Environmental Impact - Environmental assessments (EIS etc.)

Long, R., Smith, S., Galagher, S., & Berning, C. (1999). Off the track America's National Parks under siege. Retrieved December 18, 2003, from http://www.bluewaternetwork.org/reports/rep_pl_offroad_offtrack.pdf

Abstract

Off-the-Track: America’s National Parks Under Siege provides an extensive investigation into the effects of off-road vehicle (ORV) use in the National Park System.1 Based largely on a Bluewater Network’s National Park survey, which documents damages in individual park units(see Appendix), Off-the-Track paints a disturbing portrait of overwhelming degradation and destruction of natural resources on our public lands – lands accorded some of the highest possible protection as mandated by the President of the United States and the US Congress. Off-the-Track presents compelling evidence that lasting damage to America’s Parks caused by
off-road vehicle use is incompatible with the National Park Service’s (NPS) mission to “leave resources unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Furthermore, Off-the-Track predicts that existing conflicts between ORV users, other recreational activities, and wildlife will only increase in the future due to an expanding off-road vehicle marketplace. Off-road vehicles, otherwise known as “thrill craft,” are used for recreation and amusement in over half of the 108 Park units physically large enough to accommodate them.2 Of those, 40 parks report off-road vehicle activity is damaging park resources, in many cases, very significantly. All year long, such craft run haphazardly across pristine wetlands and marshes, creeks and streams, and over beaches, prairies, and irreplaceable wildlife corridors in park units across America. Overall, the use of thrill craft appears to serve as high entertainment for a privileged minority of motorized “cowboys” who behave as though National Parks are their personal tramping grounds. Unfortunately, these thrills come at a very high price to America’s National Parks in the form of degraded wilderness, destroyed natural quiet, endangered wildlife, threatened visitor safety, and elevated air, water and noise pollution.

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