BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

[pipebomb]

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

 

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

 

Attention New Mexico Recreationists!

 

As you know, the Forest Service (FS) published a new rule governing OHVs and other motor vehicle use on National Forests and Grasslands. Under the new rules, forests that do not already restrict OHV travel to "designated roads-and-trails" must do so, and OHVs must remain on designated roads and trails systems while on the National Forest.

 

This will be a four-year project for the Cibola National Forest as it addresses travel management for all its administrative units, beginning with the Sandia Ranger District and the Black Kettle National Grasslands.

The outcome of the project will be to publish a Motor Vehicle Use Map for each District that shows a designated system for motorized use.

 

As part of the ongoing implementation of the Travel Management Rule, the Forest Service is hosting a second Public Workshop addressing the Sandia Ranger District Travel Management Project. Workshop participants will build upon information gathered from previous workshop, the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team and from the Sandia Travel Management Work Group.

 

Workshop information:

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 University of New Mexico 6:00 to 9:00 PM

Continuing Education Conference Center

(North Building), Room C

1634 University Blvd. NE

Albuquerque, NM

 

Meeting Objectives:

1. Provide review and comment on proposed route designation criteria.

2. Provide review and comment on potential "areas of concern" for motorized use on the Sandia District.

3. Provide review and comment on preliminary high priority routes and areas currently in use and proposed high priority routes and areas.

 

How to prepare for the public workshop:

Please come prepared if you have routes or areas to identify. You will have the opportunity to identify on maps provided at the meeting:

1. Your highest priority routes and areas currently in use and why you value them.

2. Future high priority routes and areas and why you would think that they should be considered.

 

For additional information contact:

Mary Bean, Travel Management Team Leader at (505) 346-3883 or by email to [email protected].

 

PLEASE, IF YOU RECREATE IN THE CIBOLA NATIONAL FORESTS, GET INVOLVED NOW!

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact BRC.

Thanks in advance for your involvement,

Brian Hawthorne

Public Lands Director

BlueRibbon Coalition

208-237-1008 ext 102

 

TO ALL OUR SUBSCRIBERS IN NEW MEXICO THE FOLLOWING IS AN UPDATE ON TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLANNING IN YOUR STATE:

 

New Mexico National Forests:

 

Carson National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson/

208 Cruz Alta Road

Taos, NM 87571

(505) 758-6200

Travel Management Plan route designations are well under way with a series of seven public meetings/open houses held during July 2006. These meetings included an overview of the new Travel Management Rule and a map display of the currently designated system. The public had the opportunity to tell the Forest Service what changes from the currently designated road and motorized trail system should be considered. There are some existing routes on the forest that are not currently part of the designated system of roads and trails, and it is important to get these roads and trails added now. Once the system of roads, trails and areas is designated, motorized travel off the designated system will be prohibited.

 

Now that information has been gathered the Carson National Forest is working on developing a proposal which will then be made available to the public for additional comments. Additional meetings to review the proposal will be held beginning in early 2007.

 

The forest has gotten their Travel Management website up and is posting some information on the planning process there http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson/recreation/...gmt/index.shtml. You can also get additional information and get placed on the mailing list by contacting Steve Okamoto, Travel Management Plan Project Managers at (505) 758-6370 or by email to [email protected].

 

Cibola National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/

2113 Osuna Road, NE, Suite A

Albuquerque, NM 87113

(505) 346-3900

The Cibola National Forest's Travel Management Plan route designation is in the beginning stages and over the next three to four years they will be completing planning on the entire forest. They will start the process on two Ranger Districts each year starting with Sandia Ranger District and Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands beginning this year. In 2007, the Mountainair Ranger District and Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands will begin their process, followed by Mt. Taylor and Magdalena Ranger Districts starting in 2008.

 

On October 26, 2006, over 60 participants attended the Public Workshop to kick off the Travel Management Planning for the Sandia District of the Cibola National Forest. Overall, the workshop presented baseline information on the Travel Management Rule and provided an opportunity for participants to identify and discuss: what kind of recreation experiences they are looking for; what roads, trails and areas do they currently value and why; and what's working with the current road and trail system and what is not.

