Report on Johnson Valley 

OHV Incident 

and Review of Special 

Recreation 

Permit Program 
 United States Department of the Interior 

 BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

 California State Office 

 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W1623 

 Sacramento, CA 95825

 www.ca.blm.gov 

In Reply Refer To: 

1120 (P) November 17, 2010 

CA-910

Memorandum 

To: Director 

 

From: State Director, California 

Subject: Report on Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Incident and 

 Review of Special Recreation Permit Program in the California Desert 

I am transmitting to you the results of the findings, actions, and recommendations from our 

review relating to the tragic accident during the California 200 event at the BLM's Johnson 

Valley OHV Open Area that resulted in eight fatalities and more than a dozen injuries. All of us 

in BLM were stunned by the accident as there had never been a fatality under a BLM-authorized 

Special Recreation Permit (SRP), either of a spectator or a participant here in California. We 

immediately offered our condolences to the families of the victims. We continue to do so. 

The report summarizes what happened, what actions we took, and are taking, to respond. 

It focuses on our Special Recreation Permit (SRP) program and describes the overall status of the 

program, including recreation staff and law enforcement support to SRP events that existed in 

the California Desert District prior to the accident on August 14. Not only had we never had a 

SRP-related fatality, but the program had never experienced any significant safety problems. 

This perspective is important in terms of determining appropriate short and long-term actions 

necessary to ensure future public safety. 

 

The accident occurred on Saturday evening August 14. BLM law enforcement and a large 

number of other public safety personnel from the various jurisdictions responded quickly despite 

the remote location, and all are to be commended for their heroic actions at the scene. We 

continue to provide our full support and cooperation to the lead investigating agency, the 

California Highway Patrol, which is still handling the open and active investigation. 

In the days that followed the accident, I chartered an initial inquiry team, composed of BLM staff 

with expertise in this area from across the West and Washington DC. The team was charged 

with making short and long-term recommendations regarding BLM OHV permit administration 

and to produce a written report on those findings and recommendations. The team did an 

excellent job and the results of their efforts are attached, as well as their recommendations. 
The team's findings and recommendations are quite specific, but they made it clear that 

BLM did not follow our own standard procedures for permitting the event. Further, they found 

this situation was not limited to this particular event, but determined that adherence to these 

procedures was inconsistent throughout the Desert. The IIT report and its findings are cause for 

alarm and will require significant change in how SRPs are processed and managed in the 

California Desert. The report outlines the actions immediately taken as well as our longer-term 

plan of action.

Most important, we are in the midst of the California Desert's active OHV recreation/event 

season, and I tasked the California Desert District with immediately reviewing upcoming events 

and ensuring sufficient controls and oversight are in place to determine if events should proceed. 

We immediately suspended the pending permit applications from the promoter of the California 

200, Mojave Desert Racing Productions.

I have impressed upon each of our managers that if our permit procedures and public safety 

standards cannot all be met, BLM has a responsibility to the public to deny that event. All BLM 

managers will be held accountable for carrying out this directive. So far, out of more than a 

dozen applications for events to be held post-August 14, four have been denied due to inadequate 

advance time and close adherence to permit procedure requirements. All authorized events

occurred with appropriate BLM law enforcement and management staff oversight. This 

important review process is ongoing and its full effect on SRP events in the future is unknown.

I also directed the District Manager and staff to do a thorough evaluation of the long-term 

outlook for the program and make recommendations on improvements. The outcome of that 

effort also is summarized in the report. In addition, the Off-Road Business Association and 

others in the OHV community initiated their own efforts to help address public safety issues 

inherent in their sport, and assist us in stressing the importance of personal responsibility in 

avoiding unsafe situations and fostering a more safety-conscious environment. We appreciate 

their input and will continue to work with them on this important effort.

I make it clear that as State Director I am ultimately responsible for BLM management actions in 

California. This event happened on my watch, and I am accountable to the public to see changes 

are made to better ensure public safety at any authorized SRP event. I am committed, along with 

the other BLM managers involved here in California, to carrying out that duty.

In summary, all of us involved in OHV events in the California Desert – BLM, race promoters, 

participants, spectators, and the entire OHV community – should dedicate ourselves to 

cooperating fully to better protect the public. BLM-California has and will continue to make 

changes aimed at using better management oversight, safety reviews, law enforcement, public 

education, and other tools available to us to achieve that goal.

Attachment:

 Report on Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Incident and Review of Special 

Recreation Permit Program in the California Desert
Table of Contents

Executive Summary.....................................................................................1

I. Setting and Context..................................................................................2

A. Special Recreation Permit Compliance Program.......................................2

B. California Desert District Law Enforcement and Compliance Program.............3

II. BLM Response and Action Plan..................................................................4

A. Initial Inquiry Team........................................................................4

B. California Desert District’s Action Plan................................................5

1. Permit Administration Requirements and Directives.........................5

2. Other Actions.......................................................................7

C. State Director’s Action Plan...............................................................7

III. Conclusion..........................................................................................9

Appendices:

Initial Inquiry Team Charter

Initial Inquiry Team Report

Special Recreation Permit – California 200

Instruction Memorandum SRPs – California State Office
1

Executive Summary

On August 14, 2010, a tragic accident occurred during the California 200 race event at the 

Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Open Area, which 

is located approximately 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Eight fatalities and a dozen 

injuries resulted when a truck in the desert off-road race crashed into spectators standing 

alongside the race course. This report summarizes the BLM’s response to the incident to date.

Law enforcement’s investigation—led by the California Highway Patrol with assistance and full 

cooperation by the BLM—is ongoing. 

Within days of the incident, the BLM-California’s Acting State Director formed an Initial 

Inquiry Team (IIT) to conduct a full, transparent, and frank review of the BLM’s issuance of the 

permit involved in the Johnson Valley incident. The IIT concluded that the BLM did not follow 

its own standard procedures for permitting the event. Further, the IIT found adherence to those 

standard procedures is inconsistent throughout the BLM’s California Desert District (CDD). 

These findings indicate that significant changes are appropriate in how Special Recreation 

Permits (SRPs) are processed and managed in the CDD.

As a first step towards meeting the BLM’s responsibilities with respect to public safety, the 

Acting State Director is issuing an Instruction Memorandum (IM) to all managers directing them 

to deny any application for which we cannot completely meet the BLM’s permit procedures and 

public safety standards. The IM also specifies that SRPs may only be authorized by field or 

district managers. 

These changes have already had an impact on off-highway vehicle (OHV) events in the CDD. 

To date, four permit applications have been denied based on these changes, and five applications 

submitted by the promoter of the California 200 are being held in abeyance, pending completion 

of the California Highway Patrol’s investigation. More than a dozen applications, however, have 

been approved with appropriate oversight by law enforcement and management as described in 

this report. Public safety is always the BLM’s highest priority. BLM-California is committed to 

making the changes necessary to meet its standards and comply with its procedures to help 

ensure safe OHV recreation on the public lands.
2

I. Setting and Context

There are two major organizational and policy aspects relating to the California Desert that are 

important to addressing the Johnson Valley incident. These are the California Desert District’s 

SRP program and the law enforcement officer (LEO) program. Set out below are brief 

descriptions of these two critical programs.

A. Special Recreation Permit Compliance Program

The public lands in the CDD provide outdoor recreation opportunities for many of the more than 

20 million residents of Southern California and for neighboring populations in southern Nevada 

and western Arizona. As a result, the CDD has the largest recreation management program in 

the BLM system, averaging more than five million visitors per year. Visitors to the CDD are 

drawn to the desert landscape and open wild settings, and they enjoy varied opportunities and 

experiences, including OHV recreation, touring, camping, and hiking. 

