Wyoming – The Trump administration is moving to broaden motorized recreation on public lands. U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mike Boren unveiled a proposal that would make roughly 6.2 million acres of Wyoming’s national forests available for all‑terrain vehicles, e‑bikes and other motorized devices.
According to the announcement, existing Forest Service rules have created “unnecessary barriers for Americans to enjoy the national forests and grasslands that they own.” The plan would be carried out through an environmental impact statement and would keep current restrictions in place until local officials update them.
Conservation concerns
A coalition of Wyoming conservation organizations, including the Wyoming Wilderness Association, slammed the proposal. They warned that opening the lands could lead to a “greater free‑for‑all,” causing erosion, degraded water quality, loss of solitude for hikers and cyclists, and potential impacts on hunting and fishing.
“When people are able to go wherever they want, it’s not always malicious,” said Peggie dePasquale, the association’s national forest wildlands program director, “but user‑created motorized trails can create large, irreparable damage in a short time.”
Administration’s rationale
The USDA says the change will strengthen rural economies, maintain safe transportation routes, and support working lands. A new “uniform national policy” would presume that existing roads, trails, airfields, trailheads and other access points on National Forest System lands are open to appropriate public use, unless a specific, documented, science‑based reason calls for closure.
Forest supervisors and staff would implement the policy and seek input on which areas might need to remain closed for safety, resource protection or maintenance concerns.
Public response and next steps
The proposal arrives just two days after the administration announced the removal of protections for about 3.2 million acres of roadless forest in the state, intensifying criticism.
Members of the public may submit comments on the plan through the government website by September 23. Conservationists urge Wyoming residents to review the draft and keep a record of their comments to help restore protections in future administrations.
Wyoming’s State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails agency, which manages off‑road vehicle permits and publishes trail maps, has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
