Roads to Ruin: Revised Statute 2477 & National Forests

[Grumpy]

Roads to Ruin: Revised Statute 2477 and National Forests
Author: Laurel Hagen
Road-RIPorter Issue: Autumn Equinox 2007, Volume 12 #3
September 20, 2007



(Editor’s Note: this article is meant only as a practical orientation for the layperson, and does not represent the official legal positions of Wildlands CPR or our affiliates. RS 2477 law and policy is very complex and constantly shifting, and it would be impossible to represent the full spectrum of issues here.)

In early battles over logging in the Pacific Northwest, timber companies would engage in what they called “park preventionâ€

[Grumpy]

RS 2477/Phantom Roads
Author: TJ Brown
Road-RIPorter Issue: Nov/Dec 2000, Volume 5 #6
November 10, 2000


Originating with the 1866 mining law, RS 2477 has become a major headache for federal land management agencies and conservationists alike. In 1976 Congress repealed this outdated statute with passage of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), however, Congress left open a loophole by recognizing prior and existing rights. Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) enthusiasts are using this loophole and attempting to drive a legion of ORVs through it on “phantom roads.â€