LEGAL NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT

Jun 02 09 - 11:32 AM



Willow Basin Wildland-Urban Interface Fuels Treatment Project

Environmental Assessment

Notice of Predecisional Administrative Review Process

USDA Forest Service

Manti-La Sal National Forest

Moab Ranger District

The Willow Basin Wildland-Urban Interface Fuels Treatment Project Environmental Assessment (EA) has been completed and mailed to those members of the public who have requested to be included in the project mailing list, or have submitted written comments. This project is an authorized hazardous fuels reduction project as defined by the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003, section 101(2).

The Preferred Alternative would reduce hazardous fuels on 1725 acres of Manti-La Sal National Forest in the Willow Basin area in Grand County, Utah which is a wild urban interface area. Specific actions include 400 acres of hand pile thinning of the brush, pinion/juniper and 600 acres of Bullhog treatment to the brush. A follow up treatment of approximately 520 acres of the thinned areas would be jackpot and pile burned to complete the project. No new or unauthorized roads would be created for this project.

The project’s Responsible Official is Michael Diem, the Moab/Monticello District Ranger. Copies of the EA may be obtained by writing or calling the Moab/Monticello District offices, P.O. Box 820, 432 East Center Street, Monticello, Utah (phone: 435-587-2041) or P.O. Box 386, 62 East 100 North, Moab, Utah 84532 (phone: 435-259-7155), or may be viewed on the Internet at www.fs.fed.us/r4/mantilasal/projects/projects_moabmonticello/projectsmoabmonticello.shtml. Additional information about the proposed project may also be obtained from the project leader (Greg Montgomery) at the Monticello District office.

This proposal is subject to objection under 36 CFR 218. This process is not subject to notice, comment, and appeal provisions pursuant to 36 CFR 215 (see 36 CFR 218.3). Objections will only be accepted from those who submitted written comments specific to the proposed project during the 30 day comment period for the original categorical exclusion or the 30 day comment period following notice of our intent to proceed with an EA under the HFRA process (36 CFR 218.6). The publication date of this legal notice in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Objections must meet content requirements of 36 CFR 218.7. Any objections, including attachments (incorporation by reference is not allowed), must be postmarked or received within 30 days following publication of this legal notice in The Times Independent. This date is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an appeal. Timeframe information from other sources should not be relied on. Incorporation of documents by reference is not allowed. The Reviewing Officer is Pamela Brown, Forest Supervisor. Send objections to: Objection Reviewing Officer, Intermountain Region USFS, 324 25th Street, Ogden, Utah 84401; or fax to 801-625-5277; or by email to: appeals-intermtn-regional-office@fs.fed.us. Emailed objections must be submitted in rich text (rtf) or Word (doc) and must include the project name in the subject line. Objections may also be hand delivered to the above address, during regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Published in The Times-Independent, Moab, Utah June 4, 2009.
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