New Forest Service winter travel management planning rule issued. Time to make your voice heard.
In 2013 Winter Wildlands Alliance successfully sued the Forest Service regarding its failure to manage snowmobiles. In response to this suit, the Forest Service recently released a new proposed snowmobile management rule. This is an opportunity to bring balance to the backcountry, address user conflict and minimize resource damage on our National Forests. But, the new rule has loopholes and inadequacies. The Forest Service still appears to not appreciate the impact of snowmobiles.
Snowlands will be submitting specific comments on the rule, which we will post to our website soon. Our comments will focus on inadequacies of past efforts to regulate snowmobiles, and problems with using a regulatory model where areas are "open unless designated closed."
Please help us tell the Forest Service they need to fix the inadequacies in the rule.
As someone who loves the backcountry, it's essential that the Forest Service hears your voice.
We believe it is most important for your comments to convey how snowmobile use impacts your own recreation experience, but there are many other aspects of snowmobiles on which you may wish to comment, including their hugely disproportionate impact on global warming. (In 2002, the EPA found that a 2-stroke snowmobile emits nearly as much carbon as 100 cars! Think what the comparison would be with today's even cleaner automobiles.)
This is a rare opportunity to help shape Forest Service policy. We don't have a lot of time - only until August 4 - but it's critical that the Forest Service hear from the ski community. A strong rule today means balanced management of winter recreation tomorrow.
Personal comments from people who regularly use public lands are proven to make the biggest difference to decision-makers - so please take 10 minutes to weigh in on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to impact how the backcountry is managed.
Please submit your comments directly to the Forest Service at www.regulations.gov,or by mail to:
U.S. Forest Service Att'n: Joseph Adamson Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources Staff 1400 Independence Avenue SW Stop 1125 Washington D.C. 20250
The Winter Wildlands Alliance has provided information about the draft rule as well as a letter template to help you write your own comments.
Thanks,
Laurel Harkness, Executive Director
P.S. We know "winter travel management planning" and "draft rules" seem distant and unrelated to your daily life but this really is a huge opportunity for you to influence the way the Forest Service manages winter recreation - and your backcountry experience. Comment today to make a difference on your public lands!
Snowlands Network P. O. Box 2570 Nevada City, California 95959 (530)265-6424
In 2013 Winter Wildlands Alliance successfully sued the Forest Service regarding its failure to manage snowmobiles. In response to this suit, the Forest Service recently released a new proposed snowmobile management rule. This is an opportunity to bring balance to the backcountry, address user conflict and minimize resource damage on our National Forests. But, the new rule has loopholes and inadequacies. The Forest Service still appears to not appreciate the impact of snowmobiles.
Snowlands will be submitting specific comments on the rule, which we will post to our website soon. Our comments will focus on inadequacies of past efforts to regulate snowmobiles, and problems with using a regulatory model where areas are "open unless designated closed."
Please help us tell the Forest Service they need to fix the inadequacies in the rule.
As someone who loves the backcountry, it's essential that the Forest Service hears your voice.
We believe it is most important for your comments to convey how snowmobile use impacts your own recreation experience, but there are many other aspects of snowmobiles on which you may wish to comment, including their hugely disproportionate impact on global warming. (In 2002, the EPA found that a 2-stroke snowmobile emits nearly as much carbon as 100 cars! Think what the comparison would be with today's even cleaner automobiles.)
This is a rare opportunity to help shape Forest Service policy. We don't have a lot of time - only until August 4 - but it's critical that the Forest Service hear from the ski community. A strong rule today means balanced management of winter recreation tomorrow.
Personal comments from people who regularly use public lands are proven to make the biggest difference to decision-makers - so please take 10 minutes to weigh in on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to impact how the backcountry is managed.
Please submit your comments directly to the Forest Service at www.regulations.gov,or by mail to:
U.S. Forest Service Att'n: Joseph Adamson Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources Staff 1400 Independence Avenue SW Stop 1125 Washington D.C. 20250
The Winter Wildlands Alliance has provided information about the draft rule as well as a letter template to help you write your own comments.
Thanks,
Laurel Harkness, Executive Director
P.S. We know "winter travel management planning" and "draft rules" seem distant and unrelated to your daily life but this really is a huge opportunity for you to influence the way the Forest Service manages winter recreation - and your backcountry experience. Comment today to make a difference on your public lands!
Snowlands Network P. O. Box 2570 Nevada City, California 95959 (530)265-6424
