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We realize that units within BLM, NPS, and Forest Service understand some of the terms related to OHV
use in different ways. For purposes of this survey, please follow these guidelines. (We suggest that
you print this section and keep it handy when answering the survey questions.)
An off-highway vehicle (OHV), also commonly referred to as an off-road vehicle (ORV) or over-sand vehicle (OSV), is any motorized vehicle capable of, or designed for, cross-country travel or travel immediately on or over land. Examples of OHVs include, but are not limited to 4 x 4 street-legal vehicles; all-terrain vehicles such as three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and side-by-sides; rock crawlers; sand rails; dune buggies; swamp buggies; and off-road motorcycles. Do NOT include personal watercraft, snowmobiles, or aircraft. Do NOT include official agency use of OHVs. Do NOT include street legal vehicles used on paved roads. OHV management, as defined by Executive Order 11644, includes protecting natural resources, promoting safety, minimizing user conflicts, ensuring compliance with regulations, and conducting monitoring activities. A designated open area is any area where cross-country OHV use is allowed. A designated route is a specific path authorized by an agency where some type of OHV use is allowed. An existing route is a path that currently exists where OHV use is not specifically prohibited. A closed area is a designated area where the use of OHVs is permanently or temporarily prohibited. Authorized OHV use is the operation of an OHV on a route or in an area that is in compliance with current agency guidelines. Unauthorized OHV use is the operation of an OHV on a route or in an area where OHV use is prohibited. Appropriated dollars includes funding authority received through the annual appropriations process, including funding used to pay for agency employees' salaries. A bail or collateral schedule identifies the minimum fine amounts set by U.S. District Courts for violations of federal regulations. Sustainable management includes having the necessary human and financial resources available to ensure compliance with regulations, educate users, maintain OHV use areas, and evaluate the existing OHV program. To see these definitions on any page in the survey, click the Definitions link on the page. |
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