P.O. Box 111, Duluth, MN 55801  TEL: (218) 740-3175 FAX: (218) 740-3179 EMAIL jeff@MnResponsibleRec.org WEBSITE: www.MnResponsibleRec.org

For Immediate Release
March 24, 2003

Contact: Representative Alice Hausman, 651-296-3824

Jeff Brown, Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation; 218-740-3175, 218-590-6188

Representative Alice Hausman - DFL, St. Paul, will introduce a bill today, House File 1108, to comprehensively address the growing number of motorized recreation problems being identified by the state. Hausman is unique in Minnesota’s legislature, and perhaps the nation, for annually sponsoring legislation to directly address these problems and protect Minnesota’s environment and quality of life from the unwanted impacts of ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles, four-wheel drive trucks, snowmobiles, and jet-skis.

"This year," says Representative Hausman; "the legislature has a particular responsibility to respond to new information about the unwanted impacts of the DNR’s motorized trail program. To protect our tax dollars, environment, and quality of life, recommendations in the recently released state audit of the DNR’s motorized trail program should be put into law this session." The Office of the Legislative Auditor has found that snowmobile and ATV clubs are constructing trails without permits, encroaching on wetlands, and damaging public and private property without accountability. Hausman says, "In the midst of our state’s financial crisis, there could not be a better time to hold publicly funded programs accountable for their spending and outcomes." "What should make us even more vigilant," says Hausman, "is the current data that publicly funded motorized recreation is generating a significant number of unwanted impacts and costs. Right now," says Representative Hausman, "we are wrongly deferring these costs to future generations while damaging the very environment and quality of life we depend on."

Representative Hausman is quick to acknowledge that there might be benefits of motorized recreation, but she is concerned that "the current open access to public funds and public lands by snowmobile and ATV clubs is negatively impacting the quality of life Minnesotans seek and that provides our basis for a healthy economy." Hausman cites a 1998 DNR/Sea Grant study that found seven out of ten Minnesotans seek non-motorized experiences on state land. "Why then," asks Hausman, "has our DNR and legislature opened over 95% of our state forest land to ATVs, dirt-bike motorcycles, and four-wheel drive trucks."

Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation, MRR, the group that requested the audit of the DNR, annually works with Representative Hausman to craft comprehensive legislation. Jeff Brown, Executive Director says "only comprehensive legislation will address motorized recreation problems from trail funding and development to trail use, enforcement, and repair." Brown says MRR’s "Representative Alice" will someday be celebrated as a folk hero who was willing to challenge the ‘ole boys network’, backroom decisions, and sacred cow institutions that for thirty years have operated with perpetual pubic funding beyond public view."

To view HF 1108, the state audit of the DNR’s motorized trail program, and other information about the unwanted impacts of motorized recreation go to MRR’s website at www.MnResponsibleRec.org