The California Desert is the birthplace of OHV recreation, which dates back to the 1950s. 

Section 601 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 specifically recognizes this 

type of recreation as one of the multiple uses authorized by Congress in the California Desert. 

Section 601 provides that management of the California Desert should include opportunities

―particularly outdoor recreation, including the use, where appropriate, of off-road recreational 

vehicles.‖ 

The CDD has a total of 10 OHV open areas, totaling 520,000 acres. Of these, the Barstow Field 

Office manages five areas, totaling 270,000 acres: Johnson Valley - 180,000 acres; Stoddard 

Valley - 50,000 acres; Dumont Dunes - 10,000 acres; El Mirage - 25,000 acres; and Rasor -

5,000 acres. These open areas offer visitors experiences found no place else in California. 

Over the past decade, public demand for OHV recreation events has grown. Over the past 

decade the number of SRPs that the CDD issues for competitive, commercial, and organized 

events has grown by over 27%. The sharpest increase in permits for commercial competitive and 

organized events occurred between 2007 and 2010. 

This growth in demand for authorized events has impacted both the recreation staff and the 

LEOs in the CDD. In the same period, between 2000 and 2010, CDD recreation staff capability 

declined significantly from 32 recreation staff members district-wide to 19. The majority of this 

decline began with attrition around fiscal year 2005. With decreasing staff, the CDD streamlined 

its permit process in order to accomplish an ever increasing workload. 

Over time, the established OHV community and promoters assumed more and more oversight 

responsibilities at these events. Given staffing levels and workload, the CDD concentrated its 

efforts on processing permits and working with new permittees.

The permit issued for the California 200 event was one of 130 SRPs issued for motorized-use 

events by the CDD in 2010. The permittee, MDR Productions (MDR), has been sponsoring this 
3

event for the last 15 years without serious incident. The race had been authorized using standard 

stipulations, such as speed limits and crowd distance requirements. The sponsor had estimated a 

total attendance of 200-300 people. On the night of August 14, however, there were 1,500 to 

2,000 people at the event, including 500 spectators at the site of the accident. 

B. California Desert District Law Enforcement and Compliance 

Program

The resources and uses on public lands in the CDD are vast and diverse, including designated 

Wilderness Areas, National Monuments, National Trails, and Off-Highway Vehicle Open Areas. 

They also include watchable wildlife sites; geothermal, wind, and solar energy facilities; energy 

production and utility corridors; campgrounds; and long-term visitor areas. 

The primary mission of the law enforcement program in support of the broader mission of the 

BLM is to ensure resources and assets are protected from theft and vandalism; illegal activities 

are detected, reported and investigated; and authorized uses are conducted in a manner consistent 

with applicable laws and regulations.

Not only is the CDD law enforcement program the largest in the BLM, it is also by far the 

busiest in terms of scale and complexity. The 51 LEOs cover approximately 11 million acres of 

public lands and are responsible for monitoring a broad spectrum of BLM program activities 

within their assigned geographical areas, including permitted and open OHV recreation. 

Of the 51 LEO positions in the CDD, currently 38 positions are filled, with 3 officers at training, 

and 10 are vacant. The CDD historically and currently experiences a low retention rate, with 

officers transferring to more amenable duty stations more frequently than in other areas. There 

are several negative impacts as a result of this attrition. It takes approximately three to six 

months to hire an officer once a position becomes vacant and another year to train that officer. 

Therefore, a position, once vacated, will not be filled by a sworn actively patrolling officer for 1-

11⁄2 years. 

The CDD District Manager is taking a number of actions to reduce turnover and increase 

retention among the LEO ranks. These actions include using recruitment tools such as the 

Student Career Experience Program (SCEP internship program), recruiting at lower grade levels, 

and implementing recruitment and retention bonuses. In addition, the CDD improved the 

supervisor-to-employee ratio by adding an additional supervisory level. This addition has 

allowed LEOs to spend more time in the field and reduced the administrative workload on the 

chief ranger.

Of the CDD’s LEOs, 10 are assigned to the Barstow Field Office, where the California 200 event 

was held. On August 14, 2010, seven of those positions were filled. However, one LEO was on 

medical leave, one was at basic law enforcement training, one was on vacation, and one was on 

temporary detail to another BLM office. Of the three available officers, two were originally 

assigned to work the permitted race in Johnson Valley, but one called in sick that day. 

The incident occurred in August, a period when CDD recreation activity is lower than in the 

cooler fall, winter, and spring seasons. Consequently, the CDD had several officers detailed to 
4

other areas, as is normal for the summer. In return, the CDD requests a large cadre of officers 

from other BLM offices throughout the West during the peak Desert winter season. August is 

also the time of year when officers in the CDD historically take annual leave, as they are not able 

to schedule significant amounts of annual leave during the busy fall, winter, and spring visitation 

seasons. 

On the evening of August 14, the BLM had one LEO and no SRP compliance staff or any other 

personnel on duty in the Johnson Valley OHV Open Area. The LEO was on established patrol in 

this sector covering roughly 500,000 acres, a typical number of acres to cover for BLM’s law 

enforcement in the Desert.

For events such as the California 200 event, which had been authorized and run over several 

years with no serious incidents and apparent compliance by the promoter with the permit 

stipulations, there appeared to be minimal staff compliance checks and management oversight. 

While the permittee is responsible by law for carrying out the stipulations, such as the speed and 

crowd distance requirements in MDR’s permit (attached), BLM compliance and enforcement 

oversight was lacking.

II. BLM Response and Action Plan

Set out below is an outline of BLM-California’s immediate response and subsequent corrective 

actions taken. This section of the report also describes what actions the CDD has already

undertaken to bring the SRP program under close management oversight and control. This

section concludes with a description of the BLM-California Acting State Director’s Action Plan. 

A. Initial Inquiry Team

Within days of the California 200 incident, the BLM-California Acting State Director established 

an Initial Inquiry Team (IIT). He chartered the IIT to evaluate permit administration for offhighway vehicle events in the CDD, particularly as it relates to public safety, and to provide

short and long-term recommendations. The IIT was composed of staff with expertise in permit 

administration from the states of California, Nevada, Colorado, and the Washington D.C. Office. 

The IIT met August 24-26, 2010, in the CDD Office to review materials and interview staff 

regarding the California 200 permit, as well as gather information about the SRP program

generally within CDD. The IIT found that BLM policies and procedures were sound, but it also 

concluded that the agency did not follow standard procedures for permitting or monitoring the 

California 200 race on August 14, 2010. 

The IIT addressed the following issues during its review: 

Adequacy of BLM programmatic and event-specific permit process;

BLM capability to follow through with on-site compliance with the terms and stipulations 

of the permit;

Adequacy of permit fees and other funding collected by the BLM in support of the event;
5

Post-event review and actions to correct any health or safety deficiencies for future 

events;

Communication with event promoters and participants to ensure that health and safety 

concerns are addressed;

Review of pending permits in the CDD to ensure that future events proceed in a safe 

manner; and

Development of recommendations to address any long-term programmatic concerns that 

could affect public health and/or safety.

The recommendations from the IIT form the basis for the actions identified in this report. A 

copy of the IIT report is attached. While many of the actions in this report are focused on the 

response to the incident at Johnson Valley and are largely specific to the management of OHV 

events within the CDD, the lessons learned will be applied to SRP program management on a 

statewide basis. 

