Date: 10/24/2008 BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
LAST CHANCE FOR COMMENTS ON THE OWYHEE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN EA
Dear BRC Idaho Action Alert Subscriber,
Hey everyone, sorry about the mix up with the BLM's email address earlier this week. I hope you all got the correction I sent out. Today is the last day to get your comments in, so if you haven't sent yours in yet, please, take a minute and do so. I pasted our last Owyhee Alert below; it has some comment suggestions to help you out, and, yes, the corrected email address as well.
Thanks again for your continued involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
________________________________________________________
BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
OWYHEE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN EA RELEASED - COMMENTS NEEDED
Dear BRC Idaho Action Alert Subscriber,
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.
Although significant mileage is proposed for closure, the BLM's plan is not a bad first try. There is actually a lot to like in this travel plan. With some revisions, this plan could be very positive for OHV recreation.
We've gone over the details and included some suggested comments in our Action Alert below.
Please take a minute to send your comments to the BLM.
The comment deadline is October 24, 2008.
Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102
BRC IDAHO ACTION ALERT
COMMENTS NEEDED ON OWYHEE TRAVEL PLAN
SITUATION:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Owyhee Field Office is preparing a Travel Management Plan for motorized and mechanized uses for the Murphy Subregion, which is a BLM planning unit in the Owyhee Front located between Wilson Creek and Castle Creek. They have prepared a pre-decisional Environmental Assessment (EA), which analyzes three different alternatives, and are looking for your comments.
The Proposed Action would designate a route system composed of 834 miles of roads and trails. The various roads or trails are designated for a number of uses including motorcycles, ATVs and full-sized vehicles. The Proposed Action would also close 436 miles of roads and trails.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
OHV users need to send comments to the BLM regarding their proposal. We've posted some comment suggestions below, but route-specific comments are most effective. The Southwest Idaho Desert Racing Association has a link to the maps on their websiteand BLM has big maps available at their office in Marsing.
The pre-decisional Environmental Assessment (EA), appendix and relevant maps are available on BLM's website at: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/nepa/Owyhee/murphy_subregion_travel.html
THE COMMENT DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 24, 2008
Send Written Comments to:
Bureau of Land Management
20 First Ave S
Marsing, ID 83639
Email Comments To:
ID_Murphy_TMP@blm.gov.
_______________________________________
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BLM:
NOTE: Please be polite and make your comments as specific as possible.
STEP 1: Open your email program and start a draft email. Address it to ID_Murphy_TMP@blm.gov.
STEP 2: Use the comments below in your email. Cut and paste is okay, but try to make your comment letter as personal as possible.
COMMENT SUGGESTIONS:
The EA notes the population increases in the west and the tremendous growth in the popularity of OHV use. Given those indisputable facts, the BLM should adopt a "mitigate first - closure last" policy. Please look for ways to mitigate impacts in order to keep as many routes open to OHVs and mountain bikes as possible.
The "open" area near Hemmingway Butte designated by the Resource Management Plan was too small when the plan was being formulated. That is why the Hemmingway Butte area expanded and also why users created the Area 45 play area. "Managed Open Areas" are an important part of OHV management, especially in popular OHV destination areas near large urban centers. These areas are often enjoyed by folks with children so they can be seen while they learn riding skills. The closure of Area 45 will increase congestion at the Hemmingway butte and Rabbit Creek area. Please consider providing the appropriate "Managed Open Areas" needed for effective OHV management.
The plan lacks connectivity from North to South. Please consider additional single track motorcycle trails near Briar Creek.
I strongly support the designation of the 4x4 "rock-crawling" trails. High difficulty 4x4 trails are very rare in Idaho and provide a very valuable recreation experience. Please consider additional rock-crawling trails if possible.
I also strongly support including the analysis for competitive motorcycle events and poker runs, fundraisers and "club rides" in the EA. This will streamline the permit process and reduce the work load of agency staff.
The EA assumes all "multiple," "duplicate" and/or "parallel" routes are bad. This assumption is not always true. Some "duplicate" routes serve a purpose and will help reduce congestion on the remaining trails. Where "duplicate" routes have a different character (e.g. ATV vs. single-track) the BLM should consider keeping both routes open.
The BLM is planning to use "24 inch boulders" to block off areas. I suggest the BLM revise the plan and remove the requirement to use boulders because of safety concerns. Using boulders to block off routes or areas may be appropriate in some areas, but not on "blind corners" or on sections of trail where people are traveling at speed.
STEP 3: Take just a minute to add a bit about where you live and where you like to ride. Be certain to include your name and address. A return email address is NOT sufficient! ("anonymous" emails are often discarded), Then click "send" and you're done!
