LEGAL NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT
USDA FOREST SERVICE
FRANCIS MARION AND SUMTER NATIONAL FORESTS, ANDREW PICKENS RANGER DISTRICT
PRESCRIBED FIRE PROJECT
The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Andrew Pickens Ranger District Prescribed Fire project. The proposed action is to be located on the Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests and some adjacent lands in Oconee County, South Carolina. The Responsible Official for this decision is the District Ranger, Robert Sitzlar, Robert.sitzlar@usda.gov
The Responsible Official is planning to implement controlled burns, also called prescribed fire, to obtain desired conditions on approximately 42,000 acres.
This document is available online at the project’s webpage at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63971 . Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Wesley Bentley, at 864-638-9568 or by e-mail at Wesley.bentley@usda.gov.
The Andrew Pickens Ranger District Prescribed Fire 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.
How to File an Objection and Timeframe
Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this notice in the Seneca 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.
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 in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Interested individuals or entities who have not previously commented may gain limited eligibility to object based on new information, but only for issues that arise based on new information where that information is truly new and was not available during the designated public comment opportunity.
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.
At a minimum, the objection must include the following: 1) name, address, and if possible, a telephone number of the objector; 2) a signature or other verification of authorship (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); 3)the lead objector, when multiple names are listed on an objection; 4) 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; 5) a statement of the issues and/or the parts of the project to which the objection applies; 6) if applicable, a statement explaining how the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies; and supporting reasons; and 7) 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.
Written objections, including attachments, must be filed with the reviewing officer, JaSal Morris, Forest Supervisor. Comments must either be submitted by mail to JaSal Morris, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212 or electronically to SM.FS.r8fmssoobj@usda.gov with “Andrew Pickens Ranger District Prescribed Fire 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. Written objections may also be submitted via regular mail or private carrier to: JaSal Morris, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212 with the subject line: “Andrew Pickens Ranger District Prescribed Fire Project Objection”.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The form below can be used to submit your comments to the responsible project official.
National Forests have the option to post comments for public viewing on this web site via a public reading room. Active reading rooms allow the public to read or download your letter, including your contact information. If this project has an active reading room, a link labeled “Public Comment Reading Room” will appear on the main project page. The agency may withhold letters containing proprietary information, sensitive cultural or habitat locations, profanity, etc. All letters, including those not posted, will be considered and included as part of the project record.
Disclaimer: All contact information is optional; however, anonymous comments will not provide standing to object.
