FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Daigle
November 2, 2026 Phone: 202-792-4446
Email: mattd@sema.org
ORBA SIGNS LANDMARK AGREEMENT WITH BLM FOR RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC LANDS STEWARDSHIP AND RECREATION
-- MOU sets the stage for productive public-private partnership --
Washington, D.C. (November 2, 2026) The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a landmark agreement between the public and private sectors to provide a framework for existing land management to become more consistent, scalable, and measurable nationally while supporting practical coordination at the state and field-office level.
The formalizing of the relationship between ORBA and BLM will help advance work already underway to connect national discussions with localized efforts, improve early communication with proponents, expand education and stewardship opportunities, and establish tangible results that can be reviewed over time.
“Public land stewardship works best when we bring people to the table early and focus on solutions,” said Steve Pearce, BLM Director. “This agreement strengthens our partnership with ORBA and gives us a better way of working together. By collaborating with ORBA earlier and more consistently, we can improve access and give our field offices and local communities the tools they need to support responsible recreation on America’s public lands.”
“ORBA is thrilled for the opportunity to engage formally with our partners at the Department of the Interior and BLM for a shared mission to better understand and promote responsible recreation and stewardship of public lands,” said Laura Butcher, ORBA’s legislative director. “Our public lands are a national treasure, and we all benefit when all stakeholders pulling in the same direction in service of preserving access for all.”
The MOU is designed to support responsible outdoor recreation, public lands stewardship, workforce awareness, recreation infrastructure improvements, and data-driven evaluation of the economic contributions associated with motorized recreation on public lands.
The MOU covers several critical objectives, in which BLM and ORBA will:
- Workforce awareness and career outreach
- Stewardship and public lands projects
- Recreation opportunity coordination
- Economic impact and research collaboration.
Among the immediate initiatives are the development of a practical “Do I Need a Permit?” session and pursue opportunities to offer it across the popular Overland Expo series of enthusiast events. ORBA will also provide practical support and basic education for Title III and Special Recreation Permits, Paleontological Resource Use Permits and Scientific Research Permits and Authorization.
The MOU will provide a more consistent framework for connecting these efforts, helping to translate national-level conversations into practical work with BLM offices, industry partners, permittees and recreation communities, while giving both ORBA and BLM clearer opportunities to identify where coordination is useful and productive.
There is no federal funding tied to this MOU, and therefore serves as an example of how private-public partnerships can help meet national challenges through collaboration, communication, and resource sharing. The agreement would not change BLM’s permitting authority or ORBA’s ability to advocate independently. It would provide a clearer structure for the areas where coordination between BLM and ORBA can be productive.
BACKGROUND
While this formal relationship is new, DOI and BLM are already familiar with ORBA, which has worked with both agencies at the national level, coordinating directly with state and field offices and helping businesses and permit proponents navigate issues on the ground.
In June, ORBA participated in meetings in Washington, D.C., with the White House, DOI, BLM, congressional offices and House Natural Resources Committee staff focused on travel management, motorized access and other public-lands issues.
Much of the work envisioned during the crafting of the MOU is already underway. ORBA has a well-established working relation with BLM’s Nevada and California offices, including years of involvement in special recreation permitting and education, economic impact work, and technical meetings.
ABOUT ORBA
The Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), is a national advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and expanding motorized recreational access, while advancing the interests of the off-road industry through legislative advocacy, strategic partnerships, and data-driven initiatives. Working with stakeholders, policymakers, and land managers, ORBA champions responsible recreation, balanced land management, and common-sense policies that protect public land access and the businesses that depend on it. ORBA promotes the industry's economic contributions and ensures it has a voice in decisions affecting the future of off-road recreation. Join ORBA today at www.offroadbusiness.org to help protect the future of off-road recreation.
ABOUT SEMA
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) serves as a leading voice for the worldwide car culture, representing over 7,000 member companies that create, buy, sell, and use specialty-automotive parts that make vehicles more unique, attractive, convenient, safer, fun, and even like new again. Business member benefits include product development resources, market research, networking, education, legislative advocacy and more. The Association organizes the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and actively supports the career and business opportunities that the aftermarket generates. The industry contributes nearly $383 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, supports 1.25 million jobs nationally, and generates nearly $53 billion in parts sales annually. For more information, visit www.sema.org.