Land Use Meetings/ Trail Clousures

[CRUZR66]

All Members,

Everyone Is Incouraged To Go To These Meetings And Ask Questions,
Jeeper Ron Myself And Tony Were At The First Meeting In Placerville , Last Teusday, The Alternitives Are They Are Trying To Close The Trails Down,

We As Citsens Of The United States And As Californian's Need To Show The National Forest Service That We Are Very Much Aware Of What They Are Trying To Do,
They Are Not Letting To Many People Jnow About These Clousures, The Word Needs To Get Out And We Need To Show Support And Go To These Meetings, Jeeper Ron And Myself Will Be Going To The Next Meeting In Folsom On Teusday July 31 And Thursday's Meeting In Concord, Ron Has Room For Two Others To Ride With Us, If Your Interested Let Me Or Jeeper Ron Know, Or Meet Us There.

Gunner 415 459 4636, Jeeper Ron 415 350 8835.

[petescoffee]

Here are the dates and locations of the meetings. I plan on attending the Pleasant Hill Meeting-

The DEIS and other project information is available now on the Eldorado National Forest website at
www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/projects/route or a CD can be requested by email from eldoradoroutes@fs.fed.us
or by contacting Jason Nedlo, Project Team Leader, at (530) 621-5276.
Public meetings explaining the DEIS and the 45 day public comment period will be held from 7:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
o July 24, 2007 in Placerville at the Marshall Building, El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100
Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA 95667.
o July 25, 2007 in Jackson at the Civic Center, 33 Broadway, Jackson, CA 95642.
o July 26, 2007 in Markleeville at the Turtle Rock Community Center, 17300 State Route 89,
Markleeville, CA 96120.
o July 31, 2007 in Folsom at the Lake Natomas Inn, 702 Gold Lake Drive, Folsom CA 95630.
o August 2, 2007 in Concord at the Pleasant Hill Recreation Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill,
CA 94523.

[petescoffee]

There is some good information on www.Pirate4x4.com under Land Use-Rubicon trail on the meetings.
Here is a link to one of the threads:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=599793

For those of you that don't care necessarily for Pirate, the Land Use area is run differently than the other areas. Del Albright is a frequent contributor.

[TRT2]

also, these are informational type meetings...

Everyone has a 45 comment period in August.

That is your time to act. Ideally, Dave and I and Gunner and many more will make letters available to you. Obviously, these letters will address items of interest to us, after all, we wrote them. But mass and volume is what gets attention.

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Point us to the letters, I can't make the meetings, but I'll send off some letters for sure!

[petescoffee]

Originally Posted by 2ndGenToyotaFan

Point us to the letters, I can't make the meetings, but I'll send off some letters for sure!

Should have a letter available next week. Waiting until after I attend the meeting this Thursday.
Dave

[petescoffee]

I found the below link on the Pirate Board under land use. I have not seen it on BRC web site or been sent the action alert that they normally send out.


http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/P...L_08.02.07.pdf

[petescoffee]

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Don Amador
Phone: 925.625.6287
Email: brdon@sharetrails.org
Date: August 6, 2007

RECORD CROWD IN SF BAY AREA SAYS NATIONAL FOREST TRAIL PLAN IS FLAWED

PLEASANT HILL, CA (Aug. 2) - A record crowd of off-road recreationists and public land users objected to a federal trail plan that threatens to close 75% of off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes on forest lands in the Sierra Nevada. On August 2, over 350 concerned citizens attended a public meeting in Pleasant Hill, California, to review the newly released Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for motorized travel management on the Eldorado National Forest.

Members of the OHV community spoke up in strong protest to the Forest Service's proposed plan to close over 1,000 miles of popular jeep roads and dirt-bike trails.
Trail enthusiasts stated that many of their favorite routes in the remote backcountry would be closed if the Forest Service follows through with this draft plan.

Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, a national trail recreation advocacy group, stated, "This is certainly the largest OHV access-related meeting in California that I have attended since starting with the Coalition in the early 1990s. The record crowd was informed and highly motivated. It is clear they care deeply about their continued access to and active management of federal forest lands. They also understand that the Eldorado National Forest is just the tip of the route planning iceberg."

"For the last few years, the OHV community has shared concerns about the route inventory and designation process in California. We are particularly concerned, after seeing the Eldorado draft plan, with the value the public has received from more than 8 million dollars of state 'green-sticker' OHV trust funds supposedly applied to this effort," Amador concluded.

