and specifically recognizing four off-road vehicle areas, Baker said his group fears that recreation would gradually be phased out of the protected areas. "We oppose legislation that denies the public's access to public land," he said. Americans for Responsible Recreational Access called the act "a remarkable piece of legislation". "The bill is the product of more than three years of intensive work by the Senator's staff, with a wide variety of user interests, ranging from environmentalists to energy producers, the OHV recreation community, various local and state government officials, and the U. S. Department of Defense. The scope of the legislation is far reaching in that it facilitates solar energy projects in the California desert, authorizes new monument and wilderness areas, sets aside federal land for Defense Department activities, and from our standpoint, designates specific areas as federally recognized OHV recreation areas. The negotiations among the various interest groups, as facilitated by the Feinstein staff, were lengthy and difficult. No one group got all it wanted and everyone had to compromise on their own specific agenda. But, in the end, an agreement was reached that specifies how the California desert will be managed for the benefit of all Americans." "Senator Feinstein and her staff has been tenacious in their work on this legislation. They have been instrumental in bringing opposing sides to the negotiating table and they have been advocates for OHV recreation. We hope the Feinstein model of inclusiveness will become a model that others in Congress will use when developing legislation on federal lands issues." Culture "Visitors come from across the country and around the world to experience Route 66, its history, and our unique desert landscape," explained Jim Conkle, chair of the Route 66 Alliance. "This bill will preserve an important link to our past while also investing in our future." Business and economic development "The California Desert Protection Act would preserve the natural beauty of our home for future generations while also creating much-needed business and tourism opportunities now," said Karen Lowe, President of the Morongo Valley Chamber of Commerce. Renewable energy development and electrical power transmission "I hope the hearing demonstrates how balanced this legislation is, that it allows for the needs of conservation, renewable energy, recreation, and the military. It provides certainty for all stakeholders and a legacy for the future," said Fred Bell, Chief Operating Officer of Noble & Company, a desert-based renewable