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HomeMy WebLinkAboutsierra ctySIERRA COUNTY Board of Supervisors P.O. Drawer D Downieville, California 9593b Telepb;ome (530) 289-3295 Fax (530) 289-2830 January 4, 2011 i30ARD OF JAN 1'02011 United States Department of Agriculture OROViLLE, CALIFORNIA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region 1323 Club Drive Vallejo, California 94592 Attn: Mr. Randy Moore Regional Forester Dear Mr. Moore: The Sierra County Board of Supervisors requests your immediate attention to resolve immediate and long-range concerns over the process underway across the Paeif c Southwest Region-Region 5 resulting in the preparation and adoption of individual national forest OHV Travel Management Plans far the eighteen national forests within California {including Lake Tahoe Basin). It is our strong recommendation that you initiate actions to rescind any Record of Decisions (ROD's) and reopen the planning process .for the Tahoe National Forest, the Plumas National Forest, and the Humboidt- Toiyabe National Forest. Sierra County contains national forest system lands within three (3) national forests- Tahoe National Forest (380,000 acres}, Plumas National Forest (40,000 acres}, and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (28,000 acres) with the total national forest system land ownership in the County representing nearly 50% of the total land area of the County. The coordination and communication between the various national forests and the County is of paramount importance to respective governmental departments and programs, to the regional economy, and to proper land and resource planning. Ultimately, the product of this coordination and communication is to benefit and serve the general public through the stewardship of their public lands by the Forest Service andlor other federal land and resource management agencies. While the County participated in the public planning process-engaged by the Tahoe National Forest and submitted detailed written comments on the draft OHV Travel Management Plan; new and additional issues of significance have come to light that require a complete re-evaluation of the Forest Supervisor's Record of Decision issued in October 2010. Furthermore,' Sierra County received no formal or informal communication, coordination, or consultation from the Plumas National- Forest and the . _~.. X05 , r Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest with respect to any of its planning process for the OHV Travel Management Plan for the respective national forest acres located within the Sierra County boundaries. The national forest lands in Sierra County are an integral part of the local culture and custom which translates directly into critical activities of local commerce, recreation and tourism, transportation, emergency services, and the local fabric of our rural communities which are striving to survive. The OHV Travel Management Plans can have a measureable impact on Sierra County and the region. We strongly support the respective appeal of the Plumas County Board of Supervisors and Butte County Board of Supervisors affecting the Plumas National Forest planning process. This Board of Supervisors encourages you to take immediate action to rescind the respective Records of Decision to reopen the planning process for the three {3} national forests within the Sierra County boundaries and thereby offering more transparency, consultation, .coordination, and collaboration with. local government. Thank you and we would request your prompt, written response to this request. Sincerely, Sierra County Board of Supervisors ~'~~~ Lee Adams Chairman of the Board CC: Senator Dianne Feinstein Senator Barbara Boxer Congressman Tom McClintock Congressman Wally Herger Assemblyman Dan Logue Plumas County Board of Supervisors Butte County Board of Supervisors Sierra Nevada Conservancy Forest Supervisor, Tom Quinn-Tahoe Forest Supervisor Alice Carleton-Plumas Forest Supervisor Jeannie Higgins-HumboldtlToiyabe