LEGAL NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT
USDA FOREST SERVICE
BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST, MYSTIC RANGER DISTRICT
JENNY GULCH GOLD EXPLORATION DRILLING PROJECT
The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Jenny Gulch Gold Exploration Drilling Project. The United States Forest Service (USFS) Black Hills National Forest (BHNF), Mystic Ranger District received a Plan of Operations (PO) from F3 Gold LLC on December 10, 2018, proposing to explore for gold, which falls under the locatable mineral regulations at 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 228 Subpart A (F3 Gold LLC. 2018. U.S. Forest Service Plan of Operations for F3 SC2019 Exploration Project). The Project site is located north of Silver City, Pennington County, South Dakota in Sections 19, 30, 31, T2N R5E and Sections 13, 14, 24, 25, T2N R4E. This Project includes diamond core drilling sites, access road maintenance (as needed), drill pad clearing (as needed), and reclamation activities. Two staging areas would be used to store equipment and tools. Main access from the north would be from National Forest System Road (NFSR) 261 (Jenny Gulch Road) via county Highway 237 (Rochford Road). The primary access from the south would be from NFSR 671 (Sunnyside Gulch Road) or NFSR 261 (Jenny Gulch Road) via Silver City Road. In addition, temporary overland trails may be constructed for drill site access. No mining, milling, or processing is proposed as part of this Project. The Project would last approximately one year from initiation through drilling and reclamation. The Responsible Official for this decision is James Gubbels, Mystic District Ranger. The Responsible Official is planning to implement Alternative C. The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Jenny Gulch Gold Exploration Drilling Project are available upon request at the Mystic Ranger District office, 8221 S. Mt. Rushmore Rd. This document is also available on the Black Hills National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57428. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Jessica Eggers, Mystic District NEPA Planner, at 605-343-1567. The Jenny Gulch Gold Exploration Drilling Project is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objections 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 Rapid City Journal, 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. Per 36 CFR § 218.26 (b), the Reviewing Officer must issue a written response to the objector(s) concerning their objection(s) within 45 days following the end of the objection filing period. The Reviewing Officer also has the discretion to extend the time for up to 30 days. If an objection is received, the Reviewing Officer has decided to extend the objection resolution period for 30 days for this project to ensure adequate consideration and response to the objection(s). 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. The following address must be used for objections sent by regular mail: Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Attn: Reviewing Officer, 1019 North 5th St., Custer, SD 57730. Objections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at 605-673-9350. The fax coversheet needs to include a subject line with “Jenny Gulch Gold Exploration Drilling Project Objection” and should specify the number of pages being submitted. Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=57428, with “Jenny Gulch Gold Exploration Drilling 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 sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Objection Reviewing Officer, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Attn: Objection Reviewing Officer, 1019 North 5th St., Custer, SD 57730. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm MST, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Jonathan Manning
