First Travel Management NPA public meeting attracts 30

The first public meeting for the West Side Snowy Range Travel Management Notice of Proposed Action (NPA) was held Thursday, at the BLM office in Rawlins. There were around 30 people in attendance.

Melanie Fullman, District Ranger for the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District, announced a few new developments during the Thursday meeting. The comment period for the Notice of Proposed Action will end after the Saratoga NPA Public meeting on April 21. The public will not be able to file a comment for the NPA after this date, according to Fullman.

Also, Fullman originally planned on announcing the Draft Notice of Decision along with the Environmental Assessment. At that time, the public would be able to object if they filed a comment.

Now, Fullman will be holding a 30-day comment period for the Environmental Assessment prior to announcing her Draft Notice of Decision. The Draft Notice of Decision objection period will last 45 days and will be published mid to late summer, according to Fullman. "The extra comment period provides more opportunity to be officially involved. I hope it still enables enough time for the objection process to occur, primarily out in the woods."

The public does not have to comment for the NPA to comment for the Environmental Assessment. First of June because I need to get my field people out in the field."

During Fullman's overview of the project, she said she has talked to the public frequently over the past couple weeks about this project. "I've probably had close to 100 meetings with individuals, small groups, families in the past couple of weeks."

There were a total of 22 different comments from the public. Few comments were in direct criticism of the Forest Service itself - most were specific questions pertaining to the NPA.

Inquiries arose regarding public involvement to maintain roads - one mentioned adopting a road. Fullman welcomed any ideas for volunteer support, and wanted to talk with people who were willing to volunteer.

Also, there was discussion about Forest Service Road 103 and if 'jeep like vehicles' would be allowed on the road still. According to the NPA, Forest Service Road 103 would be an ORV only trail. Similar to Forest Service Road 261, Fullman said she put it in the NPA to see what the public reaction would be. "I am willing to entertain in the more roads alternative that 103 would be open to ATV's, UTV's and 'jeep-like vehicles'," Fullman said.

When asked where the money from the ORV stickers is going to in this forest, Fullman noted that those are state funds. There is a possibility that the district could apply for state funds; however, Fullman allows UTV's on the district ORV trails. This creates a larger trail width than allowed by the state. Fullman said, "The state has to designate the trail. If they designate the trail, then we can apply for grant funding. Doing this proposal won't enable me to apply, because my standard [of trail width] is wider."

To summarize Fullman's reasoning behind the Travel Management Project and the Proposed road closures, she quoted Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service. As a ranger, Fullman seeks "to do the greatest good for the greatest number in the long run."

The second public meeting took place after press time , 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Elk Mountain. The final meeting will be held 5:30 p.m. or immediately following after the Carbon County Commissioners meeting at the Platte Valley Community Center on Tuesday April 21.