WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), and ENR Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced the Outdoor Recreation Act. This bipartisan legislation will increase and improve outdoor recreation opportunities in Wyoming and across the nation, while improving infrastructure and driving economic growth in rural communities. 

“Wyoming is home to some of the most incredible national parks and public lands in the country. The Outdoor Recreation Act will help Americans better enjoy everything Wyoming has to offer,” said Barrasso. “Our bipartisan legislation will help modernize public campgrounds, establish shooting ranges on national forests, and ensure increased access to America’s public lands. The bill will also leverage private funding to create new recreational opportunities on our public lands. I am thankful to Chairman Manchin for his partnership on this important bill.” 

“I am encouraged by the objectives established in the Outdoor Recreation Act. If passed, it will not only support Wyoming’s efforts to protect our world-class waters and lands, but provide residents and visitors with improved infrastructure and increased recreational opportunities on Wyoming’s Federal lands,” said Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.

“We are very supportive of this bill. Protecting Wyoming's quality waters and the associated infrastructure from destructive aquatic invasive species is a top priority for our state. This additional assistance from the federal agencies is welcome, and this bill would bring further support to our proven methods that effectively prevent the spread of AIS,” said Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director Brian Nesvik. 

“We support this legislation because it meets the needs of the public with a modernized approach to the management and growth of outdoor recreation by prioritizing access and collaboration.  This comprehensive bill makes outdoor recreation a priority on federal lands by addressing several long-standing challenges while also opening the door to new opportunities for enhanced use and connectivity.  The way people recreate on public lands is growing and changing, particularly in light of the pandemic, and this timely legislation provides some authority and guidance to help land managers and local communities adapt to this new reality,” said Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources Director Darin J. Westby, P.E. 

“Southwest Wyoming Off-Road Trails (SWOT), an economic development project for Wyoming, readily supports the Outdoor Recreation Act. The vision and our motto for SWOT to “Connect the communities, connect the forests and connect the historical sites,” would not be possible without access to Public Lands. Multiple communities and counties have signed on to SWOT with the knowledge that motorized recreation can help drive the Wyoming economy much like it has done in other states. Accessibility into and out of communities is paramount. With much of Wyoming being Federally held Public Land, it will be important for generations to come for it to be managed for multiple use and open to the public,” said SWOT President Mark Tesoro. 

The Outdoor Recreation Act will:

• Direct the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to establish a pilot program for public-private partnership agreements to modernize campgrounds on federal land;
• Ensure that outdoor recreation is considered by land managers alongside other uses of federal land by directing the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to consider ways to improve recreation when developing and revising land management plans;
• Support rural communities adjacent to recreations areas, such as National Parks and National Forests, by providing technical and financial assistance to local businesses;
• Direct the Forest Service to issue guidance for recreational climbing in designated Wilderness Areas and require the Forest Service and BLM to designate many new shooting ranges on National Forests and BLM land;
• Protect against aquatic invasive species by increasing inspections and decontamination of watercraft in reservoirs administered by the Department of the Interior, and improving coordination between federal land management agencies and non-federal partners;
• Increase opportunities for nonmotorized and motorized access and experiences on federal land.

• Direct the federal land management agencies to identify opportunities to extend the period of time recreation areas on federal land are open to the public during shoulder seasons; and

Read the text of the Outdoor Recreation Act here. 

Read a summary of the Outdoor Recreation Act here. 

Read a section-by-section of the Outdoor Recreation Act here.

###