Memo
To: John Patterson, Program Manager,
Minnesota Legislative Audit Commission Legislators
From: Jeff Brown, Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation
Re: Scope of OLA Audit of DNR Motorized Trail Programs
Date: May, 6 2002
Message:
In addition to MRR evidence provided the OLA 2/19/02 and concerns stated in
5/1/02 letter to OLA MRR requests that the following items be included in the
scope of the OLA audit of DNR motorized trail programs:
County by county review of how grant-in-aid (GIA) funds are spent
- Do invoices match worked performed?
- Are "snowmobile" clubs using GIA snowmobile funds to
develop trails for ATVs?
County by county review of actual environmental and social outcomes of trail
program
- Site visits by interdisciplinary staff of actual trails built in past few
years
- Environmental Impacts
- Social Impacts: Survey local citizens
- How is local oversight provided to ensure environmentally benign, socially
acceptable trails are being constructed?
- What is history of snowmobile and ATV club compliance with permits
required by local sponsor? How has local sponsor and DNR responded to
violations?
- Are snowmobile and ATV club easement agreements with private property
owners on file and in order?
- Are permits and easements on file with DNR as required in DNR trail
assistance program "Grant Agreement"?
- Over -
Undue influence and inappropriate DNR sponsorship of gas-tax funded
constituent organizations
- DNR distribution of ORV organization information and literature at Saint
Paul headquarters lobby, DNR State Fair Booth (see ATVAM , DNR rule books (How
are printing contracts let for DNR publications?), (DNR refuses to post MRR
materials in Saint Paul headquarters)
- Motorized 2000 Conference and guest speakers: Why were nationally recognized
speakers who oppose MN DNR ORV management efforts and seek unrestricted access
to public land invited to speak? (DNR staff letter)
- Mural in new Tower office includes only motorized recreationists
Individual Cases
- Jacob’s Lake, St. Louis County: GIA funding for illegal trail construction
(in binder)
- Hermantown: Purchasing "permanent easements" across private
property in response to community opposition to nuisance snowmobile traffic
- Proposed Taft ATV Trail through beaver pond and wetlands
- Mooswalk/Mooserun ATV Trail in Finland State Forest: Wetlands
violations and illegal trail building with DNR’s ATV trail
"prototype", DNR seeks info from sponsoring snowmobile/ATV club to
complete EAW
- Akelely: Illegally built ATV bridge obstructing Clearwater River, DNR canoe
route
- Mowing ditches in February in Bemidji
- Side Lake: Ongoing illegal trail use despite complaints to enforcement
- Anoka County Rum River Snowmobile Trail: GIA funds paid out. Work performed?
Public land managers, conservation officers, and other employees
- Provide anonymous access to auditors
- Are there conflicts of interests?