Post by renee on Sept 21, 2008 23:59:51 GMT -5
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest seeks comments on a Proposal for Motorizied Vehicle use
Medford,OR- August 28,2008- The Forest Service is requesting public comments on a proposal to designate motorized use on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and amend the Forest Plans.
The public scoping period begins with the release of the Notice of Intent, which was published in the Federal Register on August 26, 2008. During this week, a scoping letter and a copy of the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement is being mailed to interested publics, describing the Proposed Action and Purpose and Need for the Project. The public is asked to please provide any public comments on the proposal by October 14, 2008 to be considered in the preparation of a Draft Enviornmental Impact Statement.
"We want the public to have an opportunity to voice their views on access issues regarding local roads or trails to provide for a range of recreation opportunities while ensuring the best possible care of the land," said Steve Johnson, Team Leader for Travel Management Planning. "We are asking the public to review the Notice of Intent and provide comments to the agency on specific information they feel that the agency may not have at this time or as it relates to identifying potential enviornmental effects of establishing and designating a system of roads,trails and areas for wheeled motorixed vehicles," said Johnson.
The public is encouraged to get involved during this stage of the planning process as their comments and feedback on the Proposed Action will help to develop alternatives. A Forest Service team will look at the public comments and identify the significant issues that focus the analysis and generate possible alternatives to the proposed action in the Enviornmental Impact Statement. Completion of a Draft Enviornmental Impact Statement is expected by November 2008.
In the Notice of Intent, the agency has identified a purpose and need for action which is to enact the Travel Management Rule; designate routes for motorized use, and strike a balance for various forms of motorized use that is enviornmentally sound on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
The agency recognizes that:
1. Motorized use is a popular use and is an improtant form of receration for many individuals, families, and groups.
2. A designated and managed system is needed to provide this use.
3. Increased demand for motorized use, lack of designated areas/routes, and the inconsistent direction contained in the Forest Plans, has led to resource damage and social impacts, user conflicts and safety concerns.
The Proposed Action designates the location, type of vehicle and season of use for motorized vehicles across the entire Forest in order to meet the intent of the Travel Management Rule. Over-the-snow vehicles are excluded from the Proposed Action.
The release of the Proposed Action in the Notice of Intent begins the formal analysis under the National Enviornmental Pollicy Act. The Proposed Action includes:
1. Prohibiting public access on approximately 60-65 miles of roads currently open in order to minimize or reduce resource damage.
2. Designating approximately 3,390 miles of road where mixed use would be allowed. Mixed use is defined as designation of a National Forest System road for use by both highway-legal and non-highway-legal motor vehicles.
3. Constructing two motorized trails to provide loop route opportunities (approximately 2 miles)
4. Converting approximately 20-25 miles of closed National Forest systems roads to motorized trails.
5. Designating two areas where off-road motorized use is allowed. This includes continued use of the Woodruff area near Prospect and the development of an additional motorized play area near Willow Lake on the High Cascades Ranger District.
6. Enacting Forest Plan amendments to make these Plans consistent with the Travel Management Rule.
Forest personnel have verified and completed an inventory of existing open roads and trails. On the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest there are approximately 4,620 road miles and approximately 1,115 trail miles. Motorized trails account for approximately 15% (170 miles) of the total trail miles.
Maps displaying the Proposed Action can be found on the web site
at www.fs.fed.us/r6/roguesiskiyou/projects/travel.
Send electronic comments to:
comments-pacificnorthwest-rogueriver-siskiyou@fs.fed.us
Send written comments to
Travel Management Team, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District
645 Washington St,
Ashland, OR 97520
fax (541)-552-2922
For more information, please check the web site or contact Steve Johnson, Team Leader, Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District
645 Washington St.
Ashland,OR 97520
office phone (541)-552-2900
Medford,OR- August 28,2008- The Forest Service is requesting public comments on a proposal to designate motorized use on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and amend the Forest Plans.
The public scoping period begins with the release of the Notice of Intent, which was published in the Federal Register on August 26, 2008. During this week, a scoping letter and a copy of the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement is being mailed to interested publics, describing the Proposed Action and Purpose and Need for the Project. The public is asked to please provide any public comments on the proposal by October 14, 2008 to be considered in the preparation of a Draft Enviornmental Impact Statement.
"We want the public to have an opportunity to voice their views on access issues regarding local roads or trails to provide for a range of recreation opportunities while ensuring the best possible care of the land," said Steve Johnson, Team Leader for Travel Management Planning. "We are asking the public to review the Notice of Intent and provide comments to the agency on specific information they feel that the agency may not have at this time or as it relates to identifying potential enviornmental effects of establishing and designating a system of roads,trails and areas for wheeled motorixed vehicles," said Johnson.
The public is encouraged to get involved during this stage of the planning process as their comments and feedback on the Proposed Action will help to develop alternatives. A Forest Service team will look at the public comments and identify the significant issues that focus the analysis and generate possible alternatives to the proposed action in the Enviornmental Impact Statement. Completion of a Draft Enviornmental Impact Statement is expected by November 2008.
In the Notice of Intent, the agency has identified a purpose and need for action which is to enact the Travel Management Rule; designate routes for motorized use, and strike a balance for various forms of motorized use that is enviornmentally sound on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
The agency recognizes that:
1. Motorized use is a popular use and is an improtant form of receration for many individuals, families, and groups.
2. A designated and managed system is needed to provide this use.
3. Increased demand for motorized use, lack of designated areas/routes, and the inconsistent direction contained in the Forest Plans, has led to resource damage and social impacts, user conflicts and safety concerns.
The Proposed Action designates the location, type of vehicle and season of use for motorized vehicles across the entire Forest in order to meet the intent of the Travel Management Rule. Over-the-snow vehicles are excluded from the Proposed Action.
The release of the Proposed Action in the Notice of Intent begins the formal analysis under the National Enviornmental Pollicy Act. The Proposed Action includes:
1. Prohibiting public access on approximately 60-65 miles of roads currently open in order to minimize or reduce resource damage.
2. Designating approximately 3,390 miles of road where mixed use would be allowed. Mixed use is defined as designation of a National Forest System road for use by both highway-legal and non-highway-legal motor vehicles.
3. Constructing two motorized trails to provide loop route opportunities (approximately 2 miles)
4. Converting approximately 20-25 miles of closed National Forest systems roads to motorized trails.
5. Designating two areas where off-road motorized use is allowed. This includes continued use of the Woodruff area near Prospect and the development of an additional motorized play area near Willow Lake on the High Cascades Ranger District.
6. Enacting Forest Plan amendments to make these Plans consistent with the Travel Management Rule.
Forest personnel have verified and completed an inventory of existing open roads and trails. On the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest there are approximately 4,620 road miles and approximately 1,115 trail miles. Motorized trails account for approximately 15% (170 miles) of the total trail miles.
Maps displaying the Proposed Action can be found on the web site
at www.fs.fed.us/r6/roguesiskiyou/projects/travel.
Send electronic comments to:
comments-pacificnorthwest-rogueriver-siskiyou@fs.fed.us
Send written comments to
Travel Management Team, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District
645 Washington St,
Ashland, OR 97520
fax (541)-552-2922
For more information, please check the web site or contact Steve Johnson, Team Leader, Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District
645 Washington St.
Ashland,OR 97520
office phone (541)-552-2900