By Stuart Gosswein
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for an off-road vehicle (ORV) management plan within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA). The Glen Canyon NRA encompasses over 1.25 million acres in Utah and Arizona. A general management ORV plan was first published in 1979.
A 2008 court settlement agreement requires an updated plan which the NPS has been subsequently pursuing. The EIS evaluates the impact of five ORV management alternatives ranging from no action to an ORV ban. The NPS has recommended Alternative E, a mixed-use plan for designating specific areas for ORV use and prohibiting use in other areas. Permits would be required for all off-road travel and motor vehicles could not exceed a sound level of 96 decibels when operated.
For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.