The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Redstone to McClure Pass Trail Project. The proposed action is to be located on the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District of the White River National Forest. The Responsible Official for this decision is Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams.
The Responsible Official is planning to implement the Proposed Action, which proposes to provide a special use authorization to Pitkin County, allowing the county to construct and maintain a nonmotorized recreation trail between Redstone and the McClure Pass summit. The trail would be about 7 miles long, following the shoulder of Highway 133 for about 2 miles between Redstone and Hayes Falls; a historic wagon road, a section of the highway, and the Old McClure Pass Road for about 4.3 miles; and a new trail corridor to reach the McClure Pass summit. Most of the sections of trail on Forest Service land will be closed to all visitor use from December 1 through April 30 to protect elk winter range.
The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Redstone to McClure Pass Trail Project are available upon request at the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District office, 620 Main Street Carbondale, Colorado 81623. This document is also available on the White River National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56913. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Shelly Grail Braudis, Recreation Manager at shelly.grail@usda.gov.
The Redstone to McClure Pass Trail Project is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this notice in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, the newspaper of record. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Objectors should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to 36 CFR 218.9.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless the issue is based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b). Objections that do not adhere to these requirements make review of an objection difficult and are conditions under which the reviewing officer may set aside an objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218.10. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=56913 with “Redstone to McClure Pass Trail Project Objection” in the subject line. Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software (e.g., Word, PDF, Rich Text) and be searchable. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received.
Objections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at 303-275-5134. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: “Redstone to McClure Pass Trail Project” and should specify the number of pages being submitted.
Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO, 80401.
Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO 80401. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m., excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.
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Shelly Grail