At present, public comments on the Eldorado DEIS are due on September 4, 2007. The BlueRibbon Coalition has submitted a formal request for the agency to issue a supplemental EIS to address certain errors in the plan. View a copy of this document at http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/P...L_08.02.07.pdf.

# # #

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org

[petescoffee]

I have a few possible comment letters for review/comment or use by club members.

One of the points brought up at the Question and Answer session with Forest Department was to be specific about your comments. For example Talk specifically about a route that has been left off or other item in the DEIS. This is difficult as not everyone knows every route that has been left off of the maps and some of the routes we know apparently did not get inventoried, IE Old Sluice. Not to mention the DEIS is 700 pages.

Please review and comment on the following letters and give your ideas. I will work to tweak them and come up with others in the coming weeks. We will have blank forms for hand written letters available at our August 16, 2007 club meeting. They may also be down loaded from the ENF website or you can send me a PM here on Mud with your fax number or email and I can send it to you.

Letters need to be to the Eldorado Forest by September 4, 2007

Dave Thomas

[petescoffee]

August 20, 2007


Eldorado National Forest
Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo
“Eldorado National Forest Travel Management DEIS”
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667

Via Fax- 530-621-5297

RE: Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Eldorado National Forest
Public Wheeled Motorized Travel Management EIS
Dated July 2007

Dear Mr. Villalvazo:

In review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) I would like to see the proposed Alternative D, the “Preferred Alternative” to be approved with all of the routes that are included in the alternative and to have the following routes included as well:

*****List Route numbers and reasons to remain open here***

Further, I would like to see the seasonal closure on designated trail systems to be from December 1 through March 31 as well as the “Wheeled motor vehicle over-the-snow travel allowed on all designated routes with 12” of snow or more in lieu of the 24” in the alternative.

Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,

[petescoffee]

August 20, 2007


Eldorado National Forest
Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo
“Eldorado National Forest Travel Management DEIS”
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667

Via Fax- 530-621-5297

RE: Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Eldorado National Forest
Public Wheeled Motorized Travel Management EIS
Dated July 2007

Dear Mr. Villalvazo:

In review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) I would like to see the proposed Alternative B, to be approved with all of the routes that are included in the alternative and to have the following routes included as well:

*****List Route numbers and Reasons to remain open here***

Further, I would like to see included in the alternative All of the Historic Access Routes that have been left off of all of the Alternatives to be included within the Travel Management Plan as Routes. The Historic routes allow users to get in touch with the history of the area.

Thank you,

[petescoffee]

August 20, 2007

Eldorado National Forest
Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo
“Eldorado National Forest Travel Management DEIS”
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667

Via Fax- 530-621-5297

RE: Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Eldorado National Forest
Public Wheeled Motorized Travel Management EIS
Dated July 2007

Dear Mr. Villalvazo:

In review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) I would like to see the proposed Alternative A to be approved with all of the routes that are included in the alternative and to have the following route included as well:

Old Sluice Trail with the Start of the Route at GPS N 39 oo.829 W120 16.004 and ending at N 39 oo.425 W120 15.701. This route is an integral part of the historic Rubicon Trail system and appears to have been left off of the alternative.

Further, I would like to see included in the alternative All of the Historic Access Routes that have been left off of all of the alternatives to be included within the Travel Management Plan as routes. The Historic routes are part of the experience of traveling on trails in the forest and getting in touch with the history of the area.

Finally I would like to see the deletion of “Cross Country Travel” from this alternative as part of the intent of the route designation process is to eliminate Cross-Country Travel from the forest.

Very truly yours,

[TRT2]

additional letter samples from Del Albright...

The Eldorado DEIS is out and due for comment by Sep. 4th – this includes the Rubicon Trail, Rock Creek, and many other great riding/trail areas. I have a sample letter you can use to make this SIMPLE (as it can be).



The good news is that with the help of www.pirate4x4.com and President/racer Lance Clifford, we have raised a nice chunk of change to help fight this DEIS and the degrees of CLOSURES it offers. Already the BlueRibbon Coalition has filed an official letter asking for an extension and pointing out that this thing is so flawed it stinks (my words).



But write a letter anyway – even if we get the extension, you can write more later if you want to. Get in the game. Let’s flood them.



The main thing you need to do, or do with your club, is to write about YOUR favorite trails/areas that you want left open, even if you only talk about a few, or a few areas like the camping area around Buck Island Lake on the Rubicon Trail, or the Mormon Emigrant Trail, or whatever. If you can’t wade thru the entire EIS, just do that much.



