Forest Plan Amendment - Elk, Old Growth, Coarse Woody Debris and Snag Forest Plan Components #57302

This land management plan amendment is subject to objection pursuant to subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 219.

Objections to the Amendment, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this notice in the Ravalli Republic, 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 (36 CFR 219.56(b)(3)). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer. The regulations prohibit extending the length of the objection filing period. A timely submission will be determined as outlined in 36 CFR 219.56(c). All objections received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who object, will be considered part of the public record on the proposed amendment and will be posted to the Forest Service website.  

Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted timely comments efforts during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment in accordance with the amendment objection requirements of 36 CFR 219.53(a).

Only individuals or entities who previously submitted substantive formal comments about this land management plan amendment will be eligible to file an objection to the amendment unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunities for formal comment. Substantive formal comments are those that are within the scope of the proposal, are specific to the proposal, have a direct relationship to the proposal, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider (36 CFR 219.62).

The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in 36 CFR 219.54(c):

1. The objector’s name and address (219.62), along with a telephone number or email address if available;
2. Signature or other verification of authorship upon request ( a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection);
3. Identification of the lead objector, when multiple names are listed on the objection. The Forest Service will communicate to all parties to an objection through the lead objector. Verification of the identity of the lead objector must also be provided if requested;
4. The name of the plan amendment being objected to and the name and title of the responsible official;
5. A statement of the issues and /or parts of the amendment to which the objection applies;
6. A concise statement explaining the objections and suggesting how the proposed plan amendment may be improved. If the objector believes that the plan amendment is inconsistent with law, regulation  or policy, and explanation should be included;
7. A statement that demonstrates the link between the objector’s prior substantive formal comments and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunities for formal comment;

1. All or any part of the Federal law or regulation;
2. Forest Service Directive System documents and land management plan or other published Forest Service documents;
3. Documents referenced by the Forest Service in the planning documentation related to the proposal subject to objection, and d. Formal comments previously provided to the Forest Service by the objector during the plan amendment comment period.

Attn: Bitterroot Forest Plan Amendment

26 Fort Missoula Road 

Missoula, MT 59804 

Hand Delivery: Submit an objection via hand delivery, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays at USDA Forest Service, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. 

Objections not filed in a timely manner or those that do not meet the requirements described above will be set aside without further review. For more information, please see the Request More Info tab on the previous web page.