BLM invites public to discuss travel management plan

Organization

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Office:

Vernal Field Office

Media Contact:

Heather O'Hanlon

VERNAL, Utah—The Bureau of Land Management invites the public to participate in development of the Dinosaur Travel Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (TMP/EA). The BLM will host two open house meetings to provide the public opportunities to ask questions and provide input on the travel management plan.

Meetings will be held at the following locations and times:

Manila, Utah
April 3, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Daggett County Courthouse
95 North 100 West

Vernal, Utah
April 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Vernal City Library
204 East 100 North

During the open houses, maps of the current and potential travel network will be available for review. The goal of the travel management plan is to establish a network of roads for travel and transportation including areas for both motorized and non-motorized uses. Information or concerns related to specific roads, routes or trails will be most helpful. Public input is essential to designate a travel system that provides appropriate access to and across public lands for a variety of uses including recreation, hunting, grazing, mineral exploration and energy development. BLM staff will be available to answer questions and receive comments.  

At this early stage of the process, public input will help the BLM identify issues and concerns for consideration in developing the travel management plan and assessing potential impacts to natural resources. Public scoping is the first part of the planning process and scoping comments will be accepted from April 3, 2018 through May 3, 2018. Comments submitted by mail must be postmarked by May 3, 2018. There will be additional opportunities for public review and comment.   

People are encouraged to submit comments online through BLM’s ePlanning project page at the following internet address:  https://go.usa.gov/xnesQ. On the website, the public can view the current route inventory. Comments can be added by clicking the “Documents” tab, then click the “Comment on Document” button.

Alternately, comments may be submitted by email to BLM_UT_Vernal_Comments@blm.gov or by mail to the following address:  BLM-Vernal Field Office, Attn:  Dinosaur North Travel Management, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, UT 84078.

In May 2017, the BLM announced a proposed settlement resolving differences and legal challenges from a range of stakeholders regarding land use and travel management.  The BLM is pleased to take this next step forward and begin planning for public land access and a designated travel system for the Dinosaur area under the terms of the agreement.  This is one of five travel management areas in the Vernal Field Office.


The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.