Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Forest Service seeks public comments on the Motorized Vehicle Use Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Open Houses Scheduled

Contacts:

• Patty Burel, Public Affairs Officer, (541) 618-2113
• Steve Johnson, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, (541) 552-2900

MEDFORD, OR – March 23, 2009 – Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest managers are seeking public comments on a recently published Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Motorized Vehicle Use (Draft EIS).

A forty-five day public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will begin on Saturday, March 28, 2009 and close on Monday, May 11, 2009. During the comment period, a series of six open houses are scheduled to review the environmental document including maps and alternatives, to discuss the motorized route designation process and to seek public comments.

"Each national forest has or is currently going through a Travel Management Planning process to designate roads, trails and areas open to motorized vehicles," said Scott Conroy, Forest Supervisor on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. "The Forest Open Houses scheduled in April will give the public an opportunity to provide meaningful participation on the proposed action prior to a project decision being made," he said.

The Forest Service's 2005 Travel Management Final Rule directed that within four years, each national forest, across the nation will complete a Travel Management Plan and publish Motor Vehicle Use Maps.

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest's Draft Environmental Impact Statement discloses the environmental impacts associated with four alternatives including a proposed action that outline future management of motorized vehicle travel on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement focuses on changes from the current condition. It is accompanied by a set of seven maps that display the current system of roads and trails that are open to the public for motorized use with identified vehicle types. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement alternatives include the following:

• Alternative 1 is a No Action alternative that reflects the Forest’s current condition.
• Alternative 2 is an alternative that would implement actions consistent with the Travel Management Rule with no change. This includes no change to the current system of National Forest System roads, trails and off-road vehicle areas.
• Alternative 3 reflects the agency’s Proposed Action to enact the Travel Management Rule and to reduce resource damage, user conflicts, and safety concerns.
• Alternative 4 addresses additional resource concerns and user conflicts and proposes a reduction in motorized use over Alternative 3.

The agency will work with the public to understand the information and respond to any concerns, comments and specific recommendations for designation of roads and trails for motorized use. The dates and location of these Open Houses are as follows:

Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. - Myrtle Point, Oregon
OSU Extension Office, Ohlsen Baxter Building, 631 Alder Street

• Monday, April 13, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Brookings, Oregon
  Best Western Beachfront Inn, 16008 Boat Basin Road, Brookings, OR
• Wednesday, April 15, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Gold Beach, Oregon
  Curry County Fairground, Curry Showcase Building, 29392 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, OR
• Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Medford, Oregon
  Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Supervisor’s Office, Medford Interagency Office,
  Oregon Conference Rooms, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR
• Monday, April 20th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Agness, Oregon
  Forest Service – Agness Guard Station, 04156 Agness Road, Agness, OR
• Saturday, April 25, 2009, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Grants Pass, Oregon
  Grants Pass High School, The Commons, 830 NE 9th Street, Grants Pass, OR

A copy of the Draft EIS and set of maps is also available on the Forest's internet site at www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue-siskiyou/projects/travel/. In addition, copies of the document can be obtained by contacting one of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest's Ranger District Offices or the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor's Office located in the Medford Interagency Office.

People are asked to submit their written comments to: USDA Forest Service, Travel Management Team, 645 Washington Street, Ashland, Oregon 97520. Please send any e-mail comments to: comments-pacificnorthwest-rogueriver-siskiyou@fs.fed.us.

Any questions or additional information about Motorized Vehicle Use on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, please contact either Steve Johnson (Interdisciplinary Team Leader) at 541-552-2900 or Patty Burel (Public Affairs Officer) at 541-618-2113.

Following the environmental analysis process, the Forest will produce Motor Vehicle Use Maps by December 2009. The Motor Vehicle Use Map is a requirement of the 2005 Final Travel Management. Routes not shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Maps are not open to public motor vehicle travel.

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