Crowdog
04-20-2005, 07:22 AM
Comment period extended on forest travel plan
By John O'Connell - Journal Writer
POCATELLO - The U.S. Forest Service has extended the public comment period for the Caribou National Forest Travel Plan by 11 calendar days, based on problems with maps of proposed changes to the district that includes Pocatello.
The Travel Plan outlines the various recreational uses that the Forest Service would allow in each part of the forest.
Unmotorized vehicle users have complained since the Forest Service released its preferred alternative to revise the plan that too many trails are open to off-road vehicles, and too many single-track trails are proposed to be widened for four-wheeler access. The Blue Ribbon Coalition, which represents motorized users, by and large supports the plan. Forest Supervisor Jerry Reese opted Monday to extend the comment deadline to May 27 following a Friday meeting, in which members of a group that represents unmotorized interests, the Southeast Idaho Recreation Alliance, pointed out the mistakes in the maps.
SIRA members originally requested an extension of 120 days to the 45-day public comment period.
"We would like to start implementing things to educate people about the new plan as soon as possible," said Deb Tiller, landscape architect with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. "We are getting the corrected version in everybody's hands as fast as we can."
Tiller said of 15 district maps, only the West Side map, which encompasses the Pocatello and Malad areas, has major problems. She said trail numbers were printed twice, making the map confusing, and some trails were coded with colors that designate they are both closed and open to motorized use.
This summer, the Forest Service focus will be on educating the public about the new plan rather than issuing citations for violations. It has set public meetings about the revised plan. The April 7 Pocatello meeting was well attended, Tiller said. Future meetings are scheduled for tonight in Malad, Wednesday in Preston and Thursday in Montpelier.
http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2005/04/19/news/local/news10.txt
By John O'Connell - Journal Writer
POCATELLO - The U.S. Forest Service has extended the public comment period for the Caribou National Forest Travel Plan by 11 calendar days, based on problems with maps of proposed changes to the district that includes Pocatello.
The Travel Plan outlines the various recreational uses that the Forest Service would allow in each part of the forest.
Unmotorized vehicle users have complained since the Forest Service released its preferred alternative to revise the plan that too many trails are open to off-road vehicles, and too many single-track trails are proposed to be widened for four-wheeler access. The Blue Ribbon Coalition, which represents motorized users, by and large supports the plan. Forest Supervisor Jerry Reese opted Monday to extend the comment deadline to May 27 following a Friday meeting, in which members of a group that represents unmotorized interests, the Southeast Idaho Recreation Alliance, pointed out the mistakes in the maps.
SIRA members originally requested an extension of 120 days to the 45-day public comment period.
"We would like to start implementing things to educate people about the new plan as soon as possible," said Deb Tiller, landscape architect with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. "We are getting the corrected version in everybody's hands as fast as we can."
Tiller said of 15 district maps, only the West Side map, which encompasses the Pocatello and Malad areas, has major problems. She said trail numbers were printed twice, making the map confusing, and some trails were coded with colors that designate they are both closed and open to motorized use.
This summer, the Forest Service focus will be on educating the public about the new plan rather than issuing citations for violations. It has set public meetings about the revised plan. The April 7 Pocatello meeting was well attended, Tiller said. Future meetings are scheduled for tonight in Malad, Wednesday in Preston and Thursday in Montpelier.
http://www.journalnet.com/articles/2005/04/19/news/local/news10.txt