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Legal Notice: Opportunity to Object Snowy Butte Landscape Restoration Project The Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact, and draft Decision Notice are now available for the Snowy Butte Landscape Restoration project. This proposed project is located on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, High Cascades Ranger District. The Responsible Official for this project is Lana Cruz, District Ranger. The project is located approximately 4.5 miles southeast of the city of Butte Falls, Jackson County, Oregon. This project would implement 26,635 acres of vegetation and watershed restoration activities and their connected actions to promote fire resiliency and forest health on Forest Service administered lands. These actions would also assist in sustaining the spring-fed municipal water supply within the Big Butte Springs Municipal Watershed that serves over 150,000 people in the Rogue Valley. Forest management treatments are necessary to promote fire resiliency, reduce fuel loading, and increase strategic fire suppression capabilities, especially considering the South Obenchain Fire (2020) and Salt Creek Fire (2024) came within a few miles of Medford Water Commission’s spring collection and treatment facilities. If a wildfire damages the municipal water intake infrastructure, it could disrupt the main supply of water for the Rogue Valley. Proposed project treatments would help protect the watershed from high severity fire by implementing forest management activities such as thinning and selecting for an appropriate mix of tree species native to the site which are adapted to fire and are more resistant to insect infestations, disease, drought, prolonged warmer temperatures, and less snowpack. In addition, one project-specific forest plan amendment is proposed under the 2012 Planning Rule to the Rogue River National Forest Plan as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan which would allow for Survey and Manage pre-disturbance surveys to occur after NEPA approval but remain as a condition for implementation prior to final project planning and implementation. The proposed project is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subpart A and B. To obtain a copy of the Final EA and draft Decision Notice please visit the project page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/rogue-siskiyou/projects/62126 The Reviewing Officer for this project is Molly Juillerat, Forest Supervisor, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. An objection, including attachments, must be filed (regular mail, hand-delivery or electronic submission) within 45 days of the publication date of this legal notice. Objections filed with the Reviewing Officer by postal mail will be sent or hand delivered to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Supervisor’s Office, 3040 Biddle Rd., Medford, OR 97504. Hand delivered objections can be received Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except legal holidays. Objections can be filed by electronic submission at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=62126 Objections will be accepted only 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 designated opportunities. The publication date of the legal notice in the newspaper of record, Rogue Valley Times, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection, and that those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. Written objections, including any attachments, must be filed with the reviewing officer within 45 days following the publication date of this legal notice. See 36 CFR 218.6 for information regarding computation of time periods. At a minimum, an objection must include the following: (1) Objector's name and address as defined in § 218.2, with a telephone number, if available; (2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); (3) When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector as defined in § 218.2. Verification of the identity of the lead objector must be provided upon request or the reviewing officer will designate a lead objector as provided in § 218.5(d); (4) The name of the proposed project, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name(s) of the national forest(s) and/or ranger district(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented; (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. Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided for at § 218.8(b). It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure that their objection is received in a timely manner. For online submissions, the sender should normally receive an automated electronic acknowledgement from the agency as confirmation of receipt. If the sender does not receive an automated acknowledgement of receipt, it is the sender’s responsibility to ensure timely receipt by other means.