TEL: (218) 740-3175 FAX: (218) 740-3179 EMAIL info@MnResponsibleRec.org WEBSITE: www.MnResponsibleRec.org

Fact: $1,766,272 in public gas-tax revenue was automatically disbursed to the DNR to promote and support snowmobile, ATV, dirt-bike motorcycle, four-wheel drive truck, and motorboat access to public and private lands and waters in Fiscal Year 2002. Minnesota Department of Revenue, Petroleum Division, 2002

Fact: Over $12 million dollars in public gas-tax revenues had accumulated in DNR Trails and Waterways Division motorized recreation accounts for this purpose in 2002. Minnesota DNR, 2002

Fact: A mandated portion of the tax ($.20/gallon) collected on every gallon of gas sold in Minnesota goes to promote motorized recreation access to Minnesota’s public lands and waters. In the early 1980s the Minnesota legislature mandated under Minnesota Statute 29a.18 that the following gas-tax proportions be dedicated annually to motorized recreation:

Motorboats 1.5 %

Snowmobiles 1.0 % (Automatically allocated for snowmobiling even in years with no snow.)

ATVs .15 of 1%

Dirt-bike Motorcycles .046 of 1%

Four-wheel drive Trucks .164 of 1%

Minnesota Department of Revenue, Petroleum Division, 2002

Fact/Problem: Public gas-tax funds, administered by the DNR Trails and Waterways Division, are routinely illegally disbursed to local snowmobile and ATV clubs who are bulldozing illegal trails on public and private land and causing significant environmental damage without accountability or obligation to repair. Evidence provided to the Office of the Legislative Auditor available at http://www.mnresponsiblerec.org/resources/audit/auditrequestindex.htm, 2002-2003.

         - Adequate Enforcement to keep riders on designated routes