Please take time from the fun to send Comments in on SIGNIFICANT CLOSURE Idaho/Montan

[drphil]

Forest Service is federal and so where you live doesnt matter. You might want to ride there some day. Make sure you mention the Great Burn area in an email that you send..... read the post...( its long sorry but its great info)

Lois Foster is with the Forest Service and was quite nice when we talked.
PLEASE HELP I will help you when you are in need.

Just a quick email might save some of the 200,000 acres proposed for closure.
I thank you
My kids thank you

 

[drphil]

This is the info regarding the closure

I called Lois a few times and got her message finally left her a message and she called me back within 10 minutes.
Background info...
Snowmobiles got brought into the travel plan as an extra. I got the sense from her ( she owns an ATV) that things might not be as bleak as we think.
The 3 public meetings she said were well attended by motorized users... ATV mainly. 30 in moscow, 60 in Orofino 70-80 in Kamiah.

Our conversation centered on the Kelly Creek Drainage or as you know the Great Burn. Initally she said that the 1987 Forest Plan made it proposed Wilderness and that in being CONSISTENT with Montana who close their portion recently they put it in the plan for Idaho to close as well. She said that Idaho use went way up because Montana closed and that people were then accessing Montana ( CLOSED AREAS) thru Idaho. Not alot of enforcement up there she said. Also for quiet zone and also for wildlife.

We talked about the area having 100+ inches of snow currently and that no wildlife is in that country during snowmobiling season. Also as far as quiet zones there are no non motorized users there either.

Regarding comments she said that Jan 11th was a "SOFT" deadline and that they would accept comments after that as well but try to get them in soon.

Here is the general timeline that we are on with the Travel Plan.
Right now is the scoping period for comments.
Draft of the EIS ( Environmental Impact Statement) should be out in late Summer 2008
Comment Period on the Draft EIS ( no public meetings)
Final EIS should be out Fall or early 2009
Then she said they usually dont but there is another 45 day comment period
Final Decison March of 2009
90 Days for APPEAL...
******VERY IMPORTANT****** See this later
Rule goes into effect for summer season of 2009

Here is the very important appeal rule.
If you made comments and are involved in the process and when the final decison is made only THOSE INVOLVED in the process are able to appeal it.

She said that comments turned in should be specific to a particular area and give reasons why you want access to remain her words were... the strongest comments are SITE SPECIFIC.
ALSO include your mailing address with your comments and they will mail out any DRAFT EIS, the final EIS and other info pertaining to the Travel Plan.


My indication was that if enough of us ASK for this area to remain open they will include it as an alternative ....she said there will only be 3 -5 Alternatives.
SO ONE last push get your comments in regarding the GREAT BURN area of the Clearwater Travel Plan. Be clear and specific as to what you want.
I want to be able to access the Great Burn ( Kelly Creek Drainage) for snowmobile use.
No wildlife uses that area in the winter.
I would be willing to have areas that we dont ride in non motorized

I made this comment to her and she said WOW I havent heard that one before but it makes sense
I pay the state of Idaho to ride off-trail in their state with the Tags...by closing the Great burn area to riding I am paying to ride in an area that I cannot access. IE( that is why I buy the tag)
and any other great reason to keep the area open.

Travel plan and maps
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/P.../ClwTravel.html

TO email comments
comments-northern-clearwater@fs.fed.us

Take the time to send and resend if this clarifies for you...

 

[Scott]

Goooooood info Fas.

 

[MTdream]

comments sent...

 

[Enviro Agenda]

Thanks for doing nothin guys.

I suggest you worry about your post count, your lift kit , your mods and your enclosed trailer. Most of you live in the midwest any way and havent a clue. Go figure.

We will corral you in West Yellowstone and heard you like bison. Stupid idiots.

This forum just goes to show how most of you are complacent sheep happy to follow orders from special interest groups. Your industry does nothin you do nothing. Easy cheezy, fallin like dominoes. I'm going to be watching the closed areas and getting you guys fines because I am a ex forest employee who can ride but hates sleds. I've got money and time. See you in jail suckas.

 

[IMSICK]

Thanks for doing nothin guys.

