The Bureau of Land Management will increase their presence at off-road racing events, announced Director Bob Abbey today.
This comes in addition to reviewing each race permit request on a case-by-case basis, he said in a press release.
“We will not tolerate
any deviation from permit requirements,” Abbey said. “In addition, we are reviewing our Special
Recreation Permit program in all Western field offices.”
The changes stem from a racing accident Saturday where eight spectators of the California 200 were killed and a dozen more injured.
“We are deeply saddened
by the tragedy in the California Johnson Valley OHV open area,” Abbey
said. “We have launched an internal
review of the tragedy and we will be taking a very close look at all approved
permits and pending requests and determine whether they are appropriate on a
case-by-case basis."
This year the bureau has issued more than one hundred special recreation permits for motorized racing and thousands of people have participated, according to the press statement. The first priority at the events is public and employee safety and health.
"We will look at these requests carefully and consider the safety
record of the individual or organization requesting a permit,” Abbey said.
One race has been given approval for this weekend, according to the press release. Approval for the American Motorcycle Association race in the Johnson Valley Open Area came after a detailed review of the special recreation permit, along with an assessment of public safety and crowd control requirements.
Additional safety measures will be take, like more safeguards at the start and finish line and the pit row areas, as well as increased security and medical presence, according to the press release.
For more information read Saturday's edition online or in print.
-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer
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