NEPA EXPLAINED FOR MOTORIZED RECREATIONISTS

 

NEPA Explained: What the National Environmental Policy Act Means for Motorized Recreation

If you've ever wondered why land use decisions on public trails seem to move at a snail’s pace—or why some routes get closed altogether—the answer often points to one law: NEPA.

Let’s break it down.

What is NEPA?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970. It’s one of America’s foundational environmental laws, and it requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of their actions before making decisions.

In plain terms, NEPA is about “look before you leap” when it comes to projects on public lands.

Key Highlights of NEPA

• Environmental Reviews Are Required: Before a federal agency builds a road, approves a new trail system, or changes how land is used, NEPA requires them to evaluate how it might affect the environment.
• Three Levels of Review:
  • Categorical Exclusion (CE): For small projects with little impact.
  • Environmental Assessment (EA): For moderate projects that might affect land, wildlife, or water.
  • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): For big, complex projects with likely significant impacts.
• Public Involvement is Key: NEPA gives you and me a voice. Public comment periods allow local users, advocates, and stakeholders to weigh in before a decision is finalized.
• Alternatives Must Be Considered: Agencies must consider a range of alternatives to their proposed action, including a “no action” option.

How Does NEPA Affect Motorized Recreation?

Now for the nitty-gritty: how does NEPA impact our ability to enjoy trails with Jeeps, SxSs, dirt bikes, or overland rigs?

1. Trail Designation and Closures

Every time a new motorized trail is proposed—or even an existing one needs to be maintained or reopened—a NEPA review is triggered. This can delay approvals and sometimes lead to closures, especially if environmental impacts (real or perceived) are flagged.

2. Maintenance and Access

Even simple things like grading a road, replacing a culvert, or brushing a trail can require NEPA review on federal land. If funding or staff is limited, this means delays or closures happen by default.

3. Recreation Planning and Travel Management

NEPA is at the heart of how the Forest Service and BLM create their Travel Management Plans—which define where motorized vehicles are allowed. These plans take years and are based heavily on NEPA documents, public input, and environmental data.

4. It’s a Tool—Use It!

NEPA isn’t just a roadblock—it’s also a tool for advocacy. Motorized recreationists can:

• Submit comments during public review periods.
• Work with agencies to propose sustainable trail solutions.
• Partner with volunteer programs to help monitor and maintain access.

Why You Should Care

Whether you're a Jeep rock crawler, a dual-sport rider, or an overland explorer, NEPA shapes the landscape of your access. Understanding how it works—and how to engage with it—helps you protect the places you love to ride.

Motorized use often gets painted as harmful by those who don't understand or value our style of recreation. By participating in the NEPA process, we can defend responsible use, support trail stewardship, and ensure future generations can explore our public lands by motor.

In Summary:

• NEPA is a federal law requiring agencies to evaluate environmental impacts before taking action.
• It applies to roads, trails, and recreation management decisions on federal lands.
• Motorized recreation is directly affected—both positively and negatively—by how NEPA is applied.
• Public involvement is essential, and motorized users need to show up and speak up.

Want to keep your trails open? Know your NEPA.

Learn more about NEPA and how public lands are managed and what we can do about it here, in my book on Amazon.

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• FACILITATE MEETINGS
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS

#landuse #stewardship #conservation #motorizedrecreation #jeep #jeeplife #volunteerism #volunteers #leadvolunteers #delalbright #BuiltOnBFG #cloakedrepublic #savetrails #leadership

Land Use App Adds NEPA and Strategic Planning

STRATEGIC PLANNING and NEPA FOR CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS

LAND USE APP ADDS THE MODEL and PROCESS

By Del Albright, BRC Director of Operations

Need help with figuring out your future as a club or association?  Then here is a simple model that has proven itself over time to be useful for any group.  10 steps to get you from here to there; from an unknown future to one that you create.


The model takes into account the things holding back your group from growing, and helps you plot a plan of strategies to get to a better place.


Check this process out on the Land Use App along with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), just newly added for any smart phone.

The NEPA process (Act) guides every activity on federal lands, in all federal agencies.  It's important to know where you fit.

This simple review with links to more details is a great starting place you can have bookmarked on your smart phone.


STRATEGIC PLANNING HERE: 
http://m.delalbright.com/strategic_planning.html

NEPA HERE:
http://m.delalbright.com/nepa.html

I welcome additions, edits and comments.
Del
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How to Write Effective Letters to Politicians and Bureaucrats

Lion's Back, Moab, UT (before it was closed)

Writing Effective Letters Does Not Have to be Scary!

How to Write Letters to Politicians and Bureaucrats, Made Easy.

By Del Albright

Letter writing is not like going up and down some tall, skinny, slippery red rock formation in a 4x4 -- it's really pretty easy.   And more importantly, without letters from us to politicians and bureaucrats, our voice is never as strong as it could be to save outdoor sports.

You can use these same tips for writing comment letters on NEPA (USFS, BLM, etc.) documents as well.

 There's a trick and a formula to letter writing.  In this video, I give it to you short and sweet.

http://youtu.be/qxQhevnXgu0

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE STANDING IN COURT

"STANDING" IN COURT AND NEPA - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

To have a seat at the landuse table when the big decisions are made about your trails, roads and riding areas, you must have "standing" in the NEPA process (and subsequent, if any, legal battles). You as an individual off-roader, are best usually represented by an organization such as your state association, national group or large umbrealla national group --the BlueRibbon Coalition

You must show up and sign in to public meetings.

Your name needs to show up on documents and official paperwork.

You have to show that you (and/or your sport) have been "harmed."

You do that with a very specific process (along with help from your local, state and national off-road groups).

The whole story here: http://www.delalbright.com/Articles/legal_standing.html

ALL ABOUT HOW NEPA AFFECTS PUBLIC LANDS

NEPA -- National Environmental Policy Act -- all you need to know.  Right here.

http://www.delalbright.com/access/nepa_intro.htm

Land Use Planning; Bruce Babbitt; and Hunting

My BlueRibbon partner, Don Amador, has posted up a great blog on the public process, Bruce Babbit, and hunting. Actually, its' more than that, but for sure you can get a lot out of this quick read with some good links.

Don links to a fish and game aritcle about getting involved in the management of hunting. The guy who wrote that article is Ken Mayer, a very good friend of mine. Ken is now the Director of Wildlife for Nevada. Ken knows government and in his piece he explains what we can do to ensure we have a say with the USFS and BLM.

It's really important that we are part of the early on "scoping" process -- where we can get our ideas in the game right up front, and hopefully see our ideas end up as the process spits out a plan.
Check out Don's info on his blog here:
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/

Del

Johnson Valley (and Hammers) Letters Needed

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

SEND A LETTER TO HELP SAVE JOHNSON VALLEY

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The Marine Base at Twentynine Palms is considering expanding because they claim to need more room for training purposes. The proposed expansion could functionally close most, if not all, of the Johnson Valley OHV Area. In order for the Marines to expand the base they need to go through a public process called the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In NEPA, it is very important that the OHV community submit letters during this scoping process requesting the Department of the Navy analyze impacts they feel would be made by the proposed project and to offer alternatives. Now is the time when we can have an impact on the proposed project. The deadline for submitting these comments is January 31, 2009.

Get the whole story and letter details here (download/read the BRC Alert in WORD)

http://www.delalbright.com/Access/jv_hammers-letter.doc

Thanks for your help in continuing to save the Hammers and Johnson Valley,

Del