ANF Draft EA Has Been Published

[87Rumbler]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/projects/documents/nepa/apa/access/EA_availability.shtml

. . . all 101 pages.



fwiw, I recommend against getting happy OR sad until you have had a chance to read through the whole thing.

On one page it looks like we got WAY more "trail" than we asked for. On another it appears to say we are pretty much shut out.

. . . typical government document. :mad::mad:

I think the most constructive advise I can give at the moment - I have not read the whole thing yet either - is to remember that our licensed 4x4 vehicles ARE NOT OHV's.

[87Rumbler]

I have heard back from my translator (Jason, with FL4WD) and while he points out that our job is faaaaar from finished this draft EA is a good first step.

We do get a whole heck of a lot more road/trail access - in volume - than we specifically requested. I honestly feel that alone is cause for celebration.


I can hear you thinking . . . . "but if it's all graded forest road it's not!" and you would be absolutely correct. This isn't an easy thing to do but it will be worth the trouble if this is your sticking point (the one keeping you from volunteering to help us out in ANF).

Overlay the Alternative "D" map on the ANF map you have or an on-line topo . . or even Google Earth.

At least some of what they are giving us access to absolutely positively for sure has to be some gnarly stuff !!!!!!! :):)

We just have to find it and identify it. :rolleyes:


With this said . . .

there is still in my mind one HUGE contradiction - or maybe just clarification - that is nagging me. Closing dead end trails. I have been told repeatedly by different folks with the FS; ALL dead end trails WILL be closed.

If you have looked at the map(s) in the draft EA you know why this "clarification" is bugging me so much. :eek::eek::eek::eek:

I guess we find out Aug 4th when we attend this meeting.:cool::cool:

[ecollins]

thanks for the information. Looks like you are putting a lot of hard work into this.

A lot of it still does not make a lot of sense to me and I will need a translator to translate the translator. But it sounds as if we are getting some granted access we just dont know where it is.

And it will probally be like some other state laws, that not all the FWC will know where you can and can not ride, they will still ticket you and will be in court defending yourself for their not knowing.

If we can get it to a point of what trails where are legal, I will be more than glad to map them to a easy webpage with directions so people can find them.

[BroncoNole]

I don't understand why they made such a destinction between ORVs and licensed vehicles. I feel the ATVs would cause less destruction than a 4x4 would.

[87Rumbler]

thanks for the information. Looks like you are putting a lot of hard work into this.

Awww shucks. I'm just one 'ol Redneck doing the best he can. My biggest struggle by far is being "business like" in my dealings with the government. All my life I've been of the mind that plain speaking creates plain understanding. That is definitely a problem in this case. :rolleyes:

A lot of it still does not make a lot of sense to me and I will need a translator to translate the translator. But it sounds as if we are getting some granted access we just dont know where it is.

I'll readily admit - if I haven't already - I read some parts four or more times and still couldn't figure out what they were saying. And hey: I'm a professional LINUX Geek!! I do understand Martian! :eek:

Anyway, don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I needed translation too.:confused:

And it will probally be like some other state laws, that not all the FWC will know where you can and can not ride, they will still ticket you and will be in court defending yourself for their not knowing.


This is where I saw the biggest benefit to US in all of this. MPK helped write this document she is listed as a contributor!! If she isn't clear on what the rules are and where they are when this is all said and done the FS has a big, no, make that HUGE, legal problem !!!!!!!!

If we can get it to a point of what trails where are legal, I will be more than glad to map them to a easy webpage with directions so people can find them.

Excellent!! Thanks!! Starting this coming Saturday we will start working on locating and identifying the trails most of interest to our user group based on Alternative "D" of that document. It would be really really GREAT for you to have some direct input and influence on the outcome of that process.


. . . hint hint.:rolleyes::D:rolleyes::D

[ecollins]

I will try to do what "I" can to help out. I dont get to make as many promises right now as I use to. "Taylor" keeps us pretty tired at this point.

Atleast we have someone that understands Binary "There are those that understand it, and those that dont".

The hardest part in all of this, is that it is a hobby to most of us. Hobbies are only fun when they are convient. Out of the few hundred 4x4ers in the tallahassee area it will only be convient for a handfull of them to make the meeting or volunteer.

I am not putting them down, becuase hell I dont know myself if I can make it yet. But, it turns it into a hard battle for the people that have the time.

I will try to read through the proposal this week while I am working late and see what I can make from it. If it gets to rough for me, I have an uncle that is FWC and another one that use to work for FS so I will try to get some translation help from them. (No garuntees) but I will try.


It would be nice to get a head count of the people that will make the meeting with you on the 28th.

Also start getting together a good list of questions for people to ask.

1 person can ask a 1,000 questions. And not be taken seriously. But if a 1,000 people ask 1 question each they will be heard.


Ok enough typing for me for now.

[swamp donkey]

edbert....
well said.

clap...clap.

now, lets go do something.

rumbler...you said MPK helped write this? wow.

i'll try to read the gov't'ese tommorrow.

pete