1. Travel Management Rule Implementation
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Travel Management Rule Implementation
Gila National Forest
February 4, 2013
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2. What is the Travel Management Rule?
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What is the Travel Management Rule?
Establishes a system of roads, trails, and areas designated for motorized use.
Intent of the rule is to:
Sustain natural resource values
Enhance opportunities for motorized uses
Provide opportunities for non-motorized uses
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3. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
Need for Change
The growth and increasing signs of impact have prompted the Forest Service to take a closer look at its management of off- highway vehicle use and continue to provide opportunities yet protect the land and resources.
The Chief of the Forest Service identified this issue as one of four primary concerns to the health of National Forests
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4. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
Need for Change
The purpose of the Executive Order (amended by 11989) can no longer be met while allowing unrestricted cross-country motor vehicle use.
E.O. direct Federal agencies to ensure that the use of off-road vehicles on public lands will be controlled and directed so as to protect the resources of those lands, to promote the safety of all users of those lands, and to minimize conflicts among various uses of those lands.
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5. Result of Need for Change
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Result of Need for Change
To address the needs, a new regulation was developed to limit all motorized travel to designated roads and trails.
On July 15, 2004 the proposed travel management regulations was published.
On Nov. 9, 2005 the final rule was published and became effective Dec. 9, 2005
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6. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
Key Components
Requires designation of roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicle use by vehicle class and, if appropriate, by time of year.
Provides a consistent, national framework for local decisions. (36 CFR FR pg )
Requires public involvement and coordination with state and local government agencies.
Prohibits motor vehicle use off the designated system, or inconsistent with the designations, with the publication of the motor vehicle use map.
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7. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
RS 2477 Roads
What if a road is claimed to be a RS-2477 road?
Currently the Forest Service does not have the authority to determine the validity of a RS-2477 claim
Final determinations on 2477 claims must be made by a competent court of jurisdiction
Until such time the Forest Service direction is to continue administration and management of the roads
Some tools available for addressing these concerns are cooperative road maintenance agreements or conveyances
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8. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
Gila NF Process –
46 public meetings / open houses
Presented an overview of the Travel Management Rule and the Forest travel management process
Provided opportunity to view maps and interact with District staff
Over 900 people attended
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9. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
(cont)
Numerous individual meetings also took place
Contact was made with over 380 individuals which included range permittees, private landowners, and outfitter guides
All 4 county offices were contacted by the Rangers
Met with USFWS, NMGF, various user groups and conservation groups
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10. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
2008 Fall Workshops
Objectives of the workshops
Re-engage the public about Travel Management
Opportunity for the public to review the draft proposal
Provide input
Assist in improving the draft proposal
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11. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
2008 Fall Workshops
Prior to the workshops, materials were presented and provided to all 4 county commissioners
Held 18 workshops
Over 800 people attended
Received over 2,000 comments
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12. Proposed Action - Scoping
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Proposed Action - Scoping
Gila National Forest; New Mexico; Gila National Forest Travel Management Rule Implementation
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
Forest Service
Published in Federal Register
Sept. 11, 2009
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13. Public Outreach of Proposed Action and Open Houses
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Public Outreach of Proposed Action and Open Houses
Mailed out approximately 3,000 letters with proposed action
ed to approximately another 1,000
Proposed action and maps posted to website
Open House advertisements and posting
Placed paid ads in surrounding area papers
Radio ads
Flyers posted in surrounding communities (69 total locations) and ranger district offices
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14. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
2009 Scoping Open Houses
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15. Scoping on the Proposed Action
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Scoping on the Proposed Action
Forest held 10 open houses and that was attended by over 300 people
Over 16,000 comments were received
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16. Issues & Alternatives Development
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Issues & Alternatives Development
The comments were used by the Forest to identify significant issues and to develop alternatives to the proposed action.
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17. The 4 issues identified were:
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The 4 issues identified were:
Motorized Routes
Motorized Dispersed Recreation
Motorized Big Game Retrieval
Areas
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18. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
Alternatives
A range of alternatives (C, D, E, F & G) were developed to address the issues
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19. Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
60 day comment period ran from January through March 2011
Over 16,500 individuals, organizations, tribes, and local, county, state, and federal agencies were notified
4 open houses were held around the forest and attended by over 400 people
Received over 2,000 comments
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20. Where did comments come from?
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Where did comments come from?
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21. Distribution of Comments by New Mexico Counties
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Distribution of Comments by New Mexico Counties
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22. How are DEIS comments used?
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How are DEIS comments used?
Helping to correct incomplete or incorrect information.
Reconsider specific routes or areas of concern.
May be used to make minor modifications to one or more alternatives where new information suggests that the alternative could be improved.
Reconsideration of the effects analysis where more accurate information is provided.
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23. DEIS - Total Miles of Road Open to the Public by Alternative
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DEIS - Total Miles of Road Open to the Public by Alternative
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24. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
DEIS Alt. G - Forest-wide (blue) & Grant County (orange) distribution of the number of proposed non-motorized roads by length
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25. Motorized Dispersed Camping Corridors (MDC)
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Motorized Dispersed Camping Corridors (MDC)
The majority of the existing or traditional motorized dispersed camping sites are within proposed corridors.
On open roads where there are no proposed MDC corridors, a motor vehicle (including trailer) may pull completely off the road and park within a vehicle length.
Tent & hike-in camping may continue to occur any distance from a road
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26. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
DEIS – Total miles of motorized dispersed camping corridors by alternative
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27. Where is the Forest at today?
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Where is the Forest at today?
The Forest is working on:
Responding to the more than 2,000 comments received
Starting to revise reports and edits to the EIS
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28. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
What’s next?
The Final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) is estimated to be completed this spring
After the Decision, the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) will be published later in the year.
The MVUM is the map that displays roads, trails and areas open for motorized vehicle use, including where motorized dispersed camping and motorized big game retrieval is allowed.
Designation is complete with publication of the Motor Vehicle Use Map.
Any required changes in motor vehicle use will not occur until the Motor Vehicle Use Map is published.
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29. How will revisions be made to the MVUM?
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How will revisions be made to the MVUM?
The MVUM will be reviewed annually and revised as needed to meet changing conditions or needs.
How will revisions be made?
Any proposed revisions to the designations will have a public involvement process (36 CFR ). This may be part of another project or a stand alone process.
The public will be provided notice of any proposed revisions and will have an opportunity to comment, consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
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30. GNF 20130204 Grant Co Presentation
Thank you.
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