On July 1, 2026, BlueRibbon Coalition Executive Director Ben Burr testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands in support of H.R. 9248, the Recreation Permitting Improvement Act, introduced by Representative Jeff Hurd (R-CO) with Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA) as cosponsor. The bill matters to anyone who rides, hunts, boats, or camps on public land, where OHV trail closures and stalled projects have left access hanging for years with no end in sight.
Outdoor recreation keeps growing, but the federal permitting process has not kept pace. Recreation projects that improve access to public lands and waters often spend years in unpredictable federal review before work can begin. H.R. 9248 fixes that by making qualifying recreation projects eligible for FAST-41, a program that has successfully improved coordination and efficiency for many other types of infrastructure projects.
Your voice moves this bill. Use the form below to tell your members of Congress to support H.R. 9248.
Watch: Ben Burr's testimony on Capitol Hill
Why Permitting Delays Hurt Public Land Access
When a closure has no deadline, communities have no way to plan. Ben opened his testimony with Randsburg, California, where a federal court this year ordered roughly 2,200 miles of Western Mojave routes closed after the BLM's analysis fell short. The fuel stops, diners, and repair shops in towns like Randsburg live on the riders who come for those trails. The BLM must reassess the route system within three years. The last time it did this work, it took more than ten. A business that loses a season does not come back when the gates finally reopen.
How FAST-41 & H.R. 9248 Fixes the Problem
FAST-41 was built to improve coordination among federal agencies, set predictable timelines, add transparency, and hold agencies accountable for finishing environmental reviews on schedule. It does not bypass environmental review or predetermine any outcome, it simply gives predictable timelines and expectation. H.R. 9248 would extend those same benefits to qualifying recreation infrastructure projects, helping move projects forward without eliminating environmental review requirements. As Ben put it, adding recreation to the program's list of 19 eligible sectors is a single-word change that alters no environmental law and decides no permit. It gives communities one thing they lack today: a date they can plan around.
Which Recreation Projects H.R. 9248 Would Help
The bill could benefit trail systems, campgrounds, boat ramps, marinas, off-highway vehicle facilities, visitor centers, and ski resort expansions. The delays are real and easy to see. Brian Head in Utah began an expansion review last year that is not expected to conclude until 2028. Winter Park in Colorado has been waiting since 2022. At reservoirs like Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and Blue Mesa, dropping water strands boat ramps and marinas while separate agency reviews drag on with no shared schedule.
Recreation Drives Rural Economies
Outdoor recreation is a major economic driver for rural America. Gateway communities across the country depend on visitors who come to enjoy nearby public lands, yet aging infrastructure and years of permitting delays often prevent needed improvements from moving forward. Faster permitting lets these communities better serve visitors, create new recreation opportunities, support local businesses, and strengthen rural economies.
What Ben Burr Told Congress
Recreationists are not asking to skip environmental review. They are asking for what every other sector already has. "Recreation is one of the largest contributors to our rural economies and quality of life," Burr testified. "Projects that improve access to our public lands should receive the same efficient, transparent permitting process that Congress has already provided for other important infrastructure." A process with a deadline. A date they can plan around.
BlueRibbon Coalition strongly supports H.R. 9248 because it represents a practical solution that will improve recreation access while maintaining environmental protections. Better coordination between agencies and more predictable permitting timelines will help deliver projects that benefit recreationists, gateway communities, and public land managers alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is H.R. 9248? The Recreation Permitting Improvement Act, a bill that makes qualifying recreation projects eligible for the FAST-41 federal permitting program.
Does it change environmental law? No. It adds coordination and deadlines. It does not waive environmental review or decide any permit.
Who introduced it? Representative Jeff Hurd (R-CO), with Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA) as cosponsor.
Take Action: Tell Congress to Support H.R. 9248
H.R. 9248 is a practical fix that improves recreation access while keeping environmental protections in place. It only moves forward if Congress hears from the people who use these lands. Fill out the form below to contact your members of Congress and ask them to support H.R. 9248, the Recreation Permitting Improvement Act.
