The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the US Highway 83 Snow Fence Project. The proposed action is to be located on the Fort Pierre National Grassland in Lyman County, South Dakota. The project area would be the easternmost portion of the Kennedy Home Pasture. It would encompass a 10-acre rectangle along the eastern fence line of the pasture that is parallel to US Highway 83. The Responsible Official for this decision is District Ranger Dan Svingen. The Responsible Official is planning to implement the proposed action. This includes issuing a special use permit to the South Dakota Department of Transportation for up to 20 years to authorize establishment of a snow fence along 0.58 miles of the Kennedy Home Pasture adjacent to US Highway 83. The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the US Highway 83 Snow Fence Project are available upon request at the Fort Pierre Ranger District office, 1020 North Deadwood St., Fort Pierre, SD 57532. This document is also available at the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=66111. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Jaci Baker, Wildlife Biologist at (605) 224-5517. The US Highway 83 Snow Fence 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 this notice in the Capital 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. 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=66111, with “US Highway 83 Snow Fence 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 be submitted via regular mail, private carrier or hand delivered. All must be addressed to: USDA Forest Service, Fort Pierre National Grassland, Attn: Jaci Baker, 1020 North Deadwood St., Fort Pierre, SD 57532. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 5:00pm, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Dan Svingen
