BC-10131 USDA • Forest Service Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Notice of 45-day Objection on Final Environmental Impact Statement Powder River Mining Environmental Impact Statement The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft Record of Decision (ROD) for the Powder River Mining Analysis is now available for a 45-day objection Period (https://usfs-public.box.com/s/fw02pc1xptomvaxp0uw7xeghj2319onb). The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest proposes to authorize the approval of 20 testing and exploration mining Plans of Operation in the Powder River Watershed as specified in 36 CFR 228.4(a). Once the Record of Decision (ROD) is signed and issued, reclamation bonds and any 401 certifications and valid water rights determined necessary as a result of this analysis will be required before the Plans of Operations are approved, and prior to commencement of mining activities (FSH 281Z23a (1)). The Powder River Mining project area is located on the Whitman Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (WWNF), approximately 14 miles southwest of Baker City, Oregon. The analysis area includes 22 proposed mining Plans of Operation (Plans) dispersed throughout the Powder River watershed (Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC5)), an area encompassing approximately 150,487 acres in northeast Oregon, of which 126,715 acres are managed by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, and approximately 23,772 acres are managed by other entities (i.e., private, state, and BLM). Typically, each project would disturb and reclaim an area of approximately 1-10 acres annually. The legal description for the watershed is: Township 8, 9, 10 South, Range 36, 37, 38, 39 East, Willamette Meridian. This objection period is intended to provide only those individuals and entities who submitted timely and specific written comments during the public comment period (of the DEIS) to file an objection pursuant to 36 CFR part 218 regulations, subparts A and B. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted written comments specific to the proposed project or activity unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunities for comment. Objections received during this period of the FEIS and draft ROD will be considered, and a Final Record of Decision will be released for the authorizing official's signature. How to Object and Time Frame The FEIS is available on the Forest Service website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projecV?project=45945 Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral, and electronic objections concerning this action will be accepted for 45 calendar days following publication of The Notice of Availability for this FEIS in the Federal Register. The publication date of this Legal Notice is the exclusive means for calculating the objection period for this proposal. The Notice of Availability will be published on July 19, 2024, in the Federal Register. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframes provided by any other source. Written objections concerning the project may be submitted using the following methods: • Hardcopy objections may be mailed to: Jacqueline Buchanan, Regional Forester, Objection Reviewing Officer, Pacific Northwest Region, USDA Forest Service, Attn: 1570 Objections, 1220 SW 3rd Ave., Port land, OR 97204 • Electronic comments must be submitted to: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest's project webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45945. Select the "Comment/Object on Project" link in the "Get Connected" group at the right-hand side of the project webpage. Refer to 36 CFR 218.8 for instructions on how to file and what to include in the objection (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/section-218.8).For further information, please contact Whitney Tayer, Environmental Coordinator, at (541) 523-1343 or at whitney.tayer@usda.gov Date of Publication: July 17, 2024
Whitney Tayer
