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Managing Motorized Travel on the Santa Fe National Forest.
Background
The Forest Service has identified four major threats to national forests and grasslands:
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the risk of catastrophic fire,
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the loss of open space,
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invasive species, and
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unmanaged recreation, including the effects of unmanaged off-highway vehicles (OHVs).
In response to the latter, on November 9, 2005 the Forest Service published a new Travel Management Rule which governs motor vehicle use, including off-highway vehicles (OHV), on national forests and grasslands. The intent of the rule is to provide a wide range of motorized vehicle opportunities while ensuring the best possible care of the land.
The Travel Management Rule requires that forests designate a system of roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicle use by class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. The rule also gives forests the option of designating motorized access to dispersed campsites and to retrieve downed big game. Once designated and published on a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), motorized travel off the designated system will be prohibited.
The Motor Vehicle Use Map:
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Will show the designated roads, trails, and areas that are legal to drive on in what kind of vehicle, at what time of year.
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Will be published after the environmental analysis process and decision about what roads, trails, and areas should be open.
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Will be distributed at Forest Service offices and on the internet.
Current Status
The Santa Fe National Forest (Forest) released its Proposed Action for Managing Motorized Travel on July 10, 2008. The proposal marks the beginning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for this project.
The scoping period will be 45 days long and start with the publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register.
Thirteen community/public scoping meetings have been scheduled from the latter part of July through late August. During the meetings, Forest Service staff will review and discuss the proposed action, take comments, and understand community issues and concerns.
Information will continue to be provided on this Website, at local libraries, and during community/public meetings.
Next Steps
Issues identified during scoping will be used to develop alternatives, which will be analyzed for their effects to the environment. This “effects analysis” is published in a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). The public will have an opportunity to comment on the DEIS during a 45-day “notice and comment” period. Based on this information and public input, the Forest Supervisor will make a decision, which will be published as a record of decision. The Forest plans to have the decision in 2009.
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