B. California Desert District’s Action Plan

The CDD District Manager formed a Recreation Task Group composed of outdoor recreation 

planners (ORPs), field managers, and CDD management personnel to review upcoming events 

on a case-by-case basis to ensure all required steps were taken in processing SRPs. The group’s 

immediate objectives were to identify and implement actions to ensure effective permit 

administration across the District, to develop guidance for BLM staffing levels for each type of 

event, and to communicate a consistent permit administration and compliance safety message to 

event promoters and the OHV community. 

The District Manager also made it the District-wide priority to work together to promote 

effective and consistent permit administration and compliance. This goal was communicated 

internally as well as externally. Additional measures were immediately implemented, including 

more oversight by BLM managers in permit processing. Other actions taken are described 

below.

1. Permit Administration Requirements and Directives

Only the Field Manager or District Manager (or Acting District Manager) may authorize 

an SRP. An application for an SRP may be denied if there is insufficient staff to 

administer or monitor the permit, if all Handbook requirements for permit administration 

cannot be met, or if all safety considerations cannot be satisfied. As an interim step, all 

competitive events must undergo a review by CDD staff and receive concurrence from 

the District Manager prior to approval. Once the Acting State Director issues the 

attached IM providing supplemental requirements for SRP administration, this 

responsibility will be delegated to both the District Managers and the Field Managers.

Field managers must review each application for an SRP on a case-by-case basis. Before

each event, staff will meet with the permittee to review the application packet, including 
6

the operating, safety, and communications plans. Terms and stipulations of the permit 

also will be reviewed.

To help managers determine appropriate staffing to monitor each permitted event, the 

CDD developed a Monitoring Assessment Matrix. Factors such as time and date of the 

event, type of event, location, conflicting uses, and anticipated participant and spectator 

numbers are included.

A law enforcement officer (LEO) must review the Monitoring Assessment Matrix and 

develop a plan for adequate staffing. 

In addition to applying the standard stipulations found in the BLM Handbook (H-2930-

1), field and district managers will determine whether additional stipulations are 

appropriate to address any potential health and safety concerns. 

 

The checklist from the BLM-California’s SRP Information Booklet will always be used 

to ensure all components of permit administration are completed and all documentation is 

included in the SRP file. 

All SRPs will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary team, including personnel such as 

safety officers, biologists, botanists, and cultural resources specialists to ensure 

appropriate and current environmental analysis.

BLM staff, including LEOs, ORPs, or other resource staff must monitor all permits for 

compliance with the terms and stipulations of the permit. Personnel from other offices 

may assist, if needed.

A mandatory drivers’ safety meeting must be held before every event. Drivers not in 

attendance will be disqualified from participating in the event.

Spectator areas must be defined by the permittee on the ground using temporary fencing 

during all events. Spectator rules, code of conduct, and risk information must be posted 

on large signs at access roads during an event weekend. Spectators are not allowed in the 

pits. The pits are now clearly identified and buffers are provided for spectator safety.

State and local law enforcement will always be advised of upcoming events. Permittees 

are required to submit communication and safety plans that include advising the local 

sheriff, fire, and emergency medical service of the event.

BLM dispatch centers will always be provided copies of the permits within their affected 

areas two weeks prior to the event. 

Employee contact information will be updated on a quarterly basis and made available on 

the California BLM intranet. The list identifies the notification system, including the

BLM permit lead, field manager, associate field manager, and additional personnel in 

priority order that should be contacted in the event of an emergency. 
7

The BLM must provide contact information to the permittee when it issues the SRP, and 

the permittee must provide the BLM with on-site emergency contact information for the 

day(s) of the event. 

The CDD will conduct a post-season assessment of all SRPs. The assessment will 

examine the completeness of permit administration and management. It also will

evaluate a statistical representation of the entire permitting process, including staff 

effectiveness.

2. Other Actions

BLM representatives attended a meeting with the Off Road Business Association 

(ORBA) on September 13, 2010. ORBA acknowledged that SRP administration and 

compliance would change and requested that it be allowed to participate in the process of 

developing solutions. The CDD District Manager asked for suggestions regarding pit 

safety; hazard mitigation; emergency fire, medical, and communications plans; and 

spectator control. BLM staff will continue to involve constituent groups in discussions 

about SRP program administration in order to review and improve safety standards and 

practices.

The State Office will develop a coordinated process to review permit administration and 

to monitor policy conformance and program consistency.

Since the incident at Johnson Valley, four permit applications have been denied in the 

CDD. The reasons for the denials included safety concerns with the types of activity 

requested, inadequate staffing available due to multiple events on a specific weekend, 

inadequate information provided in the application package, and insufficient time for 

BLM staff planning before the event. Also, five applications from MDR, the promoter of 

the California 200, are being held in abeyance pending completion of the California 

Highway Patrol’s investigation. 

C. State Director’s Action Plan

Based on all the information gathered from the IIT, industry groups, and other entities, together 

with the actions already taken by the CDD District Manager, as well as input from staff and 

management within the BLM, the BLM-California Acting State Director has taken or will take 

the following additional actions.

All new permits will be considered under cost recovery so that adequate resources are 

available to ensure public safety at all events. Consideration will be based on realistic 

timeframes for all associated activities, including permit review, compliance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act, pre-event meetings, event monitoring with adequate 

staff levels, and post-event reporting and monitoring. The Monitoring Assessment 

Matrix will be used to address the level of staff monitoring required.
8

The site/date reservations system (SDRS), formerly known as the lottery, will be 

reviewed with consideration given to ensuring that applicants are aware of all permitting 

requirements and to timing the lottery to allow sufficient time to follow all of the BLM’s 

procedures for issuing permits. Consideration to compete in the lottery will only be 

given to promoters providing complete permit applications.

There will be a reassessment of the capacity of field offices to sustain the number of 

permits it currently administers each year and a determination of whether that number is 

appropriate. 

A statewide team will be formed to review the SRP Program. The team will include 

LEOs, ORPs, and other resource specialists. The team will develop products such as 

templates or guidelines for operating plans, event monitoring plans, standard stipulations 

for inclusion when granting a permit, and a monitoring assessment form to be used when 

assessing the level of monitoring (and cost recovery fees) that will be required. 

The California State Office will review and update the BLM-California’s 2007 SRP 

Information Booklet if necessary.

An assessment will be made as to whether or not area closures are needed for safety and 

crowd control purposes. If in consultation with the BLM Washington Office, closures 

are determined to be advisable, closure notices will be published in the Federal Register.

Each office will develop a calendar of requested events to occur in 2011 in order to 

evaluate and assess on-site staffing needs to ensure permit compliance.

The BLM-California State Safety Officer will develop and implement a Duty Officer 

system and instruct field personnel on the implementation of a modified Incident 

Command System (similar to that used during the Twin Peaks Wild Horse and Burro 

Gather in 2010) to handle large events or incidents. 

BLM managers will present updated information on BLM’s action plan to advisory 

councils and constituent groups (such as the ORBA) during regularly scheduled 

meetings. BLM-California will engage the Desert Advisory Council to review aspects of 

the SRP program, focusing on the application process, including cost recovery and public 

safety and access during events.

The BLM-California Acting State Director is issuing the attached BLM-California State 

Instruction Memorandum (IM) that emphasizes laws, regulations, policy, and handbooks 

regarding the SRP Program. The IM emphasizes accountability at the Field and District 

Office level for following SRP program administration.

 
9

The State Office training staff will ensure that all SRP specialists take the required

training within the first two years of appointment to their positions. Refresher training 

will be offered at various times and locations to keep specialists current regarding permit 

requirements. Training will also be offered to other field office staff that will be assisting 

with on-site monitoring (to include law enforcement staff). The State Office will 

coordinate with the BLM’s National Training Center to ensure that this training is 

available at various locations throughout the state. This training will be offered at the 

CDD office in the spring of 2011. 

