Sandia Ranger District Travel Management

DECISION MADE FOR SANDIA RANGER DISTRICT TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PROJECT

TIJERAS, NM – July 14th, 2008 – Cibola Forest Supervisor Nancy Rose, after careful consideration of the many public comments and review of the project analysis, has issued a decision for the Environmental Assessment for Travel Management on the Sandia Ranger District.

The legal notice of the decision was published in the newspaper of record, the Albuquerque Journal, on July 14, 2008.

The selected alternative 4 with modifications designates a system of roads and trails for public access and motorized recreation travel. This decision includes:

•  Prohibiting cross county motorized travel off of the designated system on the Sandia Ranger District.

•  Designating 42.66 miles for motorcycle use, 1.76 miles for vehicles under 50” (ATVs and motorcycles) and 10.12 miles open to all vehicles (including OHVs.) There are also 7.02 miles designated for highway legal vehicles only.

•  Approval to construct 3.5 miles of trails for motorized use to address resource and access concerns and one trailhead facility to accommodate motorized recreation.

•  Use of the Oak Area in the Oak Flat Picnic Ground as a motorized trailhead in addition to the reservation group picnic area use.

This decision will result in the publication of a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Designations made with past decisions will also be shown on the MVUM. After the MVUM has been released, travel off the designated system will be prohibited unless authorized by permit or other authorization. The Environmental Assessment and Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact can be obtained from the Supervisor's Office at Cibola NF, 2113 Osuna NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87113, or can be requested by phone at 505-346-3900, by email cibolatravel@fs.fed.us, or on the Sandia Ranger District Travel Management web site:

www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/travel-management/tm_sandia/index.shtml

This decision is subject to appeal pursuant to regulations at 36 CFR 215.

Now that the decision has been made and a legal notice of decision has been published in the Albuquerque Journal, there will be a 45 day appeal period. Individuals and organizations who submitted a comment that meets the requirements of 36 FR 215.6(3) during the EA comment period following the publication of the legal notice in the Albuquerque Journal on January 29th through February 28th have standing to appeal. If there are no appeals a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) will be released this fall for the Sandia Ranger District. If the decision is appealed, the MVUM would be delayed until the appeal has been resolved.

If you have any questions about the Sandia Ranger District Travel Management please contact:

Nancy Brunswick at 505-346-3900 or cibolatravel@fs.fed.us.

Environmental Assessment Public Open Houses

Two open houses were held on February 20th and 21st.

Frequently Asked Questions received during the open house with responses prepared by Forest Resource Specialists.