Rio Arriba County residents will have an opportunity to comment on a Santa Fe National Forest proposal to reduce motor vehicle access to the Forest by 53 percent.
A meeting is scheduled at the Española Ranger Station for Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. The station is located at 1710 N. Riverside Drive.
The proposal, a so-called travel management rule, was developed with public input over the course of about two years, and the product is a proposal including rules and maps limiting access by motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles to roads and trails designated “open.” The rules were developed to help prevent damage to the Forest, including erosion and wildlife disturbance, according to the National Forest Service.
Limitations to motorized vehicle access also include cross country travel, which will be cut from 820,000 available acres to 50 acres, and motorized game retrieval will not be allowed off roads designated “open,” according to the proposed action.
Española District Ranger Sandy Hurlocker said he wants to encourage as much public comment as possible as the Service moves forward with the proposal.
According to Service releases, after this period of public comment has ended, the Service will compile the proposed action, alternative actions and an environmental impact statement. Once they are finished, probably in eight months to a year, another 45-day public comment period will follow before a final decision is made.
The Service will accept comments from the public on the plan until Sept. 2.
Individuals who would like to review the proposal can do so at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/travelmgt/index.html.
Comments can be directed to the Service by calling (505) 438-7834, emailing comments-southwestern-santafe@fs.fed.us, faxing (505) 438-7834, or delivering or mailing suggestions to Santa Fe Travel Management Planning, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505.