Santa Fe forest releases road statement

SANTA FE (AP) - Half or more of the roads and trails currently open to motorized travel in the Santa Fe National Forest would be closed under a draft travel management plan released Thursday.

A final version of the plan will create a map designating a system of roads and trails that are open to trucks, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and other motorized vehicles on 1.6 million acres of national forest land in northern New Mexico.

All national forests are required to create the so-called travel management plans to control the impacts of motorized vehicles on natural resources.

Acting Forest Supervisor Erin Connelly says officials will be opening a 45-day public comment period after the draft plan is published in the Federal Register, which should happen by the end of July.

Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican