Tonto Forest TMP

[Swivelhead]

Dear interested and affect parties,

I am writing to inform you that on June 10, 2016, the Tonto National Forest released a Draft Record of Decision selecting a modified version of Alternative C for Travel Management Planning. A draft decision on the Travel Management Final Environmental Impact Statement is important because it changes the way motor vehicle use will be managed on the Tonto National Forest to comply with the 2005 Final Travel Management Rule. (For more information about Travel Management Planning, go to:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/landmanagement/planning/?cid=fsbdev3_018761

)

The Final Travel Management Rule requires motor vehicles to be restricted to designated roads, trails, and areas as shown on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). The selected alternative, with modifications, restricts off-road motor vehicle use; and designates:

• Approximately 3,700 miles of roads and motorized trails open to the public;

Eight OHV areas where travel off designated system roads and motorized trails is permitted;

Three additional permit zones;

Motor vehicle use solely for retrieving legally harvested elk and bear for all hunts up to 1 mile on both sides of all designated roads and motorized trails;

Motor vehicle use for dispersed camping on approximately 91 miles of full-sized motorized trails that access nearly 2,750 inventoried existing dispersed camping sites; and

The use of motorized vehicles off of designated system roads and motorized trails to aid in the collection of permitted personal fuelwood within the designated fuelwood cutting areas.

I realize that my draft decision will not please every member of the public; however, I believe it strikes a reasonable balance that is responsive to the vast majority of public input I received, and is the best solution to achieve the multiple use mandate that is part of the Forest Service mission.

As emphasized in the Final Travel Management Rule, my draft decision is not the end of planning for management of motor vehicle use on the Tonto National Forest, but the beginning. Considering the draft decision includes the cumulative input of thousands of comments on nearly 5,000 miles of road, it is likely there will be errors and changes needed due to changing conditions. We may also find out that some of the rules could result in unforeseen circumstances in some locations. It is important that the reader understand that the point of this decision is to provide a starting point for management of motor vehicle use on the Tonto National Forest in compliance with the Final Travel Management Rule. I fully commit to additional motorized route planning and making changes to motorized use management through the National Environmental Policy Act to continue improvement of Forest access, motorized recreation, and the protection of Forest resources for current and future generations.

The Draft Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Tonto National Forest Travel Management Project are now available online at:

http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/fs-usda-pop.php?project=28967

. Compact discs with this information are available on request by contacting Anne Thomas, Travel Management Team Lead, at 602-225-5213 or via e-mail at

mariannethomas@fs.fed.us

.

Objections must be submitted within 45 days following the publication of this legal notice in the

Arizona Capitol Times

, the Tonto National Forest paper of record. The date of this legal notice is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframes provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure evidence of timely receipt (§218.9).

Objections, including attachments, must be submitted to the reviewing officer: Calvin Joyner, Regional Forester, 333 Broadway Boulevard SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87102; (505) 842-3173 (fax). Objections may be submitted via mail, FAX, or delivered during business hours (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Electronic objections, in common formats (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt), may be submitted to:

objections-southwestern-tonto@fs.fed.us

with subject: Travel Management Draft ROD.

At a minimum, an objection must include the following (§218.8(d)):

(1) Objector's name and address as defined in §218.2, with a telephone number, if available.

(2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection).

(3) When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector as defined in §218.2. Verification of the identity of the lead objector must be provided upon request or the reviewing officer will designate a lead objector as provided in §218.5(d).

(4) The name of the proposed project, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name(s) of the national forest(s) and/or ranger district(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented.

(5) A description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project; if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider.

(6) A statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunity for comment (see §218.8©).

Sincerely,

NEIL BOSWORTH

Tonto National Forest Supervisor

 

[AverageJoe]

Sounds reasonable. I have been following this for the last 5 years. They are taking their time with it for sure.

[AZ23]

Thank you but not restrictive enough..

Suggest everyone WALK/HIKE, learn to quarter and haul meat on your back, otherwise stick to road hunting. Keep vehicles ON designated roads only.

 

Plenty of latitude in these regs for almost anyone to explain away driving into the forest because they're too lazy to work for it.

[Swivelhead]

The Cherry Creek road will be closed as currently written. A substantial amount of the road is within the wilderness boundary. The power line road from Sunflower to Bartlett Dam will be closed as a 600 yard section of that road is within the Mazatzal wilderness.

[wildwoody]

Its about time...

[Flatlander]

The Cherry Creek road will be closed as currently written. A substantial amount of the road is within the wilderness boundary. The power line road from Sunflower to Bartlett Dam will be closed as a 600 yard section of that road is within the Mazatzal wilderness.

There is a road that goes from Sunflower to Bartlett?

[JLW]

 

The Cherry Creek road will be closed as currently written. A substantial amount of the road is within the wilderness boundary. The power line road from Sunflower to Bartlett Dam will be closed as a 600 yard section of that road is within the Mazatzal wilderness.

There is a road that goes from Sunflower to Bartlett?

Service Rd 393 access from upper sycamore

 

James

[elkaholic]

ok all you numb nutters - pay attend - get your objections in before they finalize this map road plan