USDA Forest Service Info

If your going to help by making comments, please make them soon.

Deadline for comments is: Oct 24th, 2011

HELP KEEP OUR ATV TRAILS OPEN!
From our neighboring clubs in Montana
www.westendatvassociation.com and www.montananightriders.com

In an effort to make letter sending as easy as possible just

CLICK HERE TO SEND A LETTER FROM OUR
AUTOMATED LETTER GENERATOR

From: sheila wesselman

Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 12:01 PM

Subject: KEEP OUR ATV TRAILS OPEN

Good Afternoon Everyone:

We are contacting you to encourage your comments regarding the Trail Of The Olympian Environmental Assessment Issued by the Forest Service on 09/22/11 that was posted in the Missoulian Newspaper on 09/23/11.

Essentially, the Forest Service for the Lolo National Forest, Managed by the Superior Ranger District is proposing to severely limit the use of a 30 mile section of abandoned railroad grade(s) in Western Montana by motorized vehicles. Please review the following information and respond with your comments no later than October 24, 2011. Whether or not you ride in Western Montana, allowing the Forest Service to make decisions based on the wants/needs of any individualized groups will only serve to further limit our recreation not only in this forest but in National Forests across the nation. We implore you to respond and thank you for your participation.

The clubs of Montana’s West End, www.westendatvassociation.com and www.montananightriders.com have scheduled a meeting with the forest service this Thursday, October, 20^th, 2011 at 6:00 pm at the O’aces Bar & Restaurant in Deborgia, Mt. Everyone is welcome.

Written or on-line comments will be accepted by the Forest Service until the 24^th of October. PLEASE * PLEASE * PLEASE comment on the usage of these trails for motorized recreation.

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO:

Route of the Olympian EA	- Recreation management	In Progress 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 09/23/2011	Expected: 11/2011	01/2012	Norma Staaf 406-329-3724 nstaaf@fs.fed.us
	Description: Motorized and non-motorized recreation and travel management on approximately 30 miles of abandoned railroad grades (Milwaukee and Northern Pacific) between Taft and St. Regis, Montana. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=32498
	Location: UNIT - Superior Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Mineral. The Milwaukee and Northern Pacific abandoned railroad grades between Taft and Saltese, Montana
Summer Trails Motorized Management EA	- Road management	In Progress Scoping Start 05/12/2009 Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 11/2011	Expected: 12/2011	06/2013	Allen Byrd 406-822-3977 allenbyrd@fs.fed.us
	Description: Motorized recreation management including development and authorization of trails and roads for All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use, and closure and restoration of areas damaged by unauthorized Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use. Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=28845
	Location: UNIT - Superior Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Mineral. LEGAL - T17 - 19N, R28 - 32W West end of the Superior Ranger District from Twomile Creek to Lookout Pass Ski Area

We thank you for your participation and welcome you all to “RIDE THE WEST END”…..

If you have any questions and/or comments, feel free to contact me:

Sheila Wesselman

President
West End ATV Association
Deborgia, MT

swesselman@sixrobblees.com

Motorized recreation management including development and authorization of trails and roads for All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use, and closure and restoration of areas damaged by unauthorized Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use.

Location Summary

West end of the Superior Ranger District from Twomile Creek to Lookout Pass Ski Area

District: Superior Ranger District

Project Documents

· Scoping Documents

o Scoping Letter (PDF 48kb)

o Scoping Letter Master Map (PDF 1793kb)

o Scoping Letter Map - Northeast (PDF 412kb)

o Scoping Letter Map - Southeast (PDF 747kb)

o Scoping Letter Map - Urban (PDF 815kb)

Scoping Letter Map - West (PDF 646kb)

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UPDATED Email from Sheila Wesselman

Subject: NEW INFORMATION ON THE TRAIL OF THE OLYMPIAN

HI EVERYONE: THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE EMAIL REQUESTS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
AND COMMENT THAT WERE SENT OUT LAST WEEK. WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING WITH THE
FOREST SERVICE AT THE O'ACES IN DEBORGIA LAST THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011.
IT WAS AN OPEN FORUM MEETING AND WE GAINED SOME VALUABLE INPUT FROM THE
FOREST SERVICE REP'S. WE ALSO INFORMED THEM OF THE FACT THAT THEIR WEBSITE WAS NOT ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT AND REQUESTED FOR AN EXTENSION OF OUR RIGHT TO COMMENT SINCE THE ON-LINE AVENUE WAS ESSENTIALLY INEFFECTIVE.

I REQUESTED VERIFICATION OF THE EXTENSION THIS MORNING AND WAS TOLD THE

FOLLOWING:

1: THE RIGHT TO COMMENT HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL 11/15/11

2: THE WEBSITE IS STILL NOT FUCTIONING CORRECTLY, BUT THE FOREST SERVICE
IS WORKING ON HAVING IT REPAIRED.

3: THERE WILL B ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING AT 6:00 PM IN SUPERIOR AT THE RANGER'S OFFICE ON 11/01/11.

THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OUR RIGHTS FOR MOTORIZED USE.

THEY ARE OPEN TO OUR COMMENT AND ACTUALLY STATED THAT THEY WERE "SURPRISED" AT THE NUMBER OF RECENT RESPONSES THEY HAD RECEIVED....A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONE THIS.

WE REALIZE THAT NOT EVERYONE CAN ATTEND THE NEXT MEETING, BUT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, YOUR PRESENCE STRENGTHENS OUR VOICE TO KEEP OUR RIGHTS AND KEEP OUR RIDE.

ALSO, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO "SNAIL MAIL" YOUR RESPONSES TO: NORMA STAAF *

PO BOX 460 * SUPERIOR MT 59872

OR YOU CAN EMAIL THEM TO: nstaaf@fs.fed.us

OR YOU CAN EMAIL THEM TO ME: swesselman@westendatvassociation.com AND I

ASSURE YOU THAT THEY WILL BE PRINTED OUT AND DELIVERED TO THE FOREST SERVICE AT THE UPCOMING MEETING AND PRIOR TO THE CLOSING OF THE COMMENT PERIOD.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ! SHEILA