Opportunity to Object to the Draft Decision for the Forest Plan Amendment for Vegetation Management Practices (Appendix F)
The Ozark-St. Francis National Forests have prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), draft Decision Notice (DN) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Forest Plan Amendment - Update to the Vegetation Management Practices Described in Appendix F of the 2005 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan. This EA consists of a programmatic plan amendment to the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests’ Revised Land and Resources Management Plan (Forest Plan). This plan amendment proposes to update Appendix F of the Forest Plan.
The draft decision is subject to the pre-decisional objection processes pursuant to 36 CFR 219 Subparts A and B. A final decision notice will be issued following resolution of any objections received during a 45-day objection period that will begin the day after this legal notice is published. The objection period provides those that have submitted comments previously an opportunity to submit their objection prior to a decision by the Responsible Official, Lori Wood, Ozark-St. Francis National Forests’ Supervisor. Due to an error in the previous legal notice, a new legal notice and associated 45-day objection period is being provided.
How to File an Objection and Timeframe
Objections to the Forest Plan amendment will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted timely comments regarding these planning efforts during any designated opportunity for public comment. Issues raised in objection must be based upon these previously submitted timely comments regarding the planning efforts unless based on information not available during an earlier designated opportunity for public comment (i.e., new information).
Objections on the plan amendment must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of the notice in the Russellville Courier, the Forest newspaper of record. A calendar day ends at 11:59:59 p.m. in the time zone of the Reviewing Officer for objections filed by electronic means such as email or facsimile. In this case that is Eastern Standard Time. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. If the objection filing period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, objections will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day. A timely submission will be determined as outlined in 36 CFR 219.56(c), for plan amendment objections. It is the responsibility of the sender to ensure timely receipt of any objections submitted.
Eligible objections must be in writing and contain (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, and verification of the identity of the lead objector, if requested. Individual members of an entity must have submitted their own individual comments to have eligibility to object as an individual. Objections received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who object, will be considered part of the public record on these proposed actions and will be available for public inspection.
Only individuals or entities who submitted substantive formal comments about this plan amendment will be eligible to file an objection. Substantive formal comments are those that are within the scope of the proposal, are specific to the proposal, have a direct relationship to the proposal, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider (36 CFR 219.62). Per 36 CFR 219.54(c), in addition to the identifying information outlined above, written objection comments must include (1) the identification of the plan amendment being objected to, and the name and title of the responsible official; (2) a statement of the issues and/or the parts of the plan amendment to which the objection applies; (3) a concise statement explaining the objection and suggesting how the proposed plan amendment decision may be improved. If applicable, the objector should identify how the objector believes that the plan amendment is inconsistent with law, regulation, or policy; and (4) 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.
Objections may be set aside from review if: (1) they are not filed in a timely manner; (2) the proposed project or plan amendment is not subject to the objection procedures; (3) the individual or entity did not submit timely and specific written comments or substantive formal comments during opportunities for public comment; (4) none of the issues included in the objection are based on previously submitted written comments, except for issues that arose after the opportunities for comment; (5) the objection does not provide sufficient information as required; (6) the objector withdraws the objection; (7) an objector’s identify is not provided or cannot be determined from the signature, and a reasonable means of contact is not provided; or (8), the objection is illegible for any reason, including submissions in an electronic format different from that specified in the legal notice, and a legible copy cannot easily be obtained.
Please contact Environmental Coordinator Janine Book at 479-964-7282 or janine.book@usda.gov for further information or if you have any questions regarding the objection process.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Janine Book
