HB1095

I have concerns that HB1095 may increase environmental damage, safety risks, and infrastructure strain without adequate environmental or community protections.

To: NH House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee C/o The Honorable Robert Herb, Chairman Re: HB 1095, increasing the maximum weight of a utility terrain vehicle to 3,000 pounds. Dear Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: NH Farm Bureau opposes HB 1095. We oppose increasing weight limits on some state-owned trails and state lands, as the bill does, without a corresponding commitment of enforcement by the state. Farm Bureau members own and manage hundreds of thousands of acres of farm and forest land in the state, much of it with OHRV trails running through it that are open to the public. OHRV enthusiasts utilizing the trails governed by the statute being amended – trails in Coös County, and the Ammonoosuc and Warren recreational trails - do not and will not restrict their travels to these trails. A vast majority of trails in the state are located on private property and an increase in weights on some state-owned lands and certain other trails will have impacts on trails throughout in the state, most of which are located on private property. These impacts will cost landowners time and money. Heavier vehicles result in greater wear and tear on trails. This concern may result in landowners closing or restrict public access to their land. It should be noted that landowners already see significant impacts to their property at current weight limits. Landowners take pride in making their land available for public use but unless resources for enforcement are provided, which this bill does not do, we ask the committee to recommend HB 1095 as Inexpedient-to-Legislate. We thank you for your consideration of our testimony. Sincerely, Robert Johnson, II, Policy Director/Administrator New Hampshire Farm Bureau (NHFB) is a non-profit federation, established in 1916, of New Hampshire’s 10 county Farm Bureau organizations which consist of 2,500 NH farm families and supporting members statewide. NHFB is dedicated to advocating for and educating the public about agriculture. NHFB is a general farm organization where the members establish policy and direction through a member driven policy development process. We are “The Voice of Agriculture” in New Hampshire.

TO: Robert Harb, chairman, House Resources, Recreation & Development Committee CC: Ron Dunn, vice chairman, and members of the committee – Brian Taylor, Heather Baldwin, Nicholas Bridle, Thomas Buco, Will Darby, Arnold Davis, Tanya Donnelly, Pierre DuPont, Linda Gould, Allison Knab, Linda Ryan, Gregory Sargent, Marcy Tremblay, and Suzanne Vail FROM: Ann Davis, NH Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA) and NH Farm Bureau Federation (NHFBF) representative on the HB 1188 Commission to study Off Highway Recreational Vehicles (OHRVs) RE: Kill House Bill 1095 and any potential amendments My name is Ann Davis. My husband, Marc, and I own a 530-acre Tree Farm in Springfield and Wilmot. We maintain eight miles of trails that are open to hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, etc. The Woods Without Gile also is open to hunting and fishing. We actively manage the timber on our property and use an ATV in areas our tractor can’t access. Please vote to kill HB 1095 and any amendments the bill’s sponsor or others might present to your committee. This bill proposes to increase the weight limit for Off Highway Recreational Vehicles from 2,000 pounds to 3,000 pounds on any state trail in Coös County and the Ammonoosuc recreational trail from Haverhill to Bethlehem and the Warren recreational trail in Warren in Grafton County. I oppose this proposal for several reasons. 1. These are “state trails”; they are commonly designated along woods roads on private property. Therefore, anything negatively impacting these roads (e.g., heavier OHRV traffic) also negatively impacts private landowner access. 2. Negative impacts on roads cost landowners time and money to repair. Heavier vehicles will cause greater wear and tear on private property. 3. Although the bill limits the weight increase to trails in Coös County, and the Ammonoosuc and Warren trails, OHRV enthusiasts will not understand nor want to restrict their travels to just one county or specific trails. 4. Advocates for the bill argue the weight increase is justified since NH Fish and Game currently does not enforce this law. This is not a good reason to remove a law designed to protect landowner assets and natural resources. 5. Advocates for the bill argue OHRV tires have low ground pressure and therefore we can “afford” to increase the allowable weight limit. Landowners, including members of the NHTOA and NHFBF, already see significant negative impacts with current weight limits and traffic. Increasing weight limits will only make the negative impacts worse. Please vote to kill HB 1095. Thank you to all members of this committee for your service to the people of New Hampshire. Respectfully submitted, Ann Davis, forest landowner Wilmot and Springfield

Position recorded without written comment.

Position recorded without written comment.

Position recorded without written comment.

Position recorded without written comment.