Access Committee Update
Sam Hensold
OP Assistant Coordinator
SOL Coordinator
[email protected]
Outdoor Pursuits
Fort Lewis College
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, CO 81301
970-247-7293
AORE Annual Association Article
Relationship building with federal agencies and other stakeholders over the Access Committee’s history gave us the fuel to
keep many fires stoked for 2014, in addition to adding several more irons. Initiatives have been happening at a seemingly
break-neck pace, so the Portland conference was a chance for us to circle our wagons, look to the future, and align our efforts
with overall AORE strategy.
In March, the AORE formally commented on potential legislative changes to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
(FLREA), due for reauthorization in 2015. FLREA gives all federal land management agencies the ability to charge users for
commercial or special use permits. These comments were made in conjunction with the National Forest Access Coalition
(NFAC) and expressed our concern with some provisions regarding cost recovery by the agencies from those seeking permits.
The Access Committee will continue to stay on the forefront of this subject and engage all parties involved in working towards
the best possible outcome for AORE members.
Due to AORE’s increasing national presence and draft legislation written in response to Congressman Bishop’s (UT) bill titled
the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Modernization Act (FLREMA) of 2014, the AORE was invited to participate in the
Outdoor Access Working Group (OAWG). The OAWG is comprised of stakeholders from across the outdoor industry including
REI, America Outdoors, NOLS, Outdoor Industry Alliance, The Wilderness Society, Outdoor Research and more. The core
concepts of the group are to increase the presence that outdoor recreation and education have in Washington D.C. and to
develop comprehensive recommendations for federal land management agencies. This is the first time an effort at this scale
has existed, and the agencies have received it well thus far. In the past, non-extractive activities have taken a back seat to
their counterparts in land-management practices and this provides an opportunity for a larger voice on our behalf. While the
OAWG acknowledges that not all of its members’ goals align, there is a large amount of common ground that can be used to
raise our collective voice. The Access Committee and Jeanette will be working year-round to support this effort.
In June, Jeannette Stawski travelled to Washington, D.C. for the Great Outdoor America Week t o speak with members of
congress about access issues paramount to the AORE members and other similar organizations. We thank Jeanette for taking
the time to maintain the AORE’s presence in a continuing dialogue at the national level on many fronts.
A large contributor to this increased national presence is the AORE’s involvement with the NFAC, a big thanks goes to Paul
Sanford and the Wilderness Society for spearheading the effort. This year, the Access Committee collaborated with NFAC and
the USFS to work towards establishing a database of all permitting in forests and regions in the country, along with
information on where permits are available for a given activity. In addition to working with the USFS, the Access Committee is
partnering with the National Park Service in establishing an MOU between our organizations, focusing on making access and
permitting easier for membership within the parks.
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