Date: 02/10/2009 strongBLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!/strongbr /br /br /br /strongDear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,/strongbr /br /strongInyo National Forest Announces the Release of DEIS for Motorized Travel Management/strongbr /br /The Inyo National Forest, located in west central California, has announced the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Motorized Travel Management Project. The goal is to develop a sustainable system of routes that provide an array of opportunities for access and recreation on national forest lands, as well as protection of various resources by curtailing motorized cross-country travel.nbsp; br /br /The 60-day public review and comment period for the DEIS will end on March 31, 2009. The purpose of the comment period is to give the public an opportunity to provide early and meaningful participation on the proposed action prior to the project decision being made. br /br /The DEIS displays an analysis of six different alternatives, each of which would designate a distinct system of motorized routes.nbsp;nbsp; DEIS maps show the routes that are added to the transportation system for each alternative, and what type of vehicles are allowed on each route.br /br /The DEIS and maps are available on the Inyo National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo, and sets of paper maps will be available for viewing at the Inyo National Forest Supervisors Office on Pacu Lane in Bishop, the Mammoth Public Library, the Mono Lake Committee Visitor Center in Lee Vining, the Mt. Whitney Ranger Station in Lone Pine, and the BLM office in Ridgecrest.br /br /Compact discs containing the DEIS and maps are available by sending a request to br /comments-pacificsouthwest-inyo@fs.fed.usnbsp;(please include "Information Request" in the subject line); or by calling (760) 873-2449.nbsp;nbsp; br /br /A Final Environmental Impact Statement and decision by Forest Supervisor Jim Upchurch are expected this summer, with a Motor Vehicle Use Map scheduled for release by the end of 2009.br /br /In order to help the public understand the contents of the DEIS and the maps, the Forest Service will be holding a series of public meetings and drop-in sessions over the next few weeks.nbsp; They are scheduled as follows.br /br /All public meetings will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.br /br /strongTuesday, February 10, 2009/strongbr /Suite Z Council Chambersbr /Minaret Village Shopping Centerbr /Mammoth Lakes, CAnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /br /strongWednesday, February 11, 2009/strongbr /Kerr-McGee Centerbr /100 W. California Ave.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /Ridgecrest, CAnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /strongThursday, February 12/strongbr /First United Methodist Churchbr /205 N. Fowler Streetbr /Bishop, CAnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /br /strongThursday, February 19, 2009/strongbr /Dyer Community Centerbr /Dyer, NVnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /br /Drop-in sessions, which are an opportunity to talk one-on-one with a Travel Management specialist, are scheduled for the following dates and locations.nbsp;nbsp; Each will be held from 12:00 to 4:00 pm.br /br /strongTuesday, February 17, 2009/strongbr /Mammoth Welcome Center br /Mammoth Lakes, CAnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /br /strongWednesday, February 18, 2009/strongbr /Mt. Whitney Ranger Stationbr /Lone Pine, CAnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /br /strongFriday, February 20, 2009/strongbr /Inyo National Forest Supervisors Officebr /351 Pacu Lanebr /Bishop, CAnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; br /During the workshop portion of each of the public meetings, as well as the drop-in sessions, there will be an opportunity for people to learn how to best use the CD maps.nbsp; Members of the public are encouraged to bring their own laptop computers along if they desire some personal instruction on downloading and using the DEIS maps.nbsp; br /br /If anyone has special accessibility needs to attend the public meetings or drop-in sessions, please call Nancy Upham at 760-873-2427.nbsp; br /br /While comments may be submitted anytime during the analysis process, only those who submit timely comments or otherwise express interest during the comment period will have eligibility to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR 215.nbsp; br /br /strongMail and Hand Deliver Comments To:br //strongnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Travel Management Project Leaderbr /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Inyo National Forestbr /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; 351 Pacu Lane Suite 200br /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Bishop, CAnbsp;nbsp; 93514br /br /strongEmail Comments To:br //strongnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; comments-pacificsouthwest-inyo@fs.fed.usnbsp; br /br /Put "strongTravel Management Comments/strong" in the subject line of e-mail comments. Acceptable formats are email message, MS Word (.doc), plain text (.txt), or rich text format (.rtf). Comments should include your name and address.br /br /strongCOMMENT DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2009/strongbr /br /For more information, please call Nancy Upham at 760-873-2427. br /br /strongJUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!/strongbr /br /strongThanks in advance for your support,/strongbr /Ric Fosterbr /Public Lands Department Managerbr /BlueRibbon Coalitionbr /208-237-1008 ext 107
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