District Travel Management Maps Bienville Chickasawhay De Soto Delta Holly Springs Yalobusha Unit Homochitto Tombigbee-Ackerman Unit Tombigbee-Ackerman Unit (Alternative 4) Tombigbee-Trace Unit Tombigbee-Trace Unit (Alternative 4)

Forest Service Announces Release of Environmental Assessment In Route Designation Process for Motorized Travel

JACKSON , MS – The National Forests in Mississippi have completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) to restrict all motorized travel to designated routes. Reaching a final decision on this EA and producing motor vehicle use maps (MVUMs) will implement the National Travel Management Rule by eliminating cross-country travel by off-highway vehicles (OHV's) (four-wheelers, motorcycles, trucks, etc.) and requiring that all OHV's travel only on designated routes. “Releasing this EA to the public is another step in a process that began several years ago,” said R. E. Vann, Acting Forest Supervisor for the National Forests in Mississippi .

The proposed action would increase seasonally open roads for highway-legal vehicles by 21 miles, year-long OHV access by 16 miles, and seasonal OHV access by 50 miles. The proposed action also provides provisions for limited use of motor vehicles (< 50” in width) for retrieval of legally harvested deer and hogs up to 1.5 miles from designated Forest Service routes within Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Conditions for game retrieval and closure areas within WMAs are listed in the EA. “We have worked hard to capture the desires of the public in this proposed action within the limits of this national rule.” Vann said.

Current regulations governing motor vehicle use of the National Forests in Mississippi will remain in force until MVUM's are available for each ranger district. The expected date of production for these MVUM's is September 2008. The EA and maps showing proposed changes to route designations are available for viewing on the National Forests in Mississippi website at www.fs.fed.us/r8/mississippi/ and at each district office . Links on this site will also provide you with specific information about the Travel Management Rule and will answer most questions you might have.

Additional information can be obtained from Paul Sweeney, 837 Clermont, Antigo, WI 54409, pfsweeney@fs.fed.us, (715) 627-6285. Paul can provide you with a hardcopy of the EA if desired.

For more information on the new national travel management rule please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/