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A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT, THE TOURISM DEPARTMENT, THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT

OF AGRICULTURE, NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY'S RANGE

IMPROVEMENT TASK FORCE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH TO

COOPERATE IN CONDUCTING A STUDY ON OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLE

USE.

WHEREAS, there is not a New Mexico centralized,

organized database on which to assess and compare the

economic, social, historic, cultural, archaeological and

environmental contributions and impacts of non-motorized

outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing, camping,

hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, horseback riding,

bird watching, mountain biking, archaeological exploration,

natural resources education, agriculture and ranching with

motorized recreation; and

WHEREAS, other state studies have found that motorized

recreation is negatively impacting non-motorized recreation

that results in significant costly consequences; and

WHEREAS, in order for state and local governments to

appropriately and adequately address both management problems

and solutions, it is essential to have factual and

science-based information to make the most prudent choices for

expenditure of revenues both in the immediate future and the

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long run; and

WHEREAS, there are many sources of information on the

economic benefits and costs of both non-motorized and

motorized off-road vehicle recreation, but there is not any

New Mexico study that has assimilated, analyzed and

summarized that information in a central study or created an

economic, cultural, social, archaeological and environmental

matrix for all recreation users that could serve policymakers

and land managers to guide decisions; and

WHEREAS, goals of sound recreation policy should ensure

that income produced from all forms of outdoor recreation

exceeds the cost to the public to allow, support and maintain

it, and the state's natural, cultural, social, historic and

archaeological resources will be protected for use by future

generations;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the energy, minerals and natural

resources department, the tourism department, the New Mexico

department of agriculture, New Mexico state university's

range improvement task force and the department of game and

fish be requested to cooperate with other state agencies to

conduct a study and recommend actions to resolve user

conflicts, prevent future resource damage and provide greater

safety protections for motorized recreation users; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include a

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compilation and summary of studies done in other states and

regions whose data and recommendations are applicable to New

Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study identify

enforcement, monitoring, restoration, institutional and

information needs, cost-benefit comparison of motorized and

non-motorized recreationists and an inventory of private,

federal and state off-road vehicle parks in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include

recommendations on what measures need to be in place for the

public to have access to statistical information on off-road

vehicle accidents, including their locations, types of

injuries, incidents, if any, of broken laws and, if required,

whether protective gear was worn at the time of injury; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy, minerals and

natural resources department and the department of game and

fish report their findings and recommendations to the

governor and the appropriate interim committee of the

legislature by December 31, 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural

resources, the secretary of tourism, the director of the New

Mexico department of agriculture, the chair of New Mexico

state university's range improvement task force and the

director of the department of game and fish.