Dear Interested Party
The Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Falls District are soliciting comments for the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness Management Plan and Environmental Assessment. The proposed action would provide management direction for the preservation of wilderness character by identifying the conditions and opportunities that would be managed for within the Wilderness and develop clear wilderness management objectives along with the actions by which these objectives would be achieved.
Background
On August 7 2015 President Obama approved the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Jerry Peak Wilderness Additions Act (Public Law 114-46) which included the designation of three new wilderness areas as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System including the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness. The U.S. Forest Service and BLM cooperatively administer the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness. (Please note that the planning process for the White Clouds and Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness is occurring separately.)
How to Comment and Timeframe
The plan and environmental assessment may be accessed at either agency’s website:
Both agencies provide project information on their respective sites but the documents are the same on both sites. You may also request hard copies or CDs containing the documents by contacting the SCNF Middle Fork Ranger District at 208-879-4101. For more information on the planning process and the wilderness area and to view interactive maps please visit the interagency project website at
http://arcg.is/2j9GNu4.
For the Forest Service this public involvement process is subject to routine NEPA scoping (36 CFR §218.24 and §218.25) and the objection procedures as directed by 36 CFR §219.52. It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to submit them by the close of the comment period. Only those who submit timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a public comment period established by the responsible official are eligible to file an objection under §218.
Written facsimile hand-delivered and electronic comments concerning this action will be accepted for 30 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Challis Messenger on October 26 2017. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for this analysis. Those wishing to comment should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the length of the comment period.
Written comments must be submitted to the responsible officer:
• Send an email to: comments-intermtn-salmon-challis-middlefork@fs.fed.us. Please indicate “Wilderness Plan” in the subject line. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an e-mail message plain text (.txt) rich text format (.rtf) and Word (.docx).
• Send a hardcopy letter to: Salmon-Challis National Forest Attn: Wilderness Plan; 1206 S. Challis Street Salmon ID 83467. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday excluding holidays.
• Comments may also be submitted by FAX to 208-879-4198. Include your mailing address and phone number.
For objection eligibility each individual or representative from each entity submitting timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request. Comments received in response to this request will be available for public inspection and will be released in their entirety if requested pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Please note that comments received will be available for public inspection at:
https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//ReadingRoom?Project=50223.The BLM and USFS will also offer several public meetings during the comment period:
• November 1 2017 from 12:00-2:00 PM in Mackay ID at the American Legion Hall (406 S. Main Street)
• November 1 2017 from 5:00-7:00 PM in Challis ID at the Challis-Yankee Fork/Middle Fork Ranger District Office (311 N. US HWY 93)
• November 13 2017 from 5:00-7:00 PM in Ketchum ID at the American Legion Hall (220 Cottonwood Street)
• November 14 2017 from 12:00-2:00 PM in Stanley ID at the Community Center (on Idaho Highway 21)
The public meetings listed above will encompass both planning efforts: the Jim McClure-Jerry Peak Wilderness Management Plan and the Hemingway-Boulders and White Clouds Wilderness Management Plan. Following this comment period the environmental assessment for this project will be made available for review and objection.
On behalf of both the Salmon-Challis National Forest and the BLM Idaho Falls District thank you for taking the time to review this project. Your comments concerns and observations are important to the development of the project. For more information please contact Emily Simpson Team Leader at (208) 630-3507.
1206 So. Challis Street , Salmon, ID, 83467
