The Wrangell-Petersburg Invasive Plant Management Project Draft Decision Notice (DN), Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and additional information regarding the proposed project are available, prior to the final decision, for public review at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59576. Notification of the availability of the Draft DN was sent by email or letter to those who previously requested to be included on the project mailing list or submitted specific written comments related to the project.
The Wrangell-Petersburg Invasive Plant Management project proposes 1) a variety of invasive plant treatment methods (herbicide, manual and mechanical) on both NFS (including wilderness) and non-NFS lands, 2) no annual or long-term treatment acreage limit, 3) treatment of emergent vegetation, 4) the use of aminopyralid and the aquatic formulations of glyphosate and imazapyr, and 5) the Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) management strategy. The Responsible Officials for this project are Eric LaPrice, Petersburg District Ranger and Clint Kolarich, Wrangell District Ranger. Additional information regarding this proposed project can be obtained from: Carey Case, Project Leader, PO Box 1328, Petersburg, AK 99833, 907-419-6158 (phone), 907-772-5995 (fax), carey.case@usda.gov.
This proposed project is subject to a pre-decisional administrative review (objection) pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subpart B.
Objections will be accepted only from those who previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project either during scoping or other designated opportunity 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 based on new information arising after designated public comment opportunities.
Individual members of organizations must have submitted their own comments to be eligible to object; objections received on behalf of an organization are considered those of the organization only. If an objection is submitted on behalf of a number of individuals or organizations, each individual or organization listed must meet the eligibility requirements (36 CFR 218.5(d)). Names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record.
Incorporation of documents by reference in an objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection are identified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) and include: objector’s name and address with a telephone number if available (signature or other verification of authorship must be supplied upon request); identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed, along with verification upon request; name of project, name and title of the responsible official, national forest/ranger district of project; sufficient narrative description of those aspects of the proposed project objected to, specific issues related to the project, how environmental law, regulation, or policy would be violated, and suggested remedies which would resolve the objection; and statement demonstrating the connection between prior specific written comments on this project and the content of the objection, unless the objection issue arose after the designated opportunity for comment.
The Reviewing Officer is M. Earl Stewart, Tongass Forest Supervisor. Send objections to: M. Earl Stewart, Reviewing Officer, Tongass National Forest, Federal Building, 648 Mission Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6591, 907-225-3101 (phone), 907-228-6301 (fax),
objections-alaska-tongass@usda.gov.
Written objections, including any attachments, must be filed (regular mail, fax, email, hand-delivery, or express delivery) with the Reviewing Officer within 45 days following the publication date of this legal notice in the newspaper of record. Hand-delivered objections are being accepted by appointment only; to schedule hand-delivery contact Frank Sherman at 907-617-3222. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format compatible with the current version of MS Word. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9).
The publication date in the Petersburg Pilot, the newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection of this project. Those wishing to object to this proposed project should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Carey Case
