Tahoe National Forest (TNF) made the Pines to Mines Trail public documents available to the public today. CLICK HERE TO FIND THE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
The public has 30 DAYS in which to comment. From TFN: "To assure your comments are fully considered during the scoping phase of this proposal please submit them within 30 days."
TO COMMENT or OBJECT TO PROJECT:
<https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=61221>
CONTROVERSY OVER MOTORIZED USE
Trail users' representatives have been working on this trail for years as a designated non-motorized trail. Public support and money raised for the Pines to Mine Trail project specified it was to be a "non-motorized" trail. The controversy started at the August 2021 Nevada County Board of Supervisors meeting to approve funding. Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Eli Llano included into request for funding the environmental report the use of motorized e-bikes. The trail-using public and then the Nevada County Board of Supervisors objected and said they were not appraised of this change and would not provide the funding promised for the environmental report if e-bikes were allowed. Here is the article:
"Nevada Co Board of Supes approves funding for non-motorized Pines to Mines Trail without the addition of motorized e-bikes"
LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM NEVADA CO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
"The Nevada County Board of Supervisors would like to express their support for the proposed Pines To Mines Trail, a multi use, non-motorized trail connection between the Nevada County municipalities of Truckee and Nevada City. The trail will be suitable for use by hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers."
Complete letter CLICK HERE.
REGARDLESS OF OBJECTIONS, E-BIKES MENTIONED AS AN ALLOWABLE USE IN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
The e-bike inclusion is now in the public documents posted online. It is up to the public to object over the inclusion of allowable use of motorized e-bikes on the Pines to Mines non-motorized trail.
Here are the specific paragraphs in the Pines to Mines Trail public documents mentioning
e-bikes:
1. IN THE PINES TO MINE DRAFT OF PROPOSED ACTION
"Designation of allowable use – Designate the allowable uses of the proposed Pines to Mines Recreational Trails system. Forest Plan direction and Agency regulations, including the 2005 Travel Management Rule if applicable, along with different use scenarios and public input, will be assessed to determine the allowable uses. Potential uses include hiking/walking, running, mountain biking (including pedal-assist Class 1 EBike), and equestrian riding."
The trail map was cut off to not show the legend that specifies "non-motorized" trail, but the other links on the website include the trail map and do show the legend.
2. IN THE LEGAL NOTICE:
Designating the allowable uses of the proposed Pines to Mines Recreational Trails system. Forest Plan direction and Agency regulations, along with different use scenarios and public input, will be assessed to determine the allowable uses. Potential uses include hiking/walking, running, mountain biking (including pedal-assist Class 1 E-Bike), and equestrian riding.
3. IN THE PINES TO MINES SCOPING NOTICE
The project’s proposed actions include: Constructing approximately 16-18 miles of new, native surface, single-track trail from Eagle Lakes to Donner Summit connecting the existing Grouse Ridge and Hole in the Ground trails; Designating all, or portions of, approximately 50 miles of identified existing Forest Service System trails as part of the new Pines to Mines Recreational Trail system including Donner Lake Rim (15E75), Grouse Ridge (13E28), Hole in the Ground (14E25), Pioneer (09E11), and Spaulding Lake (12E40); and Designating the allowable uses of the proposed Pines to Mines Recreational Trails system. Forest Plan direction and Agency regulations, along with different use scenarios and public input, will be assessed to determine the allowable uses. Potential uses include hiking/walking, running, mountain biking (including pedal-assist Class 1 E-Bike), and equestrian riding.
4. ON THE MAPS
On each legend, trails are designated "non-motorized", but the new trail is not designated as such.
Copy of the email the public received today:
---------------- Begin Forwarded Message ----------------
Subject: Notice of Public Scoping
Date Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2022 4:00 PM
From: Brokaw, John - FS <[email protected]>
Dear Interested Party:
The Tahoe National Forest is initiating scoping for the proposed Pines to Mines Trail Project for the development of a multi-use native surface trail system connecting Nevada City, CA to Truckee, CA.
The proposed trail system would be approximately 68 miles in length and would include all, or parts, of existing Forest Service network trails, as well as some new trail construction.
The proposal will serve to promote safe and sustainable recreation opportunities on public lands while continuing to meet our responsibilities to protect and preserve public resources.
We encourage you to review the attached information and follow the instructions provided to submit comments about the project. To assure your comments are fully considered during the scoping phase of this proposal please submit them within 30 days. Detailed information about the proposed action is posted on the Tahoe National Forest website at:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61221
Thank you for your participation.
John I Brokaw
Environmental Coordinator
Forest Service
Tahoe National Forest, Yuba Ranger District
p: 530-265-4531
f: 530-478-6109
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, CA 95959-2250
www.fs.fed.us
<https://www.fs.fed.us>
<https://usda.gov/>
[Forest Service Twitter]<https://twitter.com/forestservice>
[USDA Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Forest-Service/1431984283714112>
Caring for the land and serving people
====
You can find the PINES TO MINES public documents here:
<https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61221>
The public has 30 DAYS in which to comment. From TFN:
"To assure your comments are fully considered during the scoping phase of this proposal please submit them within 30 days."
