Need Public Comments in by Oct 15th for Ottawa

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skipschulz

New member
Last night the Ottawa National Forest held the only public hearing they are going to have on the latest report on OHV Connector Trails in the Ottawa National Forest. As most of you know, this is something that Mi-TRALE has been working on for a number of years. The Ottawa National Forest is currently mid-way through the Public Comment period on the Enviornmental Analysis (EA) in response to the appeal that was upheld by one organization and one individual. They appealed the Ottawa National Forest Supervisor decision to provide some of the OHV Connector Trails that Mi-TRALE has been seeking.

The Public Comment Period ENDS on October 15th. I am asking you to please e-mail a letter in SUPPORT of Alternative 3 Please state that WE NEED the OHV Conector Trails, including that FR 630 is OPENED to OHV Travel.

The e-mail address for your public comments is: comments-eastern-ottawa@fs.fed.us Put in the Subject line: Comments on OHV Connector Routes Project
 
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little_swede

New member
Please help obtain additional routes

Please take a few minutes to submit your support for additional trails. Alternative 3 is recommenced by the Forest Service. And, appears to give you the most mileage. It will give you a connector route from Rousseau Road, south of Mass to Sidnaw and then on to the Iron River to Marenisco Trail. It opens up numerous side roads that are not currently available. For hunters this is unbelievably good. This alternative also opens up ONT. 630 which is important to get from the Pioneer Trail to LP Walsh Road. This alternative gives up to 105 miles of new trails according to the Forest Service. In addition, possibly another 50-60 miles of side roads will be open. Currently, you have to trailer between these roads.

All you need to do is send a brief email to the address as noted above in Skip's message.

Please encourage all your friends to send a brief email. Thanks.....
 
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skipschulz

New member
Thank-you Marv and everyone. This is something that Mi-TRALE started working on in 2005 when the Travel Management Rule shut down 100's of miles of trails. The TMR also stopped the Vertical/Horizontal Road Signing system.

It forced Mi-TRALE and groups all around Michigan to go to each County Board to get individual Counties to have an ORV Ordinance on County Roads. Which in turn started the 'ball rolling' on PA 240, which was a State Law opening many County Roads.

Mi-TRALE went to ALL of the meetings, met individually with the Ottawa NF, sent in letters, did everything we could to get OHV Connector Trails. Even the SUPERVISOR of the Ottawa NF agreed to this last October...only to have it appealed. The appeal was upheld by the Eastern USFS offices in Milwaukee. Thus we had the new report, which is what we need support for right now.

Either support Alternative 3 (BEST Alternative) or Alternative 4 WITH the opening of FR 630.

Time is running out, we need your help!

Skip
 
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skipschulz

New member
Tommorrow, Friday, Oct 15th, is the FINAL Day to simply send a quick e-mail to the Ottawa National Forest, supporting either Alternative 3, or Alternative 4 with the amendment to allow ORV's on FR 630.

The e-mail address is in my first post.

PLEASE, PLEASE, help ALL OHV enthusiasts out by taking 2 minutes to send the e-mail. Again, it has to be in by tommorrow.

Thanks everyone,

Skip Schulz
Mi-TRALE President
 
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skipschulz

New member
I'm late on getting out the Mi-TRALE updates. Will be doing that today.

The Banquet went great. We had a lot of influential speakers; Susan Spear, Ottawa NF Supervisor; Darla Lenz, Ontonagon District Supervisor of the Ottawa; State Rep Mike Lahti; Michigan NRC Board Member, John Matonich; Rob Katona of Mi DNRE; Randy Harden, Wisconsin ATV Association President; Hank Woznial, WATVA Special Projects Liason.

Now we just have to wait to see what Ms. Spear's decision is going to be. Then if her decision is in favor of some of the proposed OHV Connector Trails in the Ottawa that Mi-TRALE has worked hard on for the past 5 years, then we will see if anyone will appeal.

Problem is, most of us think that if Ms. Spear's decision is positive, it will be appealed again.

The Anti OHV Groups know that the appeal process just keeps wearing OHV Groups down till they give up.

All we can do is wait now. Her decision will come out by the end of the year.

Thanks to everyone that sent comments in.

Skip
 
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