BLM Invites Public Review of OHV Grant Applications

The public is invited to comment on the 2010 applications the Bureau of Land Management has submitted to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR). The public review and comment period will run from Tuesday, March 2 through Monday, April 1, 2010.

The OHV grant applications are an annual process that is a key part of the partnership between BLM and the state of California, which issues grants to a variety of entities to improve or mitigate off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. Under this process, BLM applies for grants from the state each year to help fund and coordinate its OHV program. This year, over $27 million is available for allocation to federal, state and county agencies.

View the applications online at OHMVR's website at http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/. Copies are also available at BLM's field offices in Alturas, Arcata, Bakersfield, Barstow, Bishop, Cedarville, El Centro, Folsom, Needles, Palm Springs, Redding, Ridgecrest, Susanville, and Ukiah, as well as the BLM Desert District Office in Moreno Valley and the state office in Sacramento. Information is also available on BLM's website at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/recreation/ohv.html.

The draft 2010 BLM applications encompass more than 50 projects, ranging from law enforcement, facility developments, trails projects, restoration work and other OHV related projects proposed throughout BLM’s 16 field offices in the state.

Jim Keeler, BLM OHV coordinator, said the BLM is also reaching out to interested publics through, public meetings, personal contacts and through BLM-California's electronic newsletter, Newsbytes. For further details on BLM’s grant applications, contact Keeler at (916) 978-4654 or email james_keeler@ca.blm.gov.