The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District, is providing a final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and draft Decision Notice (DN) for the Balcony Falls to Buena Vista Transmission Line Replacement project. The project includes rebuilding approximately 5.5 miles of existing Dominion Energy Virginia electric 115kV electrical transmission lines that cross National Forest System (NFS) lands, within the existing right-of-way. The project proposal includes removal of existing wooden H-frame and steel lattice structures and construction of steel H-frame and steel pole structures. The project falls under the compliance of both the 2014 Revised George Washington National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and the 2004 Revised Jefferson National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
The project is an activity implementing a land management plan and not authorized under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) and is subject to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
Ojections, including attachments, must be filed via web portal, email, postal service, or hand-delivered (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays). Objections must be filed with the Objection Reviewing Officer, Ken Arney, Souther Regional Forester, at https//www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61796; via postal mail to 1720 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. Electronically filed objections may be submitted by email in word (.doc or .docx), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), and hypertext markup language (.html).
Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Roanoke Times. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection.
