The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites the public to play an important role in helping the BLM identify where motorized transportation on public lands in eastern Utah will be allowed. Today, the BLM Vernal Field Office announced the beginning of a 30-day scoping period to inform the Book Cliffs Travel Management Plan as well as the dates for online open houses to learn more.

The Travel Management Plan will help the BLM to provide a public motorized transportation network to serve visitors and local communities while protecting natural resources. While the 2008 Vernal Resource Management Plan considered public motorized vehicle uses on a landscape scale, this plan focuses on managing individual routes. It will determine whether routes are open, limited, or closed for public motorized use on a route-by-route basis.

The Book Cliffs travel management area in eastern Utah covers approximately 813,446 acres in Uintah County, 5,518 acres in Grand County, and 1,906 miles of routes.

“We look forward to hearing from the public during the Book Cliffs Travel Management Plan scoping period,” said Vernal Field Manager Roger Bankert. “Information submitted at this stage will help inform the initial draft of the travel management plan and environmental assessment. The most helpful comments are specific in nature and provide new information.”
The BLM will host online open houses on Wednesday, June 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST, and Thursday, June 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, meeting access, log in details, and/or commenting online, please visit the BLM’s ePlanning website: http://go.usa.gov/xNKuZ. Relevant maps and materials are posted on ePlanning, including a map with the complete route inventory for the Book Cliffs travel management area. Please note, the includes routes being evaluated for potential inclusion in the Book Cliffs TMP. It does not imply that those roads are available for use under travel management decisions in the Vernal Resource Management Plan.

Comments will help the BLM to formulate issues and alternatives included in the travel management plan. Specific information on the use of route, resource impacts from an existing route, and/or new information about the area is especially useful at this stage in the planning process. The Travel Management Plan will address topics related to motorized travel, including recreation, cultural resources, wildlife and fisheries habitat, soils and water quality, and wilderness characteristics.
The BLM requests public input during a 30-day scoping period starting on June 8, 2021 and ending on July 8, 2021. Comments must be submitted on or postmarked by July 8, 2021, through the BLM’s ePlanning website, by email, or by mail. Please reference “Book Cliffs TMP” when submitting comments.

ePlanning: http://go.usa.gov/xNKuZ
Email: BLM_UT_VN_Comments@blm.gov
Mail: 170 South 500 East Vernal, UT 84078

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.

People that use public lands in this area should review the documents on the ePlanning site, and write personal comments about specific reasons this area is important to you.

If you would like more about how to write relevant comments, please check out this resource. HOW_TO_WRITE_SCOPING_COMMENTS

Here is the scoping map that shows the current road inventory

I would like to thank everyone that submitted comments during the scoping period of the Labyrinth Canyon/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Plan (TMP). As of last Friday, there were 8077 comments filed from all over the United States, and I’m sure that number grew substantially over the weekend.

The Bureau of Land Management is required to go through this review of their 2008 TMP as a result of a settlement agreement they entered into with SUWA. Being a Federal Agency, the BLM is required to follow the procedures laid out in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This process is required to be completed within 6 years from the settlement date, so it will be ongoing until 2023 through the various processes. In addition, there will be 9 other TMPs that are also required to be reviewed during the next few years.

A common question is, can I make a difference? The short answer is Yes. As an example, the San Rafael Desert released the finalized version of the TMP and it resulted in an increase of authorized trails from 300 miles to more than 765 miles.

UPLA will be providing education on how to make the NEPA process work in our favor, but it will require the ongoing participation of our members and subscribers for several years to come. We will try to provide updates as comments periods open, and how to best structure your comments to be effective.

Marcus from CORE did an excellent video last week that talks about the Moab TMP that will give you an understanding of the process.

New Moab Noise Ordinance can get you 6 months Free Lodging!

UPLA just learned that Moab is poised to pass a new noise ordinance tonight that can levy penalties of 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 fines. The standards that are being considered are much more restrictive than Federal or most other municipalities that have adopted ordinances. This ordinance was put together hastily, largely without public input. UPLA believes that the City of Moab should solicit participation from relevant stakeholders and hold more public hearings and comments before this ordinance is passed. This not only will affect off roaders, but also hotels, campgrounds, and restaurants-everyone in the hospitality industry.

As Grand County has already passed a similar noise ordinance that is subject to revision, once again we ask you to take action to send your comments to all 3 of the following TODAY!

