USDA Forest Service
Fishlake National Forest
Beaver and Millard Counties, Utah
Legal Notice of Opportunity to Object
Cove Fort Geothermal Leasing
The Beaver Ranger District has completed the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for the Cove Fort Geothermal Leasing project. The selected alternative in the draft DN would authorize the proposed action, which entails consenting to lease through the BLM three parcels for geothermal resources, FIF-0260S-0060W-001 (UT 0320-9376), FIF-0260S-0060W-002 (UT 0320-9377), and FIF-0260S-0070W-001 (UT 0320-9393), near Cove Fort, Utah.
The three parcels cover an area of approximately 6,062 acres and encompass Forest lands open to fluid mineral leasing. The parcels would be offered for lease through a competitive sale by the BLM in or after October 2023. If not leased at the end of the competitive sale process, the parcels would then be available for noncompetitive leasing at a later date.
Geothermal resource exploration and production on the parcels would be conducted through leases with the BLM; would be subject to terms and stipulations identified in the environmental analysis; and would comply with all applicable federal and state laws. Subsequent proposals for exploration and/or development on specific parcels would be examined for conformance with the appropriate land use plan and must be analyzed as required by NEPA prior to implementation.
The Responsible Official is Mike Elson, Forest Supervisor, and the Objection Reviewing Officer is Deb Oakeson, Deputy Regional Forester. The Final EA and Draft DN/FONSI are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63962. For additional information, contact Adam Solt, Minerals Program Manager, adam.solt@usda.gov.
This action is subject to the pre-decisional administrative review process outlined in Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 218, Subparts A and B. A final decision will not be made until after the requirements of 36 CFR 218.12, Timing of Project Decision, have been met.
Objections can be accepted only from individuals and entities who have submitted timely, specific written comments regarding a proposed project or activity subject to these regulations during any designated opportunity for public comment, per the regulations at 36 CFR 218.5(a). Additional eligibilities are established in 36 CFR 218.5(b) through (f). 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 for comment. A connection to previous comments must be demonstrated in the objection.
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 as those of the organization only. If an objection is submitted on behalf of a number of individuals or organizations, each individual or organization listed must meet the eligibility requirement of having previously submitted comments on the project (36 CFR 218.7). Names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record.
Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection as identified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) include:
Objections must be postmarked (if sent via postal mail), faxed, or submitted electronically via the project webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63962 within 45 days following publication of this legal notice. Mailed objections should be sent to Objection Reviewing Officer, Cove Fort Geothermal Leasing, USFS Intermountain Regional Office, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. 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). Hand delivery of written objections can be made during normal working hours to the Intermountain Regional Office, Hansen Federal Building, Room 4003, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9).
The publication date in The Richfield Reaper, newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection to this project. Those wishing to object to the draft DN/FONSI should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
The following is a recommended text format to help you submit objections in accordance with regulatory requirements at 36 CFR 218.8(d). You can copy and paste this format into the comment box or incorporate it into your own document for attachment.
When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector as defined in § 218.2. Verification of the identity of the lead objector must be provided upon request or the reviewing officer will designate a lead objector as provided in § 218.5(d).
Lead Objector: ______________________
Objections are limited to the scope of this particular project.
A. Description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project:
B. How the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy:
C. Suggested remedies that would resolve the objection:
D. Supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider:
E. Unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunity(-ies) for comment, provide a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project and the content of this objection:
Adam Solt
