TONGASS
NATIONAL FOREST UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-FOREST SERVICE
News Release
Contact: Michelle
Putz
E-mail:
mputz@xxxxxxxxx
Phone:
907-747-4278
Date:
July 29, 2009
Forest Service seeks comments for
Juneau, Admiralty motorized vehicle plan
Juneau, AK – The U.S. Forest Service
is seeking additional comments on its proposed management plan for motorized
vehicle access on the Juneau Ranger District (JRD) and Admiralty National
Monument (ANM), both within the Tongass National Forest.
The Forest Service is preparing an Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the districts’ Access and Travel Management (ATM)
project. A decision on the project will determine how road systems on the
districts will be managed to meet public needs, safety and resource concerns,
and Forest Plan objectives. A Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) will then be
published identifying which roads and trails are open to motorized use.
The EA will describe and analyze two
alternatives for motorized vehicle road, trail, and off-road access on
the districts. Under the No Action Alternative, motorized vehicle access
on the districts would be unchanged.
The second alternative is the Proposed
Action, supported by the majority of public participants so far, who indicate
they want roads currently open to remain open.
The Proposed Action would:
* Designate the same road access as
the No Action Alternative
* Maintain about 33 miles of road open
to high-clearance vehicles, 28 miles of which would remain open for both
highway and Off-Highway Vehicle use
* Close nearly 13 miles of road to highway
vehicles
* Keep open to OHVs as trail more than
9 miles of road that is closed to highway vehicles but currently drivable
and open to OHVs
* Close to vehicles all roads currently
used as foot trails or placed in storage by removing culverts and bridges
to protect other resources
* Close to OHV use the far 1.7 miles
of Forest Road 8554 in the Couverden area, where two bridges are currently
missing, including one at an anadromous stream crossing where protection
of the streambed and fisheries resources is needed.
* Leave Forest Road 8442 (25-Mile Road)
beyond the rock pit open to OHV use as a motorized trail, and designate
the area of the clearcut adjacent to the road as an off-road area (54 acres)
* Leave a Taku River road (south of
the lodge) open as a motorized trail to OHV use, but closed at the anadromous
stream crossing to protect the stream and the extensive wetlands beyond.
Although the decision would not change
use or management of snowmobiles, the Proposed Action would open 5,600
acres to OHVs on the following trails during specific snow/ice conditions
that normally occur between December 15 and April 15:
* Dan Moller Trail, including a portion
of the Treadwell Ditch Trail and the Blueberry Hills subdivision access
trail and snowmobile trail parking lot
* Lake Creek/Montana Creek Trails, the
west portion of the Mendenhall Lake, as well as the signed areas surrounding
the Dan Moller and Lake Creek/Montana Creek Trails
Upon publication of the MVUM, the use
of motorized vehicles would be allowed only in those areas designated as
open to such vehicles. District areas not displayed as open roads or OHV
trails on the map will be closed to all forms of motorized surface access
including motorized subsistence access under ANILCA Section 811(b). Snowmobiles
are not part of this decision and will be permitted off designated roads
and trails when used over snow and in accordance with ANILCA section 1110
(a) and 811 (b).
The Districts are currently providing
an additional opportunity for individuals and organizations to comment
on the Proposed Action before the EA and decision are prepared. Comments
must be received within 30 calendar days following publication of the notice
of availability of this EA in the Juneau Empire, the newspaper of record
for this project. That date was Monday, July 27, 2009.
Submit written comments by mail to the
Juneau RD/Admiralty NM, 8510 Mendenhall Loop Rd., Juneau, AK 99801; by
fax to 907-586-8808; in person at the Juneau Ranger District office; or
by email at comments-alaska-tongass-juneau@xxxxxxxxx (please put “Juneau-Admiralty
ATM” in the subject line).
Maps of the existing condition and Proposed
Action are available from the Juneau Ranger District. For more information,
contact District Ranger Pete Griffin or Project Leader Ed Grossman at 907-586-8800.
Tongass National Forest, Juneau Ranger
District
8510 Mendenhall Loop Rd., Juneau, AK
99801
Voice: 907-586-8800
Fax: 907-586-8808
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider
and employer.
