April 17, 2009

TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE ROADS AND ILLEGAL OFF-ROADING
IN THE BLACK HILLS

Forest Service is Seeking Scoping Comments on its Black Hills National Forest Travel Management Plan

It is estimated that the Black Hills National Forest already has:

• 10,280 miles of existing roads on National Forest System land
• This includes 4,109 miles of unauthorized roads and trails.
• About 820 miles of non-system public roads also exist.

The Forest Service Travel Management Plan currently proposes 5 alternatives, including:

1. 864,000 acres (72% of the forest) open to cross country travel by motor vehicles for big game retrieval and dispersed camping.
2. Iincrease in overall road mileage by 557 miles, when there is on average 2.5 miles of roads for every 1 square mile on the forest.
3. Inadequate biological assessment of sensitive and rare species such as northern goshawk.
   

The Scoping Letter and Notice can be downloaded at the
Black Hills National Forest Service Website under publications
www.fs.fed.us/bhnf/

PLEASE TELL THE FOREST SERVICE...

• Protect this heavily road-ridden forest by decreasing road mileage.
• Protect wildlife habitat for sensitive snails, butterflies, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Some of which include northern goshawk, Black Hill's redbelly snake, regal fritillary, and Cooper's mountainsnail.
• Keep roads and trails away from wetlands and riparian areas.
• Enforce laws and fine illegal off-road vehicle use.
• Prepare and include winter travel planning in the travel management plan.
• Dispersed camping should be allowed one car length from designated routes and game retrieval should be limited to 150 ft. from any designated route.

Remember, it is helpful to include a personal testimonial expressing your appreciation for the Black Hill's National Forest wildlife, wide open spaces, and opportunities it provides to enjoy quiet outdoor recreation.

Mail Written Comments by May 4, 2009 to:

BHNF Travel Mgmt Plan DEIS
P.O. Box 162909
Sacramento, CA 95816-2909

Email comments to: BHNFcomments@fscomments.org
Fax to: 916-456-6724

For more information contact: Wayne Prindle, BCA, 307-742-7978, wayne@voiceforthewild.org

THANKS FOR TAKING ACTION TO PROTECT THE BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST