Kaibab National Forest

Williams, Ariz. — The Kaibab National Forest today released the environmental assessment for the Tusayan Ranger District Travel Management Project.

The EA discloses the direct, indirect and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and two alternatives. The proposed action includes removal of about 163 miles of roads for public motorized travel from the existing open forest road system. If implemented, the proposed action would result in the total miles of roads on the Tusayan Ranger District open to motor vehicle travel going from 709 miles to 546 miles. About 6 miles of currently unauthorized routes would be added to the designated forest road system.

The proposed action also includes provisions to allow opportunities for motorized access to dispersed camping and motorized access by hunters to travel up to one mile cross-country in order to retrieve a legally-downed and tagged elk.

The EA relates only to the Tusayan Ranger District. The Kaibab National Forest chose a district-by-district approach to its travel management planning. Separate planning processes are taking place on the forest’s Williams and North Kaibab districts.

The public comment period for the Tusayan Ranger District Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment ends Jan. 30. The comment period was extended beyond 30 days in order to allow additional time for public review due to the holiday season.

Comments must be submitted to Forest Supervisor, Kaibab National Forest, 800 S. Sixth Street, Williams, AZ 86046, 928-635-8200, fax 928-635-8208, and may be hand delivered weekdays 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. at the address above. Electronic comments may be emailed to: comments-southwestern-kaibab@fs.fed.us.

Two open houses are scheduled to provide information and accept comments on the EA. The first will be held in Flagstaff Jan. 13 at the Coconino Community College Board Room, Lone Tree Campus, from 5 to 7 p.m. The second will be held at the Tusayan Ranger Station Jan. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The EA and its accompanying documents will be available later today on the Kaibab National Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/travelmanagement/documents.php.