Opportunity to Object Community Protection – Central and West Slope Project
As the Responsible Official, Acting Forest Supervisor, Rick Hopson has prepared a draft Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) selecting Alternative 4 from the October 2024 Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Community Protection – Central and West Slope Project. This is the second decision to be issued for this project. Alternative 4 includes project-specific plan amendments to the Forest Plan. This alternative would reduce risk of wildfire to communities, evacuation corridors, critical infrastructure, and natural resources through a combination of treatments, while retaining mature forest habitat in areas critical for California spotted owl persistence. Proposed treatment methods include manual and mechanical vegetation removal, prescribed fire, herbicide application, and reforestation.
The Community Protection – Central and West Slope Project is located on the Plumas National Forest, in portions of the Beckwourth, Feather River, and Mt. Hough Ranger Districts.
The draft DN/FONSI, EA, and other supporting documents are available for review on the project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/plumas/?project=62873.
How to Object
This October 2024 draft decision is subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. Objections will only be accepted from those who submitted project-specific written comments during scoping or other designated comment period. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted comments unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities [36 CFR 218.8(c)]. Objections must be submitted within 45 days following the publication of the legal notice in The Mountain Messenger newspaper. The date of the legal notice is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframes provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure evidence of timely receipt (36 CFR 218.9).
Objections must be submitted to the Reviewing Officer: Jennifer Eberlien, Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service. Objections may be submitted online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/plumas/?project=62873. From this location, click on the “Comment/Object on Project” link on the right-hand side under the “Get Connected” box. Alternatively, you can use the following link to submit objections: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=62873. If you are unable to access the online form, written objections may be submitted by postal mail to: USDA Forest Service, Regional Forester, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592, Attn: Community Protection - Central and West Slope Project.
Objections must include (36 CFR 218.8(d)): 1) Objector’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available; 2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request; 3) When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector; 4) The name of the proposed project, name and title of the responsible official, and name(s) of the affected national forest(s) and/or ranger district(s); 5) A description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project; if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and, 6) A statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments and the content of the objection. Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b).
Ryan Bauer
