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- NMOHVA Appeal Rejected by Forest Service
Last Updated: June 5, 2011
The Forest Service's Region 3 Appeal Deciding Officer has rejected NMOHVA's latest appeal. NMOHVA had appealed the Forest Service's decision on the Environmental Assessment for Travel Management on the West-side of the Carson National Forest. The West-side decision was for the Tres Piedras, El Rito, and Caniljon Ranger Districts. The NMOHVA appeal claimed the Forest Service had refused to consider adding more motorized recreatino by improperly limiting the alternatives considered.
The appeal by NMOHVA and one submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) were the only two appeals received by the Forest Service on the Carson West-side Travel Management Decision. The CBD appeal was only marginally more successful. The Appeal Officer ruled that Forest Service must drop seven miles of unauthorized road that they intended to add to the road system until they complete a more complete analysis. An appeal is the last step in the NEPA process that allows the public to challenge a decision.
While our latest appeal didn't win like our recent Mountainair Ranger District appeal, being an active part of the decision process and fully utilizing all of the avenues available to the public are still vitally important. The numerous comments submitted and the appeals filed serve notice to the Forest Service that we are completely serious about holding them accountable. Our full participation throughout the NEPA process also increases our understanding of the process and provides sharp opposition to the people who want to kick us out.
"It is difficult to win them all and we consider this one sort of a 'draw'," said Mark Werkmeister, NMOHVA's past President. "We don't agree with the Appeal Deciding Officer but we took the process as far as we can without dragging them into court."
The Carson National Forest has not yet released its proposed actions for the Questa or Camino Real Districts. We expect both of those documents to be released before the summer. Watch our Access Alerts, the NMOHVA newsletter, and website so you don't miss out on the opportunity to preserve and protect our roads and trails in those last two Carson districts.
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