC’s web site — and help make the case that it’s a bad idea because:  

• The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) is ignoring its own staff and scientific information. ANR’s own ATV Committee, representing diverse professionals in the agency, commissioned a scientific study on the environmental impacts of ATVs. The committee concluded, “there is no environmental good news here.”
• ANR is ignoring the recommendations of the broad-based group known as the ATV Collaborative. ANR is moving forward with this controversial policy without promoting key Collaborative recommendations, including increasing penalties and registration fees to pay for enforcement.
• ANR is ignoring the state budget reality. The state is cutting staff because of tight budgets. Why would the state add to the burden of patrolling state lands when ATV enforcement is already a problem?
• Ignores the will of Vermonters. During the public comment period on this issue, by a margin of 4 to 1, Vermonters spoke out against allowing ATVs on state lands. Clearly there is a disconnect between the policy being put forward and the will of Vermonters.

Take action now! Time is running short. And, as always, feel free to call VNRC with questions at 802-223-2328.