An SRP management responsibility session will be conducted during the State 

Management Team meeting in December 2010 to outline permit requirements and the 

expectations of the State Director. All BLM managers in California will be reminded 

that they are accountable for authorizing SRPs according to established procedures.

The State Office lead recreation program specialist will develop and implement a process

to improve coordination with field and state office staffs in Nevada and Arizona to ensure 

programmatic consistency, as many event promoters operate in multiple adjacent states.

The State Office lead recreation program specialist will work with the State of 

California’s OHV Recreation Division to ascertain if ―Green/Red Sticker‖ funding can be 

obtained to help support SRP program administration.

III. Conclusion

It is evident that BLM-California cannot operate the SRP program in the same manner as it did 

prior to August 14. Based upon the findings of the IIT and the subsequent program-wide review 

of the SRP program in the CDD, significant changes need to be made to address public safety 

issues.

All of the BLM-California managers and staff involved in the SRP program are committed to 

providing the recreating public in the California Desert with a safer and higher quality recreation 

experience, as set forth in existing BLM policy and procedures. 

To this end, higher standards of permit administration must be implemented and aggressively 

enforced. All managers understand that they are accountable for strict oversight of the SRP 

program and they must deny permit applications that do not meet the standards. This necessary 

change has already resulted in the denial of four SRP applications. Also, all five pending 

applications from the promoter of the California 200 are being held in abeyance until after the 

completion of the California Highway Patrol’s investigation of the incident. More than a dozen 

SPR events, however, have been authorized in the CDD with appropriate oversight by BLM law 

enforcement and management as outlined in this report. The safety of OHV recreationists and 

their families must always be the BLM’s first priority. The public we serve deserves no less. 
AUG 20 Z010 

Delegation of Authority and Charter for Initial Inquiry Team for Johnson Valley OHV incident and BLM California 

permitted OHV event safety review. 

This memorandum formalizes your authority to conduct an inquiry into the California Desert District (COD) OHV 

permit program. The team should place special emphasis on reviewing the Johnson Valley OHV Area incident 

associated with Barstow Field Office SRP SR-10-49, and make short and long-term recommendations regarding 

BLM OHV permit administration to ensure public safety. 

Members of the team are as follows: 

Lori Armstrong BLM Montrose, Colorado District Manager (Team Lead) 

Rob Perrin BLM Washington Office Trails and Travel Management Program Coordinator 

Judi Zuckert BLM Washington Office Special Recreation Permit Program Lead 

Barry Oelrich BLM Colorado State Office, Safety Manager 

Tim Smith BLM Bakersfield, California Field Manager 

Ken Hood BLM California State Office Fire Safety 

The charter for this team is to focus on permit administration for OHV events, particularly as they relate to public 

safety, and not to conduct an accident investigation. The team may share information as appropriate with the 

accident investigation team for the Johnson Valley event (contact: Special Agent Patrick Chassie 951-597- 5332). 

Specifically the team will review, document observations, and, where applicable, identify recommendations and 

action items related to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

SRP issuance, monitoring, compliance, and performance review for OHV events within the CDD and 

adherence to BLM permit/other applicable regulation and policy principally as it relates to public safety. 

The decision making process for issuing and administering SRP # SR-IO-49 to MDR Productions including 

consideration of past SRP performance, permit holder's adherence to safety-related stipulations, and BLM 

compliance actions. 

A focus on the following aspects of OHV event permit administration: 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

Adequacy of BLM and COD programmatic and event specific permit stipulations. 

Capability of the BLM to follow-through with on-the-ground compliance with stipulations. 

Adequacy of permit fees and other funding to support BLM's capability to administer permits. 

Effectiveness of post-event review actions and associated followup with permittee to correct 

safety deficiencies for future events. 

Communication efforts with the permittee, event participants and the public to ensure that 

safety stipulations are effectively implemented. 

Increases of actual use vs. estimated use in the permit and implications for public safety. 

Review pending permits and evaluate safety risks to ensure that, if authorized, the events can proceed in 

a safe manner. 

Follow-up needs including convening of additional team(s) if necessary to look more specifically at longterm SRP program management related to competitive OHV events to ensure participant, spectator, and 

other public land user safety. 

The team can request interim briefings as needed to discuss progress of the team, identify additional logistical and 

support needs etc. to accomplish objectives of the inquiry. 
rm,t",otfor 

At all times, the team will perform the functions described in this charter under the protections of the 

attorney/client privilege. As such, the substance of the report being drafted by the team will be protected under 

this privilege. Questions regarding this protection should be referred to agency counsel assigned to this incident 

(contact: Assistant Regional Solicitor Kevin Mack at (916)978-5681). 

A draft report covering the items described above should be completed and provided to the BLM State Director 

no later than Friday August 27. 

logistical support will be Teri Rami, California Desert District Manager 

California State Director 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT OFFICE

2465 South Townsend

Montrose, CO 81401

In Reply Refer To:

August 30, 2010

Jim Abbott

California State Director

Jim 

Enclosed are the report and recommendations from the Initial Inquiry Team (IIT) for the Johnson 

Valley OHV Incident and BLM California permitted OHV event safety review. All materials 

referenced during the review are available in the teams’ administrative record. We appreciate 

the assistance of those in the California Desert District offices during our review.

As a result of our review, the IIT feels it would be beneficial to receive further clarification 

regarding what constitutes a “participant” for a Special Recreation Permit. As we discovered 

through our review, in some instances a participant could be one individual or it could be a 

competitor plus a support crew of varying size. Additionally, it could describe spectators. We 

recommend that a request be made of the RVSAT to consider what constitutes a participant and 

provide guidance for offices to consider in SRP administration.

We further recommend that all offices throughout the Bureau who administer SRPs review the 

report recommendations for items which may enhance their program.

Team members are available for further clarification or assistance if needed.

Lori Armstrong

Initial Inquiry Team Lead
Initial Inquiry Team Report

The Initial Inquiry Team (IIT) met August 24-26, 2010 in the California Desert District Office. 

Team members included:

Lori Armstrong, Team Lead, District Manager, Colorado SW District

Tim Smith, Field Manager, Bakersfield California

Ken Hood, Aviation Management, California State Office

Leo Drumm, State OHV Coordinator, Nevada State Office

Rob Perrin, Trails & Travel Management Program Coordinator, Washington Office

Judi Zuckert, Natural Resource Specialist, Washington Office

Barry Oelrich, State Safety Manager, Colorado State Office

Tom Sharkey, Special Agent, Office of Law Enforcement and Security

The team was assisted by Mike Ahrens, Recreation & Wilderness Branch Chief, Needles Field 

Office and other staff located in the Desert District Office. 

The IIT was not to conduct an investigation of the accident but to focus on permit administration 

for OHV events, particularly as they relate to public safety. The Delegation of Authority and 

Charter for the IIT requested the team to make short and long-term recommendations regarding 

BLM OHV permit administration to ensure public safety. 

The IIT reviewed materials relating to the motorized Special Recreation Permit program, 

specifically within the California Desert District (CDD) along with materials regarding the 

accident which occurred at Johnson Valley on August 14th. Additionally, the IIT interviewed staff 

from the Barstow, Ridgecrest and El Centro Field Offices, and CDD Ranger staff. The IIT chose 

not to go to Johnson Valley and instead utilize the time the trip would have taken for further 

review of the motorized SRP program. All information reviewed by the team and documentation 

of interviews is available in the administrative record. 

