Lava Rock OHV System - Deschutes

[utvguide]

Deschutes National Forest Releases Proposed Action for Lava Rock OHV System

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The Forest Service is seeking your input on a Proposed Action (PA) to designate a motorized Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) trail system on a portion the Deschutes National Forest’s Bend/Fort Rock Ranger District. The development of the Proposed Action or “scoping phase” is the start of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

The project area is approximately six miles south of Bend, Oregon, and encompasses 140,650 acres. The alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that respond to issues generated through the scoping process.

The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Action was published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2009. This initiates the 30-day public comment period that will run until May 6, 2009. The draft EIS is expected to be available in July 2009 and the final Environmental Impact Statement expected by September 2009.

The Notice of Intent and Deschutes National Forest’s Proposed Action, along with maps, can be found on the Forest website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/index.html.

How to submit comments:
While comments may be submitted anytime during the project, your comments would be most helpful if received by May 6, 2009. Please make your comments as specific as possible.

They plan to complete a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in mid-2009. Following the release of the DEIS, we will have a 45-day Public Comment Period for your review and comment. This will be followed by the release of a Record of Decision, projected to be signed by December 2009.

Mail and Hand Deliver Comments To:
Shane Jeffries, District Ranger
Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District,
1230 NE 3 St., Suite A-262
Bend, OR 97701

Email Comments To:
comments-pacificnorthwest-deschutes-bend-ftrock@fs.fed.us

Put “Lava Rock OHV Project” in the subject line of e-mail comments. Acceptable formats are email message, MS Word (.doc), plain text (.txt), or rich text format (.rtf). Comments should include your name and address.

Fax Comments To:
(541) 383-4700 (with Lava Rock OHV Project in subject line)

COMMENT DEADLINE IS MAY 6, 2009

For more information, contact Peter Sussmann, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, at (541) 383-5594 or via e-mail at prsussman@fs.fed.us.

JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!

Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102
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