Umpqua National Forest Seeks Comments on Proposed Action in Or.

Umpqua National Forest, located in southwestern Oregon, has released a Proposed Action to develop a Travel Management Plan.

The Forest Service (FS) is seeking your input to help them analyze the potential environmental effects of the Proposed Action for their Environmental Assessment (EA). Over-the-snow vehicles are excluded from this Proposed Action.

The Proposed Action would:

Amend the Forest Plan to make it consistent with the Travel Management Rule;
Designate approximately 360 miles of National Forest System (NFS) roads open to highway legal vehicles only;
Designate approximately 3,175 miles of NFS roads open to mixed use;
Designate approximately 721 miles of NFS trails open to class 1 and class 3 non highway legal vehicles;
Designate approximately 517 miles of dispersed camping corridors along motorized routes;
Close the Forest to cross-country motorized travel. Change approximately 426,589 acres from open yearlong to closed and approximately 197,780 acres from open seasonally to closed;
Maps illustrating the Proposed Action can be found on the Umpqua National Forest Travel Management website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua/projects/travel/index.shtmI. In addition, maps will be available for viewing at the Forest Supervisor's Office, as well as each of the Ranger District offices.

Public involvement will be ongoing throughout the EA process. However, written and electronic comments to be considered in the preparation of the EA should be submitted by May 15, 2009.

Your comments will help the FS assess the Proposed Action, develop alternatives and prepare the EA. Site-specific comments are the most helpful. For example, simply stating that you are opposed to road closures is not as helpful as telling them which road you would like left open and why.

Send written comments to:
Umpqua National Forest
Attn: Scott Elefritz
2900 NW Stewart Parkway
Roseburg, OR 97471

You may also hand deliver your comments to any of the Forest Service offices during normal business hours, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.

Email comments to:
comments-pacificnorthwest-umpqua@fs.fed.us

Please put "Travel Management Plan" in the subject line.

COMMENT DEADLINE IS MAY 15, 2009

If you have any questions concerning this proposal, please contact Scott Elefritz, Natural Resource Specialist, at (541) 957-3437.

JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!

Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107