Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands

USDA Forest Service
Pike & San Isabel
National Forests
Cimarron & Comanche
National Grasslands
2840 Kachina Drive
Pueblo, CO 81008
719-553-1400

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
719-553-1404

Gold Camp Road & Tunnel #3 Planning / EIS Project

The USDA Forest Service (FS), Pike National Forest proposes to implement a management plan for portions of the Gold Camp Road and Tunnel #3 southwest of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The objective of the management plan is to best accommodate public use and access to National Forest lands and nearby private in-holdings while maintaining public safety and the historic character of the road.

The project addresses the most effective management of 8.5 miles of a historic USFS road that crosses National Forest lands. This 8.5-mile segment of road has been partially closed since the 1988 collapse of one of the tunnels along it. In April 2004, the Pikes Peak Ranger District began the process of gathering public input and preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the plan and reasonable alternatives. Public was received through individual input from citizens as well as through four public open houses and two public workshops. The new Record of Decision, (ROD #2) did not change from the original decision that was rendered on July 8, 2005.

On January 10, 2005, the Draft EIS was released in conjunction with a presentation to the Colorado Springs City Council. Further input was received over a 60-day comment period which ended on March 15, 2005. On December 6, 2005, the original Record of Decision (ROD) was withdrawn from the appeal process. On March 31, 2006, we released a second ROD (ROD #2) and have begun a new 45 day appeal process, which end on May 17, 2006. Clink on the ROD#2 for details and how to submit an appeal. Comments were reviewed, analyzed and incorporated, as appropriate, into the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which was released on July 8, 2005. No changes were made in the EIS, however, a Supplemental Information report is now part of the EIS. The Supplemental Information Report (SIR) does not introduce new information, rather provides a greater detailed understanding of the contents within the EIS and the intended effects they may have on the final decision.

The final GCR Record of Decision and Final Plan/EIS