Opportunity to Object
Little White Salmon Forest Resiliency and Fire Risk Mitigation Project
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
The Gifford Pinchot National Forest has prepared a final Environmental Assessment, draft Decision Notice (DN) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Little White Salmon Forest Resiliency and Fire Risk Mitigation Project.
The draft DN proposes to implement the proposed action while deferring a decision on travel management components and commercial thinning in mature LSR. The proposed action includes thinning, fuel management and restoration activities across 11,308 acres. The proposed action also includes two project-specific forest plan amendments proposed under the 2012 Planning Rule to the Gifford Pinchot Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan. The first amendment would allow 11 stands within the project area to exceed the assigned Visual Quality Objective (VQO) of Retention for an additional 2 years, beyond the 1 year allowed for in the Forest Plan, while meeting the Partial Retention VQO in the interim. The second amendment would allow for any required Survey and Manage pre-disturbance surveys to occur post-NEPA decision but prior to final project planning and implementation.
The amendment related to Survey and Manage survey timing has been added to the project since the previous opportunity for public comment. The Responsible Official has determined that none of the substantive requirements within 36 CFR 219.8 through 219.11 are directly related to the purpose for and/or the effects of the proposed amendment.
Additional information regarding this project can be obtained from:
Whitney Reynier
South Zone Planning Team Leader
509-395-3425
The Responsible Official for the project is Forest Supervisor, Johanna Kovarik. The proposed project is subject to the administrative review process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. The administrative review process at 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B will also apply to the project-specific forest plan amendments that are included in the decision (36 CFR 219.59(b)).
How to Object and Timeframe
The opportunity to object ends 45 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the newspaper of record, The Columbian. If the objection filing period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, objections will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day. The publication date of the legal notice in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. The day after publication of the legal notice is the first day of the objection-filing period. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted timely comments regarding
these planning efforts during any designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with the project objection requirements in §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project or activity during a public comment period, unless based on new information arising after designated comment opportunities. Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer.
At a minimum, the objection must include the following: Name, address, and if possible, a telephone number of the objector; signature or other verification of authorship (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); identification of the lead objector, when multiple names are listed on an objection; the name of the project being objected to, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name of the National Forest(s) and/or ranger district on which the project is located; a statement of the issues and/or the parts of the project to which the objection applies; if applicable, a statement explaining how the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies; and supporting reasons; and a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunities for comment.
Written objections, including attachments, must be filed with the Objection Reviewing Officer:
Jacqueline Buchanan
Regional Forester
1220 SW 3rd Ave.
Portland, OR
97204
The preferred method for submitting objections is electronically via the form below. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as a PDF (.pdf), Word (.doc, .docx), plain text (.txt), or rich text format (.rtf). The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered objections are: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Please state “Little White Salmon Forest Resiliency and Fire Risk Mitigation Project” on the envelope when filing by mail.
Objections received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who object, will be considered part of the public record on these proposed actions and will be available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Thank you for your interest in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
