A legal notice of the opportunity to object published in the Vernal Express on January 3, 2024. The 45-day objection period closes February 20, 2024. Opportunity to Object to the South Slope Fuels Reduction Project USDA Forest Service, Ashley National Forest, Duchesne-Roosevelt Ranger District, Duchesne County, UT The draft decision for the Forest Service portion of this project is now available. This is a proposed joint fuels reduction project with the Ute Tribe to reduce the likelihood of undesirable fires, improve forest health, improve wildlife habitat, protect improvements, and increase public safety. The project area extends from the Yellowstone All-terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trailhead, north to the Swift Creek Trailhead, then east along the High Uintas Wilderness boundary to Sheep Bridge, in Uinta Canyon, and also includes tribal trust lands to the south. The entire project involves approximately 26,160 acres of vegetation treatments, including machine and hand thinning, prescribed fire, mastication, and chipping. Around 21,077 project acres are on Forest Service managed lands and 5,083 project acres are on tribal lands. Details on the proposal and associated analysis can be found online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ashley/landmanagement/projects. The Forest Service portion of the proposed project is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. Objections will 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 §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. 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 those of the organization only (§218.5[c]). Names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record. Minimum content requirements of an objection are identified in §218.8(d) and include: 1) objector’s name and address with a telephone number if available; 2) signature or other verification of authorship upon request; 3) identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed; 4) name of project, name and title of responsible official, and national forest/ranger district of project; 5) a description of those aspects of the proposed project objected to, including specific issues related to the project; if applicable, how environmental law, regulation, or policy would be violated; and suggested remedies which would resolve the objection; and 6) a statement demonstrating the connection between prior specific written comments on the project and the content of the objection, unless the objection issue arose after the designated opportunities for comment. Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at §218.8(b). Written objections, including any attachments, must be filed with the reviewing officer (Intermountain Regional Forester) within 45 days (§218.26) of the legal notice, the publication date of which 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.
Emilia Sopranzi
