| NATIONAL TRAVEL MANAGEMENT RULE AND NEZ PERCE NATIONAL FOREST DESIGNATED ROUTES & AREAS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE USE (DRAMVU) PLANNING Updated June 2009 Work on the Nez Perce Forest travel planning project, Designated Roads and Areas for Motorized Vehicle Use (DRAMVU), is proceeding this month. The Forest received over 32,000 letters during the original and extended comment periods (January to April). We received 4 form letters and 5 replicate letters (more than 5 duplicates). The result was approximately 1320 unique letters received. Multiple comments were contained in most letters. The Interdisciplinary team (IDT) is working on responding to comments this month. Letters were read and reviewed, and unique substantive comments were identified by the Content Analysis Team. The IDT is reading and considering these comments in the Final EIS. Comments on individual road or trail designations are being considered. We are also completing additional analysis, and making corrections that will be included in the Final EIS (e.g. economic, tribal issues, etc). We may develop additional design measures, mitigation or monitoring requirements based on comments that will be added to Chapter 2, effects analysis and the Record of Decision (ROD). A response to comments will be included in the Final EIS. Currently we are consulting with federal agencies (US Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA-Fisheries), state agencies (State Historic Preservation Office) and the Nez Perce Tribe. The consultation must be completed before the decision can be signed. The Forest is working toward having a recommended alternative to the Forest Supervisor (or his replacement) in late June and early July. Once finalized, effects analysis will be completed and a decision will be signed. The appeal period is 45-days. Following the environmental analysis process, the NPNF will produce a motor vehicle use map displaying designated roads, trails and areas for motorized use across the 2.2 million acres of Nez Perce National Forest lands in Idaho. We are always interested in hearing from you. Primary ways to stay involved in the process include: 1) reviewing our website on a regular basis, http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/nezperce/projects/ or http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/nezperce/recreation/; 2) participating in scheduled meetings and other events, 3) providing written comments at any time throughout the process, and 4) making sure you are on our mailing list. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DEIS) AND MAPS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT To access the complete DEIS document and maps, please go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/nezperce/projects/ 2/10/09 - District Alternative Maps are now available. Public Comment Process Written, facsimilie, hand-delivered, oral, and electronic comments on the Draft EIS concerning the project will be accepted until April 20, 2009. A notice of the extension will be published in the Federal Register and the Lewiston Morning Tribune. Feel free to use this public comment form for your comments on the Draft EIS. Please remember that your comment should include your name and address; the title of the project, “DRAMVU,” you are commenting on; and finally, specific facts or comments along with the supporting reasons you believe the Responsible Official should consider in reaching a decision [36CFR215.6]. U.S. Mail Comments If you prefer to use U.S. Mail, please address your comments to: Tom Reilly, Acting Forest Supervisor Nez Perce National Forest Attn: “DRAMVU” 104 Airport Road Grangeville, ID 83530 Please note that if you are an organization, and plan on submitting individual comment letters from your constituents in bulk, please save paper and handling and submit them electronically. If your organization has a “form” type comment, you may submit one comment and include names/addresses and signatures of members who support that comment. Email Comments If you prefer to send your comments via email, please use this address: comments-northern-nezperce@fs.fed.us Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) as an email message to the above address. DRAMVU Timeline May – Nov ’06: Collect Information and Display Current Condition Nov ‘06-March ’07: Inform Key Internal and External Contacts March-April ’07: Develop Proposed Action May 17, 2007: Notice of Intent Published (45 days) May 23, 2007: Legal Notice of Scoping published (begins) May ’07: Public Meetings, Explanation of the Process June ’07: Public Meetings – work groups/route clarification July-December ’07: Comment Analysis and Issue Identification May – July ’08: Develop and Analyze Alternatives Sept –Nov ’08: Draft EIS, internal review Dec ’08: Print and Release Draft EIS Jan-Feb ‘09: Hold Public Meetings to review Draft EIS Jan-Mar ‘09: Comment Period Mar-Apr ’09: Content Analysis May ’09: Final EIS Published Jun-July ’09: Appeal Period Sept ’09: Final Motor Vehicle Use Map Available for Distribution Background and Public Participation in the Planning Process In 2005, the Forest Service finalized new travel management regulations for motor vehicle use on National Forest System lands. The National OHV Program Website is located at: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/index.shtml To meet these new regulations, the Nez Perce National Forest (NPNF) began the first steps of the 4-year designation process in the spring of 2006 and is targeting its completion in September 2009. Designation changes identified on the NPNF are: 1) No cross-country travel allowed; 2) All routes closed unless designated open; and 3) No decisions regarding over snow motorized use. Public participation in this planning process can be done several ways. Interested publics can participate by attending the travel management 'open house' presentations, visiting with the planning team, or submitting written comments to the addresses noted below. The first round of public Open Houses were held in May, 2007. These meetings focused on providing an overview of the National Travel Management Rule, the planning schedule for the Nez Perce National Forest, and a summary of the Forest's existing travel management opportunities and current closures. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2007. A second round of Open Houses was held in June, 2007 to describe the proposed action and accept comments. The third round of public meetings were held in late January and early February to review the DEIS and maps at Grangeville, Riggins, Kooskia, Lewiston and Elk City. There was a good turnout at each of these meetings and active participation from members of the public during the question and answer period. Access Guide Tables These spreadsheets contain updated information from the Nez Perce NF Access Guide. Road Access Guide.xis (205 KB), PDF Version (111 KB) Trail Access Guide.xis (110 KB), PDF Version (66 KB) Strategy for the Nez Perce National Forest To achieve the objectives listed below in the National Travel Management Rule, the Nez Perce National Forest (NPNF) began work in 2006 and will continue with the following schedule: 2006 Data Inventory Validation The Forest began compiling existing Forest Plan off-highway vehicle (OHV) direction and existing travel management decisions and direction for the inventory. Recreation and Engineering Staff also began validation of existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tabular (INFRA) road and trail data. 2007/08 Public Input and Environmental Analysis Continue validating road and trail data Compilation of past access and travel management decisions Initiation of Public meetings Begin Environmental analysis – evaluate data for information ‘gaps' , review and analyze public comments and concerns, define the Forest's travel niche, user needs and area suitability 2008 Analysis and Draft EIS Documentation Develop and distribute Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Continue internal and external briefings; respond to public comments Continue regulatory agency consultation 2009 Final Documentation and Designation Finalize draft Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record Of Decision Continue internal and external briefings; respond to public comments Continue regulatory agency consultation Complete/print Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) top Other links (these open new windows): Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Print This Page USDA Forest Service - Nez Perce National Forest Last Modified: Tuesday, 09 June 2009 at 10:13:26 EDT |
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WILL EFFECT ALL OF US.
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