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Santa Fe National Forest To Host Another Round of Public Meetings on Forest Plan Revision

Santa Fe National Forest To Host Another Round of Public Meetings on Forest Plan Revision

Release Date: Jan 12, 2017  

Contact(s): Julie Anne Overton

 

 

SANTA FE, NM – Jan. 12, 2017 – For Immediate Release.  The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will host 10 public meetings and a two-day technical meeting between Jan. 17 and Feb. 9, 2017, as part of the multi-year effort to revise the comprehensive plan that will guide forest management, use and protection for the next 10 to 15 years.

This round of public meetings will give members of the public an opportunity to discuss and comment on initial plan components and the draft wilderness evaluation maps.

Initial plan components have been drafted for all resource areas, including vegetation, fire and fuels, wildlife, water and soil resources, air quality, traditional and cultural ways of life, cultural resources and archaeology, forest products, range and grazing, recreation, roads and infrastructure, energy and minerals, lands and realty, scenic resources and designated areas.

“Based on the 2012 directives that guide land management planning on all national forests, the Santa Fe National Forest is committed to listening to our stakeholders, developing creative approaches to meet a wide range of interests, and building a plan for the long term,” Acting Forest Supervisor Joe Norrell said.  “Public input is a key part of that strategy and is already reflected in our initial plan components.”

As part of the 2012 planning rule, forests are required to identify lands that may or may not be suitable to recommend to Congress for wilderness designation as part of the revision of their management plan.  The four-step wilderness process includes:

  • the inventory of lands to be evaluated for wilderness characteristics
  • the evaluation of the areas based on characteristics outlined in the Wilderness Act of 1964, including naturalness, size, opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation, manageability and special features
  • analysis of areas to be considered in the plan alternatives, including their social and economic contributions to communities
  • recommendations for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System

The SFNF will share draft wilderness evaluation maps for public comment at the upcoming meetings.  “It is important to remember that the draft evaluation maps are our first cut at the evaluation, and public input will help us complete the evaluation and determine which areas will move forward to the analysis phase,” Norrell said.

The forest plan revision public meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates and at the following locations:

Jan. 17, 2017

Pojoaque Middle School
Sixth Grade Academy

1797 NM-502
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Jan. 18, 2017

Mora Independent School
School Board Room

10 Ranger Rd.
Mora, NM 87732

Jan. 19, 2017

Bernalillo High School
High School Cafeteria

148 Spartan Alley
Bernalillo, NM 87004

Jan. 23, 2017

Coronado High School
High School Auditorium

State Hwy 96 #1903
Gallina, NM87017

Jan. 24, 2017

Santa Fe Convention Center
Coronado Room

201 W Marcy St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Jan. 26, 2017

Jemez Madonna Hall

0040 Legion Dr. HWY 4
Jemez Springs, NM 87025

Jan. 30, 2017

Cuba Fair Grounds

Sandoval County Fairgrounds
37 Rodeo Rd, Cuba, NM 87013

Feb. 1, 2017

Santa Fe Community College
Jemez Rooms

6401 Richards Ave.
Santa Fe, NM 87508

Feb. 2, 2017

Rio Arriba Cooperative Extension Office
Conference Room

State Road 554 House #122-A
El Rito, NM 87530

Feb. 9, 2017

Pecos High School
School Board Rm (Across from Admin)

28 Panther Parkway
Highway 63 N, Pecos, NM 87552
(Park at Track & Field)

The technical meeting is scheduled for Feb. 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Jemez Rooms at the Santa Fe Community College.  Open to the public, the technical meeting will give participants the opportunity for in-depth discussions on plan components and the draft wilderness evaluation.

Please RSVP for the technical meeting or request additional information by contacting the Forest Plan team at santafeforestplan@fs.fed.us  or by phone 505.438.5442.

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Earlier Event: January 28
CHS Boys & Girls Basketball vs. Estancia
Later Event: January 31
CHS/CMS Boys Basketball