Opportunity to Object to the draft decision regarding the Dry Ridge Extension Exploration project The Caribou-Targhee National Forest has prepared an environmental assessment, draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Dry Ridge Extension Exploration project. The draft decision approves special uses and mineral material use associated with the Dry Ridge Extension Exploration Plan, submitted to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by Itafos Conda LLC. This joint Forest Service-BLM project analyzes phosphate mineral exploration, under the authority of the BLM, as well as National Forest System road and trail maintenance and modification, staging areas, and mineral material gravel use under the authority of the Forest Service. The proposed project or activity is subject to the pre-decisional objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. The EA and draft DN/FONSI are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/caribou-targhee/projects/68945. These documents are also available for review at the Caribou-Targhee National Forest Supervisor’s Office. Additional information regarding this project or activity can be obtained from: Mariah Radue, mariah.radue@usda.gov, 208-223-4366. How to Object and Timeframes The opportunity to object ends 45 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in the Idaho State Journal, the newspaper of record. If the objection filing period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, objections will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day. The publication date of the legal notice 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. 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 and specific written comments regarding the proposed project, unless based on new information arising after designated comment opportunities (36 CFR 36 CFR 218.7(c)(2)(ii)). 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 §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 objections pursuant to 36 CFR 218.10. At a minimum, the objection must include the following: Name, address, and if possible, a telephone number of the objector; signature or other verification of authorship (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); identification of the lead objector, when multiple names are listed on an objection; the name of the project being objected to, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name of the National Forest(s) and/or ranger district on which the project is located; a statement of the issues and/or the parts of the project to which the objection applies; if applicable, a statement explaining how the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies; and supporting reasons; and a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunities for comment. Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=68945. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software [e.g., plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc, .docx)]. Written objections, including attachments, may be submitted via regulator mail, private carrier, or hand delivery to: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Attn: Objection Reviewing Officer, Hansen Federal Building, Room 4016, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered objections are: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Please state “Dry Ridge Extension Exploration” in the subject line when providing electronic objections, or on the envelope when replying by mail. For any person wishing to fax an objection, please contact Scarlett Vallaire, Administrative Review and Appeals Coordinator, via phone at 801-989-6605 or email at scarlett.vallaire@usda.gov. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer. Objections received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who object, will be considered part of the public record on these proposed actions and will be available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Mariah Radue
