Forest Service MVUM Revision Process and Problems

Nearly all national forests have published, or will soon publish, a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) depicting which roads and trails are open to public motor vehicle use. Each year, the Forest Service will reprint these MVUMs in order to reflect changes made to the transportation system over the preceding year. It is important to review the MVUM annually to make sure that the Forest Service is not adding roads and motorized trails to the maps without fi rst engaging the public and completing the requisite environmental analysis required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

This memo explains the republication requirements for changes to MVUMs, how activists can engage in this process, and how the Forest Service has handled this process so far.