The Whitman Ranger District has prepared the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for Rare Earth Resources LLC’s Bonnanza Big Hole Placer Mining and Reclamation Project, which is available on the web for review. The project area is located six miles north of Halfway, Oregon at 49758 Cornucopia Highway and the area being evaluated consists of a total surface disturbance of approximately 37 acres. The Responsible Official is Kendall Cikanek, District Ranger. The Final EA and Draft DN/FONSI are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59524. For additional information, contact Kendall Cikanek, at (541) 523-1301 or kendall.cikanek@usda.gov.
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 eligibilities are 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. Notices of objection must meet the requirements of 36 CFR 218.8(d); incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Electronic objections must be submitted to: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s project webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59524. Select the “Comment/Object on Project” link in the “Get Connected” group at the right-hand side of the project webpage. Hardcopy objections must be submitted by: Mail or Hand Deliver to Shaun McKinney, Forest Supervisor, Attn. Objections: 1550 Dewey Ave, Baker City, OR 97814. Hand deliveries can occur between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday except legal holidays. Objections must be electronically submitted, postmarked, or received by the Reviewing Officer, Forest Supervisor Shaun McKinney, within 45 days from the date of publication of this notice in the Baker Herald, newspaper of record. The publication date is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to file an objection should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. Please include “Bonnanza Big Hole Placer Mining and Reclamation Project” in the subject line. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (§218.9).
Raymond Lovisone