The IIT also looked briefly at the response which occurred to the accident on August 14th. A few 

recommendations from that review are included. 

Attachments:

1. Initial Inquiry Team Recommendations

2. Barstow Permit Administration Synopsis

3. Sample Operating Plan Items (non-inclusive)

4. IIT ranking for upcoming permitted motorized events
Initial Inquiry Team Recommendations

Special Recreation Permit (SRP) issuance, monitoring, compliance, and performance review for 

Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) events within the California Desert District (CDD) and adherence to 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) permit/other applicable regulation and policy principally as 

it relates to public safety.

ü Motorized event SRP Permit applications need to have BLM Law Enforcement Officer 

(LEO) review as part of initial risk assessment

ü Create a check list to ensure all parts of permit administration are completed and a 

second checklist to ensure all documentation is included in the SRP permit file (refer to 

Handbook H-2930-1 Appendix B-9, Permit Process Checklist). 

ü Require promoters to complete an SRP application, including an operating plan, prior to 

lottery – or at a minimum 180 days in advance of the event for events not included in the 

lottery (refer to Handbook H-2930-1 Appendix B-4, Timeline Flowchart for Processing 

Permits).Ensure consistency amongst CDD Field Offices for standard permit stipulations 

(refer to Handbook H-2930-1, General Terms, pages 40-41 and additional CA guidance)

ü Include permit specific stipulations to adequately address individual event issues

The decision making process for issuing and administering SRP #SR-10-49 to Mohave Desert 

Racing (MDR) Productions, including consideration of past SRP performance, permit holder’s 

adherence to safety-related stipulations, and BLM compliance actions.

ü See attached SRP #SR-10-49 Administration Synopsis

A focus on the following aspects of OHV event permit administration:

Adequacy of BLM and CDD programmatic and event specific permit stipulations.

ü The standard stipulations in the National Recreation Permit Administration 

Handbook (H-2930-1) and associated California Special Recreation Permit 

Information Booklet (App. 4) are solid and need to be included in all permits. 

Field Offices need to supplement the standard stipulation with additional event 

specific stipulations as necessary.

Capability of the BLM to follow through with on-the-ground compliance with stipulations.

ü A specific stipulation requiring implementation of the approved operating plan 

needs to be included for administration and compliance purposes. Develop 

additional requirements which greater define capabilities for addressing risk for 

operating plans on high risk events

ü Develop a pre, during and post monitoring plan for each event

ü Permit administration and compliance capabilities

o Sharing of staff to conduct permit administration and/or 

compliance/monitoring. If additional staff is hired through cost-recovery 

funding, such staff could be shared across office boundaries.

o Determine if “Green Sticker” funding can be used to support permit 

administration
o Interim, hired temporary assistance, such as SCAs “Wild Corp”, to assist with 

permit compliance and administration

o Contract hired permit compliance and administration

Adequacy of permit fees and other funding to support BLM’s capability to administer 

permits.

ü Conduct a survey of staff time used to administer permits using realistic time, 

including actual permit review, NEPA compliance, pre-event monitoring, event 

monitoring with adequate staff levels, post-event monitoring and any 

correspondence. Based upon review determine which permits truly fit cost 

recovery and implement.

ü Consider cost recovery based upon a single promoter (to include multiple events) 

instead of event by event.

ü Implement cost recovery for permits requiring 50+ hours to administer.

Effectiveness of post-event review actions and associated follow-up with permittee to 

correct safety deficiencies for future events.

ü The National Recreation Permit Administration Handbook (H-2930-1) and 

associated California Special Recreation Permit Information Booklet provide 

guidance for post-event review and permittee follow-up Such needs to be 

conducted and documented

Communication efforts with the permittee, event participants and the public to ensure 

that safety stipulations are effectively implemented.

ü State and local law enforcement need to be formally advised of upcoming events 

via written communication

ü Conduct a promoter meeting to advise regarding permit administration and 

requirements in the interim

ü Hold a pre-season meeting with all permittees. Discuss lesson learned from 

previous years events and requirements for the up-coming season

ü Require mandatory attendance at drivers meetings

ü Once received from the BLM, Promoters should include BLM permit stipulations 

in participant material either via website or hard copy

Increases of actual use vs. estimated use in the permit and implications for public safety.

ü Designate spectator areas and define areas on the ground using temporary 

fencing during events

ü Use the Federal Register process to temporarily close courses on event days 

(one notice could be done for all events identified during a given year)

Review pending permits and evaluate safety risks to ensure that, if authorized, the events can 

proceed in a safe manner.

ü Initial Inquiry Team reviewed permits pending through calendar year 2010 and into 2011. 

Permits were ranked based on permit information we provided to determine risks. A risk 

ranking of high, medium or low is provided for use by offices. High risks were based, in 
part, upon night time event, car/buggy or rock-crawling, high anticipated spectator 

number and holiday weekend

Follow-up needs including convening of additional team(s) if necessary to look more specifically 

at long-term program management related to competitive OHV events to ensure participant, 

spectator and other public land user safety.

ü Develop risk assessments utilizing BLM form 1112-5 for each type of race class as part 

of the process to evaluate permits by risk. Provide risk assessment training for CDD 

employees (commercial courses are available, DOI learn is an option)

ü Schedule a training for CDD staff and managers involved with administration of SRPs. 

Training should include information regarding policy along with resolution of CDD permit 

issues to provide greater consistency and adherence to policy.

ü Create an ID team to develop a review process to evaluate needs for high risk events. 

The ID team should always include a LEO and an ORP for events with high risk for 

health and safety. ID team would determine additional needs for operating plans and 

develop event monitoring plans.

ü Develop a standard operating plan format for motorized events. (The team has provided 

a sample of items to be included in an operating plan. The list provided is not all 

inclusive, but could be used to begin developing a standard operating plan format).

ü Check the California delegation of authority to make sure Field Managers are delegated 

authority for permit signature. Determine if appropriate to have others at the field level 

sign permits and if so, assure that such is done only with written delegation.

ü Review, update, and revise California IM 2008-01 which expired 9/30/09

ü Field Offices should reassess whether the capacity of the open areas can sustain the 

number of permits per year. Determine if a permit carrying capacity is appropriate 

throughout the CDD.

ü Assess the capacity of each Field Office to properly administer current permit workload 

(assess role of recreation planners administering filming permits and funding used for 

such).

ü Determine if SRP fees are being used to support permit administration (FBMS/1232 

budget clarity)

ü Develop a coordinated CDD permit administration capability in the District Office. 

Conduct oversight and SRP program coordination at District Office.

ü Review and re-evaluate the lottery process. Consider timing of the lottery to allow 

sufficient time to issue permits. Promoters should provide permit applications that 

include draft operating plans prior to entering the lottery. 

ü Establish a working group of BLM and OHV Event Sponsors to create safety standards 

for mechanized and motorized classes that include the following items.

· Pit Safety

· Course Hazard Identification and Mitigation Measures

· Emergency Medical Plan

· Fire Plan

· Communications Plan

· Crowd/Spectator Control
ü Consider developing an internal process to review special recreation permit 

administration in all California field offices to check for policy conformance and program 

consistency

Incident Response Review

ü Establish a State Office, District and Field Office Duty Officer and Notification system. 

ü Update all employee phone lists on a quarterly or bi-annual basis and make list available 

electronically on the California Intranet. Identify Field Manager, Assoc. Manager and 

additional personnel in priority order that may be contacted in the event of an emergency 

and the Field or Assoc. Field Manager are not available.

