July 29, 2025
Rep. Bruce Westerman
Chair, House Natural Resources Committee
1300 Longworth
Washington, DC 20515
Re: The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act
Dear Chairman Westerman,
On behalf of the Trails Preservation Alliance, I write in support of the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (SPEED).
The Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA) is a Colorado based organization working to protect and improve access to motorized single-track trails. We advocate for responsible OHV recreation and partner with a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts—including hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders—to ensure trails are shared and sustainably managed. Much of our work is with local OHV clubs, land managers and communities to maintain trails through cleanup efforts and volunteer workdays. TPA also sponsors a professional trail crew that builds, clears, and maintains trails in remote areas.
One of the top problems we face as we work with our land management partners is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Protecting critical resources and the sustainability of our public lands is of utmost importance to us, however, NEPA has strayed far from that goal. Instead, it has become an unworkable morass of expensive and time consuming red-tape, paperwork and surveys to the point where it takes years to complete and is many times obsolete by the time it is completed. This is to the detriment of the environment as work that would relocate problematic trails or fix drainage issues simply cannot be done because of the impossible NEPA process.
At our core, we believe in collaboration, education, and keeping trails open for everyone who values them. Your bill, the SPEED Act, would accomplish a great deal towards that endeavor.
Sincerely,
Chad Hixon
Executive Director
Letter of Support – The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act