The proposal is to authorize placer mining activities for gold in the North Fork of Sheep Creek area of the North Fork Ranger District. Up to approximately 100 cubic yards of material would be processed over a five year period.
USDA Forest Service
Salmon-Challis National Forest
Lemhi County, Idaho
Legal Notice of Opportunity to Object
2026 North Fork Sheep Creek Placer Project
The North Fork Ranger District has completed the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for the 2026 North Fork Sheep Creek Placer Project. The draft DN/FONSI identifies the proposed action as the selected alternative, authorizing placer gold mining in the North Fork Sheep Creek area on National Forest System lands open to mineral entry under the amended 1872 Mining Law. The approved mineral activities would involve highbanking with a sluice using water pumped from the creek, along with a 4 x 8 trommel for material processing. Up to approximately 100 cubic yards of material would be processed annually over a five-year period. Access to the sites would occur via existing system and non-system routes, with no new road construction proposed. Reclamation would occur concurrently, and annual disturbance within the project area would not exceed 0.50 acres.
The Responsible Official is Jonathan LeBlanc, District Ranger and the Objection Reviewing Officer is Heather DeGeest, Forest Supervisor. The Final EA and Draft DN/FONSI are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/salmon-challis/projects/68949. For additional information, contact Glenwood Brittain at glenwood.brittain@usda.gov.
This action is subject to the predecisional administrative review process outlined in Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 218, Subparts A and B.
Eligibility to File Objections
Objections can be accepted only from individuals and entities who have submitted timely, specific written comments regarding a proposed project or activity subject to these regulations during any designated opportunity for public comment, per the regulations at 36 CFR 218.5(a). Additional eligibility is established in 36 CFR 218.5(b) through (f). 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 for comment. A connection to previous comments must be demonstrated in the objection.
Individual members of organizations must have submitted their own comments to meet the requirements of eligibility as an individual. Objections received on behalf of an organization are considered as those of the organization only. If an objection is submitted on behalf of several individuals or organizations, each individual or organization listed must meet the eligibility requirement of having previously submitted comments on the project (36 CFR 218.5). Names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record.
Contents of an Objection
Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection as identified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) include:
Objector’s name and address with a telephone number if available; with signature or other verification of authorship supplied upon request.
Identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed, along with verification upon request.
Name of project, name and title of the responsible official, national forest/ranger district where project is located.
Sufficient narrative description of those aspects of the proposed project objected to, specific issues related to the project, how environmental law, regulation, or policy would be violated, and suggested remedies which would resolve the objection; and
A statement demonstrating the connection between prior specific written comments on this project and the content of the objection unless the objection issue arose after the designated opportunities for comment.
Filing an Objection
Objections must be postmarked (if sent via postal mail), faxed, or submitted electronically at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=308267 within 45 days following publication of this legal notice. Mailed objections should be sent to: Objection Reviewing Officer, 2026 North Fork Sheep Creek Placer, Salmon-Challis Supervisor’s Office, 1206 S. Challis St., Salmon, ID 83467. Objections may be faxed to 208-756-5151. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as Portable Document Format (pdf), plain text (.txt), or Word (.doc or .docx) though the “Comment/Object on Project” link on the project webpage. Electronic file names must be less than 85 characters long (including spaces). Hand delivery of written objections can be made during normal working hours to the Salmon-Challis Supervisor’s Office, 1206 S. Challis St., Salmon, ID 83467. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9).
The publication date in the Recorder Herald, newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection to this project. Those wishing to object to the draft DN/FONSI should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
The form below can be used to submit your comments to the responsible project official.
National Forests have the option to post comments for public viewing on this web site via a public reading room. Active reading rooms allow the public to read or download your letter, including your contact information. If this project has an active reading room, a link labeled “Public Comment Reading Room” will appear on the main project page. The agency may withhold letters containing proprietary information, sensitive cultural or habitat locations, profanity, etc. All letters, including those not posted, will be considered and included as part of the project record.
Disclaimer: All contact information is optional; however, anonymous comments will not provide standing to object.