I suggest you worry about your post count, your lift kit , your mods and your enclosed trailer. Most of you live in the midwest any way and havent a clue. Go figure.

We will corral you in West Yellowstone and heard you like bison. Stupid idiots.

This forum just goes to show how most of you are complacent sheep happy to follow orders from special interest groups. Your industry does nothin you do nothing. Easy cheezy, fallin like dominoes. I'm going to be watching the closed areas and getting you guys fines because I am a ex forest employee who can ride but hates sleds. I've got money and time. See you in jail suckas.

You are so alone..... Does Bubba no longer put out or hold you? Must be gratifying doing what you do..... Does sitting in the middle of nowhere stalking people give you a little time to play a little 5 on 1? Get a life man... Go make a movie with your goat or something!!

 

[Mooseknuckle]

Trying to do MY part

E.A. - I believe the word you are looking for is "herd". If we all spoke up like we should, then we would definately be "heard". Thanks for the challenge and thanks to drphil for the info.

Here is my comment (in blue)- if anyone cares go ahead and poach it for your own. Below that (in red)is my comments to our local club, urging all to participate.

Whoever is watching this, please post updates. I'll keep banging on everyone out here on the left coast.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I write to you to express my concern about the Clearwater Travel Plan. Let me first say that I am an avid outdoorsman and I make my livelihood from the land being a farmer. I am very aware of my environment and am knowledgeable with regard to to the effects of degradation to soil and water. However I must take issue with the proposed items in the Clearwater Travel Plan EIS.

I specifically take issue with the inclusion of "oversnow" vehicles. This is a unilateral decision made by one person, as it states in your proposal (page 2, paragraph 3). I'm sure that the "official" that determined that oversnow vehicles need be required has the best interests of the National Forest in mind, but the inclusion doesn't address the concerns stated in latter wording. That wording (page 3, paragraph 1) states that "... soil disturbance and erosion, effect on water quality and aquatic organisms, effect on wildlife, vegetation removal or damage ...". I find it difficult to believe that "oversnow" vehicles lead to an excessive amount of the above mentioned degradation. I would further submit that USFS vehicle have more effect on these particular environs that do snowmobiles, with regard to soil disturbance.

I do not desire to discount that there is an issue that needs to be addressed, but including all motorized vehicles wholesale is not the correct manner to accomplish the task. Choosing to limit access because of lacking managerial or funding levels is akin to prohibiting "some" drivers from using certain interstate highways. I believe that because of taxes and or fees paid, that should give all members of the "public" access to public lands.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I once again urge you to reconsider the Clearwater Plan EIS.

Stacy Gore


I emailed my comments to the USFS. How about you? Below are the links to give a little background information. Please cc or bcc me you comments, I'd like to see what you all have to say. I know that this is a different state but I want you all to look very carefully at the pdf link. Especially pages 2 and 3, you find wording like "responsible official" (that would be one person) and "anticipated funding level" and "implement national OHV rule direction"

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE at least look at this stuff. If you feel like you are unable to compose a few words to express your opinion, simply state that you don't agree with the proposed actions. I can't state this anymore clearly, this is exactly the thing we are dealing with in the Lassen Nat'l Forest. Its the same dog and pony show. At the club meeting last night, we were all so exited that we were grooming and planning on a great poker run etc. etc. etc. It won't matter if we allow ourselves to be prohibited from the lands that we ride. If you'll drive an hour to ride, I begging you to take 15 minutes to try to help insure that you'll remain a rider.

Sorry about the late notification, but better late... right?

Thanks, Stacy

 

[WingNutRacing]

Thanks for the motivation!

 

[hilpulr]

Comments have been sent and busy hounding everybody else to do the same! I love the riding up in these places, lets all work together and make it happen.

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

The scoping comment period for the CNF Travel Plan ended 1/11/08.

Here is a link to our SAWS alert we previously sent out regarding this issue.

http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/07/alerts/SAWS_ACTION_ALERT_-_CNF_TP_Scoping_no2.htm

If you ride in this forest, and you did not receive our SAWS alert by email regarding this potential massive closure, then you are not a SAWS members.

Please join today for future alerts. We are FREE! But you must have a valid email address. We only send alerts by way of email.

http://www.snowmobile-alliance.org/join.asp