The USDA Forest Service has prepared a supplemental environmental assessment (SEA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Dolores Prescribed Fire Pine Ecosystem Restoration Project. The proposed action is to be located on the Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest. The 240,000-acre project area encompasses the Dolores District ponderosa pine zone, which stretches from approximately the northwest corner of “The Glade” to the southeast corner of Haycamp Mesa. The Responsible Official for this decision is Nick Mustoe, Dolores District Ranger.
The Responsible Official is planning to implement Alternative 2, which proposes to authorize the use of bladed equipment for the creation of control lines on unit boundaries to supplement already authorized methods of control line construction.
The Dolores Prescribed Fire Pine Ecosystem Restoration 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 the legal notice in The Journal, the newspaper of record. The legal notice was published on December 3, 2025. 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.
Emma Reinemann
