Post by Wyldcomfort on Jun 19, 2007 8:06:35 GMT -5
As we are able to gather more information on what is going on with the Federal Lands process we need to remember what worked for us earlier in the fight against SB49. Just like SB49 it seemed a sneaker bill and off our radar. We won because we fought hard. Sorry guys, I know summer is here and there is a million other things we all want to be doing but please hang in there. It should be easier this time around if we once again pull together. So, letters.... letters to our Senators and Reps., this time to include our Federal Reps. and Senators. We need TV, radio, and newspaper coverage - please let your local news agencies know. If we get the word out our job will be so much easier and far more effective. We have to fight back because this is huge and will have a tremendous impact on not only the OHV community but the hunters, fisherman, hikers, and equestrians alike. They use roads to get to a favorite destination too. It also won't end with OHV use, this is just an easy target with the others to follow. Ironically, many hiking groups see this as a way to quiet down their experience without considering the overall impact and direction conservation groups are headed. They need to consider the changes to wilderness areas that restrict them. Horses and bikes are next on the list...it is just a matter of time. Consider too how many hunters and fisherman use OHVs... This is ugly for everyone except a very small group of radical conservation groups who have been very vocal and effective. Can we wait - no. The deadline for us is August.... I will pull together the addresses we need and will send that in my next email. I have copied the webpage from the Forest Service for more information - this is the Siskyou sight - there are others throughout all of Oregon. Please go to their link and submit your comments - mine are below. Thanks, Lindy
Forest Service National Links Forest Service Home Employment Fire and Aviation International Forestry Just for Kids Maps and Brochures Passes and Permits Photo and Video Gallery Publications Recreational Activities Research and Development State and Private Forestry
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Home
About Us
Contact Us
Current Conditions
Employment
FAQ'S
Fire & Aviation
Biscuit Fire
Just for Kids
Maps & Brochures
Newsroom
Passes & Permits
Photo & Video Gallery
Projects & Plans
Decision Documents
Forest Health
NEPA Projects
SOPA
Road Analysis
Travel Mgmt Plan
Watershed Analyses
Publications
RACs & PACs
Recreational Activities
Safety
State&Private Forestry
Timber Management
Volunteering
Advisory Committees
Celebrating Wildflowers
Special Forest Projects
Payment to States
Evaluate Our Service
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
PO Box 520
333 West 8th Street
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 858-2200
TTY: 1-866-296-3823
Projects & Plans - Travel Management Planning
National Travel Management Rule
and
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Travel Management Planning
More Americans than ever are enjoying visiting our National Forests and Grasslands. The forests/grasslands offer a variety of recreational opportunities, including camping, hiking, skiing, driving for pleasure, horse back riding, mountain biking and riding off-highway vehicles. Throughout the nation, one of the fastest growing communities of users is those riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs).
More and more people use their vehicles as the centerpiece of their recreational activities, or as a means of transportation for other experiences such as family camping in remote locations, rock climbing, hunting and fishing.
We believe that well managed motorized access is an important part of the public’s use of the National Forests & Grasslands.
Travel Management Rule
In 2005, the Forest Service finalized new travel management regulations for motor vehicle use on National Forest System lands. These rules were published on Nov. 9, 2005 in the Federal Register as the Final Rule for Travel Management - Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use and became effective in December 2005. The Rule revises several regulations to require designation of roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle use on National Forests and National Grasslands.
Highlights of the Travel Management Rule
Each national forest or ranger district to designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicles.
Designation will include class of vehicle and, if appropriate, season of use for motor vehicle.
Once the designation process is complete, the rule will prohibit motor vehicle use off the designated system or use that is inconsistent with the designations.
Designation decisions will be made locally, with public input and in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.
To meet these new regulations, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) began the first steps of the 4-year designation process in the Spring of 2006 and is targeting its completion in July of 2009. Following the environmental analysis process, the RRSNF will produce a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) displaying designated roads, trails and areas for motorized use across the almost 1.8 million acres of Rogue River-Siskiyou NF lands in Southern Oregon.
