The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Spring Creek Pipeline and Associated Fruitland Coal Gas Drilling Project. The proposed action is to be located within the Spring Creek area of the HD Mountains on the Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, in La Plata and Archuleta Counties, Colorado. The Responsible Official for this decision is the San Juan National Forest Supervisor, Dave Neely.
The Responsible Official is planning to implement Alternative 2, which proposes the following activities: Forest Service approval of a Surface Use Plan of Operations for expansion of an existing well pad; issuance of a Special Use Permit for construction, operation, and maintenance of an 8.4-mile natural gas and produced water pipeline system; issuance of a permit for road reconstruction, use, snowplowing, and maintenance; and BLM approval for the recompletion of an existing well and drilling of seven new gas wells from the existing well pad.
The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Spring Creek Pipeline and Associated Fruitland Coal Gas Drilling Project are available upon request at the Columbine Ranger District office, 367 Pearl St, Bayfield, CO 81122. This document is also available at the San Juan National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/sanjuan/?project=63036. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from the San Juan National Forest geologist, James Blair, at 970-882-6856 or by e-mail at james.blair2@usda.gov.
The Spring Creek Pipeline and Associated Fruitland Coal Gas Drilling Project is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218. Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this notice in the Durango Herald, the newspaper of record. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Objectors should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to 36 CFR 218.9. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunities 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 the issue is based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities. The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b). Objections that do not adhere to these requirements make review of an objection difficult and are conditions under which the reviewing officer may set aside an objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218.10. All eligible objections are available for public inspection.
Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=36036 with “Spring Creek Pipeline and Drilling Project Objection” in the subject line. Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software (e.g., Word, PDF, Rich Text) and be searchable. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received. Any person who wishes to fax an objection, contact Scarlett Vallaire, Administrative Review Coordinator via phone at 801-989-6605 or email at scarlett.vallaire@usda.gov.
Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning 2nd floor, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO, 80401. Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning 2nd floor, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO 80401. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Contents of an Objection
Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection as identified in 36 CFR 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 A 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: Objections must be postmarked (if sent via postal mail), faxed, or submitted electronically via the project webpage at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=63036, 45 days following publication of this legal notice. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9).
When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector as defined in§ 218.2. Verification of the identity of the lead objector must be provided upon request or the reviewing officer will designate a lead objector as provided in§ 218.5(d).
Objection Sample Template
Lead Objector: ______________________ Objections are limited to the scope of this particular project.
A. Description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project:
B. How the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy:
C. Suggested remedies that would resolve the objection:
D. Supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider:
E. Unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunity(ies) for comment, provide a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project and the content of this objection.
James Blair
