LEGAL NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT
USDA FOREST SERVICE
BIGHORN NATIONAL FOREST
INVASIVE AND OTHER SELECT PLANT MANAGEMENT
The USDA Forest Service has prepared a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and draft record of decision (ROD) for the Invasive and Other Select Plant Management project. The proposed action is located on the Bighorn National Forest. The project area is the entire Bighorn National Forest which includes approximately 1.1 million acres of National Forest System (NFS) land in four Wyoming counties: Big Horn, Johnson, Sheridan, and Washakie. The Responsible Official for this decision is Andrew Johnson, Forest Supervisor of the Bighorn National Forest.
The Responsible Official proposes to implement Alternative 2, the proposed action, which would authorize the following activities within the project area: (1) annual treatment of up to 5,310 acres of invasive plant species and 5,100 acres of mountain big sagebrush on the Bighorn National Forest using a condition-based and integrated invasive plant treatment strategy of manual, mechanical, biological, and cultural treatments, including aerial and ground-based application of herbicide; (2) treatment of newly introduced plant species that are classified as noxious weeds or Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) species by Big Horn, Johnson, Sheridan, or Washakie Counties, or the State of Wyoming; (3) the use of select, new, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered herbicides, some of which are more species-specific such as only affecting annual grasses. For aerial applications, the targeted application of herbicides by small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), more commonly referred to as drones, would be the preferred tool. However, application by larger fixed and rotor wing aircraft would be used when necessary and appropriate.
The following preferential order of treatment methods would be used within the project area for mountain big sagebrush to achieve desired ecosystem and habitat conditions: prescribed burning, mowing, ground-based application of herbicides, and aerial application of herbicides. Resource protection measures listed in Appendix A of the FEIS would be an integral part of the implementation actions to reduce impacts of the proposed activities. If resource protections measures do not adequately mitigate concerns raised for risks associated with treatment, then the line officer could decide not to treat certain areas at that time.
The FEIS and draft ROD for the Invasive and Other Select Plant Management project are available upon request at the Bighorn National Forest Supervisor’s office, 2013 Eastside 2nd Street, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801. This document is also available on the Bighorn National Forest’s project website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57457. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Thad Berrett, project lead, at 307-684-4636 or by e-mail at wayne.t.berrett@usda.gov.
The Invasive and Other Select Plant Management 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 Casper Star Tribune, 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. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
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://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57457 and selecting “Comment/Object on Project” from the right-side menu. Include “Invasive and Other Select Plant Management Project Objection” in the subject line of the objection. 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: Invasive and Other Select Plant Management” 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, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Thad Berrett