The Travel Management Rule Provides:
Better opportunities for sustainable motorized recreation and access to the National Forest System.
Better protection of natural and cultural resources.
Increased public safety.
Reduces use conflicts.
The process of inventory, designation, and public participation will be guided by a national protocol. This national protocol is known as the “OHV Route Inventory and Designation Guide” which was developed by a Forest Service OHV Implementation Team. Major steps in the process include:
Compile Existing Travel Management Direction
Assemble Resource and Social Data
Use Travel Analysis to Identify Proposals for Change
Environmental Analysis and Decision Making
Publish Motor Vehicle Use Map
Implement, Monitor, and Revise
Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest Strategy
Compile Existing Travel Management Direction - 2006 / 2007
The forest began compiling existing Forest Plan OHV direction and existing travel management decisions.
Recreation and Engineering staff also began validating existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tabular (INFRA) road and trail data.
Assemble Resource and Social Data - 2007
Review of data from Roads Analysis, Watershed Analysis, Late-Successional Reserve Assessments, and other existing road and trail related analysis.
Initiation of public input and contacts.
Begin preparation for Travel Analysis.
Use Travel Analysis to Identify Proposals for Change - 2007
Gather information, input, opportunities, and suggestions from the public.
Begin sensing of proposals, preliminary issues and elements for alternatives.
Review and analyze public comments, concerns, and needs.
Define the Forest's travel niche and area suitability.
Develop proposed action.
Environmental Analysis and Decision Making - 2007 / 2008
Begin Environmental Analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Develop and analyze alternatives / consequences.
Finalize environmental documents and preferred alternative.
Issue environmental documents for public comment.
Conduct internal and external briefings and respond to public comments.
Make Decision.
Publish Motor Vehicle Map - 2009
Issuance of Motor Vehicle Use Maps
Implement, Monitor, and Revise - 2009
Begin implementing education and public notification actions.
My response:
In Oregon there are approximately 600,000 OHV users (study done by OSU and UofO). This is 1/4 of Oregon's population. There is an additional seven million who visit Oregon each year for OHV recreation opportunities. It is also the fastest growing sport in the Nation. Rather than restrict usage to smaller areas, which creates more problems and accidents, we should be looking at developing new riding areas. There is a segment of environmental extremism who wishes to prohibit all wheeled vehicles from public lands but I feel the majority of people are willing to share the lands appropriately with all user groups. Ironically, most OHVers are very environmentally aware and take this responsibility very seriously. Most OHVers are unaware of these changes and my guess is you will have many unhappy campers at the end stage of these changes if consideration is unfair and this segment of our population is targeted for closure and extreme restrictions. This affects hunters, families recreating together, and our economy. Please take this issue seriously and remember we are talking PUBLIC lands for all people and it needs to be available for all people in their recreational adventures. Thank you, Lindy
Forest Service National Links Forest Service Home Employment Fire and Aviation International Forestry Just for Kids Maps and Brochures Passes and Permits Photo and Video Gallery Publications Recreational Activities Research and Development State and Private Forestry
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Home
About Us
Contact Us
Current Conditions
Employment
FAQ'S
Fire & Aviation
Biscuit Fire
Just for Kids
Maps & Brochures
Newsroom
Passes & Permits
Photo & Video Gallery
Projects & Plans
Decision Documents
Forest Health
NEPA Projects
SOPA
Road Analysis
Travel Mgmt Plan
Watershed Analyses
Publications
RACs & PACs
Recreational Activities
Safety
State&Private Forestry
Timber Management
Volunteering
Advisory Committees
Celebrating Wildflowers
Special Forest Projects
Payment to States
Evaluate Our Service
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
PO Box 520
333 West 8th Street
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 858-2200
TTY: 1-866-296-3823
Projects & Plans - Travel Management Planning
National Travel Management Rule
and
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Travel Management Planning
More Americans than ever are enjoying visiting our National Forests and Grasslands. The forests/grasslands offer a variety of recreational opportunities, including camping, hiking, skiing, driving for pleasure, horse back riding, mountain biking and riding off-highway vehicles. Throughout the nation, one of the fastest growing communities of users is those riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs).