Link
LAST CHANCE FOR COMMENTS ON THE OWYHEE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN EA
Dear BRC Idaho Action Alert Subscriber,
Hey everyone, sorry about the mix up with the BLM's email address earlier this week. I hope you all got the correction I sent out. Today is the last day to get your comments in, so if you haven't sent yours in yet, please, take a minute and do so. I pasted our last Owyhee Alert below; it has some comment suggestions to help you out, and, yes, the corrected email address as well.
Thanks again for your continued involvement,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
________________________________________________________
BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
OWYHEE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PLAN EA RELEASED - COMMENTS NEEDED
Dear BRC Idaho Action Alert Subscriber,
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.
Although significant mileage is proposed for closure, the BLM's plan is not a bad first try. There is actually a lot to like in this travel plan. With some revisions, this plan could be very positive for OHV recreation.
We've gone over the details and included some suggested comments in our Action Alert below.
Please take a minute to send your comments to the BLM.
The comment deadline is October 24, 2008.
Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102
BRC IDAHO ACTION ALERT
COMMENTS NEEDED ON OWYHEE TRAVEL PLAN
SITUATION:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Owyhee Field Office is preparing a Travel Management Plan for motorized and mechanized uses for the Murphy Subregion, which is a BLM planning unit in the Owyhee Front located between Wilson Creek and Castle Creek. They have prepared a pre-decisional Environmental Assessment (EA), which analyzes three different alternatives, and are looking for your comments.
The Proposed Action would designate a route system composed of 834 miles of roads and trails. The various roads or trails are designated for a number of uses including motorcycles, ATVs and full-sized vehicles. The Proposed Action would also close 436 miles of roads and trails.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
OHV users need to send comments to the BLM regarding their proposal. We've posted some comment suggestions below, but route-specific comments are most effective. The Southwest Idaho Desert Racing Association has a link to the maps on their websiteand BLM has big maps available at their office in Marsing.
The pre-decisional Environmental Assessment (EA), appendix and relevant maps are available on BLM's website at: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/nepa/Owyhee/murphy_subregion_travel.html
THE COMMENT DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 24, 2008
Send Written Comments to:
Bureau of Land Management
20 First Ave S
Marsing, ID 83639
Email Comments To:
ID_Murphy_TMP@blm.gov.
_______________________________________
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BLM:
NOTE: Please be polite and make your comments as specific as possible.
STEP 1: Open your email program and start a draft email. Address it to ID_Murphy_TMP@blm.gov.
STEP 2: Use the comments below in your email. Cut and paste is okay, but try to make your comment letter as personal as possible.
COMMENT SUGGESTIONS:
The EA notes the population increases in the west and the tremendous growth in the popularity of OHV use. Given those indisputable facts, the BLM should adopt a "mitigate first - closure last" policy. Please look for ways to mitigate impacts in order to keep as many routes open to OHVs and mountain bikes as possible.
The "open" area near Hemmingway Butte designated by the Resource Management Plan was too small when the plan was being formulated. That is why the Hemmingway Butte area expanded and also why users created the Area 45 play area. "Managed Open Areas" are an important part of OHV management, especially in popular OHV destination areas near large urban centers. These areas are often enjoyed by folks with children so they can be seen while they learn riding skills. The closure of Area 45 will increase congestion at the Hemmingway butte and Rabbit Creek area. Please consider providing the appropriate "Managed Open Areas" needed for effective OHV management.
The plan lacks connectivity from North to South. Please consider additional single track motorcycle trails near Briar Creek.
I strongly support the designation of the 4x4 "rock-crawling" trails. High difficulty 4x4 trails are very rare in Idaho and provide a very valuable recreation experience. Please consider additional rock-crawling trails if possible.
I also strongly support including the analysis for competitive motorcycle events and poker runs, fundraisers and "club rides" in the EA. This will streamline the permit process and reduce the work load of agency staff.
The EA assumes all "multiple," "duplicate" and/or "parallel" routes are bad. This assumption is not always true. Some "duplicate" routes serve a purpose and will help reduce congestion on the remaining trails. Where "duplicate" routes have a different character (e.g. ATV vs. single-track) the BLM should consider keeping both routes open.
The BLM is planning to use "24 inch boulders" to block off areas. I suggest the BLM revise the plan and remove the requirement to use boulders because of safety concerns. Using boulders to block off routes or areas may be appropriate in some areas, but not on "blind corners" or on sections of trail where people are traveling at speed.
STEP 3: Take just a minute to add a bit about where you live and where you like to ride. Be certain to include your name and address. A return email address is NOT sufficient! ("anonymous" emails are often discarded), Then click "send" and you're done!
Link