Elko Daily Free Press 6-3-10

Gibbons asks USFS for more comment time

ELKO - Gov. Jim Gibbons on Tuesday sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service supporting Elko County's request for a six-month comment extension on the draft study of the proposed Travel Management Plan.

The plan covers the Mountain City, Ruby Mountains and Jarbidge ranger districts of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

The governor asks the Forest Service to grant the request from Elko County Commissioners for the extension on the draft environmental impact statement that looks at what roads to keep open and what roads to close in Elko County and a small area of White Pine County.

"We appreciate the governor's support on this issue. It's an important issue for the county and its residents," Elko County Manager Rob Stokes said Tuesday afternoon.

Gibbons wrote that "under the DEIS, many miles of rural roads in northern Nevada would be closed, resulting in many ‘roadless' areas in Elko and White Pine counties."

"This plan could have a devastating economic, cultural and social impact to these areas. Nevada has been one of the hardest hit by the current recession, and we must do everything in our power to preserve and rebuild our fragile economy," he said.

"Mass road closures would impede the progress we are making at economic recovery and may also endanger the life and safety of those who live in these rural areas or who enjoy hunting, fishing and recreation in rural Nevada. Without roads, how is law enforcement to reach those in need?" Gibbons asked in the letter.

Elko County Commissioners voted at a special May 20 meeting to send a letter to the Forest Service asking for the extension to allow time to hire a consultant in the development of an alternate to the Travel Management Plan, time for additional talks and coordination with Forest Service staff, and time to hire a consultant to analyze the draft document.

"In essence, this is a very complicated document. We want longer to review it. We're talking about getting a consultant to review it," Stokes said.

The county's letter to the Forest Service also states that the commissioners want time to consult with other Western states and Nevada counties where a Travel Management Plan has been implemented and to consult with the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone and the Shoshone and Paiute tribes at Duck Valley.

The county letter also was signed by Assemblyman John Carpenter, R-Elko, and copies were sent to the Nevada congressional delegation, as well as Gibbons.

Stokes said Elko County is the fourth largest county geographically in the United States "with a lot of public lands, and the public lands are used for all sorts of recreation experiences."

Jarbidge and Ruby Mountains District Ranger Gar Abbas said Tuesday the Forest Service received the governor's letter.

"We've started discussions and talking about getting an extension," he said.

Mountain City District Ranger Tom Montoya said earlier environmental organizations also are asking for extensions, but their requests are for 30 days.

The current deadline for comments is June 21.

Gibbons said in an announcement Tuesday on his letter that "the federal government must start listening to the people. The voice of Nevadans must be heard. The federal government must work with our local governments first."