Forest Service publishes snowmobile policy
January 27, 2015 |08:32 PM
The U.S. Forest Service today released the final rule for managing snowmobile and other “over-snow” vehicle use on national forests and grasslands.
The policy is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday and then go into effect in 30 days.
“As directed by court order, the policy requires that roads, trails and areas where over-snow vehicle use can occur be specifically designated by local Forest Service managers. Previously, managers had the discretion to decide whether to designate specific areas for over-snow vehicle use,” the Forest Service said in a news release.
“The Forest Service always seeks to provide a wide range of motorized and non-motorized recreational opportunities,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.
“This policy maintains community input and local decision-making so that those with knowledge of local areas can decide how to best balance natural resource issues with legitimate recreational uses of national forest land.”
▪ USDA Forest Service — Use By Over-Snow Vehicles: Travel Management Rule
The policy is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday and then go into effect in 30 days.
“As directed by court order, the policy requires that roads, trails and areas where over-snow vehicle use can occur be specifically designated by local Forest Service managers. Previously, managers had the discretion to decide whether to designate specific areas for over-snow vehicle use,” the Forest Service said in a news release.
“The Forest Service always seeks to provide a wide range of motorized and non-motorized recreational opportunities,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.
“This policy maintains community input and local decision-making so that those with knowledge of local areas can decide how to best balance natural resource issues with legitimate recreational uses of national forest land.”
▪ USDA Forest Service — Use By Over-Snow Vehicles: Travel Management Rule
