Law & Order

U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill to Reopen Clear Creek to Off-Roaders

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives 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 California’s San Benito and Fresno Counties for recreational use, including OHV access. The Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act (H.R. 1913) provides OHV access to more than 240 miles of public trails.

Clear Creek NRA was closed in 2008 due to potential asbestos exposure concerns. 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 to allow OHV use without exposing the public to unacceptable risks. The bill would reopen the Clear Creek NRA and implement the recommended management strategies. The House passed legislation has been referred to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.