Commission@GrandCountyUtah.net
City-Council@MoabCity.org
Landuse@Utahpla.com

Here are some suggestions on possible comments you may want to include:

• Please do not excessively restrict vehicle sounds on the streets and dirt roads surrounding Moab.
• 4WD and car enthusiasts appreciate the opportunity to visit Moab and its iconic landscape, and we expect everyone to visit with respect. However, limiting automobiles to 92 dB (at twenty inches) by J1492 is too strict, as the five states (CA, WA, MT, MI, ME) that limit automobiles by J1492 or older stationary-test methods set the limit at 95 dB.  A 95 dB limit sufficiently captures problem mufflers, and it would largely resolve noise concerns. A 92 dB limit unnecessarily prohibits most modified vehicles (including rock crawlers that access the famous 4WD trails) that simply are not bothering people when driven normally.
• Moab City’s proposed reduction from 92 dB to 85 dB at night would essentially ban the use of modified vehicles and even many stock vehicles from 10pm to 7am (and 9am on Sundays). They are often used for other purposes beyond recreational driving. Stationary sound limits are a type of equipment requirement, and they should not change by time of day.
• The city and county’s pass-by sound limits (at fifty feet) of 74 dB during the day and 72 dB at night are also too severe. The global standards that automobile manufacturers follow are generally 80 dB. While these standards involve hard acceleration that can usually be avoided in everyday use, non-stock tires and other common accessories add to the total sound, so the pass-by limits should be increased by 6 dB and specify a recognized test methodology or specify that pass-by limits are only for screening to identify which vehicles are stopped for a stationary test.
• The suggested limits of 95 dB by J1492 and 80 dB at fifty feet would resolve noise concerns effectively and practically for everyone involved. These limits are in line with the other jurisdictions that are actually enforcing their sound standards. They would make 4WD and car drivers fix their share of the noise problem. They are worth trying in the Moab community.

Read another Overview of the Noise Ordinance here…https://utahpla.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Moab-noise-overview.pdf

Read the proposed ordinance here…. https://utahpla.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Proposed-Ordinance-for-42721-approval.pdf

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED TO SAVE HUGE SWATH OF MOAB TRAILS

The BLM is initiating an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze motorized access in the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges area in Moab.  The area under study is 304,000 acres west of HWY 191 from Moab to I-70.  OHV trails potentially affected by this include Gemini Bridges, Golden Spike, Rusty Nail, Poison Spider, Gold Bar Rim, Golden Crack, Mashed Potatoes, Determination Towers, Seven Mile Rim; just to name a few, as well as atv and single track trails.

Public input is needed by Monday, April 26, 2021.  Please follow the links below for the full BLM Press Release, Interactive Map, and Public Comment form.  Please keep your comments respectful.

Comments should mention as many of the following areas that are personally relevant to you in as much detail that you are able to share.

• Your personal use of these trails: Is this an area you and your family visit for vacations or you meet up with friends?  Describe how you use the trails, viewing scenery and wildlife, archaeology, geology, Any details that reflect special areas of interest to you (and your family). Photos are always strong influencers.
• The financial impact to the area: Moab’s economy derives primarily from tourism. How many times a year do you visit Moab, and for how long have you been coming? Would you continue to visit Moab if these trails were closed to motorized access.
• If you have engaged in trail cleanups or maintenance to keep them accessible, give details of those efforts.
• Would you be unable to visit the area if you could not use motorized vehicles, i.e. physical limitations that would deny access to you

YOUR COMMENTS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN INFLUENCING THIS DECISION, AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2021. CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE BLM PAGE FOR YOUR COMMENTS

                                        OR

SEND AN EMAIL TO: blm_ut_mb_comments@blm.gov WITH A SUBJECT OF

“Labyrinth Rims”

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES 

BLM PRESS RELEASE

https://utahpla.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Press-Release-Labyrinth-Rims-Gemini-Bridges-TMP.pdf

INTERACTIVE MAP

(https://eplanning.blm.gov/EPLCommentMap/?itemId=2be8bfadeb6a40549e59ad0ad0abb169)

UPLA recently discovered that almost 6800 acres of land has been slated for closure to Off Highway Recreation. The new area designated as “Zone 6” is located Southwest of St George at the end of Navajo Drive, is very popular area for ATV/UTV riders and recreational shooters. It includes one of the only Virgin River Crossings, which will also be closed.