ü Provide all BLM Dispatch Centers within the affected area with copies of Special 

Recreation Permits of mechanized or motorized events two weeks prior to the event. 

Identify within the permit emergency contact numbers for onsite contacts during the 

event. GPS coordinates should be included for the location in the event medical or other 

types of aircraft are needed. 

ü Consider developing fire review incident command structure for response to large 

incidents/high risk SRPs 
Special Recreation Permit # SR-10-49 Administration Synopsis 

The Barstow Field Office administers approximately 127 special recreation permits (SRPs) per 

year, including approximately 11 truck/buggy races and 14 motorcycle races (RMIS 2009 

Report 33a) Many standard operating procedures outlined in national guidance (H-2930-1 BLM 

Recreation Permit Administration Handbook) and California BLM permit policy (Special 

Recreation Permit Information Booklet, August 2007), are not routinely implemented during 

permit administration. There is a logical sequence in permit administration, including preapplication meetings, development of specific permit stipulations and detailed operating plans, 

race monitoring, post-event evaluations and other elements. Race monitoring, for example, is a 

critical component of SRP administration. Monitoring during the event provides the opportunity 

to observe hazards or problems that are occurring or may occur, in order to take action at that 

event and/or to use that information to better manage future events. 

Specific problems identified for Barstow SRPs including SRP SR-10-49:

NEPA – An EA was completed for the 1992 Johnson Valley Activity Plan. No additional NEPA 

(DNA) was completed in association with issuance of the permit.

Pre-application consultation – There was no pre-race consultation with the permittee. (CA 

2007, page 2, OHV event applicants are required to meet with a Field Office Recreation Planner 

prior to submitting an application...) 

Special Recreation Application and Permit – An expired version of the permit form was used. 

The application was received two months prior to the event. Applications must be received no 

later than 180 days prior to the proposed use, unless waived by the authorized officer (CA 2007, 

page 3). 

Fees – Total estimated fees are due in advance of any authorized use. (H-2930, page 28) Only 

the minimum fees ($95) were collected prior to the MDR race.

Cost recovery – Cost recovery has not been implemented for any SRPs in the field office. (CA 

2007, page 5, cost recovery is mandatory for all administrative work that involves 50 or more 

staff hours to complete). Over 50 hours of staff time may be necessary to properly conduct the 

pre-race, during event, and post race administration of large OHV races.

SRP Application – General terms required by national (2930-1 pages 40-41) or state policy were 

not included with the permit. Special stipulations related to spectator safety were non-specific 

and inadequate. For example, there were no specific requirements in the stipulations or the 

operating plan for spectator and spectator vehicle setbacks, for signs to be posted advising of 

safe spectator distance, for all race participants to attend the pre-event briefing, or for event 

staff to specifically manage crowds at known spectator viewing areas.
Operating plan – No operating plan was required of the permittee (CA 2007, page 3 and CA 

permit stipulations page 4). A detailed operating plan provides a mechanism for the agency to 

review exactly how a permittee proposes to manage and staff an event, provides an opportunity 

to work with the permittee to make modifications if the plan is not adequate, and provides a 

mechanism to establish race-specific operating and emergency procedures that can be tied to 

performance requirements and permit stipulations.

Pre-race course monitoring - Pre-race course monitoring - (2930-1, pages 46-47) A law 

enforcement ranger visited a portion of the race course prior to the event, as part of a routine 

patrol. There was no direct communication between recreation and law enforcement staff about 

the event. The law enforcement ranger did not conduct monitoring specific to the event or the 

permit stipulations or report back to the recreation staff with any observations. There is no 

record of the desert tortoise information sheet and protective measures as required by permit 

stipulations.

Event monitoring - (2930-1, pages 46-47) No recreation staff were present at the event. One 

law enforcement ranger was present at the race. The law enforcement ranger was not 

conducting monitoring related to race administration or permit stipulations.

Post-race monitoring – (2930-1, pages 46-47) Discussion with Barstow FO staff indicated that 

post-race monitoring was not a standard operating procedure after OHV events. Staff relied on 

law enforcement on routine patrol to notice if course flagging had not been pulled, or on reports 

from other race organizers if trash had not been collected.

Post-event Evaluation – Permit samples reviewed by the team indicate that completing postevent evaluations was not a standard procedure. (CA 2007, p 9, “A performance evaluation is 

required of all commercial and competitive permittees...”)
Sample Operating Plan Items (this is a non-inclusive working list)

(Information in parenthesis has been copied from various Race Promoter Operating 

Plans)

General

· Estimated number of participants

· Estimated number of spectators

· Type of event, layout, number of laps, start time, course location

· Location of start/finish/pits/fuels stops

· Equipment to do deal with fuel leaks/hazardous material

· Toilet, trash and other facility locations

· Location of signage and flagging

· Resource protection procedures

· Timing of course set up and take down

· Vehicle parking and camping locations

Course Hazard Identification and Mitigation Measures

· No one enters the race course without race promoter or designee granting permission. 

(This is not enforceable by the BLM unless a Federal Register Notice has been issued)

· Race promoter is in charge of maintaining control of the race course at all times. Race 

promoter will have adequate staff to ensure that all rules are followed.

· Flag Workers will be used at all road crossings

· Mandatory and documented drivers meeting where all drivers and/or co drivers will sign 

in. If a driver/co driver is not signed in, they will not race.

· Agenda for drivers meeting

· Set speed limit through Start / Finish and Pit areas. (between 40 and 50 mph)

· Set speed limit of at all road crossing, starting at road crossing marking to past crossing. 

(40 mph)

· At any time, before, during and after the race, the speed limit within XX feet of a person 

shall be XX. (may consider spectator control instead of speed limit on racers)

(within 50 feet of a person shall be 15 mph)

Communications Plan / Emergency Medical Plan

· The promoter will designate a point of contact for the BLM to communicate with 

regarding the event and method of communication

· The promoter will provide the BLM with a medical plan to address response to and 

transportation of any injured participants or spectators. This plan will include number of 

emergency response staff, level of training of staff, type of medical equipment on site 

(ambulance/air ambulance).

(Safety Network Personnel - The Safety Network is comprised of fire and EMS first 
responders. They are versed in the vehicle type per class, its safety construction, and 

driver history. A Safety Crew member, may be trained in race car shut down procedures, 

extrication, firefighting, EMS, high speed impact medicals, rapid trauma assessments, 

wild land fire fighting, driver safety restraints, hazardous materials, ICS systems, and 

methanol fuel fires.)

· XX days prior to the event XX dispatch center will be notified of the upcoming event.

(14 days prior to the event XX dispatch center will be notified of the upcoming event.)

(On Scene Incident Commander – The on-scene incident commander is designated 

prior to the start of the event. The OSIC is in control of the incident until it is cleared or is 

relieved by a higher authority. 

Pit Safety Plan

· Set maximum speed limit on all pit access roads and in all pit areas for all vehicles. 

(15 mph)

· Designated Pit Captains to maintain safety, monitor participant speed. Pre-determine 

the pitting locations and distances from track edge. 

(All pit supplies must be at least 50 feet from the edge of the racecourse to the 

racetrack side of race vehicle. No pit may be in the first 50 feet leading into and the first 

100 feet leading out of a turn.)

· All pits must have the equivalent of a UL approved two (2) 10-lb. ABC fire extinguisher at 

all times; the extinguisher(s) must be manned during all pit stops. This capability may be 

accomplished using fire extinguishers of any combination (minimum 5-lb. extinguisher) 

that equals 20 lbs. (i.e. two 10 lb., four 5 lb.). If 5 LB extinguishers are to be utilized, then 

the pit crew must man two fire extinguishers and be at the ready. All pit fire extinguishers 

must have current (less than one year old) seal in place, and be fully charged.

