ATTENTION 532 mile proposed trail closure | Apache Sitgreaves National Forest

Posted By

Kevin Allard

September 15, 2019

Posted in

Public commenting open for Apache Sitgreaves National Forest Travel Management Plan

The Apache Sitgreaves National Forest is asking the public to submit comments concerning a travel management plan in northern Arizona. These changes will affect access to our public lands. It’s important that the public gets involved.

In this article, you can find links to review documents, view maps of the affected areas, and submit comments online.

If you are a hunter, hiker, mountain biker or four-wheeler this will affect you.

Screenshot from the TMP showing the proposed alternatives.

What is a Travel Management Plan?

In 1976 the US Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act. It requires land management agencies to designate certain motorized trails open or closed. The Forest Service is required to conduct an Environmental Impact Statment to assess the impact motorized travel has on natural resources. The USFS is required to complete Travel Management Pans for all public lands by 2020.

The forest service is required to give the public a chance to get involved. The Forest Service will decide what trails should remain open, and what trails should close. Your comments do make a difference.

What can I do?

Voice your opinion! No matter what side of the fence you’re on, you should get involved. You don’t need to be an Arizona resident to submit a comment.

Any comments made have to be concise and based on one of the factors used by the National Forest. This is not a system that recognizes emotional pleas for keeping trails open nor do they count biased comments.

Share this with your friends, clubs, organizations, and groups.

Learn about the TMP and review the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and all other documents HERE.

PLEASE HURRY, WE HAVE LIMITED TIME

Public Meeting

September 19, 2019, at 5:00 pm

Show Low Police Department

Darrin Reed Community Room

411 E Deuce of Clubs

Show Low, AZ 85901

Review the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and all other documents HERE.

Use the online comment form HERE.

Use the online comment map HERE.

Mail comments to

Travel Management Plan Comments

P.O. Box 640

Springerville, AZ 85938

Fax comments to

928-333-5966

Please mark “Attention: Travel Management Plan Comments”

Hand deliver comments to

30 S. Chiricahua Dr.

Springerville, AZ 85938

Comments left on our website will not be considered by the US Forest Service.

Please follow the instructions and links above.

Kevin Allard

Kevin is an American outdoorsman born and raised in rural Arizona who grew up exploring the Arizona backcountry with his father. Today, he and his son travel to the most remote regions of Arizona, scavenging for the remains of early western pioneers. As a lifelong outdoorsman, Kevin has learned to stick close to his roots while engaging in important advocacy work regarding motorized access to public lands. You can find his work in many local and nationwide publications, including The Western Journal, 4Low Magazine, and his website AZBackroads.com.

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