BLM's Boulder Travel Management Plan
Open House in Pinedale April 12, 2018
by Bureau of Land Management
March 19, 2018
The BLM Pinedale Field Office has drafted three preliminary alternatives for the Boulder Travel Management Plan. The BLM is now seeking public input on specific activities, access needs, potential uses and resource concerns regarding the routes. Public participation in travel management planning is essential in establishing a manageable network of routes to support recreation, ranching and other permitted uses on public lands in the Boulder, Wyoming area.
The BLM has now evaluated existing routes in the Boulder planning area, and has proposed designations for each route: open, limited, or closed. The plan's alternatives include:
Alternative A No action
Alternative B Most restrictive to motorized access
Alternative C A "blended alternative" that provides necessary motorized access and protections to resources
Alternative D Least restrictive to motorized access.
Why are we doing travel management planning?
There are several reasons why we are completing travel management plans in the BLM Pinedale Field Office. The first reason is to comply with the 2008 BLM Pinedale Field Office Resource Management Plan and the Wyoming Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse of September 2015. A second reason is the public need and desire to have a manageable and sustainable transportation system. The BLM has also been directed in Instruction Memorandums and management decisions.
How does the Boulder TMP affect me?
Non-motorized public:
There are no restrictions to the non-motorized public being proposed in the Boulder TMP.
Motorized public:
Use of motorized vehicles by the public within the Boulder Travel Management Area (TMA) will be limited to designated roads and trails. All routes designated as closed will be decommissioned and unavailable for use by the public. Routes designated as limited seasonally will be open to all motorized modes of travel, except during the seasonal limitation date.
Authorized/Permitted users (grazing permittees, ROW holders, landowners):
Use of motorized vehicles by Authorized and Permitted users within the Boulder TMA will be limited to designated roads and trails. All routes designated as closed will be decommissioned and unavailable for use by Authorized and Permitted users. Routes designated as limited seasonally will be open to all motorized modes of travel, except during the dates of seasonal limitations. Authorized and Permitted users are granted exceptions to seasonal closures when necessary to perform duties associated with the Authorized or Permitted use.
Administrative/Official users (Federal, State, local agencies):
Use of motorized vehicles by Administrative/Official users within the Boulder TMA will be limited to designated roads and trails. All routes designated as closed will be decommissioned and unavailable for use by Administrative/Official users. Routes designated as limited seasonally will be open to all motorized modes of travel, except during the seasonal limitations date. Administrative/Official users are granted exceptions to seasonal closures when necessary to perform official duties.
Over-the-snow vehicle use:
Over-the-snow vehicles will be permitted on designated routes only and are subject to seasonal limitations for motorized use. Several routes in the Irish Canyon area have ROW authorizations associated with the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail. These routes are open to over-the-snow vehicles year-round in all alternatives. These routes are identified on all alternative maps.
Implementation of the Boulder TMP will begin after the Decision Record for the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Travel Management Plan is signed. Any decisions in the TMP such as route closures, seasonal closures, route maintenance, mitigation actions, and monitoring will be completed as soon as practical.
Public Comment
The BLM will accept public comments on the preliminary alternatives through June 1, 2018. There are several ways that the public can obtain information and maps about the three preliminary alternatives developed for the Boulder Travel Management Plan.
• You may visit the project website at https://go.usa.gov/xntqp and view and print detailed maps. This website also has Google Earth files of the three alternatives available to download.
• You may visit the BLM Pinedale Field Office in person and get further information. The office is located at 1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941.
• You may email BLM_WY_PD_Boulder_Travel_Management_Plan@blm.gov with
additional questions, or call our office at 307-367-5300.
Please send your comments via mail to: BLM Pinedale Field Office, P.O. Box 768, Pinedale Wyoming 82941, or deliver to the BLM Pinedale Field Office. Comments are welcome throughout the planning process; however, it is most helpful if your comments are received by June 1, 2018.
The BLM will host an open house to collect the public’s input on the alternatives on April 12, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the BLM Pinedale Field Office located at 1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941. During the open house, BLM staff will conduct a 20-minute presentation about travel management planning and the Boulder Travel Management Plan at 6:00 p.m.
The comments received from the public on the three alternatives will help the BLM in developing the proposed action for an Environmental Assessment and Travel Management Plan. The three preliminary alternatives are versions of a potential proposed action.
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