ST. GEORGE — The Bureau of Land Management Kanab Field Office invites the public to comment through March 25 on travel management planning for the Paunsaugunt Travel Management Area.
The area is comprised of approximately 185,000 acres of BLM-managed lands in Kane County.
Kanab Field Office Manager Whit Bunting said in a news release that they recognize the importance of public participation and encouraged the public to submit input.
“To provide meaningful input, the BLM has made maps available to the public of all inventoried routes being considered for designation within the Travel Management Area,” Bunting said. “The maps show individual routes and include the BLM route number/identifier, the Kane County Road number, and any common route name known to BLM.”
This public comment period is intended to provide the BLM with a process for gathering input from the public, government agencies, Tribal governments and other interested stakeholders on the issues and environmental impacts to be addressed during travel management planning for the Paunsaugunt Travel Management Area.
The proposed plan will designate existing off-highway vehicle motorized routes only. It will not include the construction of new routes, nor designate non-motorized routes, such as equestrian, hiking or mountain biking trails.
“This travel management plan will provide certainty for future access and management of resource infrastructure such as wildlife waters, erosion control structures, and other authorized range improvements,” Bunting said. “It will also protect resources by clearly identifying motorized routes in the Paunsaugunt Travel Management Area by analyzing existing routes and by applying management techniques that would minimize resource impacts, while encouraging recreation access where appropriate.”
Information about the project is available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at this link. Substantive feedback including new information or issues to be considered regarding specific routes within the Paunsaugunt Travel Management Area will be most helpful as this process continues. Input may be mailed, emailed or submitted through ePlanning:
- ePlanning: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017395/510
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: BLM Paria River District, Attn: Paunsaugunt TMP, 669 S. Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah 84741.
For specific questions, contact Ade’ Nelson, Project Manager at [email protected] or 435-819-0048; or contact the BLM office at 435-644-1200.
Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
More information about travel planning can be found on the BLM Utah’s Travel Management website.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the hearing impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question. The FRS is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.