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The proposed Forest Service plan amendments are being developed in accordance with the planning regulations at 36 CFR 219 (2012).  Decisions by the Forest Service to approve “plan level” amendments to Land Management Plans (proposed amendments UNF-4 and RRNF-7) are subject to the Pre-Decisional Administrative Review Process Regulations at 36 CFR 219 Subpart B.  The term “plan level” refers to plan amendments that would apply to future management actions. 

The Forest Service will accept mailed emailed faxed and hand-delivered objections on the plan level amendments concerning this action for 60 calendar days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the newspapers of record for the Umpqua Rogue River-Siskiyou and Fremont-Winema National Forests. The publication date of the legal notice in these newspapers is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection and those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or time frame information provided by any other source.  It is the responsibility of the objector to ensure that the Reviewing Officer receives the objection in a timely manner.  The regulations prohibit extending the length of the objection filing period.

An objection must include the following (36 CFR 219.54(c)):

1. The objector’s name and address along with a telephone number or email address if available; 
2. Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection);
3. Identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed on an objection. 
4. The name of the plan plan amendment or plan revision being objected to and the name and title of the responsible official;
5. A statement of the issues and/or parts of the plan plan amendment or plan revision to which the objection applies;
6. A concise statement explaining the objection and suggesting how the proposed plan decision may be improved.  If applicable the objector should identify how the objector believes that the plan plan amendment or plan revision is inconsistent with law regulation or policy; and
7. A statement that demonstrates the link between prior substantive formal comments attributed to the objector and the content of the objection unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunities for formal comment.
8. All documents referenced in the objection (a bibliography is not sufficient) except that the following need not be provided:

• All or any part of a Federal law or regulation
• Forest Service Directive System documents and land management plans or other published Forest Service documents
• Documents referenced by the Forest Service in the planning documentation related to the proposal subject to objection and
• Formal comments previously provided to the Forest Service by the objector during the proposed plan plan amendment or plan revision comment period.

Decisions by the Forest Service to approve “project-specific” plan amendments (proposed amendments UNF-1 thru 3 RRNF-2 thru 6 and WNF-1 thru 5) are subject to the Administrative Review Process of 36 CFR 218 Subpart A and B in accordance with 36 CFR 219.59 (b).  The term “project specific” refers to amendments that would only apply to the proposed project and would not apply to any future management actions.  Refer to the applicable administrative review regulations for eligibility requirements.

The opportunity to object on the project specific amendments ends 45 calendar days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the newspapers of record for the Umpqua Rogue River-Siskiyou and Fremont-Winema National Forests.  The publication date of the legal notice in these newspapers is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection and those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or time frame information provided by any other source.

Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously submitted timely specific written comments regarding the Forest Service portion of the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment. Issues raised in objections must be based on issues raised in the previously submitted specific written comments unless the issues are based on new information arising after designated comment opportunities (§218.7(c)(2)(ii)). Only objections that are within the Forest Service’s decision space will be considered.

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. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.

At a minimum objections must include the following (§218.8(d)):

1.  List the name address and if possible a telephone number of the objector;
2. Provide a signature or other verification of authorship (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection);
3. Identify the lead objector when multiple names are listed on an objection;
4. Provide the name of the project being objected to the name and title of the responsible official and the name of the National Forest on which the project is located;
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 on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunity(ies) for comment.

Mail:  Objections can be mailed to the Reviewing Officer at the address below.  Objections delivered by mail must be postmarked by the closing day of the objection filing period and received before close of the fifth business day following the end of the objection period. 

Regional Forester (Reviewing Officer)

Pacific Northwest Regional Office

Attn: 1570 Objections

P.O. Box 3623

Portland OR 97208-3623

Hand-delivery:  Objections can be hand delivered to the Pacific Northwest Regional Office 1220 SW 3^rd Avenue Portland Oregon between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday except legal holidays.  Please note that this is a new physical address as of September 2013.

Fax:  Objections can be faxed to the Regional Forester Attn: 1570 Objections at (503) 808-2339.  Please verify receipt.

Objections not filed in a timely manner or those that do not meet the requirements described above will be set aside without further review.  For more information please see the Request More Info tab on the previous web page.