They are big and we need to comment. The Glenwood Springs office of the BLM has their proposed resource management plan out and they are looking for comments. Many people I have talked to are not familiar with the office so here is where it is located
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/co/field_offices/crvfo/images.Par.72298.Image.-1.-1.1.jpg
Comment deadline is December 15, 2011
Need to be mailed to
BLM CO Colorado River Valley Field Office
2300 River FrontageRoad
Silt, CO 81652
Or emailed to cormpkg@ttsfo.com
CSA concerns are:
1. BLM proposes to almost double winter closures by closing an additional 81,500 acres to over the snow travel and limit snowmobiles to trails on additional 14800 acres (twice current amount) but no maps of open or closed areas is provided – how is the public going to ever know where boundaries are located
2. BLM provides a lot of information on a lot of issues that is very poorly organized and often simply not relevant to most users . There is simply no analysis of why any changes are needed for winter recreation management, and without analysis it makes it very hard to for the public to explain why they are opposed to the plan
3. no maps of trails in designated trails areas is provided- these are critical to any analysis and comment as often trails summer motorized trails are closed in the winter and non-motorized trails are opened. A lack of sufficient maps is the primary reason the White River National Forest separated their resource plan from their travel plan
4. without area designations or maps we have to question how NEPA analysis could be sufficient
5. Maps are always provided in other agency proposals for travel plans- White River National Forest had numerous maps for winter use proposals that provided specific trails to be designated, open area boundaries and closure areas.
6. BLM wants to manage with an assumption that areas are closed unless posted open- contrary to management of most other public areas where it is assumed to be open unless posted otherwise
7. Similar to the White River National Forest- the Colorado Valley should withdraw the travel plan portion of the Resource Plan and create additional maps and analysis for winter recreation to satisfy NEPA and to allow for meaningful public comment
While these comments are somewhat short the CSA and COHVCO comments are VERY lengthy- If you want to submit longer comments drafts of these comments are available. Just shoot me a PM
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/co/field_offices/crvfo/images.Par.72298.Image.-1.-1.1.jpg
Comment deadline is December 15, 2011
Need to be mailed to
BLM CO Colorado River Valley Field Office
2300 River FrontageRoad
Silt, CO 81652
Or emailed to cormpkg@ttsfo.com
CSA concerns are:
1. BLM proposes to almost double winter closures by closing an additional 81,500 acres to over the snow travel and limit snowmobiles to trails on additional 14800 acres (twice current amount) but no maps of open or closed areas is provided – how is the public going to ever know where boundaries are located
2. BLM provides a lot of information on a lot of issues that is very poorly organized and often simply not relevant to most users . There is simply no analysis of why any changes are needed for winter recreation management, and without analysis it makes it very hard to for the public to explain why they are opposed to the plan
3. no maps of trails in designated trails areas is provided- these are critical to any analysis and comment as often trails summer motorized trails are closed in the winter and non-motorized trails are opened. A lack of sufficient maps is the primary reason the White River National Forest separated their resource plan from their travel plan
4. without area designations or maps we have to question how NEPA analysis could be sufficient
5. Maps are always provided in other agency proposals for travel plans- White River National Forest had numerous maps for winter use proposals that provided specific trails to be designated, open area boundaries and closure areas.
6. BLM wants to manage with an assumption that areas are closed unless posted open- contrary to management of most other public areas where it is assumed to be open unless posted otherwise
7. Similar to the White River National Forest- the Colorado Valley should withdraw the travel plan portion of the Resource Plan and create additional maps and analysis for winter recreation to satisfy NEPA and to allow for meaningful public comment
While these comments are somewhat short the CSA and COHVCO comments are VERY lengthy- If you want to submit longer comments drafts of these comments are available. Just shoot me a PM
