Pacific Northwest Backroad Adventures

The Boise National Forest continues their Travel Planning and is now working on portions of the Emmett Ranger District. There are a total of 216,193 acres, comprising some 65 percent of the Ranger District, that have not gone through a complete National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision process for route designation. These acres are comprised of the “E” travel management areas identified on the current Boise National Forest Visitor/Travel Map. Public motorized travel in “E” areas currently utilizes established user-created routes, as well as formally designated routes.
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The Idaho Panhandle National Forest will host two open house public meetings to provide information on how to submit written comments for the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District’s Travel Plan Environmental Assessment (EA). (See schedule below) The EA for the travel plan was released at the end of April 2008, for a 60-day public comment period. This will be the final chance to submit comments before a final decision is published.
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Idaho Falls District, is preparing a new Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Upper Snake Field Office (FO) in southeastern Idaho. The Upper Snake RMP will cover the planning areas currently managed under three management framework plans (MFPs) and one RMP: the Big Desert MFP (1981), Big Lost MacKay MFP (1983), Little Lost/Birch Creek MFP (1985), and the Medicine Lodge RMP (1985). The Upper Snake RMP will replace these four land use plans, resulting in a single RMP for the entire Upper Snake FO.

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Time is running out to make your voice heard.

The comment period deadline on the draft winter and summer Travel Plan for the Clearwater National Forest is set for February 29, 2008. This is the first time a National Forest in Region 1 has attempted site-specific implementation of their new (and unlawful) de-facto Wilderness policy. COMMENTS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED!

All you need to do is send an email to make your comments.

An example email and additional details are listed at UPDATE! NEW COMMENT DEADLINE ON U.S. FOREST SERVICE ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT AN UNLAWFUL “DE-FACTO WILDERNESS” POLICY.

NOTE: It is highly recommended that you write your own version of the letter and submit it via US Mail. Apparently, this has more influence than a mass emailing of the same letter.

PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS BEFORE THE DEADLINE.