Ensures CMA is consistent with roadless protections:During the public meetings there was some concern the proposed legislation could weaken the roadless rule.  New language ensures the legislation is now rock solid with respect to maintaining roadless values and ensures the CMA will be managed in accordance with applicable laws and rules. 

 

Temporary roads allowed with reasonable limitations:The Forest Service and some local land users questioned whether the CMA would still allow access for insects/disease work, fuel reduction projects and for firewood gathering.  Language was added that allows the Forest Service to build temporary roads for these purposes not more than ¼ mile along most of the existing road system which would be located outside roadless lands. 

 

Ensures Forest Service can plan for and advance vegetative management projects:New language clearly states nothing in the Act would prevent the Forest Service from carrying out forest management projects that are consistent with current regulations and policies. Thus, the CMA management language itself would not have an impact on a project like the proposed Benchmark Fuels Reduction Project.

 

Ensures cattle grazing would continue: The revised legislation responds to local rancher’s feedback by making it even more explicit that grazing is a permitted use in the CMA to be managed under applicable laws and regulations (i.e. same as today). 

 

Ensures access by game carts and mountain bikes: Hunters that utilize wheeled game carts and mountain bikers questioned whether they could lose access in the CMA but new revisions to the bill make clear that the designation’s management restrictions are on motorized -- not mechanized -- uses.

 

Ensures no BLM land is turned over for management by the Forest Service: In response to concerns from local ranchers who worried a transfer of land from one agency to another would cause unnecessary problems, this section of the bill was deleted and the BLM lands in the CMA will remain under BLM jurisdiction and continue to  be managed as Outstanding Natural Areas.