Here is how to do it and the sample letter: http://www.delalbright.com/Rubicon/eldo_deis.html

Del





Del Albright

Ambassador, BlueRibbon Coalition

Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon

State EA Coordinator, CA4WDC

Del's Premier Sponsors: BlueRibbon Coalition; Roundeyes.com; Rubicon Express; Arabia's Overkill; and Olympic4x4 Products.

[TRT2]

and here is an official Protest Meeting Aug 26th.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...70#post7108570

Its on a sunday in Placerville. Schedule the day to attend, or just sell your 4x4 right now.

[petescoffee]

Thanks Tony!!
I have been watching Del's site and others for sample letters. I hope to refine a couple for PMC members that we can email out to PMCer's next week.

If you are not sure how to cut and paste read below. If you still have a question and don't have a 12 year old around the house, ask the neighbor kid.
Basically you shade in the area you want to copy, by holding down the left button on your mouse and dragging the cursor over all of the words you want to copy. When you get to the end you release the left button, then press the right button on your mouse once. This will bring up a menu where you click on Copy, Once. Then, go into your word processing program, such as WORD, open a new file to write a new letter. Then click on the right button again and click Paste. The words you highlighted should be in front of you.

Try and edit the letter to be your own if you can. Add a few of your own words... Be Polite, no profanity. Be Specific, this is key.

The below is from Del's site: __________________________________________________ ___________
Suggested Wording and Letter-writing Tips for the Eldorado DEIS Comments
Dear Jason Nedlo, EIS Team Leader, and Ramiro Villavazo, Forest Supervisor:

I am disappointed with the direction the Eldorado National Forest has taken in this travel management planning process. To that end, I support and ask you to act in accordance with the August 2, 2007 request of the BlueRibbon Coalition to “withdraw the current DEIS and associated public comment period and conduct supplemental analysis and issue a supplemental EIS (SEIS) and seek input on additional alternatives to those presented in the DEIS” for the reasons cited in the BlueRibbon Coalition letter.

At the same time, I submit these additional comments to ensure my standing in the NEPA process and ask that you include them in the record and keep me informed on any further planning and decisions regarding Travel Management Planning on the Eldorado National Forest.

My additional comments are as follows:

1. It is my observation the current DEIS is not a listing of alternatives, but merely a ranking of the degrees of closure you are attempting to implement. I officially request you to develop Alternative R, as you call it, into a full fledged, stand-alone Alternative. This is known as the BlueRibbon Coalition Alternative. This option lays the framework for a very workable alternative to your current closure and restrictive alternatives. The DEIS is not a fully completed document until you develop Alternative R into a legitimate EIS Alternative.

2. I request the following trails/roads be shown as designated in your EIS:

(Note: here is where you LIST your favorite trails and roads, by number and route as best you can in accordance with what the USFS shows on their maps. If your trail is lot listed, it will go away. Use GPS coordinates if you have them. Use old historic names/numbers if you know them.

Additionally, list WHY you use the trail and HOW you use it. Be specific. Talk about your events on a trail; your rides, your club use, your historical use; and why it should be left open in your opinion.)

3. I am a member of (Note: here is where you tell them about you, your clubs and recreational background, as well as provide your contact information).

Next, get your letter ready to go. Make a copy and send it to BlueRibbon, attn: Public Lands, 4555 Burley Drive, Pocatello, ID 83202. Then mail off your letter to the USFS before September 4th. You're then in the game! Thank you. Del

[petescoffee]

Good notes from our friends working the Sequoia NF Route Dez process... many of these relate to their NOI but relate equally well to our Draft EIS.

The agency may or may not respond to scoping comments, but they are obligated to respond to comments on the draft EIS.

In the most recent NOI from Sequoia the language (on comments, in general) has been changed to:

“Substantive comments may include things other than thoughts or feelings; they may also be factual, new information, corrections, etc. Comments will be most helpful if they are within the scope of the proposed action, specific to the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider".
1. “Comments must be specific to the proposed action” - The comments must be specific. Broad, general statements are not likely to be considered. Statements based on opinion or conjecture are usually not accepted.
2. “Comments must be within the scope of the proposed action” This means that comments must fall within “ the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts”. Further defined, actions may be “connected, cumulative, or similar”, alternatives are “reasonable courses of action or no action”, and impacts are “direct, indirect, or cumulative”. (40 CFR 1508) Comments must therefore address issues or concerns regarding each of the proposed action statements in terms that meet these definitions.
3. “Comments must have a direct relationship to the proposed action” - Comments must be pertinent and related to a cause or effect of the proposed action, as it is described in the NOI.
4. “Comments should include supporting information” - Comments must have a factual basis and should reference Forest Service documents such as Forest plans, the Forest Service Handbook or Manual, governmental documents such as NEPA regulations, or scientific studies...