The closure is related to the Northern Corridor Transportation Project has been under consideration for many years. The Utah Department of Transportation petitioned the BLM and SITLA for permission for the right of way to build the transportation project through what had previously been designated as a designated Desert Tortoise Habitat. Last summer, public hearings were conducted via Zoom, and a Habitat Conservation Plan was approved that would allow construction of the highway in exchange for designation of the area known as Zone 6 to be reserved for the preservation of desert tortoise habitat, thereby closing off highway vehicle use and recreational shooting. Over 100 miles of trails will be closed to all motorized vehicle traffic.

Hiding behind the cover of Covid, this action was taken without knowledge, comment, or involvement of any offroad users.

Unfortunately, this loss appears to be past the point of no return, but UPLA is responding by establishing procedures to ensure that we are notified of any public land use changes going forward.

The goal of Utah Public Lands Alliance is to represent Multi-sport interests, 4×4, ATV, UTV, Dirt Bike, Mountain Bike, Snowmobile, and Equestrians, for responsible recreational use of Public Lands. We are all volunteer, non-profit 501c3 organization that depends on the support of the Off Road Community

Together We Will Win,

But We Can’t Do It Without You!

There have been many confusing and conflicting reports of the alarming actions in Moab and media posts about off roading in Moab.  UPLA takes restrictions to off road access very seriously, so we went to one of our Trustees, Melissa Fischer, to get the answers. Melissa not only lives in Moab, but is very active in the off road community.

She began adding to her personal knowledge by calling Chris Baird, the Administrator for the Grand County Commission, where Moab is located. This commission is the body responsible for issuing special event permits. He explained to her that there are several separate issues that happened simultaneously that impacted permits.

The first issue involved special event permit registration caps related to COVID. All events that had been permitted are currently able to be held. Based on the state’s COVID transmission level, there are guidelines that Grand county adopted in consultation with the SE Utah Health Department. When Utah is in a High Transmission status, there are no indoor events that could be held in Grand County and outdoor events were restricted to 250 people PER DAY for all locations. If the Transmission status was lowered to a moderate category, that number increases to 1000 per day outdoor and adds 500 per day indoors. It was because of these restrictions that Red Rock 4 Wheelers announced the cancellation of EJS.

After hearing an interview with Chris Baird on Fox 13 where Chris made an offer to try to draft an amendment to the ordinance that would allow 250 people at each separate location for off road events,  UPLA Trustee Melissa Fischer and President Gil Meacham leaped into action. They contacted Mike Kelso, President of Red Rock 4 Wheelers, and Chris Baird to find a common solution that would allow EJS to be held, at least on a limited basis. Quickly we found common ground, and UPLA put Chris and Mike together to drafting an amendment to the Ordinance that allowed 250 people per location. That amendment was quickly drafted and Fast Tracked to get the EJS permit approved by County Commissioners on February 16. The amendment passed with 100% of the commissioner’s approval, and EJS 2021 was back on the calendar!

The second major issue is directly related to ATVs or rock crawlers that have an ATV plate. Last Fall, the County received a “historical number of citizen complaints, mostly related to noise impacts of ATV rentals and tours, many of them specifically during the Rally on the Rocks event.” It should also be noted that most of these complaints involved complaints on Moab city streets, not on trails. In response to these complaints, Grand County and City of Moab voted on October 20, 2020 to pass Resolution 3245 creating a joint temporary moratorium that bans new licenses issued for ATV sales and leasing, rentals, guide services, outfitters, and guide services. It has nothing to do with modified, street legal jeeps nor does it prevent UTV use on county roads (if street legal). The moratorium also prevents the issuance of special event permits. This moratorium will exist for 180 days and then it expires. It is the county’s goal to have a redraft of the land use code in Grand County (not public lands) in place before the moratorium expires. We have no information on what the redraft will look like or at what level it will permanently impact the ATV or off-roading community and businesses, but promise to update you as we get information.

UPLA is very concerned about any restrictions or limits placed on all types of motorized use of public lands. It should be noted that even in these recent events, motorized access on public lands and trails was not restricted, the actions were focused on what happens on Moab city limits and streets.

Just like the work UPLA did to put EJS back on the calendar, we will continue to work to preserve and protect access to public lands by all motorized traffic, 4x4s, ATVs, UTVs, Motorcycles, and Snowmobiles. We will also work to improve our education of Tread Lightly and “Good Neighbor” policies amongst all off road users. Help us spread the word to all your Off Roading Family.