Comments including anonymous comments will be accepted at any time. However comments posted after the close of a designated comment period may not be able to be given full consideration. Anonymous comments and comments submitted after the close of the final designated comment period will not provide the commenter standing for administrative review.
The Forest Service values public participation. Communications from the public regarding this project including commenter’s names and contact information will become part of the public record.
Comments or in some cases other expressions of interest along with respondent’s contact information submitted during the comment period may be necessary to establish a respondent’s eligibility to participate in an administrative review for this proposed action. Interested members of the public should review the proposal’s information to determine the applicable administrative review process and the eligibility requirements for that process. The date of the legal notice of opportunity to comment on this proposed action is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period. For proposals to be documented with an Environmental Assessment the legal notice announcing the comment period appears in the Newspaper of Record . For Draft Environmental Impact Statements the Notice of Availability announcing the comment period appears in the Federal Register.
How to File an Objection and Timeframes
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). Issue raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
Objections including attachments must be filed via mail fax email hand-delivery express delivery or messenger service (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding holidays) to: National Forests in North Carolina ATTN: Objections Coordinator 160-A Zillicoa Street Asheville North Carolina 28801;Fax: (828) 257-4263; or Email: objections-southern-north-carolina@fs.fed.us
Objections must be submitted within 45[SS1] calendar days following the publication of this notice in the McDowell News (expected February 21 2016). 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.
The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in §218.8(d) and 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 pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Jason Herron
