Opportunity to Object
Creek Fire Ecological Restoration Project
USDA Forest Service
Sierra National Forest
Fresno and Madera Counties, California
The Sierra National Forest has completed the final environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact (EA/FONSI), and the draft decision notice for the Creek Fire Ecological Restoration Project. Project activities include: (1) hazardous fuels reduction, fuel break maintenance, and hazard tree abatement to reduce risk to public health and safety; (2) reforestation, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat improvement, non-native invasive species management, and road, trail and facility repair to restore degraded conditions in areas of higher fire severity; (3) thinning and prescribed fire to maintain or enhance conifer forests and wildlife habitats in unburned areas or areas of lower fire severity; and, (4) road repair or maintenance, including limited construction of temporary roads. The draft decision selects the near-term treatment areas described in the proposed action analyzed in the EA/FONSI. The EA/FONSI, draft decision notice, and supporting documents are available for review on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60422.
The responsible official is Dean Gould, Forest Supervisor, and the objection reviewing officer is Jennifer Eberlein, Regional Forester for the Pacific Southwest Region. For additional information about the project, contact Judi Tapia, Sierra National Forest Planning Staff Officer, at judith.tapia@usda.gov, 559-297-0706, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 93611.
This proposed decision is subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. Objections can be accepted only from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a 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 designated opportunities for comment.
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 (36 CFR 218.7). Names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record.
Objections must include (36 CFR 218.8(d)): 1) name, address, and telephone; 2) signature or other verification of authorship; 3) identify a single lead objector when applicable; 4) project name, responsible official name and title, and name of affected National Forest(s); 5) reasons for, and suggested remedies to resolve, your objections; and 6) description of the connection between your objections and your prior comments. Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b).
Please submit objections in the electronic comment form below. Objections may also be emailed to objections-pacificsouthwest-regional-office@usda.gov with subject: Creek Fire Ecological Restoration Project or submitted by postal mail to: USDA Forest Service, Regional Forester, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592, Attn: Creek Fire Ecological Restoration Project. Attachments in the electronic submissions must be in common formats (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt).
Objections must be submitted within 45 days following the publication of the legal notice in the Fresno Bee, the newspaper of record for the Sierra National Forest. The date of the legal notice is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframes provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure evidence of timely receipt (36 CFR 218.9).
Judith Tapia
