So, just got back from the meeting, and I have this to report:
this was more of an open house, meet-n-greet kind of thing, where the BLM reps showed the map of the routes in question, and got public opinion. I will post the link to submit more opinions at the end of the post.
The routes in question are basically most of the routes between the Jacob City road on the north, and SR73 on south, w/the mountains making up the eastern border, and SR36 making up the western border. The county has some interests in a couple north-south-running roads for fire control access, and the Jacob City route is in no danger, but many of these routes run up the bottom of the many ravines that run east to west.
As such, many of them are also redundant, and/or dead ends. It's my opinion that no routes of any compelling significance are at risk. That opinion is based on not only my knowledge of the area as a resident of Tooele County, but also on my conversations with the BLM reps. I quote "We just don't want it to end up looking like Five Mile Pass out there, and a lot of these routes are really redundant."
The BLM proposal for closure will come after this initial opinion-gathering phase... but as of now, I can't see much risk to continued access to this area.
Comments should be sent to the following address
by NOVEMBER 9th. :
ut_slfo_comments@blm.gov
For those familiar with them, the reps were Mike Nelson, Roxanne Tea, Cindy Ledbetter, and another guy whose name I didn't get. Roxanne and Cindy took the Tread Lightly class with Skylinerider and myself earlier this year and were pleased to hear my opinions of their plan. I think it's rational.
Anyway. Take a look at the map in the link a few posts up, and let them know what you think.
