The BTAC Exploration Drilling Project (EA) has been completed. The Responsible Official who will issue a decision on this project is the Salmon-Cobalt District Ranger. The proposed action would authorize conditional approval of the Operator’s Plan to disturb up to a total of 230 acres by constructing approximately 24 miles of temporary access roads, drill sites, and staging areas. This disturbance includes construction of 300-400 drill sites, 60 by 100 feet, and up to four angled or vertical holes per drill site.
The EA, a draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI), legal notice of opportunity to object, and other information are available for review at the Forest’s web site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59635 . A hard copy of the EA, the draft DN/FONSI, and additional information regarding this proposed project can be obtained from: Deanna Stever, Salmon Challis Supervisor’s Office, 1206 S. Challis St., Salmon, ID 83467, deanna.stever@usda.gov, 208-768-7619
This proposed project is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subpart A and B.
Eligibility to File Objections: Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project either during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with § 218.5(a). 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.
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 a number of individuals or organizations, each individual or organization listed must meet the eligibility requirement of having previously submitted comments on the project (§ 218.7). 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 § 218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection identified at § 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 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: The Objection Reviewing Officer is the Salmon-Challis Forest Supervisor. Written and electronic objections will be accepted. The Objection Reviewing Officer is not accepting hand-delivered objections at this time as there are limited office functions as part of precautions in response to the coronavirus. Send written objections, including any attachments, to: Objection Reviewing Officer, Intermountain Region USFS, 324 25th Street, Ogden, Utah 84401; or by email to: objections-intermtn-regional-office@usda.gov , within 45 days following the publication date of this legal notice in the The Recorder Herald, the newspaper of record. Email objections must be submitted in a format such as an email message, portable document format (.pdf), plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), and Word (.doc or .docx). It is the responsibility of Objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (§ 218.9). Objections may also be submitted through a web form on the project webpage (https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59635 ). To submit an objection using the web form, select “Comment/Object on Project” under “Get Connected” on the right panel of the project’s webpage.
The publication date in The Recorder Herald, newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection of this project. Those wishing to object to this proposed project should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
For further information contact Deanna Stever, Salmon Challis Supervisor’s Office, 1206 S. Challis St., Salmon, ID 83467, deanna.stever@usda.gov, 208-768-7619
Deanna Stever
