The Red Rock Ranger District Seeks Public Comments on a motorized use proposal for Soldiers Pass in Sedona, Arizona.
The Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) is reporting that the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is asking for public comments as it prepares an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate a revised management plan for motorized use on the Soldiers Pass Road near Sedona, Arizona.
Located northwest of Sedona, Soldiers Pass Road consists of Forest Service roads 9904, 9904B and 9904C, totaling just 1.2 miles in length. But the route has been the subject of conflict with the City of Sedona and private properties as a result of the volume of motorized traffic that is accessing the forest. The EA is intended to bring motorized use of Soldiers Pass Road into compliance with Forest Plan direction.
According to the BRC, the Enviromental Assessment will consider four alternatives:
• Alternative A is the “no action” alternative and would continue current management.
• Alternative B would restrict motorized use of Soldiers Pass Road to an outfitter/guide service and adjust the outfitter/guide use authorization to improve consistency with other motorized outfitter/guide use on the District.
• Alternative C is the proposed action, which would adjust the outfitter/guide use authorization to improve consistency with other motorized outfitter/guide use on the District and establish a free permit system to limit public use to 12 permits per day.
• Alternative D would close Soldiers Pass Road to all recreational motorized use.
Project details, maps and additional information are available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=38555.
The 30-day public comment period ends April 30, 2016. The public can submit comments from that web link or by writing to the Red Rock Ranger District Office, Attn: Julie Rowe, 8375 State Route 179, Sedona, AZ 86341. You may also call the Red Rock Visitor Center with questions at (928) 203-7500.
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