Travel Management Directives – Effective January 8, 2009
The Federal Register Notice (73 FR 74689) for the final travel
management directives was published on December 9, 2008. The directives
become effective January 8, 2009.
Federal
Register Notice for Travel Management Directives, December
9, 2008
Travel Management Directives
FSM
2350 – Trail, River, and Similar Recreation Opportunities
FSM 7700 – Travel Management
FSM 7710 – Travel Planning
FSH 7709.55, Chapter 10 – Travel Planning for Designations
FSH 7709.55, Chapter 20 – Travel Analysis
FSH 7709.55, Chapter 30 – Engineering Analysis
Travel Management & Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program
Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 212, Subpart B, Designation of Roads, Trails, and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use)
Highlights of the Rule
- The rule requires 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. A given route, for example, could be designated for use by motorcycles, ATVs, or street-legal vehicles.
- Once designation is complete, the rule will prohibit motor vehicle use off the designated system or inconsistent with the designations.
- Designation decisions will be made locally, with public input and in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.
- Designations will be shown on a motor vehicle use map. Use inconsistent with the designations will be prohibited.
Motor Vehicle Use Maps
Schedule for Implementation of the Travel Management Rule
On June 8, 2006, Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth approved the agency's schedule for implementation of the
travel management rule. The schedule will guide local efforts to designate those roads,
trails, and areas open to motor vehicle use through a collaborative travel planning process emphasizing public
involvement and coordination with state, local, and tribal governments. The schedule also contains important
information on the current status of travel planning on each national forest and grassland across the country.
FY 2006
FY 2007
FY 2008
Designation Digest
The Designation Digest is published as needed by the Washington Office and contains updates on the route and area designation processes taking place on national forests and grasslands, and related off-highway vehicle topics.
Need for Designating Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
Over the past few decades, the availability and
capability of OHVs has increased tremendously. That’s a
good thing. More Americans are enjoying access and
recreational opportunities on their national forests and
grasslands, in keeping with the Forest Service’s multiple use
mandate. However, the increase in OHV use also affects
soil, water, wildlife habitat, and other recreational
visitors. Today unmanaged recreation, including impacts
from off-highway vehicles, represents one of four key
threats facing the nation’s forests and
grasslands. The 2005 edition of On the Right Trail provides additional background information.
Next Steps
-
Forest supervisors and district rangers will be involving the
public in designating roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle use.
-
The agency expects national forests and grasslands to complete the designation process within four years.
Working Together
-
Effective partnerships with state and local government and user groups are already
providing collaborative planning, maintenance, and shared resources to better manage OHV use.
-
Sustainable motorized recreation will require continuing partnerships to address road and trail
maintenance, enforcement, and protection of natural resources.
Motorized Mixed Use
Forest Service informal internal guidance on engineering analysis
for motorized mixed use (Publication EM 7700-30), http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/transp/em770030.htm
OHV Use Figures
Executive Order
Access Executive Order
11644 (as amended) - USE OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLES ON THE PUBLIC LANDS at the Government Printing Office website.
This Executive Order provides direction in the management of off-highway vehicles on National Forest
Systems lands.
Draft Directives Published in Federal Register 3/9/2007
- FSM 2350 - Recreation (pdf, 52 pages, 831 kb)
- FSM 7700 - Travel Management (pdf, 44 pages, 614 kb)
- FSM 7710 - Travel Planning (pdf, 63 pages, 860 kb)
- FSH 7709.55.10 - Travel Planning (pdf, 19 pages, 327 kb)
- FSH 7709.55.20 - Travel Analysis (pdf, 19 pages, 272 kb)
- FSH 7709.55.30 - Engineering Analysis (pdf, 23 pages, 322 kb)
Collaboration Summit
On April 12 and 13, 2005, representatives of state
and federal agencies, OHV manufacturers and user groups, environmental groups, and others
interested in travel management gathered to discuss the potential for collaboration in
managing motorized recreation. This "OHV Collaboration Summit" was co-sponsored by the
Forest Service, the State of California, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National
Association of Counties. Highlights of the proceedings included review of case studies
in travel management, and open discussions of lessons in collaborative planning.
Proceedings of the summit:
Handouts from Breakout Sessions
- BLM Strategies (pdf, 11 pages, 258 kb)
- Case Clinic Caribou National Forest (pdf, 15 pages, 167 kb)
- Collaboration (pdf, 12 pages, 114 kb)
- Emerging FS Policies (pdf, 18 pages, 3.8 MB)
- NH Bureau of Trails (pdf, 30 pages, 2.4 MB)
- FS Chief Speech to Collaboration Summit (pdf, 6 pages, 276 kb)
- Ouachita National Forest (pdf, 20 pages, 6.2 MB)
General Off-Highway Vehicle Information
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