A bill to authorize the use of off-highway vehicles in certain areas of the Capitol Reef National Park, Utah.
This bill would authorize the use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on a specific set of roads inside Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. The key mechanism is that OHV use on those defined “covered roads” would be governed by Utah state law, rather than by federal park-specific vehicle regulations. In effect, the bill creates a pathway for OHV access on these park roads, but makes the controlling rules the State’s laws about motor vehicle use. The bill provides only a narrow scope: it designates which roads are included, defines what an OHV is for purposes of the law, and states that Utah state law applies on those roads. It does not specify funding, safety requirements, environmental protections, enforcement details, or park-management procedures beyond the general application of state law. As introduced, it would transfer or share regulatory authority with Utah for driving on these particular roads within a National Park boundary.
Key Points
- 1Covered roads defined: The bill designates a specific list of roads within Capitol Reef National Park (including Burr Trail Road, Cathedral Road, Hartnet Road, Highway 24, Notom Bullfrog Road, Polk Creek Road, Oil Well Bench Road, Baker Ranch Road, South Desert Overlook Road, Temple of the Sun and Moon Road, Gypsum Sinkhole Road, and Sulphur Creek Road) as “covered roads” where OHV use may occur.
- 2OHV definition aligns with state law: An “off-highway vehicle” is defined by the meaning given in Utah state law.
- 3State law applies on covered roads: The use of motor vehicles (including OHVs) on these roads would be governed by Utah state law, rather than federal park-specific regulations for these routes.
- 4Limited scope with no funding or management provisions: The text does not authorize federal funding, introduce a park management plan, set safety or environmental protections, or outline enforcement procedures beyond stating that state law applies.
- 5Interaction with federal and state authorities: The bill would create a regulatory framework in which Utah law governs on these park roads, potentially coordinating with the National Park Service for overall park operations but placing the road-use rules under state jurisdiction for these designated routes.