Questions & Answers 1. Question: Where can I get a copy of the Alternative Maps? Answer:

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1 Questions & Answers 1. Question: Where can I get a copy of the Alternative Maps? Answer: Draft EA Documents, including maps are online 2. Question: How were public comments from used? Answer: Beginning in 2006, the Forest held several public meetings to gather input about motorized travel. As the interdisciplinary team worked to analyze effects of alternatives that included site specific changes to the transportation system across the four million acre National Forest, it became clear that the approach needed to change. The Forest decided to analyze effects of implementing the Travel Rule consistently across the Forest, without adding or removing routes from the existing system of roads and trails, while allowing for motorized access for dispersed camping and identifying opportunities for accommodating Washington State Licensed ATVs (WATVs). Future consideration of changes to the existing system will occur at the local level on a site-specific basis and will utilize the information gathered during the outreach efforts that took place between 2005 and Question: Why are we considering any changes to our current travel management? Answer: The 2005 Travel Management Rule requires each National Forest to designate roads, trails and areas open to motor vehicle use by vehicle class and time of year. Travel management planning is necessary because of: - Growing recreation use and changes in the types of motorized recreation on the Forest - Current regulations prohibiting trail construction and operation of vehicles in a manner damaging to the land, wildlife and vegetation have not proven sufficient to control environmental damage - Need to actively manage roads and trails to maintain safety and quality experiences for all users - Need to manage travel to sustain the health of National Forest lands and resources including soil, water quality and wildlife habitat - Need to strike a balance in managing all types of recreational activities 4. Question: Is there an option to simply maintain the current situation? Answer: Yes. A no action alternative (current situation) is part of the environmental analysis. 5. Question: What will happen to the area closures shown on the old Okanogan National Forest Travel Plan Map? Answer: The road and trail system displayed on Okanogan National Forest Travel Plan Map is the same road and trail system proposed by the alternatives. The Okanogan Travel Plan Map direction for winter over the snow (snowmobile) motorized use will not change, as this Travel Management process is not analyzing or changing winter over the snow motor vehicle use.

2 6. Question: What is meant by user conflicts and what sorts of conflict has the Forest Service seen? Answer: User conflicts may occur when one person s recreational experience is negatively affected by another type of use occurring in the same area. Whether or not conflict occurs is subjective and personal, but is important to the quality of a person s recreational experience. While eliminating conflicts will not be possible, identifying clearly where motorized use is appropriate and allowed will help Forest visitors know what kind of experience to expect. 7. Question: What is the difference between the National Forest system of road and trails and unauthorized or user built roads and trails? Answer: National Forest System roads and trails are included in the Forest Service Transportation Atlas. These system roads and trails have appropriate management guidelines and maintenance schedules. System roads and trails were created with specific objectives and engineering standards. In contrast, unauthorized routes were often created by users without analyzing resource impacts or how the routes fit into the transportation system. Motorized recreation currently occurs both on system roads and trails, and on unauthorized roads and trails not included in the Transportation Atlas. Individual Ranger Districts on the Okanogan-Wenatchee have varying numbers of unauthorized routes, and varying levels of knowledge regarding the locations and use on unauthorized routes. In general, there is no systematic inventory of unauthorized routes throughout the forest. It is difficult to quantify the quality of opportunities that these unauthorized routes provide for motorized recreation enthusiasts. The proposed action does contain some of the unauthorized routes that were identified by the public in the pre-nepa process. The unauthorized routes shown in the proposed action passed through an initial screening by district resource specialists and were thought to build-on, or improve, the existing motorized system. 8. Question: Why are many existing roads left off the maps? Answer: Only National Forest System roads that would be open for public motorized use are displayed on the maps. Therefore, most roads currently managed as closed to public motorized use (Maintenance Level 1) or those closed year-round by a gate, are not shown. Unauthorized roads that exist on the ground but are not part of the forest transportation system are generally not shown. 9. Question: What is the financial impact of Travel Management to our communities? Answer: A discussion of Social and economic effects is in the Draft EA. While Alternatives B, C, and D could cause a change in the number of people visiting the forest for motorized recreation activities, there aren t statistically reliable projections showing how the number of people would change. 10. Question: Is the Forest proposing to eliminate camping outside designated campgrounds? Answer: No. The Forest Service proposal will not restrict camping outside of designated campgrounds. However, many dispersed recreation activities, including camping, depend on motor vehicle access. Dispersed recreation activities accessed by motor vehicles often utilize short spurs that have been created by the passage of motor vehicles. Many of these user-created routes are not part of the National Forest transportation system. Under the 2005 Travel Management Rule, a route or area must be designated for motorized access on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) in order for a vehicle to legally travel there. Each of the three action alternatives considers corridors along either side of system roads as access for dispersed camping, as long as resource damage doesn t occur. The three alternatives vary in the mileage considered for corridors: Alternative B approximately 31% of open roads

