Tonto National Forest Travel Management (Draft) Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

[gunnermoose]

The Tonto National Forest is releasing the draft environmental impact statement as part of compliance with the Travel Management Rule, which requires that all National Forest System lands designate roads, trails, and areas for motor vehicle travel.

The Tonto National Forest will be posing a Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Travel Management Project in the Federal Register, which will begin the 45-day public review and comment period. The DEIS provides the public an opportunity to learn about and participate in the federal decision-making process. In asking for your input, please consider the following questions:

• Are there effects to resources or the environment that should be analyzed?
• Are there different alternatives to those analyzed that should be considered?
• Is there any relevant information or data we should know about that could cause changes or revisions to one or more of the alternatives analyzed?
• Are the methodologies for or assumptions used adequate or is there additional information we should consider?

How to access the DEIS:

• View and download a copy at http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/fs-usda-pop.php?project=28967
• Review a copy at public libraries in Globe, Cave Creek, Payson, Young, and select Mesa and Phoenix locations or at the Forest Supervisor’s Office or Ranger District Offices.
• Request a CD version by calling (602) 225-5213

 

[C5dad]

Folks, we have until mid Sept 2014 to get comments in. If you look at the options provided, D is the one they don't want in light of the rational option C. We need folks to put in their two cents. Most of what you need is in the first 20 pages of the DEIS.

One other thing - watch out for the sketchy economic arguments being made!

 

[C5dad]

All -

there is only one day to respond left. If you send just a note via email, that will be better than the alternative of not responding. Each email is worth the voice of hundreds of people.

Basically, the Forest Service is proposing 3 alternatives. Alternatives B and C will remove large percentages of the roads (more than 50 %) and creates management areas which are a defacto permit system and are the equivelent of partial closures year round.

Alternative D is the preferred option as it will allow for access to the forest for all with camping and is unfettered. Sooo send your comments to:

Tonto National Forest: Travel Management Comments
2324 E. McDowell Road Phoenix, AZ 85006
Fax number: (602) 225-5295
email: comments-southwestern-TMRTonto@fs.fed.us

Lets keep our forests open. The FS in Arizona is taking it that the only way to protect the forest is basically close it from vehicles and camping. People are bad for forests based of my discussions with a large portion of the rangers I have spoken to.

Chris