Sonora, CA…Open house meeting. Tuesday, Oct. 2, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor’s Office 19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370. Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken will host an open house Tuesday, Oct 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor’s Office. Members of the public may review maps and discuss the draft Environmental Impact Statement alternatives with forest staff. Maps of the proposed Over-Snow vehicle-use designations for each alternative will be on display. The Forest Service, through the OSV-Use Designation project, will designate National Forest System snow trails and areas for public OSV use on the Stanislaus NF, as well as identifying those trails that will be groomed on the forest.

“The draft EIS is the result of public scoping activities, including comment periods and public meetings where visitors shared their thoughts on how best to manage the OSV program,” Kuiken said. “We developed several alternatives that would fit the project’s requirements, one of which we consider a preferred alternative.”

The forest developed its preferred alternative in part by incorporating comments it received during the public scoping period and to address significant issues described in chapter one of the DEIS.

“The preferred alternative represents a balance of highly desirable, historically popular OSV-use areas and trails, while protecting resources and other uses of NFS system lands,” said Katie Wilkinson, environmental coordinator for the Stanislaus National Forest. “We believe this alternative meets the intent of the Travel Management Rule, the community’s needs and the Forest Service’s mission.”

Visitors are welcome to provide written comments during the meeting, Wilkinson said. Comments received during the comment period, which ends on Oct. 9, will be reviewed and incorporated into the Final EIS. The FEIS and Draft Record of Decision are expected to be available in February 2019.

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