State recreation officials today announced the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Off-Road Vehicle Trails Advisory Board, has released a revised draft management plan for ORV use in Michigan.

Revisions to the plan were made in response to public comments on the initial draft plan that was presented to the public in August 2005. The plan provides strategic direction for management of ORV use on public lands administered by the DNR.

The substantive changes to the 2005 draft plan are the inclusion of actions the DNR will take to address illegal ORV use. This includes actions and recommendations from the ORV strategy task force that was established as a result of forest certification, which Michigan achieved from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Forest Stewardship Council in 2006.

The new plan also addresses other influences that have come into play since 2005, such as legislative boilerplate language regarding trail expansion and pending legislation concerning ORV operation on public roadways.

The revised draft plan can be viewed online by going to www.michigan.gov/dnr, then clicking on the Recreation, Camping & Boating link to locate the ORV/ATV page.

Public comment on the revised plan, which may be submitted via e-mail at DNR-ORVPlanComments@Michigan.gov, has been extended until midnight EST, Feb. 25, 2008.

The DNR will present the revised draft plan to the Natural Resources Commission for information in April, at which time there will be additional opportunity for public comment. Final approval of the plan is scheduled for the NRC monthly meeting in May.

"Public review and comment are integral to the planning process," said Lynne Boyd, DNR Forest, Mineral and Fire Management chief. "All public comments will be taken into consideration as we finalize the plan."