WASHINGTON (March 4, 2016) — Federal legislation to protect and expand off-roading in California's Johnson Valley has been introduced, with the blessing of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).
The California Minerals, Off-Road Recreation, and Conservation Act was introduced recently in the U.S. House of Representatives by Republican Paul Cook, who represents California's eighth district.
The bill, H.R.3668, would expand the Johnson Valley OHV Recreation Area — home to the King of the Hammers off-road event — by nearly 20,000 acres and provide it with a National status, according to SEMA.
The Diamond Bar, Calif.-based trade group has supported the legislation, which would preserve 300,000 acres of the California desert for off-roading and expand U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation (OHV) areas by more than 60,000 acres.
The act also would establish five new national OHV recreation areas in Southern California. The King of the Hammers event features specially constructed vehicles racing across the open desert and climbing through steep ravines.
The legislation would prevent the president from designating national monuments within OHV and special management areas created and expanded in this legislation.
More information is available on the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.