in the Legal Notices folder within the Analysis folder.
Legal Notice
Notice of Opportunity to Object
Twisp Restoration Project
Final Environmental Assessment and Forest Plan Amendments
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Methow Valley Ranger District
The Twisp Restoration Project Draft Decision Notice and Final Environmental Assessment (EA) have been completed. This is a notice for the start of the Pre-Decisional Administrative Review (Objection) period. The Twisp Restoration Project Final EA documents a No Action Alternative and one Action Alternative. The action alternative includes thinning trees (both commercial and pre-commercial sizes) and using prescribed fire and biomass removal to reduce slash created by thinning treatments and reduce existing accumulations of fuels. The action alternative adjusts the road system by changing road status and constructing and decommissioning roads, replaces undersized culverts on non-fish-bearing streams, installs fish passage culverts where barriers exist on fish-bearing-streams, removes a campground causing impacts to ESA fish species, and fells danger/hazard trees along open roads. An analysis of the proposal was conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the implementing regulations of 40 CFR 1508. In addition, three project-specific forest plan amendments are proposed under the 2012 Planning Rule to the Okanogan National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. One amendment applies to 65 acres of Forest Plan Old Growth and two amendments apply to 4,131 acres of deer winter range within Management Areas 14 and 26 in the Twisp Restoration Project.
The 24,140-acre Twisp Restoration Project is principally located in the lower Twisp River, Alder Creek, Newby Creek, Poorman Creek, and Myers Creek drainages and the eastern slope of McClure Mountain. A small area lies at the west end of Twisp River Road. The project area includes portions of Township 32 North, Ranges 21-22 East; Township 33 North, Ranges 20-22 East; and Township 34 North, Ranges 18-21 East, Willamette Meridian, Okanogan County, Washington. Landmarks include Lookout Mountain and McClure Mountain.
The project is subject to pre-decisional administrative review pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. The 45-day objection period begins the day following publication of notice of opportunity to object in the Wenatchee World, the newspaper of record. Only individuals or organizations who submitted specific written or oral comments (36 CFR 218.2) during the designated opportunity for public participation (scoping or 30-day comment periods) may object (36 CFR 218.5). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project and attributed to the objector, unless the issue is based on new information that arose after the opportunities for comment. The burden is on the objector to demonstrate compliance with the requirement for objection issues 36 CFR 218.8(c).
Minimum requirements of an objection are described in 36 CFR 218.8d). An objection must include: 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 a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunities for comment. Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Objections can be submitted in several forms, but must be received by the Regional Forester, the Objection Deciding Officer, within 45 days from the date of publication of notice of objection in the Wenatchee World. The publication date in the Wenatchee World is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Attachments to the Objection received after the 45-day objection period will not be considered. Those wishing to object to this Draft Decision Notice should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
Objections may be submitted in the following ways:
1) Electronic Submission: Electronic objections will be accepted at objections-pnw-regional-office@usda.gov ;
2) Hand Delivered to: Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 1220 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, Oregon 97204 between 8:00am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday except legal holidays;
3) Fax: Objections may also be faxed to Regional Forester, Attn: 1570 Objections, at 503-808-2339. or
4) Mailed to: Regional Forester, Objection Reviewing Officer, Pacific Northwest Region, USDA Forest Service, Attn: 1570 Appeals and Objection, PO Box 3623 Portland, Oregon 97208-3623.
Objections delivered by mail must be received before the close of the fifth business day after the objection filing period.
If you have any questions concerning this project, please contact Eireann Pederson, Project Lead, at Eireann.pederson@usda.gov, or visit the above project website.