3 Alternative C approximately 28% of open roads (same as Alt B excluding corridors within 300 of Critical Fish Habitat) Alternative D All open maintenance level 2-5 roads 11. Question: Will I be able to pull off the road to hunt, gather firewood or camp? Answer: Roadside parking, where doing so does not cause resource damage, would be allowed within 30 feet of open roads. 12. Question: How will this process affect permittees (individuals operating under range or other permits, including individuals gathering firewood and other products from the forest)? Answer: A permit is required for gathering special forest products, including firewood, from National Forest lands. Currently the standard firewood permit does not allow motor vehicles off existing roads that are open to the public, unless otherwise specified. Travel Management planning will make no change in that policy. If necessary, a forest product permit may allow for motorized access to specific locations not identified on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Other types of permits such as for range allotments or other special uses may authorize motorized access to specific locations not identified on the MVUM. These would be considered written authorizations and are one of the exemptions under the Travel Management Rule. 13. Question: Can we appeal the travel management decision? Answer: Those who submitted written comments during the scoping period or during the 30 day comment period on the Draft EA would have standing to object to the final decision. 14. Question: How will this process affect routes that connect to DNR or Department of Fish and Wildlife roads? Answer: The decision would not make changes to routes under other agency s jurisdiction. Existing National Forest System routes that connect to DNR, Department of Fish and Wildlife, or other lands would not change. 15. Question: Will the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) show complete travel systems; even when the routes cross state or county lands? Answer: No. The MVUM will not show routes and restrictions on roads not managed by the Forest Service. 16. Question: Does the travel rule say the Forest has to shut down roads? Answer: No. The Travel Management Rule directs Forests to designate roads, trails, and areas that are open for motorized use on a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). The rule provides no direction regarding how many roads or trails should be open or closed to motorized vehicles. It does, however provide criteria the Forest should consider when designating the National Forest system of roads trails and areas open to motor vehicle use. 17. Question: Why make special Motor Vehicle Use Maps? Answer: The 2005 Travel Management Rule requires that all roads, trails, and areas designated for motorized travel be identified on a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). This map will show what is open to motorized use by class of vehicle and time of year. The map will have standard symbols and features across all National Forests.

4 18. Question: Until the MVUM is published, what travel rules apply? Answer: Existing travel rules apply until this analysis process is complete and the MVUM is published. 19. Question: What will the Forest do to make the Motor Vehicle Use Map a more useable tool? The MVUM maps we re seeing other Forests produce are hard to use. Answer: The MVUM is not designed to be used independently as a navigation tool. Rather, it is an illustration of which Forest roads are open to motorized travel and any restrictions associated with that travel. It is recommended that travelers also utilize the Forest Recreation Map. 20. Question: Will there be signs on the ground to indicate what types of vehicles may go where during various seasons of use? Answer: Road and trail numbers will be signed on the ground so that forest visitors may reference the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) to determine if a particular route is open to motorized use, which vehicle types are authorized and if there are seasonal restrictions. Vehicle type and seasonal restrictions may also be signed on the ground as appropriate to inform users, however the MVUM is the primary informational tool. 21. Question: How will the Forest Service enforce the decisions made in this process? Answer: No program funding is anticipated to help implement the motor vehicle designations on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). However, the MVUM designations will make it very clear where motor vehicles are and are not authorized, increasing the effectiveness of law enforcement personnel. Current regulations have not proven sufficient to manage the proliferation of routes or environmental damage. In order for a system of shared roads and trails to work, it will take more than just Forest Service enforcement. All users will need to assist the Forest Service in informing others. In addition, patience and cooperation of users, peer pressure on rule-breakers, and finally, enforcement of rules and regulations will help provide a quality experience for all users. The Forest Service will continue to place a priority on quality signing, maps, information, education, and enforcement. 22. Question: How many roads does the Forest have funding to maintain? Answer: Road maintenance is the ongoing upkeep of the road system and includes activities such as blading the road surface, cleaning culverts and ditches, clearing brush and spot gravelling. The road maintenance budget, which varies from year to year, determines how much maintenance can be accomplished. 23. Question: What will the Forest Service do with the comments from the public? Answer: Comments received during scoping were used in crafting alternatives to the proposed action and in identifying issues for consideration during analysis. Comments received on the Draft EA will help to further refine analysis and inform the decision. 24. Question: How will this plan affect snowmobiles? Answer: Snowmobile use is not under consideration in this Travel Management Planning process. 25. Question: Will there be changes to the road system in the future? Answer: Road and trail systems may change over time as user needs change. Certain situations may create the need to prohibit motorized use in specific areas. Conversely, there may be instances to create or designate additional routes in the future. The Motor Vehicle Use Map will be reviewed annually and changes, additions or corrections may be incorporated at that time.

5 26. Question: Where should I go if I have more questions? Answer: Travel Management Planning information is online at For questions about specific routes, please contact: Chelan Ranger District Kari Grover-Wier, District Ranger Paul Willard, Recreation Staff Cle Elum Ranger District Michelle Capp, District Ranger Pam Novitzky, Recreation Staff Entiat Ranger District James Simino, District Ranger Jon Meier, Recreation Staff Naches Ranger District Kelly Lawrence, District Ranger Bill Zimmer, Recreation Staff Tonasket Ranger District Matt Reidy, District Ranger Betsy Peterson, Recreation Staff Wenatchee River Ranger District Jeff Rivera, District Ranger Sara Jones, Recreation Staff Methow Valley Ranger District Mike Liu, District Ranger Jennifer Zbyszewski, Recreation Staff For questions about Travel Management Planning process, please contact: Jennifer Zbyszewski, Travel Management Planning Team Leader, (509)