WW National Forest Pulls TMP!!

[Grumpy]

OREGON- Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Land Use Update
Forest Supervisor Withdraws Travel Plan Decision

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Since the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest released its travel management decision, there has been huge public outrage over the amount of road and trail closures. Indeed, over 800 people showed up in opposition to the travel plan at a recent public meeting organized by a group called Forest Access for All.

In a letter to the editor, Wallowa-Whitman Forest Supervisor Monica J. Schwalbach announced the withdrawal of the travel management decision. Please read Supervisor Schwalbach's announcement here:

Forest Supervisor Stops the Clock on Wallowa-Whitman Travel Management Plan
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wallowa-w ... RDB5363914

While this is certainly good news, many local OHV enthusiasts are assuming the agency will "start over" and begin the travel planning process anew. We want to caution our members and supporters that such a "re-do" is highly unlikely. It is far more likely the agency will simply wait until the outrage subsides and make only minor changes to the plan.

BRC strongly recommends local OHV enthusiasts identify the most glaring flaws in the plan and submit their proposed changes both to the District Ranger offices and the counties. General comments such as "keep existing routes open" or "start the planning process over" probably won't be effective. Instead, identify the roads and trails that were proposed for closure, and make the case that they be open. Be specific as possible.

BRC will be blasting an update as soon as we learn more. Thanks to everyone who have been involved. As we often say... stay tuned!

As always, please call or email if you have any questions or comments.

Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

[DannyBoyFromWashington]

Yeah, seems worded to imply there will be a complete rethink, when all that has actually been done so far is to " stop the clock".

[Grumpy]

She and her staff basically ignored local input. I'm afraid we have one Ranger up at Naches that is of the same stripe...

[Grumpy]

Wallowa-Whitman Travel Plan Yanked

Created by Sarah Peters on April 20, 2012

This past week has been quite the ride for the folks who work on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The forest supervisor, in a surprise move, pulled her decision to implement a travel plan that wasn't perfect, by any stretch, but that had gone through seven years of public involvement. This included multiple open meetings, several opportunities to submit written comments, and countless hours of Forest Service staff time and money. This decision was apparently in response to rampant misinformation about the effects of the plan that resulted in heavy pressure from local residents, county commissioners, and some members of Oregon's congressional delegation.

Our friends at Hells Canyon Preservation Council had a great editorial published in the Oregonian, right before the decision was withdrawn, that attempted to diffuse some of the misinformation that was madly swirling around about the plan, to no avail. Another editorial, published Wednesday in the Wallowa County Chieftain, provides another view of the benefits of the travel plan.

With its decision to withdraw the travel plan made, the Forest Service will now hopefully take the opportunity to address some of the problems that all sides saw with the final plan, while not stepping back from sound resource management of the forest for both present and future generations.

(From WildlandsCPR Blog)

.

[Grumpy]

For Immediate Release, April 20, 2012

Contact: Cyndi Tuell, (520) 444-6603

Center for Biological Diversity Statement on Forest Service Withdrawal of
Off-road Vehicle Decision in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore.— Facing political pressure from Oregon’s congressional delegation, off-road vehicle users and a misinformation campaign, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Supervisor Monica Schwalbach this week retracted a “travel-management planâ€

[OldGreen]

Wait. . .isn't there already a ban on "cross country motorized travel" pretty much everywhere in a national forest?

Dave, you should call her. . .make sure to let her know that the conversation is being recorded for our entertainment.

[Grumpy]

Wouldn't that be a bit like having a battle of wits with an unarmed person

[OldGreen]

Why fight fair?

[Grumpy]

What is this "fair" of which you speak

[benw]

Wait. . .isn't there already a ban on "cross country motorized travel" pretty much everywhere in a national forest?

Little know fact, but no there isn't/wasn't before travel management. That is one of the reasons the FS started the travel management process. It all boiled down to resource damage. Theoretically you could legally travel cross country as long as you weren't causing resource damage.

[Grumpy]

OREGON-Wallowa-Whitman NF Land Use Update - What Happens Next?

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Last week BRC let you about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest supervisor's announcement to withdraw their travel management plan decision. (See previous alert) The forest has now issued their "Path Forward" document on the Forest's travel plan which lays out what happens now.

BRC will continue to work with local groups and individuals and keep you updated as this process continues. Thanks to everyone who has been involved.

As always, please call or email if you have any questions or comments.



http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/WWNF ... 8.12-1.pdf

Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

[Grumpy]

Wednesday, May 2, 2012
OR Forest Withdraws Travel Plan




For those of us who have been following the Forest Service’s Travel Management Rule planning process for the last 7-8 years, there appears to be a growing bipartisan effort in Congress to address what amounts to landscape level closures on some units.The most recent example of local and congressional pushback is where Monica Schwalback, Forest Supervisor for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, recently withdrew her travel plan that closed 3,900 miles of routes used by the public for various activities.


Article on WWNF Closure and Withdrawn Planhttp://www.lagrandeobserver.com/New ... d-big-fear


It appeared the Forest made an all too familiar mistake by forcing a plan on the public that ignored local input by user groups, individuals, and county government.

HQ believes that successful travel plans must include an engaged public and a will by Forest leadership to draft a plan that serves both local needs and the resource. Plans created in a vacuum based on the presumption that massive closures are the only tool by which the agency can fulfill its mission are doomed to fail.

Posted by Don Amador at 6:31 AM 1 comments Labels: BlueRibbon Coalition, BRC, Don Amador

[Grumpy]

OREGON- Wallowa-Whitman NF Postpones Travel Management Meetings

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Folks in Northeast Oregon probably know that the previous Forest Supervisor, Monica J. Schwalbach, has been sent packing. That's certainly good news.

The new Supervisor, Kevin Martin, has (probably wisely) decided to delay the planned "community engagement workshops" the Forest was going to have on travel management scheduled for September. Martin says he is committed to being an active participant in the local communities.

According to the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Press Release, Martin will be "reaching out" to county commissioners and other elected officials, Tribal governments, interest groups, community organizations, individuals and employees to appreciate and gain a better understanding of what has been happening in regards to travel management. He will also need to familiarize himself with the Wallowa Whitman National Forest he now manages.

Here is where you come in...
We put "reaching out" in quotes because we can never take our access for granted. All OHV and snowmobile clubs and organizations in the region should "reach out" to him. Let him know your concerns, and, if appropriate, let him know what trails and areas you ride in and why they must be kept accessible.

Martin has committed to make the community engagement workshops "an open and transparent process, and scheduled at times when most people will be able to attend." He says his goal is to not only learn about the travel management plan but also to listen to the concerns of the public.

Keep an eye on the USFS webpage for schedule information on the workshops and releases to local newspapers and radio stations.

Please feel free to contact Acting Public Affairs Officer, Jodi Kramer, at 541-523-1246 or Public Affairs Specialist, Matt Burks, at 541-523-1246 if you have any questions.

As always, please call or email if you have any questions or comments.

Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

MORE ON THE WEB:
Forest leader: 'I need to listen'
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-Ne ... -to-listen

Forest postpones travel plan meetings
http://wallowa.com/free/forest-postpone ... tings.html

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. 1-800-BlueRib - www.sharetrails.org
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