Newsroom - Comment Sought on the Furnace Creek Road Environmental Assessment 
 
News Release
USDA Forest Service

Inyo National Forest
 
Contact:

Jan Cutts
(760) 873-2481

Nancy Upham
(760) 873-2427
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Bishop, CA, (January 18, 2005) The Inyo National Forest and the Ridgecrest Office 
of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are seeking comment on the Furnace Creek
 Road Environmental Assessment. This document analyzes and discloses the environmental
 effects of six alternatives that respond to the issues associated with the Furnace Creek Road. 

The Furnace Creek Road originates on BLM land off of Highway 264 in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada. 
Currently, there is an interim closure prohibiting motorized use of the road 2.5 miles from Highway 
264. This interim closure will remain in place pending the outcome of the Environmental Assessment. 
The EA is a joint project between the Forest Service and the BLM, with the Forest Service taking the 
lead agency role. A final decision on the road is expected in the spring. 

In addition to the No Action alternative and the original Proposed Action alternative of closing the 
road to motorized and mechanized use, the EA analyzes four alternatives that permit varying levels
 of motorized access on the Furnace Creek Road. Alternative 3 permits full-size motorized access
 on the BLM segment of the road and closes the Forest Service segment to motorized and mechanized
 use. Alternative 4 permits full-size vehicle use on the BLM segment and limits motorized use on the 
Forest Service segment to vehicles 50’’ in width and less. Alternative 5 limits motorized use of both 
the BLM and Forest Service segments of the road to vehicles 50’’ in width and less. Alternative 6 
permits full-size motorized vehicles on both the BLM and Forest Service segments. 

Based on the environmental analysis in the document, the past use patterns of the road, relevant 
management direction, and public input received up to this point, the Forest Service and BLM 
believe that Alternative 4 appears to be the best alternative to resolving the issues around the 
Furnace Creek Road. This alternative provides both protection of the riparian resources in the 
Furnace Creek Canyon and an adequate level of motorized access on the road. However, a 
decision on the project has not been made and public comment on the environmental assessment
 is requested, particularly on the analysis for Alternative 4. 

Two public meetings have been scheduled to discuss the Furnace Creek Road EA. The first will 
be Wednesday, February 2, at the Presbyterian Church, 585 North Main Street, in Bishop, CA at 
7:00 PM. The second will be on Thursday February 3, at the Fish Lake Valley Community Center
 in Dyer, Nevada, starting at 5:00 PM. The purpose of these meetings is to answer questions 
related to the Furnace Creek Road Environmental Assessment and to provide an opportunity 
for the public to submit public comment on the analysis. 

For more information on the EA or these meetings, or to obtain a copy of the EA, please contact 
Rich Hatfield, Furnace Creek Team Leader, at 760-873-2452.