BLM NEWS RELEASE
ELKO — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wells Field Office is hosting an open house on Aug. 10th beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Elko District Office located at 3900 E. Idaho St., Elko.
The BLM is seeking public input to develop recreation management planning for off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in the Spruce Mountain Recreation Area. The open house is an opportunity for the public to learn more about the issues concerning this amendment to the 1985 Wells Resource Management Plan as well as a venue to submit formal comments.
A Notice of Intent to prepare a plan amendment and Environmental Assessment (EA) was published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2011 which opened a 45-day public scoping period which closes Aug. 29, 2011.
The project area includes Spruce Mountain, located 35 miles south of Wells, Nev., and east of Highway 93, and is delineated as Nevada Department of Wildlife Hunt Unit 105. The project area encompasses 464,217 acres. Within the project area, the BLM proposes to establish an Extensive Recreation Management Area (ERMA). Management actions in an ERMA allow for motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities, while also interpreting and protecting valuable cultural resources; protecting crucial mule deer and sage grouse habitat; and providing for visitor health and safety.
The BLM is proposing to change the 1985 Wells RMP off-highway vehicle designation from “open” unrestricted cross-country travel, to a “limited” designation. Limitations could include type or mode of travel; time or season of use; vehicle type; administrative use only; and limited to only those routes that are designated through the planning process. A defined travel network on the existing 1,799 miles of route, within the project area, would be established during the RMP amendment process.
Comments will be made available to the public; therefore, personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses may be withheld.
An environmental assessment will be prepared to analyze the affects to resources once the plan is developed. Further public review and comment will be provided at that time.
For more information contact Tamara Hawthorne at (775) 753-0356, or submit comments via e-mail to [email protected]., or mail to: Bureau of Land Management, Attn: T. Hawthorne, 3900 E. Idaho St., Elko NV 89801.