TO COMMENT or OBJECT TO PROJECT:
<https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=61221>
The public has 30 DAYS in which to comment. From TFN: "To assure your comments are fully considered during the scoping phase of this proposal please submit them within 30 days."
TO COMMENT or OBJECT TO PROJECT:
<https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=61221>
CONTROVERSY OVER MOTORIZED USE
Trail users' representatives have been working on this trail for years as a designated non-motorized trail. Public support and money raised for the Pines to Mine Trail project specified it was to be a "non-motorized" trail. The controversy started at the August 2021 Nevada County Board of Supervisors meeting to approve funding. Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Eli Llano included into request for funding the environmental report the use of motorized e-bikes. The trail-using public and then the Nevada County Board of Supervisors objected and said they were not appraised of this change and would not provide the funding promised for the environmental report if e-bikes were allowed. Here is the article:
"Nevada Co Board of Supes approves funding for non-motorized Pines to Mines Trail without the addition of motorized e-bikes"
LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM NEVADA CO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
"The Nevada County Board of Supervisors would like to express their support for the proposed Pines To Mines Trail, a multi use, non-motorized trail connection between the Nevada County municipalities of Truckee and Nevada City. The trail will be suitable for use by hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers."
Complete letter CLICK HERE.
REGARDLESS OF OBJECTIONS, E-BIKES MENTIONED AS AN ALLOWABLE USE IN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
The e-bike inclusion is now in the public documents posted online. It is up to the public to object over the inclusion of allowable use of motorized e-bikes on the Pines to Mines non-motorized trail.
Here are the specific paragraphs in the Pines to Mines Trail public documents mentioning
e-bikes:
1. IN THE PINES TO MINE DRAFT OF PROPOSED ACTION
"Designation of allowable use – Designate the allowable uses of the proposed Pines to Mines Recreational Trails system. Forest Plan direction and Agency regulations, including the 2005 Travel Management Rule if applicable, along with different use scenarios and public input, will be assessed to determine the allowable uses. Potential uses include hiking/walking, running, mountain biking (including pedal-assist Class 1 EBike), and equestrian riding."
The trail map was cut off to not show the legend that specifies "non-motorized" trail, but the other links on the website include the trail map and do show the legend.
2. IN THE LEGAL NOTICE:
Designating the allowable uses of the proposed Pines to Mines Recreational Trails system. Forest Plan direction and Agency regulations, along with different use scenarios and public input, will be assessed to determine the allowable uses. Potential uses include hiking/walking, running, mountain biking (including pedal-assist Class 1 E-Bike), and equestrian riding.
3. IN THE PINES TO MINES SCOPING NOTICE
The project’s proposed actions include: Constructing approximately 16-18 miles of new, native surface, single-track trail from Eagle Lakes to Donner Summit connecting the existing Grouse Ridge and Hole in the Ground trails; Designating all, or portions of, approximately 50 miles of identified existing Forest Service System trails as part of the new Pines to Mines Recreational Trail system including Donner Lake Rim (15E75), Grouse Ridge (13E28), Hole in the Ground (14E25), Pioneer (09E11), and Spaulding Lake (12E40); and Designating the allowable uses of the proposed Pines to Mines Recreational Trails system. Forest Plan direction and Agency regulations, along with different use scenarios and public input, will be assessed to determine the allowable uses. Potential uses include hiking/walking, running, mountain biking (including pedal-assist Class 1 E-Bike), and equestrian riding.
4. ON THE MAPS
On each legend, trails are designated "non-motorized", but the new trail is not designated as such.
Copy of the email the public received today:
---------------- Begin Forwarded Message ----------------
Subject: Notice of Public Scoping
Date Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2022 4:00 PM
From: Brokaw, John - FS <[email protected]>
Dear Interested Party:
The Tahoe National Forest is initiating scoping for the proposed Pines to Mines Trail Project for the development of a multi-use native surface trail system connecting Nevada City, CA to Truckee, CA.
The proposed trail system would be approximately 68 miles in length and would include all, or parts, of existing Forest Service network trails, as well as some new trail construction.
The proposal will serve to promote safe and sustainable recreation opportunities on public lands while continuing to meet our responsibilities to protect and preserve public resources.
We encourage you to review the attached information and follow the instructions provided to submit comments about the project. To assure your comments are fully considered during the scoping phase of this proposal please submit them within 30 days. Detailed information about the proposed action is posted on the Tahoe National Forest website at:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61221
Thank you for your participation.
John I Brokaw
Environmental Coordinator
Forest Service
Tahoe National Forest, Yuba Ranger District
p: 530-265-4531
f: 530-478-6109
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
631 Coyote Street
Nevada City, CA 95959-2250
www.fs.fed.us
<https://www.fs.fed.us>
<https://usda.gov/>
[Forest Service Twitter]<https://twitter.com/forestservice>
[USDA Facebook]<https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Forest-Service/1431984283714112>
Caring for the land and serving people
====
You can find the PINES TO MINES public documents here:
<https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61221>
The public has 30 DAYS in which to comment. From TFN:
"To assure your comments are fully considered during the scoping phase of this proposal please submit them within 30 days."
TO COMMENT or OBJECT TO PROJECT:
<https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=61221>
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