The Forest Service invites the public to provide input on the draft environmental assessment for the Locke Park Land Exchange project during the 30-day public comment period. The project area includes two parcels of land known as the Federal parcel and the non-Federal parcel. The Federal parcel is located approximately3.5 miles west of the town of Hillside in Custer and Fremont Counties, Colorado. The non-Federal parcel is located at the north end of the Wet Mountains in Fremont County, Colorado. Both parcels are located within the administrative boundary of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC)San Carlos Ranger District. The PSICC is proposing an equal-value land change with Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of the Rockies, Inc., also known as the Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp (the non-Federal Party). Under the proposed action, the 94.3-acreFederal parcel would be transferred to the non-Federal Party in exchange for a 120-acre parcel of land(non-Federal parcel). The Federal parcel is currently part of the National Forest System (NFS) and is managed by the PSICC. The non-Federal parcel, an isolated private inholding that is accessed by a NFS road, would be transferred to the United States for management as NFS lands by the PSICC. The comment period begins on March 24, 2026 and ends at 11:59 pm on April 22, 2026. The Forest Service values public participation. Communications from the public regarding this project, including commenters' names and contact information, will become part of the public record. Comments, including anonymous comments, will be accepted at any time. However, comments posted after the close of a designated comment period may not be able to be given full consideration. Anonymous comments and comments submitted after the close of the final designated comment period will not provide the commenter standing for administrative review. Comments, or in some cases other expressions of interest, along with respondent's contact information, submitted during the comment period may be necessary to establish a respondent's eligibility to participate in an administrative review for this proposed action. Interested members of the public should review the proposal's information to determine the applicable administrative review process and the eligibility requirements for that process. The date of the legal notice of opportunity to comment on this proposed action is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period. The legal notice will be published in the Pueblo Chieftain, Newspaper of Record.
Amber Wyndham
