By Washington, D.C., Staff
The House Natural Resources Committee passed legislation that requires the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reopen the 75,000-acre Clear Creek National Recreation Area (NRA) in San Benito and Fresno Counties for recreational use, including off-highway vehicle (OHV) access. The “Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act” (H.R. 1838) provides OHV access to more than 240 miles of public trails.
Clear Creek NRA was closed in 2008 as a result of concerns surrounding exposure to asbestos. However, an independent risk-assessment study requested by the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission concluded that management and operational strategies could be effectively employed in the area to allow OHV use without exposing the public to unacceptable risks. The bill ensures that the Clear Creek NRA will be managed in way that permits responsible recreation while also providing for the safety of all of the area’s visitors.
For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.