Dear Interested Stakeholders,
The U.S. Forest Service has prepared a final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and draft Decision Notice (DN) for an amendment to Dominion Energy’s existing Special Use Permit #DRY404604, for the rebuild of the Mt. Storm to Valley 500 kV transmission line. The project crosses approximately 15.5 miles of the George Washington National Forest (GWNF) in Pendleton County, West Virginia and Rockingham County, Virginia.
The project is consistent with the direction set forth in the Revised 2014 George Washington National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The EA and draft DN/FONSI are available for review on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57708.
This project is subject to the pre-decisional objection process pursuant to 36 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) §218.5 Subparts A and B. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the project during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the Objection Reviewing Officer, Ken Arney, Southern Regional Forester, at:
https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=57708.
Electronically filed objections may be submitted in word (.doc or .docx), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), and hypertext markup language (.html). All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Harrisonburg, Virginia Daily News Record. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. That notice is expected to be published on September 3, 2021 meaning the 45-day objection filing period would begin September 4, 2021. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection.
At a minimum, an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)):
1. The objector’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available;
2. A signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection);
3. When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request);
4. The name of the proposed project, the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name(s) of the National Forest(s) and/or Ranger District(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented;
5. A description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and
6. A statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection.
Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
If you have any questions concerning this project, please contact Melissa Robinson, Project Leader, at melissa.robinson1@usda.gov . If you have any questions concerning the objection process, please contact Jay Martin by email at jay.martin2@usda.gov.
Thank you for your interest in the management of your National Forests.
Sincerely,
JOBY P. TIMM
Forest Supervisor