Fire Plan

· Fire extinguishers are required in all race vehicles

· Welding and use of open flames needs to be monitored and confined to open areas to 

prevent the ignition of the vegetation in the surrounding areas.

· All spectators will be advised of current conditions, fire restrictions and regulations in 

effect. Special emphasis should be placed on any prohibition of smoking and campfires 

using solid fuels (wood, charcoal, etc).

Crowd/Spectator Control

· Spectator locations: Distances from track. These areas may be identified by (the use of 

snow fence of ropes, road delineators, setbacks and personnel to monitor said areas). 

Spectator viewing areas will be identified on attached map. Plans will be required to 

control spectators. (Do not stand within 100 feet of the course. The speed limit around 

the pits and in all camping areas is 15 MPH).
OHV Events sorted by Date, August 20, 2010. update #5
12

Date of 

Event

Sponsor of 

Event

Name of 

Event

Type of 

Event - & 

Class of 

Vehicle

Location 

of Event

BLM 

Office

Night 

Event

# of 

Spect

Com

p

Emergency

Response 

Accessibilit

y

# Of 

Part..

Past 

Perf

FO 

Risk 

H/M/L

Team Risk 

Asses. If 

different from 

FO

August 21-

22, 2010

District 37 

Invaders MC -

Ken Meester

Bomb 

Practice/

Scrambles

motorcycle

s < 100 

riders, < 

200 

spectators

Johnson 

Valley -

Anderson 

Dry Lake -

Course B

Barstow no 300 yes on site 200 good M

September 4, 

2010

MDR (has 

been 

cancelled)

RETURN 

TO THE 

DESERT 

(NIGHT 

RACE)

cars Plaster City 

West

El Centro yes 300 to 

600

yes Good 20 to 

50

Good m

September 

11, 2010

MORE 

Racing

Chili Cookoff 200car/truck 

race

Johnson 

Valley 

Barstow no 1000 yes 30 1 on site 80-100 good M H - # of 

Spectators, 

Event type

September 

11, 2010

Semper Fi motorcycle Superstition El Centro Not 

Active

September 

11-12, 2010

Lost Coyotes 

M/C

Motorcycle 

Race

motorcycle

s

Spangler 

Hills

Ridgecrest N 100 Y Good 400 Good L M - # of 

Spectators/Bom

b Start?

September 

18, 2010

Chaparrals 

Motorcycle 

Club

dual sport -

Motorcycle 

Race 45 

participants

Keyesville Bakersfiel

d Peter 

DeWitt 

661-391-

6120

September 

18, 2010

Drive Racing WCT 

Townsel 

Memorial

cars Plaster City 

West

El Centro No 2000 Yes Good 500 Good m H - # of 

Spectators, 

Event type

September 

19, 2010

Roadrunner 

Off Road

Rattle 

Snake 

Chase

motorcycle

s

Superstition 

Dip

El Centro No 300 Yes Good 300 Good m

September

19, 2010

Desert Daises 

MC

MC Rally motorcycle

s

Johnson 

Valley -

Anderson 

Dry Lake

Barstow no 200 yes 30-1 on site 200 good M
13

Date of 

Event

Sponsor of 

Event

Name of 

Event

Type of 

Event - & 

Class of 

Vehicle

Location 

of Event

BLM 

Office

Night 

Event

# of 

Spect

Com

p

Emergency

Response 

Accessibilit

y

# Of 

Part..

Past 

Perf

FO 

Risk 

H/M/L

Team Risk 

Asses. If 

different from 

FO

September 

23-27, 2010

Victor Valley 

Four 

Wheelers

Jeep Rock 

Climb

jeeps -

technical

Johnson 

Valley -

Means Dry 

Lake

Barstow H - Event type

September 

25-26, 2010

US Desert 

Racing

Motorcycle 

Race

motorcycle

s

Spangler 

Hills

Ridgecrest No 150 Yes Good 200 F L M - # of 

Spectators/Bom

b Start?

October 1-4, 

2010

Countdown 

Dual Sport

Dual Sport 

Tour

motorcycle

s - tour

Panamint 

Valley

Ridgecrest N 0 No P <50 F L

October 2, 

2010

motorcycle 

- Enduro 

200 riders

ChappieShastaRedding 

FO - Sky 

Zaffarano 

503-224-

2116

October 3, 

2010

Chicken 

Bones Racing

Chicken 

Trax

motorcycle

s

Plaster City 

West

El Centro Yes ? Yes Good ? Good m

October 8-9, 

2010

MORE 

Racing

5th Annual 

Powder 

Puff

car/truck 

race

Johnson 

Valley

Barstow No 2000 yes 15Min-2 

mon site

250 Good M H - # of 

Spectators, 

Event type

October 9, 

2010

San Diego 4 

wheelers

Non 

competitiv

e trail 

riding

4x4 

technical

devil's 

canyon

El Centro No None No Poor 15 max none m L - low #

October 9, 

2010

Semper Fi motorcycle Plaster City 

East

El Centro Not 

Active

October 16, 

2010

MDR (permit 

suspended)

SUPERSTI

TION 250-

SPRINT 2 

THE 

DASH

cars Plaster City 

West

El Centro No ? Yes Good ? Good m H - # of 

Spectators, 

Event type
14

Date of 

Event

Sponsor of 

Event

Name of 

Event

Type of 

Event - & 

Class of 

Vehicle

Location 

of Event

BLM 

Office

Night 

Event

# of 

Spect

Com

p

Emergency

Response 

Accessibilit

y

# Of 

Part..

Past 

Perf

FO 

Risk 

H/M/L

Team Risk 

Asses. If 

different from 

FO

October 16, 

2010

CORVA OHV Play nonspeed/time

d

Johnson 

Valley -

Means Dry 

Lake

Barstow no 120 NO 30-40 min 120 Good 

4th year

L

October 17, 

2010

Over The Belt 

Racing

Pumpkin 

Dash

motorcycle

s

Superstition 

Pole Line

El Centro No ? Yes Good ? Good m

October 17, 

2010

Training 

Wheels M/C

Motorcycle 

Race

motorcycle

s

Spangler 

Hills

Ridgecrest N 100 Y Good 200 Good L M - # of 

Spectators/Bom

b Start?

October 24, 

2010

So Cal Trials

Assoc.

Trials MC 

Event

motorcycle

s

Spangler 

Hills

Ridgecrest N 25 Y Good <50 Good L

October 30, 

2010

IV Racing motorcycle Plaster City 

West

El Centro No ? Yes Good ? Good m

October 31, 

2010

I-8 Desert 

Racers

TBA motorcycle

s

Plaster City 

East

El Centro No ? Yes Good ? Good m

November 6, 

2010

San Diego 4 

wheelers

Non 

competitiv

e trail 

riding

4x4 

technical

devil's 

canyon

El Centro No None No Poor 15 max Good L

November 6, 

2010

Semper Fi Not Active motorcycle Plaster City 

West

El Centro

November 6-

7, 2010

Countdown 

Dual Sport

Dual Sport 

Tour

motorcycle

s - tour

Ridgecrest 

to Lone 

Pine

Ridgecrest N 0 No P <50 F L

November 

12, 2010

SLAPPY 

RACING

quads ISDRA El Centro no 100 to 

200

no Good 30 to 

40

Good L

November 

12-14, 2010

CA Assoc. of 

4WD Clubs, 

Inc.

