TOWN OF FRISCO BACKYARD FUELS AND RECREATION PROJECT
The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA), draft decision notice (DN), and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the Town of Frisco Backyard Fuels and Recreation Project. The proposed project is located south of the Town of Frisco, Colorado, within Townships 5 and 6 South, Ranges 77 and 78 West. The project would occur within a 3,026-acre area adjacent to the Town of Frisco known by residents as the “Backyard.” The Backyard encompasses the land generally south and east of downtown Frisco, including parts of Mount Royal, Miners Creek, Rainbow Lake, Ophir Mountain, and near Gold Hill. The majority of this 3,026-acre area is composed of National Forest System (NFS) lands, of which 90 acres are private inholdings. In October 2022, the area became a part of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument via presidential proclamation. Approximately 1,492 acres of the 3,026-acre project area are located within the wildland-urban interface as identified by the Summit County Wildfire Protection Plan.
The purpose of the project is to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire to the project area, adjacent private property, critical infrastructure, and firefighters; to more sustainably manage high-use visitation through improvements to the trail system and recreation facilities; to strengthen the resilience of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument’s natural, historic, cultural, and Tribal resources; and to balance high-quality recreation with effective wildfire mitigation. The Responsible Official for this decision is Sam Massman, Acting Dillon District Ranger.
The Responsible Official is planning to implement the selected alternative which includes both fuel treatments and recreation improvements. Specifically, the selected alternative includes 1,576 acres of fuels treatments, divided into 63 treatment units. All units will be treated using either chainsaws (1,496 acres, 95 percent) or heavy equipment (78.6 acres, 5 percent). Pile burning will be used to dispose of cut and pile trees in all units; some chipping and public firewood collection will occur in limited areas. Material will not be hauled offsite for disposal. The selected alternative also includes four categories of recreation improvement actions: summer use trail improvements; winter use trail improvements; trailhead, access, and parking improvements; and a combination of restoration and improvements to Rainbow Lake and Masontown. The Responsible Official will issue a special use authorization or other partnership with the Town of Frisco for future operations and maintenance of trails and trailheads within the project area.
The EA and Draft DN/FONSI for the Town of Frisco Backyard Fuels and Recreation Project are available upon request at the Dillon Ranger District Office, 680 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, CO 80498. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST, excluding holidays. These documents are also available at the White River National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/projects/63395. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Kathleen Gray, Project Lead via email at kathleen.gray@usda.gov.
The Town of Frisco Backyard Fuels and Recreation Project includes activities implementing a land management plan. These activities are 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 Summit Daily, 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 the Draft EA comment period 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 requirement 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 objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=63395 with “Town of Frisco Backyard Fuels and Recreation Project” 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.
Note: any person who wishes to fax an objection, contact Kathleen Gray, Project Lead, via email at kathleen.gray@usda.gov.The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: Town of Frisco Backyard Fuels and Recreation Project” and should specify the number of pages being submitted.
Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: USDA Forest Service, Dillon Ranger District, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Sam Massman, PO Box 620, Silverthorne, CO, 80498.
Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service Dillon Ranger District, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Sam Massman, 680 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, CO 80498. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Kathleen Gray
