TM-8. All motorized and mechanized travel is limited to existing roads and trails, according to the current BLM inventory of routes, until final route designations are made. Where inventories are not complete, use is limited to existing routes. Inventoried routes may be updated with new information from BLM, citizens, or partners. Livestock and game trails are not considered existing routes or trails.
TM-9. Cross-country travel is prohibited away from existing, inventoried routes. This prohibition will continue after routes are formally designated. The following exceptions apply in both cases:
public health, safety, and law enforcement emergencies;
administrative uses;
BLM-authorized tasks approved by the authorized officer.
TM-10. Vehicle access on designated routes may be temporarily closed when weather creates muddy conditions. When conditions are such that travel by vehicle cannot be accomplished without damaging the existing roadway or departing the roadway and traveling cross-country, the route is closed until the roadway can once again support a vehicle without damage.
TM-11. Administrative and other authorized uses will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
TM-12. Temporary access and use restrictions may be enacted when needed to protect resources or public health and safety.
TM-13. Motorized vehicles may not be used off designated vehicle routes to retrieve game. The cross-country use of wheeled game carriers is permitted, except in wilderness areas. Permittees, including livestock operators, may not use motorized vehicles off designated routes without express permission from the Field Manager.
TM-14. Where a motorized or mechanized route creates a conflict between route users and natural or cultural resources; or an OHV or special vehicle use conflicts with recreation management objectives, the following or other mitigation could be applied:
closing routes;
limiting season of use and vehicle types, speeds, and noise;
rerouting offending route segments; or
modifying routes to reduce or eliminate conflicts.
TM-15. Single or multiple-use OHV and technical vehicle loops and routes, specialized sport sites, mountain bike trails, and management strategies will be designed and developed through interdisciplinary plans, with community and user input. Routes and areas will be developed to address the following considerations:
TM-16. All route construction for motorized and mechanized vehicles will be compatible with social and managerial recreation settings and VRM standards. Communities, user groups, or agency staff can bring motorized vehicle route proposals forward for management attention.
TM-17. General long-distance travel corridors will be designated to establish motorized touring routes for general and OHV use. Existing routes will be selected and designated for inclusion into a regional route network. The designation of touring routes and motorized trail systems will be addressed through activity (implementation) planning.
TM-18. Loop route opportunities will be recognized and spur trails connected to augment the existing route network where no resource conflicts preclude the actions.
TM-19. Easements or rights-of-way across key private and State-administered lands will be acquired to ensure long-term network viability and public access. Easements or rights-of-way actions will be undertaken when:
route system effectiveness is or would be adversely effected by outside actions;
opportunity becomes available and the action is consistent with recreation settings and goals;
recreation and resource disciplines need public and/or administrative access to sites;
portal access is desired to support resource objectives of safety and sustainability.
TM-20. Actions will be taken to monitor and reduce impacts to air quality from vehicle use to comply with EPA, Maricopa County, and other applicable standards. Routes in PM 10 non-attainment areas and routes with fugitive dust issues will be part of an ongoing monitoring program. Proposed mitigation actions (closure, seasonal restrictions, speed limits, change in use, surfacing, surface and dust abatement treatments) will be addressed and implemented as part of the adaptive management for Travel and Transportation Management. Routes causing or contribution to unacceptable or noncompliant air quality impacts will be closed to travel until route conditions change or are corrected.
TM-21. Technical vehicle sites will be evaluated and established on a case-by-case basis. Sites may be established if they result in no net loss of quality or quantity of sensitive resources such as archaeological sites, wildlife habitat for priority species, sensitive soil resources, and other resources sensitive to motorized activities.
TM-22.Limitations to assure the safe and intended use of technical vehicle sites will be established as necessary. BLM, working with user groups and enthusiasts, will define the limitations in order to provide and maintain challenging opportunities for specialized sport activities. In accordance with BLM Instruction Memorandum 2005-007, difficulty ratings will not be published. Motorized users will be informed of the required equipment and skills necessary to utilize these sites through signing, information sheets, and outreach programs.
TM-23. Limits of acceptable change indicators and standards will be developed in site-specific planning to reduce user and resource conflicts.
TM-24. The use of aircraft, motorized and non-motorized, must conform to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards including the use of backcountry landing strips. No backcountry airstrips are designated for public use on BLM-managed land within the planning area. Use of public lands for launching or landing aircraft other than airplanes (balloons, hang gliders, etc.) may be permitted on a case-by-case basis through the appropriate permit process.