Pacific Northwest Backroad Adventures

BlueRibbon Coalition Alert

The looming deadline for comments on the Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel Plan gives us a chance to blast a quick update on some important Idaho land use issues.

Comment Deadline November 25, 2008

A really important action alert on the Salmon-Challis NF Travel Plan is at the bottom of this email. Above that, we have a section giving a quick update on some of the land use issues BRC is tracking in Idaho. In each update, we’ve included a suggestion on what you can do to help.

Please take a minute to review this alert before the holiday. Also, everyone at BRC would be very grateful if you would forward this alert to family and riding pals. If you are already a BRC member, please ask them to join BRC and help us protect Idaho’s trails.
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No. 08-190
October 21, 2008
Contact: Princess Jackson-Smith, 360-902-1066

UPDATED LANGUAGE OF RECREATION RULES IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT
Public Hearing Will Be Held November 5 In Issaquah

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has completed the process of revising Chapter 332-52 of the Washington Administrative Code, pertaining to recreation on DNR-managed lands, and the final language is available for review. The rules provide basic standards for public safety and natural resource protection when accessing and recreating on these lands.
The department invites the public to participate by reviewing the final draft, attending the public hearing, or submitting written testimony. The hearing and comment period provides one last review of the proposed revisions, before they are adopted.
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BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

OWYHEE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN EA RELEASED - COMMENTS NEEDED

BLM’s Owyhee Field Office has released their draft travel plan for the Murphy Subregion. If you looked only at the mileage table in the Environmental Assessment, you might think motorized recreation is getting a raw deal. The mileage table shows nearly a 1/3 reduction in available miles. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. (more…)

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants the public to contribute ideas that will help establish priorities for recreation on land managed by the agency. Throughout the month of September 2008, the DNR will hold a series of nine workshops across the state to gather input from individuals and user groups to help create a new vision for recreation on DNR-managed forestlands, aquatic lands and natural areas. (more…)

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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No. 08-103
May 29, 2008
Contact: Princess Jackson-Smith, 360-902-1066

Public Hearings Will Be Held Around The State In June

OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in the process of revising Chapter 332-52 of the Washington Administrative Code, pertaining to recreation on DNR-managed lands. The rules provide basic standards for public safety and natural resource protection when accessing and recreating on these lands.

The department invites the public to participate by reviewing the draft rule language and attending one of the public hearings to be held in June in the following locations: Mount Vernon, Port Angeles, Hoquiam, Issaquah, Vancouver, Ellensburg, Olympia, and Okanogan.

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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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