Elko Daily Free Press 6-3-10

Officials going to Owyhee

ELKO - Elko County Commissioner Warren Russell said Wednesday he and Commissioner Demar Dahl were heading to Owyhee today to talk about the U.S. Forest Service's draft study of a Travel Management Plan.

They will be talking with Shoshone and Paiute tribal members, and Russell said he is going there to listen.

"Hopefully it will lead to a partnership that cares for the land, the environment and the social welfare of Elko County," Russell said.

He said as a side benefit, he hopes the tribes will support the county's request that the Forest Service extend the comment deadline on the draft environmental impact statement on the road plan.

"I hope they will want the six-month extension. Without it, they're being ignored," Russell said.

He said the Forest Service didn't consult with the tribes in Elko County on the Travel Management Plan, and the Forest Service rule on the road plan states that the agency must consult with tribal leaders.

Jarbidge and Ruby Mountains District Ranger Gar Abbas said Wednesday the Forest Service has met with the tribal leaders in Owyhee several times and with the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone.

He said, however, that he and Mountain City District Ranger Tom Montoya haven't established a schedule for actual consultations, yet.

The Travel Management Plan covers the Mountain City, Jarbidge and Ruby Mountains ranger districts, and the rangers are holding meetings this week on the draft EIS.

The remaining two meetings are at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time Friday at the Mountain City Visitor Center and at 6 p.m. MST Saturday at the Jackpot Community Recreation Center.

Mountain City is near Owyhee and the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.

Te-Moak Tribal Chairman Bryan Cassadore said at the Tuesday meeting in Elko on the plan that the tribe is concerned that the Travel Management Plan protect gravesites.

Elko County Commissioners asked for the comment deadline because of concerns about the plan that includes road closures on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

The current deadline is June 21.

Russell said the same rule that says the rangers must consult with tribal leaders also says the ranger districts "may, not must" close roads as part of the Travel Management Plan.

One of the county's concerns is that potential road closures would impact recreation, which in turn would impact the economy.

Abbas said Tuesday night, however, that the 189 miles of potential road closures covers small segments of road that should be protected from damage and duplicate roads.

He said the closures wouldn't hurt the economy.

Russell said he also is concerned that the plan affects camping, forcing people to camp near roads, and "who wants to camp near a road?