Travel Management Planning

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Colorado



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Grand Junction Field Office Travel Management Planning

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Public Comment Period Begins for Grand Junction BLM Roads and Trails (7/17/09)
Travel Management Comment Form (Fillable PDF) Comment period closed

Travel Management Planning Background Information

The BLM conducted a comprehensive outreach effort to engage the public in the development of a define travel management plan. The GJFO held three travel management specific scoping periods to allow the public to comment on general travel management allocations and site specific route designation. The last comment period closed in August 2009.

The information gathered during these comment periods will help guide management of the roads and trails in the planning area for the next two decades, including which roads and trails are designated open, limited, or closed, including the designation of roads and trails for different types of travel.

BLM staff is currently analyzing all comments received and incorporating those comments into alternatives for the RMP. This process takes time, as there are thousands of routes within the GJFO, and BLM received thousands of comments from members of the public.

The public will be able to comment on proposed travel management alternatives when the draft resource management plan is released in Fall 2012. The Draft RMP will be available for a 90-day public comment period when it is released.

In addition to the formal scoping meetings, the BLM is undertaking a comprehensive outreach effort to engage the public in the development of a defined travel management plan.

The travel management plan will incorporate the overall motorized and non-motorized commercial, administrative and recreational access to the planning area while protecting sensitive resources in accordance with statutory requirements. To achieve these goals, a balanced travel and transportation system consisting of designated routes will be created.

The BLM’s Travel Management Plan will address different types of travel on BLM lands, from hiking and horseback riding to motorcycles and off-highway vehicles. It will address which routes should be open to certain uses, which should be closed, and whether new routes should be developed.

How to comment (Comment Period Closed)

Please participate in this process by filling out the comment form (or multiple forms) to identify the activities you enjoy; what areas and trails you use; and why those places are important to you. Please fill this form out completely and complete separate forms for each activity. GJFO accepted written comments through August 21, 2009.

The Planning Process

The BLM must comply with a myriad of federal and state laws and regulations, as well as case law established by court decisions. Just a few of the many federal laws and regulations with which agencies must comply include:

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Wilderness Act
National Historic Preservation Act
Antiquities Act of 1906, including Monument Proclamations
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Clean Air Act
Clean Water Act
Taylor Grazing Act
Mining Act of 1872 (and subsequent mining acts)
Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) for the BLM
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Public Land Health Standards

“We want to know what the users of our roads and trails think so that we can create a more manageable and sustainable system that ensures safety and access to areas the public is interested in,” said Field Manager Catherine Robertson (now retired). “Our goal is to manage the roads and trails system so that the public can access popular areas, scenic areas, and areas of historical and cultural interest while minimizing resource damage.”

In complying with these requirements as part of travel management planning, BLM must identify "designations" for both areas and routes. These designations fall into the categories of "open", "closed" or "limited".

Route and area designations help us meet area-specific management goals and provide the public with a greater understanding of the areas and routes upon which they may freely travel, the areas and routes where their access may be limited or restricted, and the reasoning for these designations.

For more information on BLM RMP Planning
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/planning.html

For more information on BLM Travel Management Planning
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/Recreation/recreation_national/travel_management.html

Trails and Routes Data Collection Period
July 20—August 21, 2009

Route Inventory Maps
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