Old news but informative...

An archived KOMU story from 2004 by Brock Spencer: More ATV Trails:
The Environmental Impact:

The plan to open new ATV trails in Mark Twain National Forest, also opened the dispute between the U.S. Forest Service and environmental groups.

The Forest Service wants to open trails in Missouri at the Potosi District near Palmer, at the Cherokee Pass near Fredericktown and at the Popular Bluff District near Williamsville. The trails would allow the Forest Service to study the environmental impact of ATV’s in the forest.

Environmental groups disagree with adding new trails and the way the Forest Service plans to study it. They argue that ATV’s cause a significant amount of damage and the study would violate the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The Forest Service plans don’t include studying four-wheeler use at the Cedar Creek District near Ashland. Carol Trokey, Cedar Creek Forester, explains her district would not make sense for ATV use because it is small land base with scattered ownership. The District owns 16,500 acres, but a lot of areas are fenced because of private ownership and the soil doesn’t have a lot of rock to withstand off-road vehicle use.

The addition of new trails resurfaced a year ago when Dennis Sparks, founder of the South Eastern Missouri ATV club (SEMO), walked into the Poplar Bluff District office of Mark Twain National Forest, and asked why can’t we drive ATV’s in the District?

Henry Hickerson, the Poplar Bluff Ranger, said, “ he couldn’t give him a good sound reason.”

Charlotte Wiggins, Mark Twain National Forest Spokeswoman, said the Forest Service began working with ATV groups like SEMO and JEEP Thing Club over the summer to “develop and embrace current historic use areas like the Potosi District.” The JEEP Thing Club helped map trails near Palmer with global positioning satellite tools.

While the Forest Service worked with ATV groups, environmental groups like the Sierra Club and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment felt they were kept in the dark.
Sierra Club Director Ken Midkiff: finds the situation “nothing but a backroom deal.” His group advocates against the creation or use of any ATV trails in Mark Twain Forest.

The Sierra Club says four-wheelers tear up the forest, cause erosion, and destroy habitats.

Ted Heisel, executive director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, says he was surprised at how hard it was and how long it took for him to hear about the new study.

The Forest Service plans to open old mining and homestead trails in the Potosi and Poplar Bluff Districts that won’t cause any new impact to the forest because the trails were established many years ago.

Midkiff says the Sierra Club plan to seek litigation, if the Forest Service doesn’t create an environmental impact statement.

The Forest Service expects to release trail maps in December and January to get public comment.