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 and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act. 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.
The North Seeley Wildland Urban Interface – Highway 83 project is subject to emergency authority under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Section 40807) of Public Law 117-58, passed on November 15, 2021. The Secretary in January 2023 invoked the emergency authority provided in section 40807 across 250 high-risk firesheds identified in the January 2022 Wildfire Crisis Strategy. This project is located within these firesheds. The selected actions of this project were reviewed and approved by the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service on April 18, 2023.
Section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requires the opportunity for public comment during the preparation of an EA for authorized emergency actions. Actions under this section are not subject to the administrative review (objection) process under part 218 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations. Since the North Seeley Wildland Urban Interface – Highway 83 project is an authorized emergency action, this 30-day EA comment period is the last official public comment period for the project.
Comments will be accepted for a 30-day period beginning the day after publication of the legal notice in the Missoulian newspaper, which is anticipated to be April 10, 2025.
Jeremy Casterson
