A bill that would protect the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle area from expansion by the Marine Corps cleared an important hurdle this week. A bill by U.S. Representative Paul Cook of Yucca Valley to create the Johnson Valley National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area was added Wednesday to the National Defense Authorization Act. Cook’s proposal would withdraw the Johnson Valley OHV area for the purposes of recreation and designate it as the Johnson Valley National OHV Recreation Area. The withdrawn area would be designated specifically for recreational uses, including but not limited to off-highway vehicle use, camping, and hiking. U.S. Marine Corps activities would be permitted to take place twice annually and could not include any explosives that could be left behind without detonating. The NDAA passed by a 59-2 margin, and it will now be heard by the full House next week before moving on to the Senate. The NDAA is the comprehensive legislation to authorize the budget authority of the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy.
JOHNSON VALLEY OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE BILL ADDED TO NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL
