CHADRON, Neb. - The Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands will host an open house to discuss the proposed travel management plan for motorized travel on the Pine Ridge Ranger district and other National Forests and Grasslands.

The public is invited to the event, set for 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Motel 6 conference room in Chadron.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement detailing the proposal has just been released.

The plan allows motorized access to National Forests and Grasslands only on a designated road and trail system, in compliance with a federal rule regarding off-highway vehicles and other motor vehicle use that was published in November 2005.

The open house provides an opportunity to ask questions and register comments about the plan.

"This federal rule affects all users of the national forests, whether you are recreating on foot, horseback or with a motorized vehicle," said Jane Darnell, Forests & Grasslands Supervisor,in a news release.

"We're hoping for a large turnout so people have a chance to look at the proposal, ask questions and tell us what they think."

Darnell said she intends to make a final decision in early 2010, and publish a Motor Vehicle Use Map later in the year.

The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands are in central and western Nebraska and central and western South Dakota. This area has two national forests, three national grasslands, a tree nursery and is host to a Job Corps facility, according to the U.S. Forest Service's Web site.

For more information, visit www.fs.fed.us/r2/nebraska.