OHV SOUND IN THE OREGON DUNES:

Step 2 - Meeting the Experts

Our last newsletter was an effort to relate the history of illegal OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) noise in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) and the challenges now facing those responsible for implementing management practices that will regain control of the ODNRA.

This is a formidable undertaking, and ODNRA staff are aware and proceeding gathering information sufficient to pass on to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). They recently contracted with DPS Technical , a well known firm versed in sound measurement, environmental sound issues and sound law enforcement and training. DPS has worked with OHV sound issues in Moab Utah, Pismo Beach CA, Sedona AZ and more. They perform sound tests for OHV and motorcycle manufacturers as well as aviation related projects.

The ODNRA management team asked us to share input and field time with DPS Technical, which we gladly accepted. This is a positive effort by the ODNRA to involve the community that are being adversely affected by illegal OHV noise.

We spent 5-1/2 hours one afternoon on site in the South Sector dunes with the founder and president of DPS Technical. We toured from V8 Hill to Horsfall Beach, including Razorback and Boxcar dunes and RV Park. We drove north on Highway 101, past affected residential areas including North Bay Drive, Hauser, Glasgow, Shorewood, Kadora Ln., Sandy Way, Spruce Ln. to mention a few. The unusual location of a very high volume OHV riding area adjacent to residential areas was pointed out by us as being the reason for a low 93dB sound limit being originally established in the ODNRA Management Plan in 1994.

Gross noise offenders were easily heard. It was DPS's professional opinion they were those over 97 dB, with many over 100dB. Aftermarket, purposely loud exhaust systems were commonplace and a major contributor to the problematic noise. We explained that very little law enforcement regarding noise existed, and public awareness through education and signage was lacking.

The OHV illegal annoying noise in the ODNRA was described by DPS to us as complex, with many factors involved, but certainly could be overcome in time. Hopefully, our input will be of benefit to the consultants, and the USFS allows them to do a complete study and recommendation process.

Your comments and experience with the annoying OHV noise you endure should be shared with the ODNRA. Please remember that the local ODNRA management and staff are aware of the problem and trying to help, so be respectful and constructive.

You can send letters to:

Robert Sanchez, Forest Supervisor
US Forest Service, Siuslaw National Forest
3200 Jefferson Way
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 714-0463
Robert.f.sanchez@usda.gov

Or, optionally, send your comments to us and we’ll forward them to ODNRA.

We always appreciate hearing from you. And please forward our Newsletter to others that you know that might appreciate our cause!

Email us your comments to info@ODRMC.ORG.

OHV SOUND IN THE OREGON DUNES:

On a Collision Course?

Off highway vehicle use in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA) has increased exponentially in the last ten years, bringing with it challenges to comply with standards and regulations. Congress entrusted the the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to manage the ODNRA in 1972, and in 1994 the Oregon Dunes Management Plan was developed with the "participation of and assistance of interested members of the public". It is a comprehensive plan that took years of detailed research and compromises to develop. It can be found online and is well worth reading to gain an understanding of why the USFS is now faced with one of their greatest challenges.

Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) illegal engine exhaust noise has become a contentious issue between some OHV riders and those pursuing other activities in the dunes, as well as nearby community residents. The effects on wildlife are currently being investigated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Noise issues were a prevalent topic during the scoping and analysis process of the Dunes management Plan development, resulting in noise sensitive areas protected by non-motorized buffers, curfews, and a stricter 90 decibel OHV sound limit, which was later raised to 93dB. The rationale for a stricter sound limit was the ODNRA's close proximity to residential areas, as well as other environmental concerns.

Unfortunately these legal sound limits were not effectively enforced, with the USFS  ceasing to cite violators in 2011, relying on an "educational' approach with sparse voluntary sound checks. Only in July of 2018, following numerous local complaints, did the USFS begin to move forward with sound enforcement. However, that movement has made very little progress. The OHV riders had become accustomed to the lack of noise enforcement and the area gained a reputation for an "anything goes and wild west" form of regulation. It was too late. Many riders were not aware of the sound limits, and some were difficult for law enforcement personnel to confront. Officers' safety became an issue.

ODNRA management staff has been receptive to community illegal noise complaints, and have held several meetings with concerned parties including ODRMC, Save the Riders Dunes OHV members, Coos County Commissioners, Coos County Sheriff's representatives, the USFS Siuslaw National Forest Supervisor , local residents and others. USFS research and monitoring has shown that OHV illegal noise is very prevalent in the ODNRA. Their dilemma is do we stay with the 1994 plan or do we change to accommodate illegal riders?

All are aware that illegal OHV noise emanating from owner modified vehicles needs to be eliminated to protect those OHV enthusiasts who are within legal noise limits. However, USFS sound checks in the ODNRA have shown over half are illegal. High use areas such as Pismo Beach, Oceana, and Moab, Utah are examples of communities that have banned or placed restrictions on OHV activity that possibly could have been avoided with strict enforcement of noise regulations. Noise annoyance seems to be the factor that organizes the public against OHVs. No noise annoyance would seem to be a logical solution to protect OHV riding activity in the ODNRA. Successfully developing a plan to reach that goal so far has evaded the ODNRA and its parent the USFS Siuslaw National Forest.

Most federal, state, county, and city parks and recreation areas have effective law enforcement in place that will not tolerate a situation such as we now face in the ODNRA. The ODNRA has only ONE federal law enforcement officer (LEO) for the entire 30,000 acre ODNRA, and noise control is not on his agenda. The three counties included in the ODNRA have varying degrees of law enforcement in the dunes through local sheriff departments, but are ineffective with illegal sound control. Their main emphasis seems to be flags and tags, that is, red safety flags and current OHV permit stickers, an easy citation.

The ODNRA management claim they are so understaffed, that months and years pass between efforts to confront the issue. Requests for additional funding for law enforcement in the ODNRA from the Siuslaw and the USFS Region Six are denied, according to management. Although we see plenty of money spent for local facility improvements and projects like invasive vegetation removal and a proposed cell phone booster in the South Sector to accommodate OHV riders and campers.

A plan was set forth by the ODNRA in spring of 2021 as a possible solution to make law enforcement more effective by raising the decibel limit to 97dB. You can review this on the internet at USFS ODNRA Sound Changes project 60053 and the public comments at the "Reading Room" at that site. 142 responses were posted, with a more than 2 to 1 objecting to  the plan. The common thread was the lack of law enforcement commitment. A public meeting was to be held in September of 2021, which was rescheduled for December, then moved to a tentative April of 2022.

The ODNRA has retained a specialized firm, DPS Technical, that has considerable expert experience in sound and acoustics situations involving OHVs. This firm offers interpretation of logistics, and possible solutions through on site evaluation. ODRMC has held conversations with DPS staff, and has been offered a meeting with them when they are at the ODNRA in April of 2022. Hopefully, this firm can give the ODNRA direction that will result in effective law enforcement.

What are your thoughts?

Email us your comments to info@ODRMC.ORG.

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