Analysis of OHV Travel at Shepherd Ah Nei Available for Comment
The BLM Billings Field Office is
asking the public to review and comment on its analysis of off-highway
vehicle (OHV) travel at the Shepherd Ah Nei OHV area.
The environmental assessment (EA) considers five different alternatives
for the management of OHV travel at the popular area north of Shepherd.
The area has been closed to OHV use since April 23, 2004, in order to
comply with a civil case judgment.
The five alternatives include: 1) limiting OHV travel to existing
roads; 2) requiring permits for motorized use; 3) maximizing resource
protection opportunities while limiting OHV road and trail
designations; 4) emphasizing recreation opportunities in conjunction
with responsible resource protection; and 5) combining recreational use
with management for resource protection in collaboration with adjacent
landowners, permittees, and users.
After comments are reviewed and necessary adjustments made to the EA,
BLM officials will decide on which alternative, or combination of
alternatives, to implement.
The deadline for written comments is February 22, 2005. Comments should
be sent to BLM Billings Field Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings,
MT 59101. The EA is available at: www.mt.blm.gov or by calling
896-5013.
