Federal Off-Road Vehicle Regulations
A number of Executive Orders, regulations and management policies pertain to the use of off-road vehicles on public lands and waters. The following links connect to some of the most important; however, this list is not exhaustive. Several federal laws provide the underlying legal authority upon which these other measures rest. They include the: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), Federal Land Policy and Managment Act (FLPMA) and the National Park Service Organic Act.
Executive Orders: (Applicable to all federal land management agencies)
Full text of Executive Orders 11644 (President Nixon, 1972) and 11989 (President Carter, 1977)
U.S. Forest Service:Planning Generally (36 CFR Part 219)
Prohibition on Use of Vehicles Off Roads (36 CFR Part 261)
Use of Motor Vehicles Off Forest Service Roads (36 CFR Part 295)
Special Use Permits (see 36 CFR Part 251.50 through 251.65)
Forest Service Manual on Off-Road Vehicles (found in Chapter 2350: Trail, River, and Similar Recreation Opportunities)
Search from for Forest Service Manuals and Handbooks
Understanding Forest Service Directives, Manual and Handbooks
Bureau of Land Management (BLM):
Planning Generally (43 CFR Part 1600)
Off-road Vehicle Management Specifically (43 CFR Part 8340)
Special Use Permits (43 CFR Part 8372)
National Park Service (NPS):
Snowmobile Regulation (36 CFR Part 2.18)
General Off-road Vehicle Regulation (36 CFR Part 4.10)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA):
NEPA Implementing Regulations Issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
40 Most Frequently Asked Questions Concerning NEPA
Federal Agency NEPA Regulations/Policies — Federal agencies are required to comply with the overall NEPA regulations issued by the CEQ (see above link) as well as issue agency-specific policies concerning NEPA compliance. This link lists agency NEPA websites.
Related Resource
Published Wildlands CPR’s quarterly journal, The Road RIPorter, Legal Notes include resources and information on legal strategy, successful suits, and other information related to off-road vehicle use in federal land management policy.