Objection Period Why Not Stardust Minerals Project Three Rivers Ranger District, USDA Forest Service Lincoln County, Montana The Three Rivers Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest has prepared a draft decision notice (DN) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the Why Not Stardust Minerals Project. The Why Not Stardust Minerals Project is located north and west of Troy, Montana and includes Star Creek and Yaak River watersheds. The project area legal description includes all or portions of Townships 33N, Range 33W, Sections 17 and 33, and Township 32N, Range 34W, Section 7, P.M.M., Lincoln County, Montana. The Draft DN/FONSI provides the rationale for selecting the Proposed Action. The responsible official for this decision is District Ranger Sam Martin. This decision authorizes three Plans of Operations to pan, sluice, and suction dredge in Star Creek and the Yaak River while minimizing potential related environmental impacts. The claimants have rights under the 1872 Mining Law to prospect for minerals on National Forest systems lands. Therefore, this decision responds to the rights of the operator while simultaneously ensuring other laws and regulations are met. A suction dredge is a motorized vacuum that draws up stream bottom material through an intake hose and passes the material over a sluice box stationed on a floating platform in order to separate flakes of gold from other particles. Individuals use suction dredges to extract metals (predominantly gold) from stream bottom sand and gravel deposits. Each operation would use one dredge with intake hose diameters of four inches or less. The operators would not dredge, sluice, or otherwise disturb the stream banks. The environmental assessment (EA) and draft DN and FONSI are available on-line at:https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/kootenai/?project=65128.The June 2024 Why Not Stardust Minerals EA and Specialist Reports are located under the Analysis tab and the August draft DN/FONSI is located under the Decision tab. These documents are also available for review at the Three Rivers Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest, 12858 U.S. Highway 2, Troy, MT 59935. Additional information can be obtained from: Julie Hopkinson, Team Leader, julie.hopkinson@usda.gov or Sam Martin, District Ranger, sam.a.martin @usda.gov or by phone 406-295-4693. The Why Not Stardust Project is subject to the objection process 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 scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with S218.5{a/. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted time y, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities. Objections, including attachments, must be filed via mail, express delivery, or messenger service to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804; FAX: (406) 329-3411; email: appeals-northern-regional-office@usda. gov with "Why Not Stardust Minerals Objection" in the subject line; or by hand-delivery. If you are unable to submit electronic, fax, or postal objections and must submit them by hand to the Northern Regional Office, please refer to signage at the front door regarding the delivery of hand delivered items, which will include a phone number to arrange delivery of your objection. The Northern Region Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays at USDA Forest Service, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=65128, with "Why Not Stardust Minerals Objection" in the subject line. 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. Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Missoulian. The publication date in the newspaper of record 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. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection. The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in §218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector's responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process. At minimum an objection must include the following (36 CFR 018) : 1)The objectors name and address, with a telephone number, if available; 2) a signature or other validation 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, 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; and 5) a descrip tion 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 forthe reviewing officer to consider; and 6) a statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particu lar proposed project or activity and the content of the objection. Additionally, those who are legal instrument holders, or applicants, will have standing to appeal under 36 CFR 214.4 (b) and (c) and must meet the requirements of 36 CFR 214.3. Appeals must meet the content requirements of 36 CFR 214.8 and fi led within 45 days of the date of this decision. Appeal filing information will be provided to the applicant upon request.
Julie Hopkinson
