Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Frank Carroll (605) 673-9216, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

ADVISORY BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

12:00
Check-In for Public Comments to the Chair
CMO Carroll

1:00
WELCOME the Board & Roll Call
WELCOME the Public and Thanks for Coming

Chairman Blair

Approve Minutes
· September 2008
Chairman Blair

Approve the Agenda
Chairman Blair

Housekeeping
· There will be no refreshments provided at the meeting (refreshments may be provided to the Board members only, depending on Civic Center policy). The Civic Center and the nearby Holiday Inn have refreshments available. Everyone is asked to make your own arrangements for drinks, snacks, or whatever you may need for sustenance during the course of the meeting.
CMO Carroll

Meeting Protocols
· Today’s meeting is being held for the Board to take public comments, oral and written, related to charging special recreation use permit fees to use a designated motorized off-highway vehicle trail system on the South Dakota side of the Black Hills National Forest. The recommended fees per vehicle would be $40 annually, $20 per week, and $100 annually for commercial (rental) vehicles.
· Chairman Blair will set rules for the process according to his view of how the meeting progresses through the afternoon.
Chairman Blair

Hot Topics
· Secure Rural Schools – Back on tap in emergency Wall Street legislation.
Board members

· Regular Agenda - Public comments on REA special recreation permit fees resulting from the Board’s working group on the travel planning business plan will be taken at the pleasure of the Chair during the regular agenda. The public will have an additional 20 days to comment to the Board after the October 15 meeting. All comments must be received by November 3. The Business Plan will be posted at www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills on Tuesday, October 14, and copies will be available at the meeting. Comments at the meeting are limited to three minutes unless otherwise designated by the Chair. Speakers should come early as comments to the Board will be taken first come-first served. Register to speak at the door by 1PM. The public will be asked for a name, representation, and e-mail or other preferred contact information. All persons must address the Chair for permission to speak and follow Chair instructions related to the meeting. Written comments will also be taken at the meeting (and through November 3). Forms for written comments will be provided at the door.
Timekeeper: Vice-Chair Jim Heinert

Public comments will be taken at the meeting and for 20 days after the meeting. Comments may be mailed or e-mailed to Black Hills National Forest, Attn: Travel Planning, 1019 N. 5th St., Custer, SD, 57730. E-mail is r2_blackhills_webinfo@fs.fed.us . Comments will be provided to the Board 10 days before the November meeting.

· The Board will consider and discuss public comments on the proposed fees and business plan, and make a recommendation to the Forest Service at the November meeting.
· Special recreation permit fees would not be assessed until the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) is published and at least six months after the fees are approved by the Forest Service.
Chairman Blair

· Public Comments on Other Topics – Will be taken at the pleasure of the Chair at the end of the meeting, time permitting.
Chairman Blair

NTE
5:00
· Adjourn – The meeting will adjourn promptly at 5 PM.
Chairman Blair