October 13, 2015

Wyden: Remove Roadblocks to Outdoor Recreation Access

Wyden Rolls out Draft Bill to Increase Recreation Access, Reduce Permitting Red Tape, Improve Public-Private Partnerships and Volunteerism to Maintain Rec Sites

Washington, D.C.  Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released a draft bill to boost outdoor recreation in Oregon and across the country. The proposal addresses concerns Oregonians raised about government roadblocks to recreation during a series of listening sessions Wyden hosted on his statewide tour of Oregon’s Seven Wonders this summer.

“The beauty of the recreation and tourism economy is that Oregonians working in it are all over the state, supporting communities large and small,” I’m asking Oregonians to weigh in on my proposal to make sure outdoor recreation remains a boon for local economies and ensure Oregon’s special places are open to visitors and locals alike, by removing the roadblocks that discourage recreation.”

Wyden’s draft bill would streamline and modernize recreation use permits for visitors, outfitters and guides in several ways, including by making all permits available online. The bill would also increase volunteerism and prioritize maintenance work on public lands used most often for recreation, and require the Bureau of Labor to collect data on the impacts of recreation on the economy.

Read the bill here

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