Both BLM and the Forest Service prepare comprehensive land and resource management plans for their public lands. Within the appropriated dollar allocations, OHV activities were given lower funding and staffing priorities than other competing programs at the eight locations we reviewed, and—according to agency officials—this ranking is typical for other BLM and the Forest Service locations with OHV activities. In the aggregate, two-thirds of this funding came from the states. Local communities and private organizations contributed funds at some locations and services and materials at all locations; the total value of these contributions, however, was not readily available. Pinos Ranger District in California, 7 staff spent part of their time and 4 staff worked full-time on the OHV program. Monitoring Has Not Been Systematic, and Confusion Has Hampered Enforcement

As required under the executive orders and implementing regulations, BLM and the Forest Service have prepared resource management and activity plans that require systematic, documented monitoring to (1) identify any adverse effects of OHV use on natural and cultural resources and any needed corrective actions and (2) determine users’ compliance with OHV regulations. These orders were issued in the 1970s to establish policies and provide for procedures to regulate the use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on federal lands. More specifically, our objectives were to obtain information on (1) the funding and staffing for OHV programs and (2) the extent to which the two agencies were complying with the executive orders’ requirements that they designate federal lands for OHV use, monitor OHV use to identify adverse effects and any needed corrective actions and to determine compliance with regulations, and address or correct any adverse effects of OHV use. OHV program staff provided us, for fiscal year 1993, with estimates of the amount of federal funding and the number of staff that were being devoted to OHV activities at each of the eight locations and with the actual amount of state funding provided through cooperative partnerships at all of the locations except the one where state funding was not provided. VI.3.) Designation of Land for OHV Use

The Mt. VII.3).
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) and the Forest Service's implementation of executive orders regulating the use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on federal lands, focusing on the agencies': (1) designation of federal lands for OHV use; (2) monitoring of OHV use to identify adverse effects and any needed corrective actions; and (3) compliance with OHV regulations.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) at the 8 locations reviewed, BLM and the Forest Service restricted OHV use in their management plans, but they generally gave lower funding and staffing priority to OHV activities than to other programs; (2) in fiscal year 1993, approximately two-thirds of the estimated total funding for OHV monitoring activities came from the states; (3) only 36 percent of the agency staff assigned to OHV activities worked full-time on such activities; (4) local communities and organizations provided additional funds and volunteer services and material to support OHV activities; (5) BLM and Forest Service compliance with the executive orders at the 8 locations was mixed because of limited staff and funding and higher priority activities; (6) although all 8 locations had lands prescribed for OHV use, 5 locations did not have maps and signs ready to show the public where and under what conditions OHV could be used; (7) at all locations, OHV monitoring was casual, adverse effects were seldom documented, and needed corrective actions had not been prioritized; and (8) although citations were written for violations at all the locations, enforcement was hampered by confusion over where and when OHV restrictions applied.