TRAVEL
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL TRAVEL MANAGEMENT RULE
AND
WALLOWA-WHITMAN NATIONAL FOREST TRAVEL MANAGEMENT
PLAN
[Background] [Forest
Strategy] [Public Participation]
[Frequently Asked Questions] [Proposed
Action] [Project Documents] [National
Travel Management Rule]
Spring 2009 Update
During the spring of 2007, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest began
updating the forest's travel management plan to designate motorized
vehicle use. Due to the complexity of the forest and the high degree
of public interest, this will be a multi-year process. The objective
of the process is to develop a travel management plan that balances
public and agency needs with forest resource objectives and allows
for long-term sustainable motor vehicle use on the forest for all
to enjoy.
Background
In 2004, the Chief of the Forest Service cited four major threats
to National Forest System (NFS) lands. One of these threats included
"unmanaged outdoor recreation". To address this issue, the Forest
Service developed a national strategy to evaluate recreational motor
vehicle use on NFS lands. The strategy would work towards resolving
issues such as damage to wetlands, wildlife habitat and fragile soils,
disturbance to wildlife, spread of noxious weeds, and conflicts between
recreationists. Following a national public comment process, this
strategy was then formalized as new national travel management regulations
and published as a final Travel Management "Rule" in the Federal
Register in 2005. (A 'rule' establishes enforceable regulations that
have gone through a national public process). To meet the direction
and intent of the Final Travel Management Rule, every national forest
and grassland is to develop or revise their travel management plan
for motorized vehicle use by 2009.
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Forest
Strategy
To meet the national timeline and objectives in the National Travel
Management Rule, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is working on
a four-year schedule;
2006 - Data Inventory Validation
- Compiled existing Forest Plan off-highway vehicle (OHV) direction,
and existing travel management decisions and direction for the inventory
- Recreation and Engineering Staff began validating existing Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) and tabular (i.e. INFRA) road and trail
data
2007 - Public Scoping and Initiation of Environmental Analysis
- Conducted preliminary briefings of travel management process with
elected officials
- Continued validating road and trail data with information displayed
on maps and associated tables
- Completed compilation of past access and travel management decisions
- Initiated public information and scoping meetings in March and
May
- Published Proposed Action in the Federal Register. It was available
for public scoping for over 180 days
- Responded to public inquiries and material requests
- Presented proposed action to a variety of service organizations
and at public forums
- Evaluated public comments to determine issues
2008 - Continuation of Environmental Analysis
- Developed other alternatives to the Proposed Action with travel
management planning team
- Analyzed effects to resources and social/economic values
- Updated elected officials and interested publics
- Completed the Cooperating Agency Agreement with 5 local county
governments and Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
- Continued consultation with regulatory agency and tribal governments
- Compiled a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
2009 - EIS and Record of Decision
- Release draft EIS for public comment
- Continue internal and external briefings
- Respond to public comments and make any necessary changes to EIS
- Continue regulatory agency and tribal consultation
- Finalize EIS and issue Record of Decision
- Begin Appeal period - work to resolve any appeals
- Develop monitoring plan, communication roll out and information
strategy for public notification and education
- Print and dsitribute Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM)
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Public
Participation
Public participation in this planning process can continue to be
done in several ways. Beginning in the spring of 2007 interested publics
attended the travel management 'open house' presentations, scheduled
a visit with the planning team leader, or submitted written comments
Questions and information requests can be sent via e-mail or hard
copy to the address listed below. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Attn: Travel Management Planning 3502 Highway 30 La Grande, OR 97850
Or send an e-mail to: wwnf_travel_mgt_plan@fs.fed.us
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
(32 KB)
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Proposed
Action
The Forest Travel Management Proposed
Action including maps, Public
Comment Form, and tables of existing road, area and trail prohibitions
was presented at the spring 2007 public meetings and were available
for public review and comment from May 3 through November 16, 2007.
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Project
Documents
09-09-2008 Travel Management Newsletter - September 2008
02-07-2008 Travel Management Newsletter - February 2008
11-05-2007 News Release - Travel
Management Plan Scoping Period Ends November 16, 2007
08-00-2007 Letter - New Proposed
Action Working Maps
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National Travel
Management Rule
In 2005, the Forest Service finalized new
travel management regulations for motor vehicle use on National Forest
System lands. These rules were published on Nov. 9, 2005 in
the Federal Register as the Final Rule for Travel Management -
Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use and became
effective in December 2005. The Rule revises several regulations to
require designation of roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle
use on National Forests and National Grasslands.
Highlights of the Travel Management Rule
are:
-
Each
National Forest or Ranger District to designate those roads, trails,
and areas open to motor vehicles.
-
Designation
will include class of vehicle and, if appropriate, time of year
for motor vehicle use.
-
Once
the designation process is complete, the rule will prohibit motor
vehicle use off the designated system or use that is inconsistent
with the designations.
-
Designation
decisions will be made locally, with public input and in coordination
with state, local, and tribal governments.
The objectives of the planning process are to have:
The process of inventory, designation, and public participation will
be guided by a national protocol. This national protocol is known
as the “OHV Route Inventory and Designation Guide” which was developed
by a Forest Service OHV Implementation Team. Major steps in the process
include:
- Compile Forest Plan direction and existing data
- Inventory existing roads, trails and areas
- Evaluate roads, trails and areas for resource and social issues.
- Plan and design OHV opportunities
- Conduct analysis and make Decision(s)
- Complete administrative actions to implement decisions for designations.
- Implement and monitor
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/index.shtml
This National Forest Service OHV website includes links to the:
- Final Travel Management Rule as published in the Federal Register
- Latest figures on OHV use from the National Survey on Recreation
and the Environment
- National OHV Collaboration Summit Proceedings
- Case Studies
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