4x4Wire

(Dec 23, 2009) - With the release by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), OHV organizations including the BlueRibbon Coalition, California Off Road Vehicle Association, California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, American Motorcyclist Association, American Motorcyclist Association District 36, Timekeepers Motorcycle Club and the Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club have joined together in a collaborative effort to respond to this document.

These groups will continue their ongoing efforts to analyze and respond to the DEIS by the March 5 deadline for public comments. It is important for the local recreationists and other stakeholders who have been arbitrarily locked out of Clear Creek by the BLM's temporary closure to attend the public meetings in January 2010.

MEETING SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2009/december/CC1012_clearcreek_draftplan_meetings.html

The OHV organizations mentioned above will be providing analysis and suggested comments to their respective organizations and utilizing the Friends of the Clear Creek Management Area web site: http://www.foccma.org/ as a clearing house for DEIS related information.

*BRC Contact for CCMA is Don Amador.

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The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org

West Mountain Proposed ATV Motocross Track and Trail System Public Scoping Meeting

Salt Lake City, Utah (Dec 11,2009) —The Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake Field Office announces a public scoping meeting for a proposed ATV motocross track and trail system on West Mountain.  The meeting will be held on Jan. 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Payson City Center, City Council Chambers, 439 West Utah Avenue, Payson, UT 84651.  For directions, please call 801-465-5200.

Utah County is proposing an ATV motocross track and trail system at West Mountain as part of a county park system. A parcel at the south end of West Mountain, west of Payson Utah, has been identified to be used as the site for the motocross track facility. The proposed project would provide a track for ATV and motorcycle competitions, areas for recreational riding, parking, spectator seating, staging areas and restrooms. A Cooperative Agreement is being developed among Utah County, Payson City, the Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Parks, and private groups to design and construct this facility.

To complement the ATV motocross track, Utah County proposes designating a 26-mile loop trail around the base of West Mountain, connecting existing roads and trails with new construction to complete the loop. In addition to the main trail, existing spur trails and internal loops on and across the mountain would provide added recreational driving, walking, hiking and mountain biking.  The trail would cross lands administered by the BLM’s Salt Lake Field Office, West Desert District Office, the state of Utah’s School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, and private lands.  Duplicate, unneeded, or inappropriate routes would be identified for reclamation.

Bishop, CA (November 23, 2009)...The Forest Service will be hosting a Forum to update the public on the status of the effort to revise the Land Management Plan for the Inyo National Forest.  The Forum will take place on Monday December 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, in the main conference room of the Forest headquarters at 351 Pacu Lane in Bishop.

During the Forum forest staff will provide an update on the status of the effort to revise the existing 21 year old Land Management Plan, otherwise known as the Forest Plan.   At this time the formal plan revision is not scheduled to begin until 2011, however forest staff are contemplating what preliminary activities might take place in 2010 to better position them to most effectively begin the plan revision process.

The Forest Service intends for the Forest Plan revision process to be an open, transparent, inclusive and collaborative process that provides opportunities for the broad array of public who use and value the Inyo National Forest to get involved.  During the Forum the Forest Service will be looking for ideas from the public on what steps can be taken in 2010 to design a far-reaching public participation and collaboration process that can utilize new communication technology, as well as more traditional methods.  We will also be discussing the identification of data gaps and how we can go about filling the gaps both before and during the revision process.

To allow for participation by those who cannot be in Bishop for the Forum, a tele-conference call line will be set up so that members of the public can listen to the update and participate in the discussion about next steps.  If you would like to participate on the conference call, or if you have special needs to attend the meeting in person, or for more information, please call Public Affairs Officer Nancy Upham at 760-873-2427.

SALMON, ID:  The Bureau of Land Management, Salmon Field Office is holding a second round of public meetings to seek public input on a proposed travel plan and alternatives that would formally designate a system of roads and trails on public lands in the northern half of the Salmon Field Office area.

“We want the public to review our planning proposals and alternatives, provide comments and concerns, and let us know what you think,” stated Salmon Field Office Manager Steve Hartmann.

The goal of this plan is to provide a broad range of motorized and non-motorized access while sustaining the health of our public lands resources. The plan will result in the designation of over 550 miles roads and trails as either open, open with limits, or closed to public use. This planning effort encompasses about 160,000 acres of public lands located within about a 20 mile radius of Salmon, Idaho. Please join us from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:

September 15, 2009 – Salmon City Center
200 Main Street, Salmon, Idaho

September 16, 2009 – Tendoy School
Tendoy, Idaho

Directions: The Tendoy School is located 20 miles south of Salmon, Idaho on Highway 28, turn east at Tendoy Store, go 1/10 of mile to intersection, turn right, go 1/10 mile, the school is on your right.

BLM Seeks Comments on Travel Management Plan Project Focuses on Gila Unit

Safford, Ariz.  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Safford Field Office is continuing work on a travel management plan for the Gila Unit, which includes the Gila Box and surrounding areas. Maps have been developed and are now ready for public review and comment. Comments are due in writing by September 30, 2009, and can be submitted by mail, email, or fax.

The goal of the project is to complete a Gila Unit Travel Management Plan and Environmental Assessment that will determine route designations. This project began with a road inventory completed through a contract with Advanced Resource Solutions in April 2007.

After that information was consolidated, a public meeting was held in November 2007 to provide an opportunity to review and comment on the inventoried routes in terms of several criteria: type of route (spur, loop, two-track, connector); access needs; current uses (public, commercial, administrative); and special resources affected (wildlife, riparian, cultural resources).