Comments must raise a point of “disagreement, debate, or dispute with the proposed action”. Although one can disagree with or dispute the findings of a Forest Service specialist, one must be aware that the agency is very reluctant to disregard the findings of its own staff and such claims must be substantiated by scientific studies or other documentation.

It must be possible to resolve “significant issues” through “alternatives or mitigation.” It is not enough to simply raise an issue, there must also be a solution to the problem or a better way to accomplish the action. One of the purposes of the NEPA process is to identify the best resolution of a problem...

[petescoffee]

These need to be to the Forest service by the end of next week.
Feel Free To cut and paste. If you have problems doing that send me PM here on mud with your email address and I will email you the letter in WORD
Dave


From
XXXXX
XXXXX

August 23, 2007

Eldorado National Forest
Forest Supervisor Ramiro Villalvazo
“Eldorado National Forest Travel Management DEIS”
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667

Via Fax- 530-621-5297

RE: Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Eldorado National Forest
Public Wheeled Motorized Travel Management EIS
Dated July 2007

Dear Mr. Villalvazo:

In review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), given the choices presented, I would like to see the proposed Alternative A to be approved with all of the routes that are included in the alternative. I would like to see the deletion of “Cross Country Travel” from the Alternative, as the intent of the route designation process is to eliminate Cross-Country Travel from the forest, and to have the following route included as well:

Old Sluice Trail with the Start of the Route at GPS N 39 oo.829 W120 16.004 and ending at N 39 oo.425 W120 15.701. This route is an integral part of the historic Rubicon Trail system and appears to have been left off of the alternative.

Further, I would like to see included in the final approved alternative All of the Historic Access Routes that have been left off of all of the alternatives to be included within the Travel Management Plan. The Historic routes are part of the experience of traveling on trails in the forest and getting in touch with the history of the area. I also ask that the forest service take into consideration in their decision, that the deletion of trails will put a greater strain on the reminder trails.

I support and ask you to act in accordance with the August 2, 2007 request of the BlueRibbon Coalition to “withdraw the current DEIS and associated public comment period and conduct supplemental analysis and issue a supplemental EIS (SEIS) and seek input on additional alternatives to those presented in the DEIS” for the reasons cited in the BlueRibbon Coalition letter. It is my observation the current DEIS is not a listing of alternatives, but merely a ranking of the degrees of closure you are attempting to implement.

I officially request you to develop Alternative R, as you call it, into a stand-alone Alternative. This is known as the BlueRibbon Coalition Alternative. This option lays the framework for a very workable alternative to your current closure and restrictive alternatives. The DEIS is not a fully completed document until you develop Alternative R into a legitimate EIS Alternative.

I am a member of Pacific Mountain Cruisers and we are Dedicated to safe and sane family 4-wheeling and the club follows the Tread Lightly ideals.

Very truly yours,

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Thanks Dave, we apreciate your work!!!

It's in the mail, only took a few minutes, and I hand wrote a note at the bottom. Get them out people!

[petescoffee]

That's great ! Mine went out yesterday as well.
Dave

[petescoffee]

We still need to send in Letters. This gives us more time for letters. I will work ona more detailed response letter for a second one.
Dave

Hi Everyone,

Since the release of the DEIS we have received numerous requests to extend
the comment period beyond 45 days. We understand that the draft contains a
large amount of information and it is very important to us to give everyone
ample time to read and understand the document and develop specific,
substantive comments.

To better acomplish that goal, the Forest Supervisor has extended the
comment period an additional 45 days. Comments on the Travel Management
DEIS will now be accepted until October 22, 2007. Please remember that
comments may be submitted by mail to:
Forest Supervisor, Ramiro Villalvazo
Attn: Travel Management DEIS
100 Forni Road
Placerville CA, 95667,
by email to comments-pacificsouthwest-eldorado@fs.fed.us, by fax at
530-621-5297, or by leaving a message on the project hotline at
530-295-5666.

