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M~526 Public Involvement and Cooperation The overall goal for public participation was to identify and have all potentially affected interests (PAis) informed and participating in the revision effort. Bringing individuals with different interests and federal, state and local governments together to discuss the issues being addressed in the Plan Revision was an opportunity that was pursued. External Participation More than 1,500 individuals, groups, organizations and agencies were contacted and/or have participated in the planning process through the Forest's public involvement efforts. Contacts have been through newsletters, one-on-<lne contacts, news releases, advertisements (newspaper and radio), open houses, informational meetings and the efforts of the White River National Forest Association. The Association is a non-profit citizen's organization that offered to help the Forest throughout the planning process. Another aspect of public involvement included the creation of four work groups. These groups (biological diversity, travel management, recreation and special areas) were designed to bring individuals with similar interests together to develop management options. These options were considered by the Forest throughout the alternative development process. Internal Participation White River National Forest employees manage the Forest's resources on a daily basis and continually interact with the public. Employees know what the issues are and what concerns the public has. Two all-employee meetings were held to inform employees of the revision process, issues that were being identified, and public participation opportunities. The Forest Plan Revision was a topic of discussion at all employee briefings. The interdisciplinary team (10 Team) that leads the analysis process for the revision is made up of Forest employees. Employees from all over the Forest assisted with the inventory and analysis, visited with the public and helped develop alternatives. Site-Specific Decisions A notice of intent (NOI) was issued in August 1997 that stated the Forest Plan was being revised and an EIS was going to be prepared. In addition to the Forest Plan decisions, the NOI identified two site-specific decisions that would be tiered to the EIS -a travel management plan and closures of vacant range allotments. These two decisions will be made by the Forest Supervisor. Both of these decisions, and the pUblic involvement activities that have been done specifically for them, are described as follows: Travel management. For each of the six alternatives there is a site-specific travel management plan that identifies uses allowed on each individual road and trail on the Forest. Each alternative in the Forest Plan, therefore, will identify a different set of road and trail restrictions. -- 6-