Bebe
07-27-2007, 12:55 PM
http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=221100
Friday, July 27, 2007
By Kelly Enos
Roughly 40 people attended a public hearing on the United States Forest Service draft environmental impact statement for Eldorado National Forest at the Jackson Civic Center on Wednesday.
Photo by: Kelly Enos
For the past two years, the United States Forest Service has been working with the public to develop a range of alternative options intended for wheeled motorized vehicles on existing routes throughout Eldorado National Forest.
Last week, the draft environmental impact statement arrived and local residents got their first presentation on it Wednesday night during a public hearing at the Jackson Civic Center.
"The meeting tonight is an informational meeting designed to help you understand the DEIS and how to make comments on the draft," said Frank Mosbacher, public affairs officer for the Eldorado National Forest. "We may not have all of the answers tonight."
A large crowd attended the meeting, with representatives from the forestry service there to define the legal process and how to submit comments regarding the draft.
Most attendees voiced frustration with the forestry service over prohibiting cross country travel and using only specified trails. Some attendees had traveled to Jackson from as far as San Francisco.
With the release of the DEIS, the project moves toward a final decision process beginning in September. The Forest Service is seeking input from the public on the document prior to a final decision, with public hearings still scheduled in Folsom and Concord. Meetings have already been held in Placerville and Markleeville.
The travel management project is intended to address unmanaged recreation, which is one of the four greatest threats identified by the forest service regarding impacts on the health of the nation's forests and grasslands. The DEIS proposes to regulate and manage motor vehicle use in the forest by identifying the roads and trails that will allow motorized travel and seasonal closures for wheeled over-the-snow vehicles. The DEIS does not consider surfaced NFS roads designed for passenger cars that are already open to the public.
"This is an important step in our ongoing public involvement process." said Ramiro Villalvazo, Eldorado National Forest supervisor, before the meeting. "It's my desire to balance the need to provide a diversity of road and trail riding opportunities with the need to protect forest resources."
Villalvazo said final decisions will be made following the analysis of the public comments, which is scheduled to be made before the end of this year.
The DEIS examines five alternative ways to manage a designated system of existing routes running through the Eldorado National Forest and the effects of implementing each one.
Of the five alternatives, Villalvazo preferred D, which would include 844.3 miles of road and 217 miles of trail.
Travel Management Team Leader Jason Nedlo told the audience on Wednesday that this does not mean a final decision has been made on which alternative to implement. "This allows for increased roads and trails on outside areas for motorized access," he added.
Alternative A would entail the no-action alternative, meaning no designation would take place and use would continue on all existing routes.
B would provide 1,120.8 miles of road and 20.71 miles of trail and would allow for public wheeled motor vehicle use with cross country travel prohibited.
C is 1,064.1 miles of road and 177.1 miles of trail that would also allow public wheeled motor use, but prohibit cross country travel, and E offers 751.6 miles of road and 136.3 miles of trail with motorized access, but no cross country permitted.
Amador County District 5 Supervisor Brian Oneto asked Nedlo whether the historic routes, such as old mining trails that are currently used, would be considered as highways, to which Nedlo answered that the forest service did not revisit past decisions.
"Restricted, restricted, restricted, all in the name of the birds and bees," Oneto said. "Yes, I like the birds and bees too, but we want to see more trails. You say we have no funds, but yet funds were used to block off historic trails. Your system is broke." To which the audience of around 40 broke into applause.
The forestry service reiterated how it is important to provide comments regarding the DEIS that are specific and address the adequacy of the environmental analysis and the merits of the alternatives discussed in the DEIS. The public comment is an opportunity to make specific concerns or objections known to the forest service prior to a final decision being made. Those who submit comments or otherwise express an interest in the project will have standing to administratively appeal the final decision.
Names and addresses of those who comment will be considered part of the public record and will be available for public view.
Comments may be submitted by mail to: Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo Attn.: ENF Travel Management DEIS, Eldorado National Forest, 100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667 or e-mailed to comments-pacificsouthwest-eldorado@fs.fed.us.
The five alternative maps and resource maps are available for download at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/projects/routes, and on CD at request at the supervisor or ranger district offices for review.ttp://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=221100"]http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=221100[/URL]
http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/content/img/f221100/07_27ENForest.jpg
Friday, July 27, 2007
By Kelly Enos
Roughly 40 people attended a public hearing on the United States Forest Service draft environmental impact statement for Eldorado National Forest at the Jackson Civic Center on Wednesday.
Photo by: Kelly Enos
For the past two years, the United States Forest Service has been working with the public to develop a range of alternative options intended for wheeled motorized vehicles on existing routes throughout Eldorado National Forest.
Last week, the draft environmental impact statement arrived and local residents got their first presentation on it Wednesday night during a public hearing at the Jackson Civic Center.
"The meeting tonight is an informational meeting designed to help you understand the DEIS and how to make comments on the draft," said Frank Mosbacher, public affairs officer for the Eldorado National Forest. "We may not have all of the answers tonight."
A large crowd attended the meeting, with representatives from the forestry service there to define the legal process and how to submit comments regarding the draft.
Most attendees voiced frustration with the forestry service over prohibiting cross country travel and using only specified trails. Some attendees had traveled to Jackson from as far as San Francisco.
With the release of the DEIS, the project moves toward a final decision process beginning in September. The Forest Service is seeking input from the public on the document prior to a final decision, with public hearings still scheduled in Folsom and Concord. Meetings have already been held in Placerville and Markleeville.
The travel management project is intended to address unmanaged recreation, which is one of the four greatest threats identified by the forest service regarding impacts on the health of the nation's forests and grasslands. The DEIS proposes to regulate and manage motor vehicle use in the forest by identifying the roads and trails that will allow motorized travel and seasonal closures for wheeled over-the-snow vehicles. The DEIS does not consider surfaced NFS roads designed for passenger cars that are already open to the public.
"This is an important step in our ongoing public involvement process." said Ramiro Villalvazo, Eldorado National Forest supervisor, before the meeting. "It's my desire to balance the need to provide a diversity of road and trail riding opportunities with the need to protect forest resources."
Villalvazo said final decisions will be made following the analysis of the public comments, which is scheduled to be made before the end of this year.
The DEIS examines five alternative ways to manage a designated system of existing routes running through the Eldorado National Forest and the effects of implementing each one.
Of the five alternatives, Villalvazo preferred D, which would include 844.3 miles of road and 217 miles of trail.
Travel Management Team Leader Jason Nedlo told the audience on Wednesday that this does not mean a final decision has been made on which alternative to implement. "This allows for increased roads and trails on outside areas for motorized access," he added.
Alternative A would entail the no-action alternative, meaning no designation would take place and use would continue on all existing routes.
B would provide 1,120.8 miles of road and 20.71 miles of trail and would allow for public wheeled motor vehicle use with cross country travel prohibited.
C is 1,064.1 miles of road and 177.1 miles of trail that would also allow public wheeled motor use, but prohibit cross country travel, and E offers 751.6 miles of road and 136.3 miles of trail with motorized access, but no cross country permitted.
Amador County District 5 Supervisor Brian Oneto asked Nedlo whether the historic routes, such as old mining trails that are currently used, would be considered as highways, to which Nedlo answered that the forest service did not revisit past decisions.
"Restricted, restricted, restricted, all in the name of the birds and bees," Oneto said. "Yes, I like the birds and bees too, but we want to see more trails. You say we have no funds, but yet funds were used to block off historic trails. Your system is broke." To which the audience of around 40 broke into applause.
The forestry service reiterated how it is important to provide comments regarding the DEIS that are specific and address the adequacy of the environmental analysis and the merits of the alternatives discussed in the DEIS. The public comment is an opportunity to make specific concerns or objections known to the forest service prior to a final decision being made. Those who submit comments or otherwise express an interest in the project will have standing to administratively appeal the final decision.
Names and addresses of those who comment will be considered part of the public record and will be available for public view.
Comments may be submitted by mail to: Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo Attn.: ENF Travel Management DEIS, Eldorado National Forest, 100 Forni Road, Placerville, CA 95667 or e-mailed to comments-pacificsouthwest-eldorado@fs.fed.us.
The five alternative maps and resource maps are available for download at www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/projects/routes, and on CD at request at the supervisor or ranger district offices for review.ttp://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=221100"]http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/news/newsview.asp?c=221100[/URL]
http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/content/img/f221100/07_27ENForest.jpg