San Bernardino National Forest Service Seeks Public Comment On Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Application

Forest Service Seeks Public Comment On Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Application
Release Date: Mar 8, 2011

San Bernardino, Calif., March 8, 2011 – The Forest Service announced today that San Bernardino National Forest recreation managers will be seeking public comments on their proposals for the 2010/2011 State of California Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant program. According to state requirements, public comments can be submitted from March 8 through April 4, 2011.

A two-step application process is used by the State to allow public comment and feedback before final submittal. The preliminary application was due March 7, 2011. This will open a public review and comment period and will follow with final applications due May 2, 2011. The State is using an Internet-based “On-Line Grant Application” process as the means to apply for State funding.

San Bernardino National Forest is soliciting public input specific to the Forest’s 2011 grant application proposals for Cooperative Agreements with the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Division. The Forest will be submitting six grants applications. The grants includes projects for ground operations including trail maintenance and facilities management, restoration, law enforcement, shade development at OHV staging areas, and planning. 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 Linda Stamer (909) 382-2824.

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 “operations and maintenance” category is divided into four project types: acquisition, development, ground operations, and planning, with the emphasis on projects that sustain existing OHV recreation.

The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation and the San Bernardino National Forest have maintained a successful partnership for more than 25 years, with funding assistance for well-managed OHV recreation on National Forest lands. In 2010, the Forest was successful in obtaining several hundred thousand dollars in grant funds to provide the public with world-class OHV recreation opportunities.

For additional information about the San Bernardino National Forest, please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf