3.3.5.1 Off-Highway Vehicles
For many years, the term “off-highway vehicle” (OHV) has been used by the public, industry, and the BLM interchangeably with the term “off-road vehicle” (ORV). The term “off-road vehicle” has a legally established definition in Presidential Executive Order 11644 (1972) and BLM regulations. BLM has chosen to use OHV, not only because it is a more popular term, but also because the regulations address vehicles that use roads and trails on BLM-administered lands, and are therefore not just “off-road.”
The national BLM objectives for OHV management are to protect the resources of public lands, promote the safety of all users of those lands, and minimize conflicts among the various uses of those lands (BLM 2001). OHVs are defined as “any motorized vehicle capable of or designated for travel on or immediately over land, water, or other natural terrain, excluding (1) any non-amphibious registered motorboat; (2) any military, fire, emergency, or law enforcement vehicle when being used for emergency purposes; (3) any vehicle whose use is expressly authorized by the authorized officer or otherwise officially approved; (4) vehicle in official use; and (5) any combat or combat support vehicle when used in times of national defense emergencies” (43 CFR 8340.0-5).
Areas and routes are designated during the planning process in accordance with BLM regulations and include the following three management categories:
•  Open: (26,563 acres) An area where all types of vehicle use are permitted at all times, anywhere within the designated “open” area. This refers to cross-country travel both on and off roads.
•  Limited:(2,76,756 acres) Areas where vehicle use is restricted at certain times, in certain areas, and/or to certain vehicular use to meet specific resource management objectives. These limitations may include limiting the number or types of vehicles; limiting the time or season of use; permitted, administrative, or licensed use only; use on existing roads and trails; and limiting use to designated roads and trails.
•  Closed: (319,673 acres) Motorized vehicles are permanently or temporarily prohibited. The use of motorized vehicles in closed areas may be allowed for certain reasons; such use shall be made only with the approval of the BLM-authorized officer. (319673 acres)
All designations shall be based on the protection of the resources, promotion of the safety of all users, the minimization of conflicts among various uses of the public lands; and in accordance with criteria established in 43 CFR 8342.1.