The Friends of Allegheny Wilderness announced the Allegheny National Forest released the Environmental Assessment for the proposed Tracy Ridge Mountain Biking On Hiking Trails Project late Friday afternoon.

The FAW believes the highest use for the entire 9,700-acre proposed Tracy Ridge Wilderness Area in McKeanand Warren counties (including nine miles of the spectacular North Country National Scenic Trail), is permanent protection under the federal Wilderness Act of 1964.

FAW has consistently opposed allowing biking on the hiking-only trails within the Wilderness Area.

Bradford District Ranger Rich Hatfield’s cover letter for the Tracy Ridge Mountain Biking On Hiking Trails Project is available online and the Environmental Assessment are available online.

The legal notice for the Tracy Ridge Mountain Biking On Hiking Trails Project is expected to be published in the Warren Times Observer newspaper on Monday, December 26.

The 30-day comment period starts the day after the legal notice’s publication.

Individuals who wish to provide written comments should mail them to the “Tracy Ridge Project,” USDA Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District, Attention: Rich Hatfield, 29 Forest Service Drive, Bradford, PA 16701.

For those submitting hand-delivered comments, Bradford Ranger District office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding the holidays.

Submit oral comments via telephone at 814-363-6098, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. To 4:30 p.m., and by fax at 814-362-2761.

Email comments must be sent to: comments-eastern-allegheny-bradford@fs.fed.us,  and have the project name in the subject line, your name, and mailing address in one of the following formats: e-mail message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), Word (.doc) or any software supported by Microsoft applications.

If no identifiable name is attached to an electronic message, a verification of identity will be required for objection eligibility. A scanned signature is one way to provide verification.

For more information, contact the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness by calling 814-723-0620 or send email to: info@pawild.org.

[Posted Dec. 23, 2016]

12/26/2016