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Susan Miller, District Ranger, of the National Forests in North Carolina, Uwharrie Ranger District, has prepared an environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and draft decision notice (DN) for the Uwharrie Roads project. The purpose of this project is to determine management options to ensure continued safety and access for five miles of interconnected National Forest System Roads (NFSR) – NFSRs 576 (Moccasin Creek Road), 553 (Dutch John Road), and 6584 (Green Gap Road) – located in Montgomery County, North Carolina.

The EA, FONSI, and draft DN are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59699. These documents are also available for review at the Uwharrie Ranger District Office. Additional information can be obtained from: Susan Miller, District Ranger at (910) 606-3326 and/or susan.l.miller@usda.gov.

The Uwharrie Roads project is an activity implementing a land management plan and not authorized under the HFRA and is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B.

How to file an Objection and Timeframe

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 36 CFR §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 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: James Melonas, Forest Supervisor, National Forests in North Carolina, 160 Zillicoa St. Suite A, Asheville, NC 28801. Objections, including attachments, can be filed electronically at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=59699. Electronically filed objections may be submitted by word (.doc), portable document format (.pdf), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), and hypertext markup language (.html). All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.

Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Montgomery Herald. 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. 

At a minimum, an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)):

1. The objector’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available;
2. A signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection);
3. When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request);
4. The name of the proposed project, the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name(s) of the National Forest(s) and/or Ranger District(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented;
5. A description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and
6. A statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection.

Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to 36 CFR §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.

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