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The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests,  North River Ranger District, has prepared a final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and draft Decision Notice (DN) for the Feltz Ridge portion of the North Shenandoah Mountain Restoration and Management Project. This project is subject to the Pre-decisional Administrative Review Process (Objection Process) pursuant to 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. The EA, FONSI, and draft DN are available for review on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/gwj/?project=50342

Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.

Objections, including attachments, must be filed via web portal, email, postal service, or hand-delivery (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays). Objections must be filed with the Objection Reviewing Officer, Joby P. Timm, Forest Supervisor, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, at: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=50342 ; or via postal mail to 5162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke Virginia 24019-3050. Electronically filed objections may be submitted by email in word (.doc or .docx), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), and hypertext markup language (.html).

Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Daily-News Record. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection. 

At a minimum, an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)):

1. The objector’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available;
2. A signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection);
3. When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request);
4. The name of the proposed project, the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name(s) of the National Forest(s) and/or Ranger District(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented;
5. A description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and
6. A statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection.

Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.

If you have any questions concerning this project, please contact Gregg Slezak, Project Leader, at Gregg.Slezak@usda.gov. If you have any questions concerning the objection process, please contact Jay Martin by email at jay.martin2@usda.gov. Thank you for your interest in the management of your National Forests.