November, 10th 2025
U.S. Department of the Interior
Director (630), Bureau of Land Management
1849 C Street NW, Room 5646
Washington, DC 20240
Attention: 1004-AF03.
Re: Support for rescinding the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule
To whom it may concern,
On behalf of the Trails Preservation Alliance, I write in support of the BLM’s proposal to rescind the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule.
The Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA) is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and improving access to motorized single-track trails. We advocate for responsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation and work closely with land managers – including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife – as well as local OHV clubs and communities to ensure balanced and sustainable access for off-highway motorcycle (OHM) users. The TPA partners with a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, to promote shared, sustainable trail use, and supports on-the-ground stewardship through cleanup efforts, volunteer workdays, and our professional Trail Crew, which builds, clears, and maintains trails in remote areas.
The BLM’s Public Lands Rule goes far beyond simply “elevating conservation.” It redefines conservation as a new, stand-alone “use” which is something Congress never intended under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). This change allows the agency to prioritize preservation over recreation, grazing, and other traditional uses, undermining the multiple-use balance required by law.
The rule also introduces “conservation leases,” which could give private or foreign-funded entities control over public lands, potentially excluding motorized recreation, grazing, hunting, and other legitimate uses. Additionally, new procedures for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and Research Natural Areas could further restrict access.
Together, these provisions threaten off-highway vehicle (OHV) and other trail-based recreation by enabling closures, redefining “casual use” to exclude motorized activity, and shifting land management decisions away from public oversight.
We urge the BLM to withdraw the Public Lands Rule entirely, as it unlawfully expands agency authority, undermines multiple-use principles, and jeopardizes public access to lands that belong to all Americans.
Sincerely,
Chad Hixon
Executive Director
Letter of Support – Rescinding the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule