The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Booth Creek Fuels Project. The proposed action is located on the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District of the White River National Forest on either side of Interstate 70 adjacent to the Vail, Colorado. The Responsible Official for this decision is Eagle-Holy Cross District Ranger, Leanne Veldhuis.
The Responsible Official is planning to implement the Selected Alternative, which proposes the following fuels reduction activities: 1) hand treatment with chainsaws and pile burning, 2) mechanical treatment and pile burning, 3) broadcast burning, 4) hand treatments with chainsaws or non-motorized equipment and pile burning, and 5) hand treatment with chainsaws and pile burning and broadcast burning. The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Booth Creek Fuels Project are available upon request at the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District office, 24747 US Highway 24, Minturn, Colorado. These documents are also available at website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61657. The contents of the EA are also summarized and available for review using a multi-media summary at: https://arcg.is/1iKb0v.
Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Leanne Veldhuis, District Ranger, at 970-471-1796 or by e-mail at Leanne.Veldhuis@usda.gov.
The Booth Creek Fuels 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 Vail Daily, 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=61657 with “Booth Creek Fuels 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 can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at 303-275-5134. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: Booth Creek Fuels Project” 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, 8:00am-4:30pm, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Leanne Veldhuis