 

The Sandia Ranger District will host a second public workshop on January 24, 2007, to seek public input on the District's transportation system. The workshop will be held at the UNM Conference Center, 1634 University Blvd NE, Room C, Albuquerque, NM, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

 

On November 14, 2006, Sandia Travel Management Work Group held their first meeting at the Cibola National Forest Supervisor's Office. The objectives were to develop a set of operation protocols that describe the purpose, product and process for the work group. They also developed a preliminary list of travel management concerns based on input from Public Workshop 1 and the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team. In addition, they integrated information from Public Workshop 1 with information provided by the Forest Service interdisciplinary team.

 

The group discussed future meeting locations and dates which will be:

Tuesday, January 16, Sandia Ranger Station

Tuesday, February 27, Cibola National Forest Supervisor's Office

Tuesday, May 1, Los Vecinos Community Center (tentative location)

 

Once all the information is collected, a review of the data will be done to come up with proposed routes. Once that is done, the formal NEPA process will begin. There is currently some information on the forest website located at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/travel-management/index.shtml. You can also get on the mailing list or email updates by contact Mary Bean, Travel Management Team Leader at (505) 346-3883 or by email to [email protected].

 

 

Gila National Forest: http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/

3005 E. Camino del Bosque

Silver City, NM 88061

(505) 388-8201

The Gila National Forest is still in the early stages of their Travel Management Plan process. All Ranger Districts have been holding public meetings showing the public the current maps and asking for public comments and input on routes and trails they want added to the inventory. Districts are preparing their preliminary proposals for a designated travel system. Maps of the proposed designated travel system are now available at http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/travel/maps.shtml.

 

The Environmental Analysis will occur in 2007-2008, and final maps of system will be published by 2009 with signing of the designated open system of roads and trails to be completed before the Motor Vehicle Use Map is published.

 

The Travel Management webpage for the forest is located at http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/travel/and you can get additional information or placed on the mailing list by contacting Lisa Mizuno, Travel Management Plan Project Manager at (505) 388-8267 or by email to [email protected].

 

Lincoln National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/

1101 New York Ave.

Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310

(505) 434-7200

The Lincoln National Forest is planning to review and revise the designated route system of roads and trails for motorized vehicle travel and are gathering information to better understand the purpose and need for change. This process will include public input and coordination with state, county, tribal and local governments. They will be posting a schedule of open houses and public meetings which they expect to begin holding in spring 2007.

 

The information gathered from the public meetings will help the forest prepare a Proposed Action. They will implement the environmental analysis process defined by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when they have prepared that Proposed Action, which is expected to be some time in 2007. The timeline for the Travel Management Process is listed below:

 

November 2006 Complete Travel Analysis Report

February 2007 Issue Proposed Action

Spring 2007 Public Comment Period

Fall 2008 Complete NEPA document (format to be decided)

Fall 2008 Publish Record of Decision

Winter-Spring 2009 Motor-Vehicle Map Published

 

Anyone interested in participating in this process they can contact any of the offices listed below.

Guadalupe District

Larry Paul or Deanna Younger

505-885-7400

 

Sacramento District

Marcie Kelton or Brian Long

505-682-2551

 

Smokey Bear District

Richard Carlson or Clark Taylor

505-257-4095

 

You can also get on the mailing list or email updates by sending an email request to Nancy Taylor, Travel Management Coordinator at [email protected]. You can get more information on the Lincoln National Forest's Travel Management webpage at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln/MRI/index.htm.

 

 

 

Santa Fe National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/

1474 Rodeo Road

Santa Fe, NM 87505

(505) 438-7840

The Santa Fe National Forest began their Travel Management Plan process with a series of informational meetings held during August and September 2006. These meetings were well attended by the OHV community and approximately 350 people participated. At the meetings, Forest Service staff identified how the public can be involved in every step of the Travel Planning and Analysis processes.

 

The deadline for submitting information pertaining to the location of "user created" and "traditional" routes has been extended from September 30, 2006, to January 15, 2007.

 

The next round of meetings was held during November and December 2006. During these Phase 1 workshops, participants were asked to describe the types of forest experiences such as: hunting, gathering forest products, camping, hiking, motorized recreation and other forms of recreation that are of particular interest, and to identify places on the Forest where they like to pursue these interests. Participants had the opportunity to interact with Forest Service staff and were encouraged to submit written comments, and identify places of interest or concern on maps.

 

You can get on the mailing list or email updates by sending an email request to Robert Potts, Forest Planner at [email protected] by phone at (505) 438-7829. The Santa Fe National Forest Travel Management website is up and running with lots of good information including Travel Management Maps; click the following link http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/index.html. They plan on completing the Travel Management Plan by January 1, 2010.