The agency has decided not to hold a public hearing on its first forestwide analysis of motorized travel management.
That decision follows a contentious meeting in Darby and a pair of much calmer open houses in Hamilton and Stevensville. Since then, the agency has also extended its hours on Wednesdays to offer people the chance to meet one-on-one with Forest Service employees to comment and ask questions.
“I only wanted to do that if we could get different interests involved,” he said. “I felt that it could be a good opportunity to show that we can have a civil meeting in the Bitterroot.”
But as discussions continued with a variety of interests, Bull said he discovered there were many who felt a public hearing wasn't the best way for the Forest Service to gather public comment.
Stevensville District Ranger Dan Ritter said people have been stepping up and offering substantive comments that will help the agency refine its initial proposal into several different alternatives that will be offered in the upcoming draft environmental impact statement.
“I've been getting about five to 10 comments a day,” Ritter said. “They are great comments. They are the kind of very site-specific and well-thought-out comments that are very helpful for us.”
The initial public scoping process ends Feb. 29.
Until that date, the agency will continue to staff the weekly mini-open houses on Wednesdays, which offer people a chance to meet with Forest Service officials from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor's Office in Hamilton.
“Those have been really cool,” said forest spokesperson Nan Christianson. “People seem to appreciate the opportunity for the one-on-one time. It offers a chance to delve into the issue a little bit deeper.”
Christianson said it's a good idea to call ahead and set up an appointment to avoid having to wait in line.
“People are investing a lot of effort and time into their comments,” Christianson said. “That should help us make our next product a whole lot better.”
The agency pushed back the comment period three different times during its initial public scoping effort to allow people more time to offer opinions.
The draft EIS is scheduled for release sometime in the fall of 2008. The public will have a chance to comment through next winter. The final decision is due in the fall of 2009.
A new motor vehicle use map for the Bitterroot Forest will be printed by December 2009.
This effort marks the first time the Bitterroot has completed a forestwide update of motorized recreation management in 30 years.
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