The Responsible Official, Forest Supervisor Emily Platt, of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest has prepared an Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact and draft Decision Notice for the Forest-wide Prescribed Fire Project. The fuels-related project is located on approximately 2,300,000 acres of National Forest System lands in portions of the Rocky Mountain, Lincoln, and Helena Ranger Districts and the entire Townsend, Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs, and Judith-Musselshell Ranger Districts on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana. There are an additional approximately 33,500 acres on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, in the Elkhorns Geographic Area, that are included as part of this project area. The project area does not include designated wilderness or research natural areas. The Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact and draft Decision Notice are available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/helena-lewisclark/projects/63783. Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this legal notice in the Helena Independent Record, 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. The Forest-wide Prescribed Fire Project is subject to pre-decisional administrative review pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during the designated opportunity for public participation in accordance with 36 CFR 218.2 and 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 burden is on the objector to demonstrate compliance with this requirement for objection issues. At a minimum an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)): (1) The objector's name and address, with a telephone number, if available; (2) a signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection); (3) when multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request); (4) the name of the proposed project (Forest-wide Prescribed Fire Project), the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name(s) of the National Forest(s) and/or Ranger District(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented; (5) 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 for the Reviewing Officer to consider; and (6) a statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection. 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 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 during and after the objection process. Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/hlcnf/landmanagement/projects. Please use the link titled “Comment/Object on Project” found under Get Connected on the Forest-wide Prescribed Fire project webpage. 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. If the sender does not receive an automated acknowledgement of receipt, it is the sender's responsibility to ensure timely receipt by other means. Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: Reviewing Officer, Northern Regional Office, Attn: Forest-wide Prescribed Fire Project, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Reviewing Officer, Northern Regional Office, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Chiara Cipriano
