ORBA Signs Landmark Agreement With BLM for Public Land Stewardship

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) in a landmark agreement between the public and private sectors that provides a framework for existing land management to become more consistent, scalable and measurable nationally while supporting practical coordination at the state and field-office levels.

Formalizing the relationship between ORBA and BLM will help advance work already underway to connect national discussions with localized efforts, improve early communication with proponents, expand education and stewardship opportunities and establish tangible results that can be reviewed over time, officials stated in a press release announcing the partnership.

“Public land stewardship works best when we bring people to the table early and focus on solutions,” said Steve Pearce, BLM director. “This agreement strengthens our partnership with ORBA and gives us a better way of working together. By collaborating with ORBA earlier and more consistently, we can improve access and give our field offices and local communities the tools they need to support responsible recreation on America’s public lands.”

The MOU is designed to support responsible outdoor recreation, public lands stewardship, workforce awareness, recreation infrastructure improvements and data-driven evaluation of the economic contributions associated with motorized recreation on public lands.

“ORBA is thrilled for the opportunity to engage formally with our partners at the Department of the Interior and BLM for a shared mission to better understand and promote responsible recreation and stewardship of public lands,” said Laura Butcher, ORBA’s legislative director. “Our public lands are a national treasure, and we all benefit when all stakeholders pulling in the same direction in service of preserving access for all.”

Critical Objectives

The MOU covers several critical objectives that the BLM and ORBA, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), will focus on together, including:

• Workforce awareness and career outreach
• Stewardship and public lands projects
• Recreation opportunity coordination
• Economic impact and research collaboration

Among the immediate initiatives are the development of a practical “Do I Need a Permit?” session offered at Overland Expo enthusiast events. ORBA will also provide practical support and basic education for Title III and Special Recreation Permits, Paleontological Resource Use Permits and Scientific Research Permits and Authorization, according to the release.

Much of the work envisioned during the crafting of the MOU is already underway. ORBA has a well-established working relation with BLM’s Nevada and California offices, including years of involvement in special recreation permitting and education, economic impact work and technical meetings, officials added.