Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As the Responsible Official, I have prepared a draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for the 2021 Wildfire Roadside Danger Tree Mitigation Project Environmental Assessment (EA). The draft DN would authorize implementation of the 2021 Wildfire Roadside Danger Tree Mitigation Project proposed action. Information regarding this project is available for your review on the project website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/umpqua/?project=62951.
The project is on the Umpqua National Forest within the perimeters of the 2021 Devils Knob Complex, Rough Patch Complex, and Jack Wildfires (referred to as the 2021 Wildfires) located in the Cottage Grove, North Umpqua, Diamond Lake, and Tiller Ranger Districts. The Forest is proposing to fell standing danger trees within or immediately adjacent to the 2021 Wildfire perimeter on 139 miles of identified Maintenance Level (ML) 2 through 4 National Forest System roads open to the general public on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).
The danger tree mitigation treatment area would cover approximately 7,492 acres with these site- specific treatments: hand fall and leave, fuel treatment, or commercial treatment. Commercial treatment of wood includes both saw timber removal and the removal of biomass; fuel treatment includes the removal of biomass. Following the felling, activity fuel treatments may be implemented. Activity-generated fuels and slash within roadside treatment areas would be lopped and scattered, machine or hand piled and burned, or removed depending on site conditions. Road maintenance, repair and reconstruction, associated with the felling and removal of danger trees, repair of damage from fire suppression, and repair of damage from the fire. Rock pit operations would be implemented in order to source material for road maintenance and reconstruction.
This proposed 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 another designated comment period. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment period(s).
Written objections must be submitted within 45 days following the publication of this legal notice in The News-Review, the newspaper of record. The date of this 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 (36 CFR 218.3): Alice Carlton, Forest Supervisor, USDA Forest Service; Attn: 2021 Wildfire Danger Tree Project; 2900 NW Stewart Pkwy, Roseburg, OR 97471, phone (541) 957-3200.
Objections must include (36 CFR 218.8(d)):?1) name, address and telephone; 2) signature or other verification of authorship; 3) identification of a single lead objector when applicable; 4) project name, Responsible Official name and title, and name of affected National Forest(s) and/or Ranger District(s); 5) reasons for, and suggested remedies to resolve, your objections; and, 6) description of the connection between your objections and your prior comments (36 CFR 218.8(d)). Incorporate documents by reference only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b).
For additional information, contact Kaitlin Tidwell at kaitlin.tidwell@usda.gov or by phone at 541-496-4194.
Thank you for your interest in this project.
Sincerely,
David Andersen
Kaitlin Tidwell
