4x4Wire

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the release of the Ring of Fire Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Haines Planning Area Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a 90-day public review and comment period. The BLM will accept public comments from December 14, 2012, through March 14, 2013.

The decisions to be made through this planning effort include:

 

Whether to retain the Special Recreation Management Area designation;

Whether any part of the Planning Area meets the criteria for an Area of Critical Environmental Concern designation;

The popular Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Riding Area in California may not (yet?) be lost to a Marine base expansion. But is this just a temporary reprieve or token gesture? The military is barred from spending money on expanding the Twenty Nine Palms military base into Johnson Valley until it completes a report on how the expansion would affect off-highway riding, under a military spending authorization bill approved by U.S. House and Senate conferees on Dec. 18. The non-binding report to Congress would cover the impact on OHV recreation in the Johnson Valley, along with alternatives for achieving the goals of the military and the OHV recreation communities. This report would allow for more time to come to a solution that meets the training needs of the military while maintaining access for motorized recreation. Or is it a placating stall tactic? There is nothing binding other than to complete the study. It is a study to determine if alternatives are available, not that alternatives must be found, followed or chosen by the military. In July, the Department of the Navy released a final environmental impact statement for the expansion of the Marine base. The preferred alternative would allow public use of only 40,000 acres of the 190,000-acre Johnson Valley OHV area, and for only 10 months a year. It is an effort by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twenty nine Palms to expand its land holdings to allow for more live-fire training. The proposed expansion needs congressional approval. Several years ago, the Navy began the formal process to take over some 365,906 acres of public land near San Bernardino to use for live-fire training for the Marines. The Navy filed an application with the U.S. Interior Department seeking control of the public land, which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The Navy also wants priority for some 72,186 acres of non-federal land in case the federal government acquires it. The fight to retain public land access for recreational use is far from a battle won in this case but it is a temporary reprieve. Learn more by following us on Twitter @ufwdaOrg and visiting our website at www.ufwda.org or “Like” us on Facebook at United Four Wheel Drive Associations.

Ottawa National Forest Eastern OHV Connector

Good News! Another step toward passing the 70-mile Ottawa National Forest Eastern OHV Connector Route Project MI-TRALE has been working on for years happened this week. Forest Supervisor, Anthony V. Scardina, issued a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Ottawa National Forest Eastern OHV Connector Route Project.

View the latest at http://mi-trale.org/ottawa-national-forest-eastern-ohv-connector/

http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=38997

Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Efforts : How will it impact your recreational access to public lands?

The Forest Service (FS) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to amend the Toiyabe National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and the Carson City and Battle Mountain Resource Management Plans.

These forests include 13 states. Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Restrictions in these states will have monumental consequences for us all.

The Ashton/Island Park Ranger District is interested in hearing any comments, concerns, ideas, or issues you may have regarding their Island Park Off Highway Vehicle Trails project/proposal.The purpose of this proposal is to revise management of areas open to cross-country OHV travel and designate OHV trails that connect to the Forest Transportation System. This action is needed to provide a safe and sustainable travel system that reduce resource impacts, improve public safety, improve access, and improve the ability to enforce travel restrictions.This proposal will:1. Designate approximately 33 miles of trail. Of the proposed 33 miles of trail:• Approximately 11 miles of National Forest System Roads currently closed to public motor vehicle use will convert to National Forest System Trails.• Approximately 19 miles of user-created routes will convert to National Forest System Trails which will require reconstruction.• Approximately 3 miles of trail will require new construction.2. Close “F” and “D” areas to cross-country OHV travel. This involves a Forest Plan Amendment.3. West End area: Change management prescription 4.3 from closed to cross-country OHV travel to open to cross-country OHV travel.4. ATV Parking Area/Trailhead: Clear, grub, grade, and gravel two parking areas and install information bulletin boards in each parking area.Cattleguard Construction: District personnel will install six cattle guards to accommodate OHV traffic.5. Decommission Maintenance Level 1 National Forest System Roads: Decommission approximately 15 miles of National Forest System Roads.6. Close User-Created Routes: Close and rehabilitate approximately 79 miles of user-created routes that are not part of the Forest Transportation System. Methods used to close user-created routes will be determined on a case by case basis. Methods include, but are not limited to: construction or placement of barriers such as jackfences, rock boulders, or scattering slash and scarification of routes exhibiting heavy soil compaction.For specific information regarding this project, you are directed to the project website to download the scoping document and maps: USDA Forest Service - Ashton-Island Park Ranger District NEPA Projects - Island Park OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) Trails ProjectComments regarding this proposal should be received by Dec. 3, 2013 and should address specific concerns regarding this proposal.We anticipate release of an environmental document analyzing effects of this proposed action in March 2013. This project is planned for implementation in summer of 2013. Throughout scoping, comments submitted to the Forest Service, including names and addresses of those who responded, will be considered part of the public record for this proposal and as such will be available for public review. If you cite published studies or papers in your comments, provide copies of the source material with your comments. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have standing to appeal under 36 CFR Part 215.Maps will be available for review at the Ashton and Island Park offices, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can view or download maps at USDA Forest Service - Ashton-Island Park Ranger District NEPA Projects - Island Park OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) Trails ProjectSend written comments to:Island Park OHV Trails Attn: Brandon BurkeP.O. Box 858 Ashton, ID 83420For information on this project contact Brandon Burke at (208) 652-1201. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are: 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Electronic comments should be submitted in Word (.doc) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Comments sought for Ashton/Island Park trails projectFreemont County, Idaho OHV projectTeton Valley News