United States Forest Klamath 1312 Fairlane Road

USDA Department of Service National Yreka, CA 96097-9549
MM Agriculture Forest (530) 842-6131

(530) 841-4573 TDD

File Code: 1950-3
Date: January 27, 2010

Dear Interested Party:

The Klamath National Forest Motorized Travel Management Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) is now available for public review. The FEIS is available on the Internet at the Klamath National
Forest website: hup://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/ .

The Motorized Travel Management FEIS describes the environmental effects of the No Action alternative
and six action alternatives designed to implement the 2005 Travel Management Rule (36 CFR Part 212,
Subpart B) by making changes to the National Forest Transportation System (NFTS) and prohibiting
cross-country motorized travel on the Klamath National Forest (KNF). All six action alternatives would
require a non-significant amendment to the Klamath National Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan (LRMP) that would prohibit public motorized vehicle travel (with the exception of snowmobiles) off
designated NFTS roads, trails and areas except as allowed by permit or other authorization.

The Preferred Alternative for the Klamath National Forest Motorized Travel Management project
(Alternative 7) was designed to respond to the public comments received on the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS). In addition to prohibition of public motorized vehicle travel (with the
exception of snowmobiles) off designated NFTS roads, trails and areas, the Preferred Alternative
proposes the following actions:

¢ Addition of 32 existing unauthorized routes (approximately 28 miles) to the NFT'S as roads open
to the public for motorized vehicle use by vehicle class and season of use.

¢ Addition of 192 existing unauthorized routes (approximately 25 miles) to the NFTS as roads open
to the public for motorized vehicle use to access dispersed recreation opportunities (c.g. river
access, dispersed camping. ctc.) by vehicle class and season of use.

¢ Addition of 28 existing unauthorized routes (approximately 20.6 miles) to the NFTS as motorized
trails open to the public for motorized vehicle use by vehicle class and season of use.

¢ Designation of two open riding areas (53 acres) where motorized vehicle use would be allowed
anywhere within the delineated area boundaries.

* Authorization of non-highway legal vehicle use on 14 NFTS roads (approximately 131 miles)
where such use is currently prohibited.

¢ Prohibition of non-highway legal vehicle use on 7 NFTS roads (approximately 8 miles) where
such use is currently allowed.

¢ Authorization of public use of NFTS road 41S10, which is currently prohibited, to enhance
motorized recreation by creating a loop opportunity.

¢ Conversion of 18 NFTS Maintenance Level (ML) 3 roads (approximately 130 miles) to ML 2 to
allow both highway legal and non-highway legal vehicle use and reduce maintenance costs.

Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycted Paper


The Preferred Alternative (Alternative 7) would also require an additional non-significant amendment to
the Klamath National Forest LRMP that would exempt 3 roads (13 miles) in the Butte Valley National
Grassland from a season of use restriction for Swainson’s hawks, currently required by LRMP standard 8-
Bip

The comment period for the FEIS will run for 30 days from the date the Notice of Availability (NOA) is
published in the Federal Register. The expected date for publication of the NOA is January 29, 2010.
Reviewers should provide the Forest Service with their comments during the comment period of the
FEIS. Comments on the FEIS should be specific and should address the adequacy of the statement and
the merits of the alternatives discussed (40 CFR 1503.3).

Comments may be submitted to Forest Supervisor Patricia Grantham, ATTN: Motorized Travel
Management FEIS, Klamath National Forest, 1312 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097-9549, Comments
may be also submitted via FAX to telephone number (530) 841-4571 or by hand delivery to the address
shown above during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Electronic comments, in the acceptable formats, plain text (tx), rich text (.rtf) or Word (.doc), may be
submitted to comments-pacificsouthwest-Klamath @fs.fed.us. When commenting electronically, please
indicate the project name, Motorized Travel Management, in the subject line.

Those who submit timely comments on the FEIS will have standing to appeal the subsequent decision
under 36 CFR 215. Comments and evidence of timely submission must meet the specific content
requirements of 36 CFR 215.6. Each individual or representative from each organization submitting
comments must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request.

The names and addresses of those who comment are part of the public record for this project, and will be
available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered;
however, those who only submit anonymous comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent
decision under 36 CFR 215

Those who previously submitted timely comments on the DEIS for this project do not need to resubmit
their comments during the FEIS comment period in order to have standing to appeal the subsequent
decision under 36 CFR 215.

For further information or to request a copy of the KNF Motorized Travel Management FEIS, please
contact Jan Ford at the above address or by calling (530) 841-4483

Thank you for your interest in this project.
Sincerely,

fteod

PATRICIA A, GRANTHAM
Forest Supervisor