Forest Plan Revision
Shoshone National Forest
808 Meadow Lane Avenue
Cody, WY 82414

RE: Comments on Shoshone Forest Plan

Dear Revision Team,

I strongly oppose any changes in the Shoshone Forest Plan that would weaken protections for valuable wildlife habitat in the forest, including roadless areas and other wildlands. Instead, I urge that you strengthen protections in areas where certain kinds of activity pose a hazard to wildlife.

To improve upon the existing plan, the new draft should:

• Prohibit road construction and timber harvesting in all Inventoried Roadless Areas, including the Beartooth Plateau, Sunlight Basin, Franc's Peak, North Fork and elsewhere;
• Prohibit surface disturbance and exploration for oil and gas activities, while keeping motorized vehicles out of suitable grizzly bear habitat;
• Manage all biologically suitable habitat for grizzly bear occupancy, and establish concrete standards to limit conflicts between humans and grizzly bears in both the North Fork corridor and in backcountry hunting grounds;
• Using field data and research, inventory all roadless areas that are suitable and available for wilderness recommendations; and
• Update the assessment of domestic livestock grazing impacts on critical habitat and implement a range management plan that reduces grazing conflicts by granting forage priority to native wildlife, especially in key habitats such as riparian zones.

In addition, the new draft should retain several measures from the existing plan that have proved critical to preserving the unique natural character of the Shoshone. It should prohibit any net gain of roads on the forest, and maintain current protections for the Dunoir Special Management Unit. I also urge you to recommend this unit for wilderness protection, and to enforce violations of the plan by illegal ATV, snowmobile and mountain bike use.

The Shoshone National Forest is a place of unparalleled natural beauty and should be managed so that future generations can enjoy its pristine lands and native wildlife.

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