Forest Service Seeks Public Comment on Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Applications

The Forest Service announced today that San Bernardino National Forest recreation managers will be seeking public comments on their proposals for the 2013/2014 State of California Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant program. According to state requirements, public comments can be submitted from Tuesday, March 4, 2014 through Monday, April 7, 2014. A three-step application process is now used by the State to allow public comment and feedback before final submittal. Public recommendations regarding the development of preliminary applications were solicited, received and considered by the Forest in February. The preliminary grant applications are due March 3, 2014. This opens the second public review and comment period. The Forest will review and consider the public comments and then submit their final grant applications on May 5, 2014. The State is using an Internet-based “On-Line Grant Application” process as the means to apply for State funding. At this time, San Bernardino National Forest is soliciting public input specific to the Forest’s 2013-14 grant application proposals for Cooperative Agreements with the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Division (OHMVD). We are encouraging the public to provide us with constructive criticism and/or suggestions that will enable us to better our program. The Forest will be submitting three preliminary grant applications. The grants include projects for ground operations (trail/facilities maintenance, trail/habitat monitoring and erosion/sediment control), law enforcement (patrols and safety/regulatory equipment) and for the Baldy Mesa Trails and Staging Area Development (trail construction/staging area improvements). The preliminary application will be available online by visiting the California State OHV Grants and Cooperative Agreements program at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov Hard copies may be requested by contacting Deveree Kopp (909) 382-2831 or dkopp@fs.fed.us The Division’s website will provide detailed instructions for accessing the preliminary application and submitting comments. Comments must be submitted via email to both the OHMVR Division and the San Bernardino National Forest. Comments to the San Bernardino National Forest should be submitted to Al Colby at acolby@fs.fed.us and to California State Parks by using the "Grants" tab on their website at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov State regulations require annual public participation in this fund allocation process. The agreements support OHV management activities on the national forest, including operations and maintenance, restoration, law enforcement, education and safety. The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation and the San Bernardino National Forest has maintained a successful partnership for more than 28 years, with funding assistance for well-managed OHV recreation on National Forest lands. In 2013, the Forest was successful in obtaining over five hundred thousand dollars in grant funds to provide the public with world-class OHV recreation opportunities. About the U.S. Forest Service: The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.