Gov. Malloy: Veto the State’s New All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Bill

Connecticut Audubon Society has joined other state conservation organizations in calling on Gov. Malloy to veto a bill that would mandate the state to open its lands to all-terrain vehicles.

The bill requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to carry out an ATV policy that was adopted in 2002 but never implemented. The policy has become obsolete and could easily lead to habitat damage on important state conservation lands.

Here’s is the letter we sent yesterday to Gov. Malloy:

June 18, 2013
Governor Dannel P. Malloy
State Capitol
210 Capitol Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106

Gov. Malloy,

Connecticut Audubon Society joins with its allies in the Connecticut conservation community in urging you to veto Senate Bill 190, An Act Concerning All-Terrain Vehicles and the Certification of Household Goods Carriers.

Founded in 1898, Connecticut Audubon Society is the state’s leading independent conservation organization, with approximately 5,000 members and member-families in all parts of the state. The Society’s mission, in a phrase, is to conserve Connecticut’s birds and their habitats, which we pursue through land conservation projects, education and advocacy. We are not affiliated with Audubon Connecticut, the state office of the National Audubon Society, although we work cooperatively with them.

Our concern here is the section of the bill that requires the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to implement an obsolete policy concerning all-terrain vehicles on DEEP lands.

The damage that ATVs can cause to wildlife habitat is well known. ATVs compact the soil, cause erosion, and lead to habitat fragmentation. They can directly injure and kill wildlife such as reptiles, amphibians and ground-nesting birds. They can uproot or otherwise damage sensitive vegetation. If ridden off-trail, ATVs can seriously harm fragile habitats such as vernal pools and other wetlands.

While we are confident that there may be some areas on DEEP lands that are appropriate for ATV use, or that private lands might be identified and purchased for ATV use, we believe that any move to allow ATV’s on state lands should be preceded by a thorough review of current policy, as well as a thorough analysis of the potential environmental damage and of lands that might be appropriate for ATV use.

Again, we respectfully urge you to veto SB 190.

Robert Martinez
President

Milan Bull
Senior Director of Science and Conservation