Duarte

A group of Duarte residents who live just south of Van Tassel Canyon Road is protesting a proposal by the U.S. Forest Service to open the road to off-road vehicles. The road, currently closed to public use, is being considered as a means of giving off-highway vehicles access to the forest, said Jim Soeth, forest recreation planner.

Peg Key, a resident of the area, said she is concerned about dust, dirt and noise and that the road would be open at night. The Forest Service is accepting letters of protest until Sept. 20. Soeth said that other access areas are being considered and that the service would have to get easements across private land in order to open Van Tassel.