Comment on quiet areas for Huron-Manistee Forests

The U.S. Forest Service is considering making a small portion of the Huron-Manistee National Forests in lower Michigan a nonmotorized quiet area.

Currently, almost the entirety of both national forests is open to snowmobiles, off-road vehicles and firearm hunting. This proposal would set aside a small portion, about 7 percent, for hikers, cross-country skiers and birdwatchers.

Even though most people who visit the forests do so to animal watch or cross-country ski, the snowmobiling and hunting groups are lobbing hard against any restrictions on their access. Unless the he U.S. Forest Service hears from silent sports enthusiasts by February 11, the majority of the users could be literally drowned out and displaced.

The public comment period is a result of a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit requiring the Forest Service to evaluate the environmental impacts of a proposed ban on firearm hunting and snowmobile use, subject to existing rights, in semiprimitive nonmotorized management areas.

Comments must be received by February 11. A comment form can also be found on the forest website www.fs.usda.gov/hmnf. Comments may also be e-mailed to comments-eastern-huron-manistee@fs.fed.us, and should contain the subject line "Forest Plan SEIS." Written comments should be sent to Forest Planner, Huron-Manistee National Forests, 1755 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac, MI 49601 or faxed to 231/775-5551.