Paved trail comment period to close

The Sisters Ranger District will close a public comment period on the paved path projects in the Sisters area this month. Comments were reopened in early November after a public meeting on the controversial projects.

The public comment period, which was reopened on November 7 to allow for more public discussion about the project and included a public field trip, will close on Wednesday, December 18.

"We really appreciate the discussion that has come from the additional public-comment period and want to thank people for taking the time to learn more about the projects and provide us with their input," said Kristie Miller, Sisters District Ranger.

"We received a wide range of comments, and the input from these comments will be included in our discussion and consideration of these projects as we move forward," said Miller.

All comments on the Sisters-to-Black Butte Ranch paved path project will be addressed in the environmental assessment for that project. The public will be notified when that environmental assessment is completed and released.

According to the Forest Service, additional options in moving forward with the Sisters High School-to-Crossroads trail might include not developing the trail or analyzing other optional locations for a trail provided through the public's comments.

If the Sisters Ranger District analyzes additional locations for the trail, funding will need to found to conduct that analysis and all comments received during the reopened public comment period would be addressed in that analysis.

None of the projects have funding for construction. Only one grant is currently pending - a grant through the State Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) which would fund the Sisters-to-Tollgate portion of the trail. Gary Farnsworth of the Oregon Department of Transportation has said that the trail project is unlikely to be funded through the STIP.

For more information, contact Michael Keown, Sisters District Environmental Planner, at 541-549-7735.