The Sierra National Forest (SNF) is initiating scoping for the Motorized Travel Management Part Two Project.  The Purpose and Need, Proposed Action, vicinity map and treatment map are available at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=39788. Hard copies of these documents are available upon request.

The Motorized Travel Management Part Two Project area is located, forest-wide, in Fresno, Madera and Mariposa Counties. This project is proposed to change approximately 40 miles of road classification and add approximately 69 miles of trails and 318 areas to the National Forest Transportation System (NFTS) on the SNF.

At this time, the Forest Service anticipates that the analysis will be documented in an environmental assessment (EA). The EA will evaluate site-specific issues, consider alternatives, and analyze effects of the proposed action and alternatives.

The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from individuals, as well as from Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and organizations that may be interested in or affected by this project. They are soliciting your comments, suggestions, concerns, and new information to help define key issues associated with the Proposed Action, to develop alternatives, and to refine the analysis of effects.

A public workshop is scheduled for Saturday, August 18, 2012, at the Sierra National Forest Supervisors Office, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 93611.  Maps and people to talk to regarding the proposed action will be available between 10:00am and noon. There will be another opportunity to comment when the EA is ready for review.

Comments should be submitted in writing by September 10, 2012.  Written comments can be mailed or hand-delivered.  Comments may be submitted to: Dean Gould, Acting Forest Supervisor, Sierra National Forest, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis 93611, FAX (559) 294-4809 during normal business hours (8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday).  Electronic comments in acceptable plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Microsoft word compatible formats (.doc, .docx) may be submitted to comments-pacificsouthwest-sierra@fs.fed.us using the subject line: Motorized Travel Management Part Two Project.

The draft EA is expected to be released in June 2013, with a final decision expected to be made in September 2013.

For more information on the project, please contact Susan Burkindine in the Sierra National Forest Supervisor’s Office at (559) 297-0706 extension 4921.