Public Notice
Originally published in the Coloradoan on 03/3/2024
Legal Notice of Opportunity to Object
USDA FOREST SERVICE ARAPAHO AND ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FORESTS and PAWNEE NATIONAL GRASSLAND
SULPHUR RANGER DISTRICT
Grand County, Colorado
Willow Creek Land Exchange Project
The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and draft finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Willow Creek Land Exchange. The proposed action is to be located on the Sulphur Ranger District, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Grand County, Colorado. The Federal parcel is located in the Town of Winter Park near the base of the Mary Jane Ski Area, north of the Dotsero Junction Parking Area, the non-Federal parcel is located 4.5 miles south of Willow Creek Pass on Stillwater Pass Road (County Road 4), just east of Highway 125. The Responsible Official for this decision is Forest Supervisor Monte Williams. The Responsible Official is planning to implement the Proposed Action, which proposes the following activities: The exchange of one federal parcel totaling approximately 5.5 acres of National Forest System lands that will be transferred to private ownership and the transfer of approximately 50 acres of private land into federal ownership; it will become part of the National Forest System and will be managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Willow Creek Land Exchange are available on the project website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61576. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from District Ranger Eric Freels, at 970-887-4130 or by e-mail at eric.k.freels@usda.gov. The Willow Creek Land Exchange 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 Coloradoan, 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. A legal notice will also be published in the Middle Park Times. 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=61576 with “Willow Creek Land Exchange 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.
Note: any person who wishes to fax an objection, contact Scarlett Vallaire, Administrative Review Coordinator via phone at 801-989-6605 or email at scarlett.vallaire@usda.gov.
Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to:
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning 2nd floor, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO, 80401.
Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning 2nd floor, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO 80401. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Additional Information
Contents of an Objection
Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection as identified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) include:
Filing an Objection
Objections must be postmarked (if sent via postal mail), faxed, or submitted electronically via the project webpage at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=61576within 45 days following publication of this legal notice. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (36 CFR 218.9).
When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector as defined in§ 218.2. Verification of the identity of the lead objector must be provided upon request or the reviewing officer will designate a lead objector as provided in§ 218.5(d).
Lead Objector: ______________________
Objections are limited to the scope of this particular project.
A. Description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project:
B. How the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy:
C. Suggested remedies that would resolve the objection:
D. Supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider:
E. Unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunity(ies) for comment, provide a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project and the content of this objection:
Eric Freels
