The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the South Slope Winter Burning project. The proposed action is located on Bearlodge Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest. The Responsible Official for this decision is Patrick Champa, District Ranger. The Responsible Official is planning to implement the proposed action, which proposes winter burning of 8,340 acres in 139 blocks scattered across Bearlodge Ranger District. The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the South Slope Winter Burning project are available upon request at the Bearlodge Ranger District office, 101 S. 21st St., Sundance, WY 82729. This document is also available on the Black Hills National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=65539. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Elizabeth Krueger, Resource Planner, at 307-283-1361 or by e-mail at elizabeth.krueger@usda.gov. The South Slope Winter Burning project is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218. Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this notice in the Rapid City Journal, 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. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment in accordance with 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 objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) and 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 eligible objections are available for public inspection. Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=65539, with “South Slope Winter Burning Project 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. Objections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at 605-673-9350. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: South Slope Winter Burning Project” and should specify the number of pages being submitted. Written objections may be submitted via regular mail, private carrier, or hand-delivery to: USDA Forest Service, BlackHillsNationalForestSupervisor’s Office,Attn: Objection Reviewing Officer, 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Elizabeth Krueger