Panamint 

Valley 

days

4x4 

technical

Panamint 

Valley

Ridgecrest N 0 No P 230 Good L

November 

13, 2010

Full Throttle Desert 

Cross

motorcycle

s

Plaster City 

West

El Centro No ? Yes Good ? Good m

November 

13, 2010

US Desert 

Racing

Motorcycle 

Race

motorcycle

s

Spangler 

Hills

Ridgecrest N 150 Y Good 200 F L M - # of 

Spectators/Bom

b Start?
15

Date of 

Event

Sponsor of 

Event

Name of 

Event

Type of 

Event - & 

Class of 

Vehicle

Location 

of Event

BLM 

Office

Night 

Event

# of 

Spect

Com

p

Emergency

Response 

Accessibilit

y

# Of 

Part..

Past 

Perf

FO 

Risk 

H/M/L

Team Risk 

Asses. If 

different from 

FO

November 

25-28, 2010

Chemehue

vi Poker 

Run

motorcycle

s

Chemehue

vi Wash

Needles No NA No Good <500 Good L

November 

25-28, 2010

LA-B to V -

Historic 

Tour

dual sport Needles No NA No Fair <250 Good L

November 

27, 2010

Drive Racing ORW 

Grand Prix

cars Plaster City 

West

El Centro No ? Yes Good ? Good m H - # of 

Spectators, 

Event type

November 

28, 2010

IV Racing motorcycle Plaster City 

East

El Centro M - # of 

Spectators/Bom

b Start?

December 4, 

2010

San Diego 4 

wheelers

Non 

competitiv

e trail 

riding

4x4 

technical

devil's 

canyon

El Centro No None No poor 15 max Good L

December 

11-12, 2010

MORE 

Racing

Toys for 

Tots Fun 

Run

Poker run Stoddard 

Valley

Barstow No 1000 No 15 Min 500 Good M - # of 

Spectators/Bom

b Start?

December 

12, 2010

Roadrunner 

Off Road

Christmas 

Classic

motorcycle

s

Superstition 

Pole Line

El Centro No ? Yes Good ? Good m

December 

12, 2010

lost Coyotes 

M/C

Dash to 

Ballarat 

Dual Sport 

Tour

motorcycle 

- tour

Searles 

Valley

Ridgecrest N 0 No P <50 Good L

December 

31, 2010

MDR (permit 

suspended)

THE 

DASH 200

cars Plaster City 

West

El Centro No ? H - # of 

Spectators, 

Event type

January 8, 

2011

San Diego 4 

wheelers

Non 

competitiv

e trail 

riding

4x4 

technical

Devil's 

canyon

El Centro No 100 to 

200

No Poor 15 max Good L
16

Date of 

Event

Sponsor of 

Event

Name of 

Event

Type of 

Event - & 

Class of 

Vehicle

Location 

of Event

BLM 

Office

Night 

Event

# of 

Spect

Com

p

Emergency

Response 

Accessibilit

y

# Of 

Part..

Past 

Perf

FO 

Risk 

H/M/L

Team Risk 

Asses. If 

different from 

FO

January 15, 

2011

San Diego 4 

wheelers

Non 

competitiv

e trail 

riding

4x4 

technical

Superstition 

Open area

El Centro No None No Good 150 Good L

January 16, 

2011

So. CA Trials 

Assoc.

Vote 

Romoland

TECCycles 

SoCalTrials 

Champ 

Series

Lakeview 

Mtn. near 

Hemet/Ro

moland, CA

Palm 

Springs

L - low #

January 28, 

2011

SLAPPY 

RACING

quads ISDRA El Centro No 100 to 

200

Yes Good 30 to 

40

Good m L - low #

January 29-

30, 2011

Countdown 

Dual Sport

Highdesert 

250 Dual 

Sport Tour

motorcycle 

- tour

El Paso 

Mountains

Ridgecrest N 0 No P 150 F L

February 5, 

2011

San Diego 4 

wheelers

Non 

competitiv

e trail 

riding

4x4 

technical

devil's 

canyon

El Centro No None No Poor 15 max Good L

March 12, 

2011

San Diego 4 

wheelers

Non 

competitiv

e trail 

riding

4x4 

technical

devil's 

canyon

El Centro No None No Poor 15 max Good L

March 18, 

2011

SLAPPY 

RACING

quads ISDRA El Centro No 100 to 

200

Yes Good 30 to 

40

Good m L - low #

April 9, 2011 San Diego 4 

wheelers

Non 

competitiv

e trail 

riding

4x4 

technical

devil's 

canyon

El Centro No None No Poor 15 max Good L

May 6, 2011 SLAPPY 

RACING

quads ISDRA El Centro No 100 to 

200

Yes Good 30 to 

40

Good m L - low #
 United States Department of the Interior

 BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

 California State Office

 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W1623

 Sacramento, CA 95825

 www.ca.blm.gov

In Reply Refer To:

2930 (930) P

EMS TRANSMISSION: 

Instruction Memorandum No. 2010

Expires: 09/30/2011 

To: All California District Managers and Field Office Managers

From: State Director

Subject: Special Recreation Permit Administration Supplemental Requirements

Program Area: Recreation and Visitor Services – Special Recreation Permits (SRP)

Purpose: The purpose of this Instruction Memorandum (IM) is to provide direction for Field 

and District Managers in the administration of the SRP program in California.

Policy/Action: Field and District Managers are responsible for compliance with H-2930-1 

Recreation Permit Administration Handbook and the California Special Recreation Permit 

Information Booklet (August 2007). The following additional directives are provided:

Field and District Managers will be held fully accountable for following policy, without 

exception, in order to ensure public health and safety. The Manager signing the permit 

shall be fully involved in the management oversight and quality control of each SRP 

granted. 

Field and District Managers will be held accountable for ensuring that permits are 

monitored for compliance with stipulations, terms and conditions. Permits for 

commercial, competitive, and large group events typically require pre-event monitoring, 

compliance monitoring during the event, and post-event monitoring. If the field office 

cannot complete all the necessary steps to administer a permit, no permit shall be issued.

Field and District Managers shall ensure that staff (Outdoor Recreation Planners and Law 

Enforcement personnel at a minimum) shall have adequate training to ensure appropriate 

application of law, regulation, and policy. Staff shall be made aware of their 

responsibility to ensure the program is administered correctly and consistently.
Field and District Managers shall coordinate outreach with project applicants and user 

groups to ensure that they are aware of all requirements of the Bureau of Land 

Management Special Recreation Permit Program. They shall also be made aware of their 

responsibilities in program administration, on-site monitoring, and compliance to ensure 

public health and safety. 

Future implementation strategy will be discussed at the December 2010 State Management Team 

meeting. 

Timeframe: Effective Immediately.

Budget Impact: This policy has no impact on budget.

Background: The BLM is responsible for policy, direction, and guidance for managing 

recreation fees and issuing and administering special recreation permits for commercial, 

competitive use, and organized group activities and events as a means of authorizing uses on 

public lands and related waters. Under the authority of the Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act, the BLM uses the recreation permitting system to satisfy recreational demand 

within allowable use levels in an equitable, safe, and enjoyable manner while minimizing 

adverse resource impacts and user conflicts. The use of public lands and/or related waters is a 

privilege subject to the terms and conditions of the permits.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: The BLM Recreation Permit Administration Manual 

M-2930, Handbook H-2930-1, and California Special Recreation Permit Information Booklet.

Contact: If you have questions concerning this IM, please contact Michael Ayers, Recreation 

Program Lead, at 916-978-4644.
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