Date: 03/26/2009 strongBLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!br /br /Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber, br /br /Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Seeks Comments on Motorized Routes/strongbr /br /The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, located in north-central Washington, is formulating a new travel plan that will limit ALL vehicle use to designated roads, trails and areas. The Forest Service (FS) will be hosting a series of public meetings on the travel planning process during the month of April 2009.nbsp; (See schedule below) br /br /On March 24, 2009, the FS published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a Proposed Action to implement the Travel Management Rule to designate a system of roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicle use. This NOI initiates the scoping process, which guides development of the Environmental Impact Statement.br /br /The Forest is asking for your comments on the proposed action during a 45-day public scoping period. Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received by May 7, 2009, so they can be fully considered. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is scheduled for completion by December 2009. The FS plans to have the Final EIS completed by July 2010.br /br /Comments are most valuable if they are site-specific. Comments about existing or proposed conditions on individual routes, desired motorized or non-motorized recreation opportunities, uses and impacts, and route designations are being sought.br /br /Public meetings to explain and gather comments about the proposed action will be held at the following locations and dates from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.:strongEllensburg, WA/strong, April 6, 2009nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Hal Holmes Community Center.br /br /strongYakima, WA/strong, April 7, 2009nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Howard Johnson Ballroom.br /br /strongCashmere, WA/strong, April 8, 2009nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Apple Annie Antique Gallery.br /br /strongOkanogan, WA/strong, April 9, 2009nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Okanogan County Agriplex.br /br /strongSeattle, WA area/strong: To be announced and posted on the Travel Management website http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okawen/travel-management.It is important that you submit comments to make sure that there is a public record of support for maintaining motorized and mechanized access.nbsp; Comments are most useful if they are specific.br /br /Involvement from OHV enthusiasts in the scoping process is critical.nbsp; If you want to protect your favorite trails and routes in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, be sure to attend one or all of these meetings and make your voice heard. br /br /Your feedback is important to this process. If you have comments, you may submit through any of the following methods:br /br /strongMail Comments To: /strongbr /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Travel Management Planning Teambr /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forestbr /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; 215 Melody Lanebr /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Wenatchee, WA 98801br /br /strongEmail Comments To: /strongbr /nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; okawen-travel-management@fs.fed.us strongCOMMENT DEADLINE IS MAY 7, 2009/strongDocuments and maps are available on the Forest's website at:br /http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okawen/travel-management/proposed/index.shtmlbr /br /For more information about the proposed action, contact Bob Stoehr, Planning Team Leader, at Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, Washington, 98801; or by telephone: (509) 664-9384.br /br /strongJUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!br /br /Thanks in advance for your support,/strongbr /Ric Fosterbr /Public Lands Department Managerbr /BlueRibbon Coalitionbr /208-237-1008 ext 107img src="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/BlueRibbonCoalition/~4/mFsb9HgRtE4" height="1" width="1"/
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