Suzuki DR-Z400S
Credit: Suzuki
June 27, 2020 - CLOVIS, Calif. - The Sierra National Forest (SNF) is initiating the formal public comment period for the Motorized Recreation Project (Project) Environmental Assessment (EA). The Project area identifies roads, trails, and areas across the SNF, outside of designated Wilderness areas.
The SNF proposes adding approximately 29 miles of trails, and 12 areas (11 acres) to the National Forest Trail System. Of those 29 miles of proposed routes, 1.7 miles are proposed to change from road to trail, or to mixed use road/trail.
The Project is bound by the Kings River to the south, Merced River and Yosemite National Park to the north, east of the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness areas, within the confines of the SNF.
A detailed description of the need for the Project and the Alternatives analyzed are in the EA located on the Forest website at: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55572.
The Forest Service will accept comments on the Project for 30 days following publication of the opportunity to comment legal notice in the Fresno Bee (published June 26th, 2020) which is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period.
Commenters should not rely on dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the commenter's responsibility to ensure timely receipt of comments (36 CFR 218.25). The Project is subject to comment pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. Only those who submit timely project-specific written comments during a public comment period are eligible to file an objection. Individuals or representatives of an entity submitting comments must sign the comments or verify identity upon request.
Comments should be as specific as possible and explain the reason behind your thoughts. To aid in your comment specificity, please use the maps available on the previously mentioned web page. Comments received in response to this public comment period will be considered part of the public record. The 30 day comment period ends at midnight on Monday July 27, 2020.
Provide comments by mail, fax, or email to the responsible official, Dean Gould c/o Jody Nickerson-Powell, Attn: Motorized Recreation Project at:
• Mail: 1600 Tollhouse Rd, Clovis, CA 93612;
• FAX: (559)294-4809.
• Electronic comments, in common (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt) formats, may be submitted to: comments-comments-pacificsouthwestsierra@usda.gov/" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-decoration: none;">pacificsouthwestsierra@usda.gov with the subject: Motorized Recreation Project.
Names of commenters will be part of the public record subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Please include full citations for all referenced literature in your comment, as this will enable the Forest Service to best utilize your comments. The Forest Service reserves the right to request copies of any literature cited in comments. We would like to invite you to join us on July 15, 2020, for a virtual public meeting from 6:00 to 7:30pm.
We encourage you to take this opportunity to ask Forest Service employees questions about the EA that would assist you in commenting during the comment period. Information on how to join the virtual meeting is located here under “Features”: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra/
For more information, please contact Sierra National Forest Recreation Officer, Jody Nickerson-Powell, via email at jody.nickerson@usda.gov/" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-decoration: none;">jody.nickerson@usda.gov.
You can follow the Sierra National Forest on Facebook www.Facebook.com/SierraNF
and on Twitter www.twitter.com/SierraNF.
Source: Sierra National Forest
