4x4Wire

Montrose, CO -- The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office is seeking public input as it begins revising its Resource Management Plans (RMP).

The new RMP will provide overall management direction for the next two decades for the almost 700,000 surface acres of public lands and 2 million subsurface acres of federal mineral estate in Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Gunnison and Delta counties managed by the BLM.  The revisions are necessary because the demands on these public lands have increased and uses have become more varied since the original plans were completed in 1985 and 1989. An Environmental Impact Statement will be developed during the planning process.

In this first opportunity for public comment, called “scoping,” the BLM is asking the public to help identify issues to be addressed in the plan revisions, as well as offer potential solutions.  The BLM will use the information it receives during scoping as it prepares the Draft RMP revisions and associated Draft EIS.

“Public involvement is critical to crafting a land use plan that reflects local, regional and national values,” said Uncompahgre Field Manager Barb Sharrow.  “Scoping is only the first of many instances that we’ll seek public input as part of this planning effort.”

The scoping period runs through February 26, 2010. Six open house meetings will be held in local communities. The public is encouraged to visit, speak with BLM employees, learn more about the planning process and major issues, and share their comments and concerns. Open houses will be held:

West Mountain Proposed ATV Motocross Track and Trail System Public Scoping Meeting

Salt Lake City, Utah (Dec 11,2009) —The Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake Field Office announces a public scoping meeting for a proposed ATV motocross track and trail system on West Mountain.  The meeting will be held on Jan. 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Payson City Center, City Council Chambers, 439 West Utah Avenue, Payson, UT 84651.  For directions, please call 801-465-5200.

Utah County is proposing an ATV motocross track and trail system at West Mountain as part of a county park system. A parcel at the south end of West Mountain, west of Payson Utah, has been identified to be used as the site for the motocross track facility. The proposed project would provide a track for ATV and motorcycle competitions, areas for recreational riding, parking, spectator seating, staging areas and restrooms. A Cooperative Agreement is being developed among Utah County, Payson City, the Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Parks, and private groups to design and construct this facility.

To complement the ATV motocross track, Utah County proposes designating a 26-mile loop trail around the base of West Mountain, connecting existing roads and trails with new construction to complete the loop. In addition to the main trail, existing spur trails and internal loops on and across the mountain would provide added recreational driving, walking, hiking and mountain biking.  The trail would cross lands administered by the BLM’s Salt Lake Field Office, West Desert District Office, the state of Utah’s School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, and private lands.  Duplicate, unneeded, or inappropriate routes would be identified for reclamation.

Bishop, CA (November 23, 2009)...The Forest Service will be hosting a Forum to update the public on the status of the effort to revise the Land Management Plan for the Inyo National Forest.  The Forum will take place on Monday December 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, in the main conference room of the Forest headquarters at 351 Pacu Lane in Bishop.

During the Forum forest staff will provide an update on the status of the effort to revise the existing 21 year old Land Management Plan, otherwise known as the Forest Plan.   At this time the formal plan revision is not scheduled to begin until 2011, however forest staff are contemplating what preliminary activities might take place in 2010 to better position them to most effectively begin the plan revision process.

The Forest Service intends for the Forest Plan revision process to be an open, transparent, inclusive and collaborative process that provides opportunities for the broad array of public who use and value the Inyo National Forest to get involved.  During the Forum the Forest Service will be looking for ideas from the public on what steps can be taken in 2010 to design a far-reaching public participation and collaboration process that can utilize new communication technology, as well as more traditional methods.  We will also be discussing the identification of data gaps and how we can go about filling the gaps both before and during the revision process.

To allow for participation by those who cannot be in Bishop for the Forum, a tele-conference call line will be set up so that members of the public can listen to the update and participate in the discussion about next steps.  If you would like to participate on the conference call, or if you have special needs to attend the meeting in person, or for more information, please call Public Affairs Officer Nancy Upham at 760-873-2427.

SALMON, ID:  The Bureau of Land Management, Salmon Field Office is holding a second round of public meetings to seek public input on a proposed travel plan and alternatives that would formally designate a system of roads and trails on public lands in the northern half of the Salmon Field Office area.

“We want the public to review our planning proposals and alternatives, provide comments and concerns, and let us know what you think,” stated Salmon Field Office Manager Steve Hartmann.

The goal of this plan is to provide a broad range of motorized and non-motorized access while sustaining the health of our public lands resources. The plan will result in the designation of over 550 miles roads and trails as either open, open with limits, or closed to public use. This planning effort encompasses about 160,000 acres of public lands located within about a 20 mile radius of Salmon, Idaho. Please join us from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:

September 15, 2009 – Salmon City Center
200 Main Street, Salmon, Idaho

September 16, 2009 – Tendoy School
Tendoy, Idaho

Directions: The Tendoy School is located 20 miles south of Salmon, Idaho on Highway 28, turn east at Tendoy Store, go 1/10 of mile to intersection, turn right, go 1/10 mile, the school is on your right.

BLM Seeks Comments on Travel Management Plan Project Focuses on Gila Unit

Safford, Ariz.  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Safford Field Office is continuing work on a travel management plan for the Gila Unit, which includes the Gila Box and surrounding areas. Maps have been developed and are now ready for public review and comment. Comments are due in writing by September 30, 2009, and can be submitted by mail, email, or fax.

The goal of the project is to complete a Gila Unit Travel Management Plan and Environmental Assessment that will determine route designations. This project began with a road inventory completed through a contract with Advanced Resource Solutions in April 2007.

After that information was consolidated, a public meeting was held in November 2007 to provide an opportunity to review and comment on the inventoried routes in terms of several criteria: type of route (spur, loop, two-track, connector); access needs; current uses (public, commercial, administrative); and special resources affected (wildlife, riparian, cultural resources).