• Forest Service asking for public input

• Santa will arrive in Mona on Saturday
  
  
• Juab County Commissioners give preliminary approval for development west of Mona Reservoir
  
  
• County Commission hears that a collective, organized effort is needed in wilderness designations
  
  
• Public hearing tonight on proposal to deed county property to Mona Town for park
  
  
• Mona Council member sent his own letter after town sends official position
  
  
• Back

By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent

Two studies are currently being done which have patrons of forest lands on the Uinta National Forest somewhat confused.

The Uinta National Forest has a "Draft Inventory of Unroaded and Undeveloped Lands on the Uinta National Forest" available for public review and comment.

The document, however, is just part of the forest planning now taking place as the Uinta National Forest is completing a forest revision plan, said Peter W. Karp, forest supervisor.

A second study is being done by the USDA Forest Service and is concerned with roadless areas in all national forests.

"Comments on the protection of remaining roadless areas within the National Forest System will be accepted until Dec. 20, 1999," said Karp.

E-mail comments will be accepted at roadlessareasnoi/wo_caet@www.fs.fed.us.

Written comments can be sent to the USDA Forest Service-CAET, Attention: Roadless Areas NOI, P.O. Box 221090, Salt Lake City, UT 84122.

Robert Steele, county commissioner, said President Bill Clinton has commissioned the study of the roadless areas. "The study of roadless areas should not be politically motivated," he said.

Those wishing to obtain electronic copies of the Uinta Forest Service document may do so by visiting the site at <http:www.fs.fed.us/r4/uinta>.

Those wishing more information on the public rule making process to propose the protection of remaining roadless areas within the National Forest System should contact Project Ream Leader, Scott Conroy, Attention: Roadless Areas NOI, USDA Forest Service, P.O., Box 96090, Washington, DC, 20090-6090 or by calling (703) 605-5299.

Karp said the comments gained from the public will be used. "There are two separate issues the Forest Service is addressing," he said.

The one is the Uinta Forest revision plan and the other is the president's assignment to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

The president's initiative concerning roadless areas is different from the Uinta National Forest Land and Resources Management Plan Revision, which as part of the study, is also looking at roadless areas and making an inventory.

"The forest plan revision is something which is done on a periodic basis," said Karp.

In the Federal Register for Oct. 19, announces the Forest Service's intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

"The Forest Service is initiating a public rule making process to propose the protection of remaining roadless areas within the National Forest System," reads the article in the Register.

The rule making process is proposed to protect roadless areas and the clean water, biological diversity, wildlife habitat, forest health, dispersed recreational opportunities and other public benefits.

"The Forest Service receives insufficient funding to maintain its existing road system," said Brent McBeth, Special Use Task Team. "The Forest Service receive only 20 percent of the annual funding needed to maintain the road system."