Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Projects & Plans - Travel Management Planning

August 11, 2010 – The timeline for release of the draft supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Travel Management Plan has been extended. Forest planners now expect the DSEIS to be released for public comment by November, 2010. Following a 45 day comment period, a final supplemental EIS with a new Record of Decision is expected to be issued by the end of March, 2011 followed by publishing Motor Vehicle Use Maps in the summer of 2011.

In April the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest announced the withdrawal of the January, 2010 Record of Decision to address issues raised during the appeal process that required additional analysis. The additional analysis is focused on the following areas related to motorized vehicle use:

• Wild and Scenic River corridors and Outstandingly Remarkable Values,
• The relationship of Port Orford Cedar and Phytophthora lateralis to the Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives and riparian vegetation,
• Naturally occurring asbestos mitigation,
• Map corrections.

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Strategy

Compile Existing Travel Management Direction - 2006 / 2007

• The forest began compiling existing Forest Plan OHV direction and existing travel management decisions.
• Recreation and Engineering staff also began validating existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and tabular (INFRA) road and trail data.

Assemble Resource and Social Data - 2007

• Review of data from Roads Analysis, Watershed Analysis, Late-Successional Reserve Assessments, and other existing road and trail related analysis.
• Initiation of public input and contacts.
• Begin preparation for Travel Analysis.

Use Travel Analysis to Identify Proposals for Change - 2007/2008

• Gather information, input, opportunities, and suggestions from the public.
• Begin sensing of proposals, preliminary issues and elements for alternatives.
• Review and analyze public comments, concerns, and needs.
• Define the Forest's travel niche and area suitability.

Environmental Analysis - 2008/2009

• Develop proposed action
• Begin Environmental Analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Develop and analyze alternatives / consequences.
• Finalize environmental documents and preferred alternative.
• January 2010 - Release Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.
• Issue environmental documents for public comment.
• Conduct internal and external briefings and respond to public comments.
• Make Decision.

Supplemental Environmental Analysis – 2010/2011

• Release Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement – November 2010 for 45 day public comment period
• Release Final Supplemental Impact Statement – March 2011
• Release Record of Decision – March 2011
• Issue environmental documents for public comment
• Conduct internal and external briefings and respond to public comments
• Make Decision

Publish Motor Vehicle Map - July 2011

• Issuance of Motor Vehicle Use Maps

Implement, Monitor, and Revise - 2011

• Begin implementing education and public notification actions.

Contact Information

Pam Olson
Environmental Coordinator
Supervisor's Office
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, OR 97504
(541) 618-2126