Clearwater Forest Releases Travel Planning Draft Environmental Impact Statement

The Clearwater National Forest, located in northeastern Idaho, announced the release of their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for managing motorized uses on the Forest's roads and trails system. The Forest Service (FS) is asking for your input during a 45-day public review and comment period, which will end on August 31, 2009.

All travel management documents and maps can be downloaded from the Forest's website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/. Copies of the DEIS are also available at Clearwater National Forest offices and many local libraries, including those at Orofino, Deary, Elk River, Grangeville, Kamiah, Kooskia, Lewiston, Moscow, Pierce, Potlatch, and Weippe in Idaho, as well as Superior and Missoula, Montana.

The DEIS consists of four alternatives, a No Action Alternative along with three Action Alternatives. The alternatives purport to address the nearly 4500 public comments that were received from November 2007-February 2008 in response to the Clearwater National Forest's travel planning proposed action.

BRC and Idaho's Panhandle Trail Riding Association submitted substantial input. It will be interesting to read how our input has been incorporated into the Alternatives. Stay tuned for a full review and a BRC Action Alert.

If you enjoy the Clearwater, we encourage you to look over the maps and send comments to the Forest. Comments should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the DEIS.

Send Written Comments To: Kamiah Ranger Station, Attn: Lois Foster, Travel Planning Team Leader, Rt. 2, Box 191, Kamiah, ID 83536. Send Electronic Comments To: comments-northern-clearwater|removethispart|@fs.fed.us  (Please put "Travel Planning" in the subject line of e-mail comments)

For more information, contact Lois Foster, Team Leader, at 208-935-4258.

JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!

Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107