P.O. Box 111, Duluth, MN 55801
TEL: (218) 740-3175 FAX: (218) 740-3179 EMAIL info@MnResponsibleRec.org WEBSITE:
www.MnResponsibleRec.orgFor Immediate Release
January 28, 2003- District court decision demonstrates need for audit reforms of DNR motorized trail program-
Contacts: Jeff Brown, Director, Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation, 218-740-3175
Jim Peters, Attorney, 320-763-8458
Despite large scale evidence of ongoing wetlands violations, illegal trail building, and illegal use of public funds, Lake County District Court has refused further environmental review of proposed ATV trails leading into and around Tettegouche State Park and the Lake Superior Hiking Trail on Minnesota’s North Shore. Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation, the group seeking environmental and public review of this and other DNR proposals to develop ATV, dirt-bike motorcycle, and four-wheel drive truck trails statewide, says the decision sadly reinforces the worst in a broken system that is damaging Minnesota’s environment and quality of life.
MRR’s director, Jeff Brown says "MRR provided the court with substantial evidence, corroborated in a recent legislative audit of the DNR’s motorized trail program, that ATV and snowmobile clubs are illegally bulldozing trails in wetlands and on public and private land with no accountability or obligation to repair damage". Brown says "yesterday’s court decision to allow business as usual in Lake County demonstrates the need for legislative reform of laws and rules governing disbursement of public funds for motorized trail development.
Regarding the proposed Moosewalk/Mooserun ATV trail on the North Shore, Brown says the local ATV club, Silver Trail Riders, has a history of using public funds to illegally fill and damage wetlands in the area, and did so while the proposed ATV trail was under review for approval. Brown sites a current request before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by Lake County and the DNR for what MRR calls "permission after the fact" for "unauthorized wetland impacts at 13 [trail] locations … and …17 locations where spoil piles were deposited in wetlands" by the ATV club illegally over the past few years. (Photos of this damage can be viewed on MRR’s website at
www.MnResponsibleRec.org) Also requested is permission to "fill wetlands adjacent to several streams tributary to Lake Superior". A DNR hydrologist reports that up to 20% of the proposed ATV trail is in wetlands. MRR has been documenting unwanted ATV impacts on wetlands since release of its report "Off-Highway Vehicles in Minnesota" in 1999. The Corps of Engineers is taking public comment until February 23 on the permit request. MRR says it will challenge the granting of this permit. The permit request can be viewed on the Corp’s website at http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/regulatory/mn_ip/20021850.pdfMRR’s attorney, Jim Peters says MRR will also review the possibility of appealing the district court’s decision to limit environmental and public review of the proposed ATV trail. Peters says MRR will have 60 days to enter such an appeal.
To learn more about the Moosewalk/Mooserun environmental review, click here.