As pointed out elsewhere here in the comments, Mark Boslough written an excellent summary of RS 2477 on the Enter Stage Right web site. It explains how this antiquated federal law is being used by the off-road big-tire people to try to enforce their "right" to tear up other people's land:

Use of RS 2477 is not just a theoretical threat. My family found out first-hand that the threat is very real. Off-road organizations are actively promoting it as a means of creating recreation areas on private land.