Please distribute this message to any and all who may be interested in the
Travel Management project and commenting on the DEIS. As always, more
information can be found on our website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/pro...te/index.shtml


Thanks for your interest,
Jason Nedlo

Today August 24th at 3:30 p.m. Judge Karlton in Federal District Court in San Francisco signed an extension request to extend the comment period for the DEIS on the Eldorado National Forest. The comment period will now close on October 19th 2007. Also included in the order is an extension of the time the forest has to complete the EIS to April 2nd 2008.

[jb2073]

My letter went out today. Sorry about the delay and thanks for keeping us informed of the changes as they happen. Great work!

Jeff

[petescoffee]

Comment perior ended on Monday. Below is a link to the letter submitted on behalf of all of us by Blue Ribbon Coalition and others.


http://www.pirate4x4.com/temp/EldoradoDEISComments.pdf

[petescoffee]

USDA Forest Service
Mendocino National ForestPublic Affairs Officer
Phebe Brown
Phone: (530) 934-1137
Fax: (530) 934-7384
Email: pybrown@fs.fed.us


Mendocino National Forest Seeks Comments On Changes In Motorized Vehicle Route Designations
Willows, October 16, 2007 - Mendocino National Forest has released two draft environmental documents for public review and comment. The documents cover two separate travel management proposals that are part of the route designation process.

The comment period runs until November 13. This is to provide those interested in or affected by these proposals an opportunity to make their concerns known prior to a decision being made. The draft environmental analysis documents detailing the proposals and their effects are available for review at Mendocino National Forest Supervisor's and Ranger District Offices.

One proposal concerns motorized access for dispersed camping (setting up camp for either overnight or day use in an area that has not been developed as a campground facility). The proposal is to add 72 short user-created motorized routes to the existing Mendocino National Forest designated trail system. These routes would be managed as motorized trails to provide access to 67 frequently used dispersed camp sites. The routes are located in various areas across the Forest and their total aggregate length is 7.8 miles.

The other proposal allows mixed use on a segment of forest road M3 from Ivory Mill Saddle to near West Crockett trailhead. Mixed-use allows use by both highway-legal and non-highway-legal vehicles and drivers. Currently only highway-legal vehicles are allowed. Total length of the segment is about 17.5 miles. This proposed project is located on Grindstone Ranger District in Glenn County, California, about ten miles southwest of the community of Elk Creek.

Locations where the draft environmental analysis documents may be reviewed are:

SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE/GRINDSTONE RANGER DISTRICT
825 N. Humboldt Avenue
Willows, CA 95988
(530) 934-3316; TTY (530) 934-7724

COVELO RANGER DISTRICT
78150 Covelo Road
Covelo, CA 95428
(707) 983-6118; TTY (707) 983-6123

UPPER LAKE RANGER DISTRICT
10025 Elk Mountain Road
Upper Lake, CA
(707) 275-2361 or 2363; TTY (707) 275-9524

Additional information regarding these proposed actions and how to provide comments can be obtained from the Mendocino National Forest route designation web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/projects/ohv/#status , or from Mike Van Dame at the Supervisor's Office:
Email: mvandame@fs.fed.us
Telephone: (530)934-1141; TTY (530) 934-7724.

[petescoffee]

Finally, a Starting Point -
Routes to Forest Adventures Will Soon Be Designated
Ramiro Villalvazo, Eldorado National Forest Supervisor
March 12, 2008
Soon I will make a decision that is likely to affect many who enjoy visiting the
Eldorado National Forest. Hopefully, you know by now that the Forest Service is in the
process of formally designating a system of motorized travel routes in the Eldorado
National Forest. Once the decision is implemented, motorized travel will be limited to
these designated routes. I plan to make a decision on the Forest’s Travel Management
Plan on April 2.
The fact that the population in our area continues to grow presents some unique
challenges for Forest management. Growth in the area translates into more people in the
Forest. I welcome more people from all walks of life to experience the Forest. It is
recognized that being outdoors and close to nature is important to us as human beings. It
significantly adds to our quality of life. However, more people in the Forest also
increases the need for proper management and a shared responsibility among all to care
for its resources.
How we care for the land and provide for quality of life is always dynamic, like
the Forest itself. I anticipate that this decision will begin the process to improve
management of motorized travel routes and overall access in the Forest. Based on yearly
evaluations and public involvement, we will consider what changes are needed to protect
resources an