Draft EIS Appendix 21 

APPENDIX 21—CLARIFICATION OF OHV 

DESIGNATIONS AND TRAVEL MANAGEMENT IN THE 

BLM LAND USE PLANNING PROCESS 

In conformance with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Washington Office IM No. 2004-005

(October 1, 2003), the Rawlins Resource Management Plan Planning Area (RMPPA) will be divided into

areas that are open, limited, or closed to off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel. Those areas that are 

designated limited may have seasonal restrictions or travel limitations to either existing or designated

roads and vehicle routes, or any combination of these. 

Road and Vehicle Route Designation Process for Limited to Designated OHV Areas 

During the travel management planning period, the following will occur: 

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Interim management guidelines for identification of the road and vehicle route network, including

signing and maintenance, will be defined. 

Additional data needs and collection strategy will be outlined. 

A clear planning sequence, including public collaboration, criteria, and constraints for subsequent 

road and vehicle route selection and identification will be established with a schedule not to 

exceed 5 years. 

Collaboration on designation of roads and vehicle routes will occur, consistent with the goals,

objectives, and other considerations described in the Resource Management Plan (RMP), 

according to the above planning sequence. 

A Travel Management Implementation Plan will be written. 

Installation of signs and barriers where needed, and reclamation according to the plan will occur. 

Desirable roads may be reopened after repairs, recovery, or adequate mitigation has occurred. 

Until the designation process is completed, travel in limited to designated areas (LDA) will remain

limited to existing roads and vehicle routes. Some portions of LDAs may receive other designations 

during the planning process outlined above. Travel on parcels of public land not having legal public 

access will remain limited to existing roads and vehicle routes. 

The LDAs will be divided into geographic sub-areas in which specific roads and vehicle routes will be 

designated open to OHV travel. Geographic sub-areas and their order of consideration will be determined

based on criteria such as current OHV use, areas with sensitive resources, and areas with special

designations (i.e., Areas of Critical Environmental Concern [ACEC], wildlife habitat management areas 

and Special Recreation Management Areas [SRMA]). Roads and vehicle routes that are designated open 

may have further restrictions placed on their use. 

During the planning process, teams made up of BLM, cooperating agencies, and members of the public 

will be used to ensure resource concerns and OHV user needs are properly addressed. Maps will be 

available to the teams that include all known roads to aid input for additional roads and vehicle routes to

be considered for designation as open to OHV use. In addition to the sub-areas in general, these groups 

will address roads and vehicle routes in specific areas that have ongoing resource problems. 

Rawlins RMP A21-1 
Appendix 21 Draft EIS 

Criteria for road closures include the following: 

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OHV use is causing, or will cause, considerable adverse effects. 

A road or vehicle route poses a threat to public safety. 

Road and vehicle route density is adversely affecting resources. 

Closure is necessary for desired future conditions for access. 

Closure is necessary for visual resource protection. 

Closure is necessary for sensitive habitat management. 

BLM recognizes that designated OHV recreation sites play a vital role in satisfying a portion of the 

recreation experience for OHV enthusiasts. These areas include motocross tracks, novice riding areas, and 

dune riding areas. The proposed Rawlins OHV area and the OHV open area at the Dune Ponds 

Cooperative Management Area address these needs. These sites would be managed to reduce the 

possibilities for inappropriate activities on adjacent public and private lands. Management of these sites 

will include education, public outreach, and signing. 

Table A21-1 shows the preliminary schedule for completion of the Travel Management Plan. 

Table A21-1. Preliminary Schedule for Travel Management Plan for RMPPA LDAs 

Jan–March April–June July–Sept Oct–Dec 

Year 1 Create Basic Maps Schedule and Draft 

Implementation Plan 

Collaborate on SubArea A Do Mapping and 

Purchasing for A 

Year 2 Collaborate on SubArea B 

Do Mapping and 

Purchasing for B 

Implement SubArea A Collaborate on SubArea C 

Year 3 Do Mapping and 

Purchasing for C Implement Sub-Area B Implement SubArea C 

Collaborate on SubArea D 

Year 4 Collaborate on SubArea E 

Do Mapping and 

Purchasing for D/E 

Implement SubArea D/E Complete 

Implementation 

Year 5 Complete 

Documentation

Start Monitoring

A21-2 Rawlins RMP