The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impactDN/FONSI) for the Spruce Vegetation Management Project (Spruce Project henceforth). The proposed action is to be located on the Northern Hills, Hell Canyon, and Mystic Ranger Districts of the Black Hills National Forest; south of Spearfish Canyon, east of the Wyoming/South Dakota border, north of the Crazy Horse Memorial and west of Interstate 90. The Responsible Official for this decision is Shawn Cochran, Forest Supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest. The Responsible Official is planning to implement the modified proposed action, which proposes vegetation management treatments on up to 3,556acres in mixed conifer forests to remove encroaching white spruce and restore historic conditions. Road activities to support vegetation treatments include approximately 41 miles of temporary road construction/closure, 22 miles of road reconstruction, and road maintenance. Slash disposal and weed suppression would be allowed as part of this project. The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Spruce Project are available upon request at the Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office, located at 1019 N. 5th Street Custer, SD 57730. This document is also available on the Black Hills National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=61599.Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Natural Resource Management Officer, Matt Daily, at 605-673-9313 or by email at matthew.daily@usda.gov. The Spruce 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 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. 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=61599[EV2], with “Spruce Vegetation Management 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. Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning 2nd floor, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO, 80401 Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning 2nd floor, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO, 80401 Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery. If you wish to fax an objection, please contact Scarlett Vallaire, Administrative Review Coordinator, via phone at 801-989-6605 or email at scarlett.vallaire@usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Louie Conroy
