Department of Agriculture October 7, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Klamath National Forest (Klamath NF) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the impacts associated with the following proposed actions: 1. The prohibition of cross-country motorized vehicle travel (with the exception of snowmobiles) off designated National Forest System (NFS) roads, trails, and areas by the public except as allowed by permit or other authorization (Travel Management Rule, 36 CFR Part 212 Subpart B). 2. Make a non-significant amendment to the Klamath NF Land and Resource Management Plan (Klamath Forest Plan) to conform with the Travel Management Rule, Subpart B, by removing reference to OHV cross- country travel in the Forest Plan and including a Forest-wide standard: ``Prohibit motorized vehicle travel (with the exception of snowmobiles) off designated roads, trails and areas except as allowed by permit or other authorization.'' 3. Add approximately 54 miles (84 segments) of existing unauthorized routes to the National Forest Transportation System (NFTS) as roads open to the public for motorized vehicle use by vehicle class and season of use. Add approximately 24 miles (258 routes) of existing unauthorized routes to the NFTS as roads open to the public for motorized vehicle use to access dispersed recreation opportunities (e.g. river access, dispersed camping, etc.), by vehicle class and season of use. 4. Add approximately 14 miles (22 segments) of existing unauthorized routes to the NFTS as motorized trails open to the public for motorized vehicle use by vehicle class and season of use. 5. Allow motorized vehicle use on two areas (65 acres) where use of motorized vehicles by the public would be allowed anywhere within that delineated area. 6. Make the following changes to existing Forest roads: a. Allow non-highway legal vehicle use on approximately 88 miles (24 segments) of existing NFTS roads where such use is currently prohibited. b. Prohibit non-highway legal vehicle use on approximately 10 miles (8 segments) of existing NFTS roads where such use is currently allowed. c. Open NFTS roads 41S10 and 40N51 to public use where such use is currently prohibited to enhance motorized recreation by creating a loop opportunity.