Opportunity to Comment, Region 5 Post-disturbance Hazardous Tree Management Projects

Opportunity to Comment
Region 5 Post-disturbance Hazardous Tree Management Projects
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Mono, Inyo, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kern counties, California

The Forest Service is seeking comments on the Region 5 Post-disturbance Hazardous Tree Management Projects, which propose the felling and removal of hazardous trees adjacent to roads, trails, and facilities within nine National Forests recently affected by wildfires. The project areas contain expansive stretches of fire-killed or damaged trees adjacent to roads, trails, and facilities that are likely to fall within the next several years and pose threats to public health, safety, and property. Project activities are proposed in specific project areas within the following National Forests, grouped by three sub-regional zones: 1) North Zone: Klamath, Mendocino, Six Rivers, and Shasta-Trinity National Forests; 2) Central Sierra Zone: Plumas and Lassen National Forests; and 3) Southern Sierra Zone: Inyo, Sierra and Sequoia National Forests.
Three zone-level Environmental Assessments (EAs) are available for review on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60950. The three EAs include the site-specific proposals, maps, and environmental analysis for the National Forests within each zone. To obtain a hard copy of the EA(s), please see the contact information below.
Emergency Authorities
Due to the critical and time-sensitive nature of the proposed actions, the Regional Office is still considering whether to seek an Emergency Situation Determination (which would waive the pre-decisional objections process under 36 CFR 218) or utilize other emergency authorities to expedite implementation on all or portions of the project.
How to Comment and Timeframe
This comment period is being provided pursuant to 36 CFR 218.22 to provide those interested in or affected by this action an opportunity to provide input prior to decisions being made.
Comments concerning this action will be accepted for 30 calendar days following publication of the legal notice in the Sacramento Bee, the newspaper of record for this multi-forest, three zone effort. Those submitting timely, specific written comments will be eligible to file an objection during the objection period, if it is provided for this project, prior to a final decision (36 CFR 218.5(a)). The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for this proposal. Those wishing to comment should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source (36 CFR 218.24(c)(2)). Extensions to the length of the comment period cannot be granted (36 CFR 218.25(a)(1)(iv)). Individuals and organizations wishing to be eligible to object must meet the information requirements of 36 CFR 218.25, including specific written comments as defined in 218.2 regarding the proposed project, along with supporting reasons (36 CFR 218.25 (a)(3)(iii)). Each individual or representative from each entity submitting timely and specific written comments regarding this project must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request (218.24(b)(8)). All written comments received by the responsible official become a matter of public record (218.25(b)(2)). Please indicate if your comments are specific to a certain location, National Forest, or zone.
Comments may be submitted online at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=60950. Attachments to comments must be submitted in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word, rich text format (rtf), or Adobe Portable Document format (pdf). Comments submitted to email addresses or inboxes other than the website listed above, in other formats than those listed, or containing viruses will be rejected. If you are not able to access the online form, comments may also be mailed to Pacific Southwest Regional Office, Ecosystem Planning, Post Disturbance Hazardous Tree Management Project, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, California, 94592; or submitted by Fax at (707) 562-9049. The Fax coversheet should include the subject line “R5 Hazard Tree Project” and specify the number of pages being submitted.
For additional information, contact Joe Otts, Ecosystem Planning, [email protected] or 707-980-2714.