The United States Bureau of Land Management’s Price field office released the environmental assessment for the San Rafael route designation plan Feb. 7.
The objective of the plan is to establish a vehicle network providing recreational and access to public lands while protecting sensitive natural and cultural resources, explained the BLM.
The current proposal implements a decision reached by the BLM in 1991 when the federal agency completed the San Rafael resource management plan.
The 1991 plan directed the BLM to identify and designate specific routes within limited areas where vehicle use is restricted to designated roads and trails.
The route plan affects more than 1.1 million acres of public lands.
Four alternatives with specific objectives designed to resolve conflicts and concerns with the resources and vehicle access manageability are analyzed.
According to the federal agency, the alternatives range from designating 1,074 miles to 580 miles of inventoried routes.
The BLM has received a request to extend the public comment period. After reviewing the request, the federal agency extended the public comment period on the San Rafael route designation plan until April 22.
Castle Valley residents may submit written comments to BLM, Attention: Route Designation Plan, 125 S. 600 West, Price, UT 84501.
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