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: Tom Willems (605) 673-9217, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

NATIONAL FOREST ADVISORY BOARD'S TRAVEL MANAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF USER NEEDS ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

CUSTER, SD: SEPTEMBER 29, 2005

The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board’s OHV Travel Management Subcommittee today announced the release of a User Needs Assessment Questionnaire (Print PDF Document) that will allow interested parties to answer a series of questions and submit comments to the Subcommittee. December 15th has been set aside as the deadline for questionnaire submissions.

“It’s extremely important that everyone who has an interest in the future of OHV use on the Black Hills National Forest complete this User Needs Assessment Questionnaire,” said Tom Willems, travel management coordinator for the Black Hills National Forest.

The Subcommittee would like input from both OHV and non-OHV users to help them understand opportunities for an OHV trail system and potential conflicts with other users. A summary of results will be posted later on the Black Hills National Forest’s web site.

In addition to releasing the User Needs Assessment Questionnaire, the Subcommittee is also conducting a number of public meetings during the next few months. The Subcommittee will be listening to ideas, suggestions, and concerns from off-highway enthusiasts, outdoor recreationists, interested stakeholders, and community members.

The meetings are to be held at the following locations and times:

• Custer, South Dakota: Monday, October 17, 2005 at 7 p.m., located at the Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Conference Room, 25041 North Highway 16.
  
• Rapid City, South Dakota: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., located at the Ramkota Hotel, Legion I Conference Room, 2111 North LaCrosse Street.
  
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Monday, November 14, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., located at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel, Amphitheater #2, 3200 West Maple Street.
  
• Sundance, Wyoming: Monday, December 5, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., located at the Sundance High School, Auditorium, 1016 East Cleveland Street.
  

The Subcommittee is part of the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board, a citizen’s group appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture that provides advice to the Forest Service on resource related issues.

Information about the User Needs Assessment Questionnaire, the upcoming public meetings, and the public participation process the Forest Service is using to develop future OHV policy may be obtained by contacting Tom Willems, Travel Management Coordinator for the Black Hills National Forest, at (605) 673-9217.

Information about Black Hills National Forest OHV Travel Management, as well as electronic copies of the User Needs Assessment Questionaire and Forest travel information maps, can be accessed at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.