DONT LET IRENE DAVIDSON CLOSE THE FOREST Mail Original to: Wenatchee National Forest Mail Copy to: Tim Kovis Attn: 1570 Appeals Doc Hastings Office 215 Melody Lane 1324 Longworth Building Wenatchee, WA 98801 Washington, DC 20515 With this document, I am appealing the “1700 System Flood Repair Project” decision that was outlined in the July 3, 2013 Decision Memorandum by the USFS Naches District Ranger, Irene Davidson. I am opposed to the decommissioning of any roads in the 1700 system. Unfortunately, I was not able to file an opinion during the comment period because I was not aware of the issue or the fact that comments were being taken. The Forest Service Decision Memorandum states that over 1000 notices were sent to local citizens. I received no such notice. Had the Forest Service posted notices in the local paper of record, the Yakima Herald-Republic, I would have had a chance to comment. However, the Forest Service opted to post notices in the Wenatchee World, a publication not widely read in the affected area. For this reason, I respectfully ask that you consider my appeal despite the fact that I did not make a comment during the official comment period. It is my opinion that the FONSI decision is completely unsupportable by the facts as detailed in the Decision Memorandum, and it unnecessarily limits the public’s access to the forest. When very reasonable, cost effective and environmentally friendly options for repair exist, there is no way to support a decision to decommission the roads. Additionally, I do not believe it is legal to utilize ERFO funds to decommission roads. Those funds are earmarked by Congress to repair and reconstruct roads. Regarding the 1704 road it makes no sense to remove a passable road and destroy the road bed. Doing so will be more expensive, more disruptive to fish habitat, and create a more dangerous snowmobile passing than either 1) leaving the road as is, or 2) repairing the road to meet Forest Service requirements. Blocking this road will also limit access of emergency medical and fire services to many people and cabins along the 1704 road. The road should either have warning signs about the road’s width, weight and height restrictions installed at each end where a turn-around currently exists or be repaired. The Decision Memorandum does not adequately address these options. Additionally, the decommissioning of 1703 would limit fire fighting access to large areas of forest that would cause significant wildfire danger to hundreds of people and structures. Re-opening the 1707 road would be very inexpensive and would also increase fire fighting access to the forest which would improve safety to hundreds of people and structures. The 1707 road was closed due to safety concerns about the potential of harm to a very few people without concern for the much larger harm that could come to many more people from wildfire. The change proposed to 1708 makes no sense either. Repairing the existing roadway would be more cost effective, have less environmental impact and create a safer roadway. Additionally, the decision to decommission 1700-416 puts more lives at risk than reopening 1707 would. Having so many vehicles entering Hwy 410 on a 55 MPH curve is a reckless and dangerous decision. I support the proposed repairs in Wayne Bell’s appeal over the ones in the Decision Memorandum. The proposals for all these repairs in Wayne Bell’s appeal are far superior, more sensible and supportable by the facts than the ones taken by Irene Davidson in the Decision Memorandum. _____________________________ ________________________ Name Phone Number _____________________________ ________________________ Address Signature
Posted on: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 20:32:44 +0000