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New Mexico

Forest Service

Last Updated: October 28, 2009

Since 2006, you've been hearing how the Forest Service's Travel Management Rule could close roads and trails to motor vehicles. Years passed, and it seemed like nothing was happening with Travel Management and route designation. But Travel Management has NOT 'gone away'.

On September 11th, the Gila National Forest (GNF) released its Proposed Action for the Travel Management Rule. This is the first step leading to the Forest writing an Environmental Impact Statement (the 'EIS'). The EIS will lead to the decision on which roads and trails are closed or open to vehicles. The Proposed Action is the start of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The first step in this process is called Scoping. Scoping is the public's opportunity to tell the Forest what YOU want. What roads and trails do you want open to motor vehicles?

We know many of you have already provided comments and input to the GNF. Your efforts to date have shown the GNF that the public cares deeply about access to forest lands But before the NEPA process starts, the Forest is under no legal obligation to pay any attention to what we want. The start of the NEPA process means that changes.

Now is the time when our voices really mean something. If you have already provided comments to the GNF on Travel Management, please send them in again now. You MUST submit your comments during the official 45 day Scoping period. Scoping ends at midnight on October 26, 2009. Only comments received by this deadline will be considered.

After Scoping, the Gila will write the EIS. The writing, public review and final decision for the EIS could take well over a year. Patience and persistence are important! If you have any questions about the NEPA process or how to provide comments, please contact the NMOHVA at contact@nmohva.org.

Your participation during Scoping and in the coming months will help determine whether the GNF's roads and trails stay open to motor vehicles, for the public to use and enjoy.

HERE IS HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN SCOPING:

READ THE PROPOSED ACTION AND EXAMINE THE MAPS - The Proposed Action is only 10 pages. It and the maps can be downloaded from the forest's website. The maps are very large files and may take time to download. You can see full sized printed maps at all ranger district offices and the Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Sierra County offices. Check the maps to see if your favorite roads and trails are included. If they aren't on the maps it means the Forest wants to close them.

ATTEND THE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS - The GNF has announced a series of public workshops to explain their proposed action and collect public input. Ask questions and give input but REMEMBER - Unless your comments are in writing and properly submitted during the official Scoping period, the Forest Service can ignore them. Do not assume that filling out comment forms at meetings is good enough. Send your comments by mail, fax, or email, and be sure to keep copies for yourself.

WRITE SCOPING COMMENTS - Give the Forest as much specific information as you can on the roads, trails, or areas you want to be open for motor vehicles. Include supporting information and reasoning. Tell the GNF why those roads and trails are important to you for public access and recreation.

DON'T FORGET THE DEADLINE - The Scoping period for this Proposed Action is 45 days. Scoping comments must be received by the Forest Service by midnight on October 26 in order for them to be considered. If you have already provided comments to the GNF on Travel Management, you MUST resubmit the comments during this official Scoping period to ensure that they are official. The Forest Service must respond to the concerns voiced in official scoping comments.

The GNF is encouraging electronic mail. If submitting comments electronically, the format of attachments must be in plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), MS-Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf).

Send electronic comments to: r3_gila_travel@fs.fed.us. Please enter "TM comments" in the subject line of the e-mail.

Send written comments to:

Attn: Travel Management Coordinator 3005 E. Camino del Bosque Silver City, NM 88061

You can also fax written comments to 575-388-8222 or hand deliver them to the Gila National Forest Supervisor's Office or any District Ranger Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Gila National Forest Travel Management Web Site

Proposed Action Document (only ten pages!)

Proposed Action Maps

Schedule of Public Open Houses