LEGAL NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT
USDA FOREST SERVICE
BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST, HELL CANYON RANGER DISTRICT
SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS WATER SYSTEM ARGYLE ROAD SERVICE AREA SPECIAL USE PERMIT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The USDA Forest Service has prepared a supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Southern Black Hills Water System Argyle Road Service Area Special Use Permit project. The Responsible Official for this decision is Jeff Tomac, Forest Supervisor.
The Responsible Official is planning to implement the proposed amendment to the special use permit issued to the Southern Black Hills Water System to increase waterflow capacity through a water transmission pipeline from 109 gallons per minute to 300 gallons per minute. The existing pipeline travels through National Forest System lands for approximately 2.1 miles. Additionally, this amendment would change the source-well from the Streeter Well, permitted for a pumping capacity of 109 gallons per minute, to the Casey well, permitted for a pumping capacity of 300 gallons per minute. Both wells draw water from the Madison aquifer and are located on private land. The purpose of this amendment is to provide rural residents of the southern Black Hills area with a water source, storage, and delivery system.
The SEA and draft DN/FONSI for the Southern Black Hills Water System Argyle Road Service Area Special Use Permit are available upon request at the Hell Canyon Ranger District Office, 1019 N 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730. This document is also available on the Black Hills National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=32281, additional information regarding this proposed amendment can be obtained from Wendy Schuyler, District NEPA Planner, at (605) 673-9361 or by email at wendy.schuyler@usda.gov.
https://usfs-public.box.com/s/d31sz7586pc2ssvdhdgh5xfu7b6wyjte
The Southern Black Hills Water System Argyle Road Service Area Special Use Permit project is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this notice in the Rapid City Journal, the newspaper of record. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Objectors should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to 36 CFR 218.9.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless the issue is based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b). Objections that do not adhere to these requirements make review of an objection difficult and are conditions under which the reviewing officer may set aside an objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218.10. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=32281, with “SBHWS Project Objection” in the subject line. Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software (e.g., Word, PDF, Rich Text) and be searchable. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received.
Objections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at (303) 275-5134. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: SBHWS Project” and should specify the number of pages being submitted.
Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO 80401.
Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivered must be addressed to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO 80401. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Wendy Schuyler