More and more people use their vehicles as the centerpiece of their recreational activities, or as a means of transportation for other experiences such as family camping in remote locations, rock climbing, hunting and fishing.
We believe that well managed motorized access is an important part of the public’s use of the National Forests & Grasslands.
Travel Management Rule
In 2005, the Forest Service finalized new travel management regulations for motor vehicle use on National Forest System lands. These rules were published on Nov. 9, 2005 in the Federal Register as the Final Rule for Travel Management - Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use and became effective in December 2005. The Rule revises several regulations to require designation of roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle use on National Forests and National Grasslands.
Highlights of the Travel Management Rule
Each national forest or ranger district to designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicles.
Designation will include class of vehicle and, if appropriate, season of use for motor vehicle.
Once the designation process is complete, the rule will prohibit motor vehicle use off the designated system or use that is inconsistent with the designations.
Designation decisions will be made locally, with public input and in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.
To meet these new regulations, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) began the first steps of the 4-year designation process in the Spring of 2006 and is targeting its completion in July of 2009. Following the environmental analysis process, the RRSNF will produce a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) displaying designated roads, trails and areas for motorized use across the almost 1.8 million acres of Rogue River-Siskiyou NF lands in Southern Oregon.
The Travel Management Rule Provides:
Better opportunities for sustainable motorized recreation and access to the National Forest System.
Better protection of natural and cultural resources.
Increased public safety.
Reduces use conflicts.
The process of inventory, designation, and public participation will be guided by a national protocol. This national protocol is known as the “OHV Route Inventory and Designation Guide” which was developed by a Forest Service OHV Implementation Team. Major steps in the process include:
Compile Existing Travel Management Direction
Assemble Resource and Social Data
Use Travel Analysis to Identify Proposals for Change
Environmental Analysis and Decision Making
Publish Motor Vehicle Use Map
Implement, Monitor, and Revise
Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest Strategy
Compile Existing Travel Management Direction - 2006 / 2007
The forest began compiling existing Forest Plan OHV direction and existing travel management decisions.
Recreation and Engineering staff also began validating existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tabular (INFRA) road and trail data.
Assemble Resource and Social Data - 2007
Review of data from Roads Analysis, Watershed Analysis, Late-Successional Reserve Assessments, and other existing road and trail related analysis.
Initiation of public input and contacts.
Begin preparation for Travel Analysis.
Use Travel Analysis to Identify Proposals for Change - 2007
Gather information, input, opportunities, and suggestions from the public.
Begin sensing of proposals, preliminary issues and elements for alternatives.
Review and analyze public comments, concerns, and needs.
Define the Forest's travel niche and area suitability.
Develop proposed action.
Environmental Analysis and Decision Making - 2007 / 2008
Begin Environmental Analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Develop and analyze alternatives / consequences.
Finalize environmental documents and preferred alternative.
Issue environmental documents for public comment.
Conduct internal and external briefings and respond to public comments.
Make Decision.
Publish Motor Vehicle Map - 2009
Issuance of Motor Vehicle Use Maps
Implement, Monitor, and Revise - 2009
Begin implementing education and public notification actions.
My response:
In Oregon there are approximately 600,000 OHV users (study done by OSU and UofO). This is 1/4 of Oregon's population. There is an additional seven million who visit Oregon each year for OHV recreation opportunities. It is also the fastest growing sport in the Nation. Rather than restrict usage to smaller areas, which creates more problems and accidents, we should be looking at developing new riding areas. There is a segment of environmental extremism who wishes to prohibit all wheeled vehicles from public lands but I feel the majority of people are willing to share the lands appropriately with all user groups. Ironically, most OHVers are very environmentally aware and take this responsibility very seriously. Most OHVers are unaware of these changes and my guess is you will have many unhappy campers at the end stage of these changes if consideration is unfair and this segment of our population is targeted for closure and extreme restrictions. This affects hunters, families recreating together, and our economy. Please take this issue seriously and remember we are talking PUBLIC lands for all people and it needs to be available for all people in their recreational adventures. Thank you, Lindy