Opportunity to Object on Crow Creek Pipeline Project Lower Valley Energy FSEIS The Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF), Montpelier Ranger District, has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) and Draft Record of Decision (DROD) for Crow Creek Pipeline Project Lower Valley Energy (LVE), that includes a programmatic plan amendment to the 2003 Caribou National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Plan). The FSEIS has been prepared to analyze and disclose the effects for the construction of a twelve-inch diameter or less, high-pressure natural gas pipeline between Afton, Wyoming and Montpelier, Idaho. The FSEIS, supporting information, and DROD can be viewed on the project page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/ctnf/?project=63218. For additional information, contact Robbert Mickelsen, Ecosystem Staff Officer, robbert.mickelsen@usda.gov. The pipeline would parallel existing road corridors on National Forest System (NFS) land where feasible. However, in several locations, the pipeline would be constructed within an Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). No permanent road construction would occur within the IRA. The total pipeline length would be approximately 49 miles. The purpose of the proposed federal action for the USFS is to evaluate and respond to Lower Valley Energy’s revised proposal to construct a natural gas pipeline. The pipeline would provide natural gas to the Afton/Star Valley Wyoming area, which is currently provided by trucking liquefied natural gas to a central distribution facility located in Star Valley. Where the project would cross Forest Plan management prescriptions other than 8.1(b), Concentrated Developed Areas, a programmatic plan amendment to the Caribou National Forest Plan would change the existing management prescriptions to prescription 8.1(b). The amendment would apply to a 20-foot-wide permanent right of way corridor covering approximately 44 acres of NFS lands. The responsible official for this project is Mel Bolling, Forest Supervisor for the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. How to file an Objection and Timeframe This proposed project is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B and the Forest Plan amendment is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 219 Subpart B. Objections to the Crow Creek Pipeline Project LVE or to the Forest Plan amendment will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding a proposed project or activity, or who have submitted substantive formal comments related to a plan amendment subject to these regulations during any designated opportunity for public comment, per the regulations at 36 CFR 218.5(a) or 36 CFR 219.53. Additional eligibilities are established in 36 CFR 218.5(b) through (f). Objections on the Crow Creek Pipeline Project LVE must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this Legal Notice. Objections on the Forest Plan amendment will be accepted for an additional 15 days, so must be submitted within 60 calendar days following this notice in the Idaho State Journal. A calendar day ends at 11:59:59 p.m. in the time zone of the Reviewing Officer for objections filed by electronic means. The publication date in the Idaho State Journal, newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection to this project and/or plan amendment. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. If the objection filing period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, objections will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day. A timely submission will be determined as outlined in 36 CFR 218.6(a) for project objections, or 36 CFR 219.56(c), for plan amendment objections. It is the responsibility of the objector to ensure timely receipt of any objections submitted (36 CFR 218.9). Objections must be postmarked (if sent via postal mail), faxed, or submitted electronically via the project webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/ctnf/?project=63218. Mailed objections should be sent to Kelly Orr, Objection Reviewing Officer, Crow Creek Pipeline Project LVE, USFS Intermountain Regional Office, Room 4403, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. Hand delivery of written objections can be made during normal business hours to this address. Objections may be faxed to 801-625-5365. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as Portable Document Format (pdf), plain text (.txt), or Word (.doc or .docx) and electronic file names must be less than 85 characters long (including spaces). The subject line for electronic submissions should contain Crow Creek Pipeline Project LVE. Eligible objections must be in writing and contain (1) The objector’s name and address, along with a telephone number or email address if available; (2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection; (3) Identification of the lead objector, when multiple names are listed on an objection, and verification of the identity of the lead objector, if requested. Individual members of an entity must have submitted their own individual comments in order to have eligibility to object as an individual. Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b) and 36 CFR 219.54(b). Objections received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who object, will be considered part of the public record on these proposed actions and will be available for public inspection. Objections may be set aside from review if: (1) they are not filed in a timely manner; (2) the proposed project or plan amendment is not subject to the objection procedures; (3) the individual or entity did not submit timely and specific written comments or substantive formal comments during opportunities for public comment; (4) none of the issues included in the objection are based on previously submitted written comments, except for issues that arose after the opportunities for comment; (5) the objection does not provide sufficient information as required; (6) the objector withdraws the objection; (7) an objector’s identify is not provided or cannot be determined from the signature, and a reasonable means of contact is not provided; or (8), the objection is illegible for any reason, including submissions in an electronic format different from that specified in the legal notice, and a legible copy cannot easily be obtained. How to Object to the Crow Creek Pipeline Project LVE Issues raised in objection must be based on previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project or activity and attributed to the objector, unless the issue is based on new information that arose after the designated opportunities for comment (36 CFR 218.8(c)). Specific written comments are written comments within the scope of the proposed action, with a direct relationship to the proposed action, and included supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider. Per 36 CFR 218.8(d), in addition to the identifying information outlined above, written objection comments on the proposed project must include (1) the name of the proposed project, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name(s) of the forest or district on which the proposed project will be implemented; (2) 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 the reviewing officer should consider; and (3) a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunity(ies) for comment. How to Object to the Plan Amendment Only individuals or entities who submitted substantive formal comments about this plan amendment will be eligible to file an objection. Substantive formal comments are those that are within the scope of the proposal, are specific to the proposal, have a direct relationship to the proposal, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider (36 CFR 219.62). Per 36 CFR 219.54(c), in addition to the identifying information outlined above, written objection comments must include (1) the identification of the plan amendment being objected to, and the name and title of the responsible official; (2) a statement of the issues and/or the parts of the plan amendment to which the objection applies; (3) a concise statement explaining the objection and suggesting how the proposed plan amendment decision may be improved. If applicable, the objector should identify how the objector believes that the plan amendment is inconsistent with law, regulation or policy; and, (4) a statement that demonstrates the link between prior substantive formal comments attributed to the objector and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunities for formal comment.
Robbert Mickelsen
