Public Scoping, Claremont Forest Resiliency Project

Public Scoping

Claremont Forest Resiliency Project

USDA Forest Service, Plumas National Forest

Mt. Hough Ranger District, Plumas County, California

The Forest Service is initiating scoping for the Claremont Forest Resiliency Project. The Project is located adjacent to the Town of Quincy and community of Meadow Valley. This project proposes to complete fuels reduction, forest restoration, habitat enhancement, weed treatments and roads management actions on approximately 30,180 acres. Treatments will be designed to improve the project area’s long-term resiliency to: high severity wildfire, prolonged drought, climate change, and insects and disease.

Documents and maps can be viewed on the web at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59708.

If you have information you feel the Forest Service may not be aware of, or feel you have issues regarding potential effects of the proposed actions, please submit your electronic comments to : [email protected]. Please include Claremont Forest Resiliency in the subject line and electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rft), or Word (.doc). Or by mail to: Plumas National Forest: Attn: Joe Hoffman, Mt. Hough Ranger District, 39696 Hwy 70, Quincy, California 95971.

Scoping is an open process to determine the scope of issues (40 CFR 1501.7) and while the process is open during the planning of this project, we would like comments to be received within 30 days after publication of the public notice in the Feather River Bulletin newspaper to allow time for issues to be addressed. If you have questions, additional information or would like a printed copy of the Proposed Action please contact Kyla Sabo, Project Coordinator, at (530)283-7652 or email: [email protected]

Based on the preliminary assessment the responsible official, Chris Carlton, intents to prepare an Environmental Assessment to analyze potential environmental impacts. This project is subject to 36 CFR 218 Project-level Predecisional Administrative Review Process (Parts A and B); hence, individuals and entities who submit timely, specific written comments regarding this proposed project during any designated opportunity for public comment (including this 30-day period) may file an objection.

To meet the purpose and needs of the project, a project specific Forest Plan Amendment (FPA) will be pursued. Specifically, the project will amend portions of standards outlined in the 2004 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment ROD (hereafter 2004 SNFPA ROD) that currently limit canopy cover in specific conifer forest types to a threshold of 40% canopy cover.

Due to the critical and time-sensitive nature of the proposed action, the Regional Office may elect to seek an Emergency Situation Determination (ESD) from the Chief of the Forest Service. If the ESD is sought and granted, it would expedite the actions proposed in this project (36 CFR 218.21). An ESD would enable the capture of the commercial value of the salvaged timber, facilitate the accelerated reduction of fuel accumulation and tree disease risk, and expedite safe public and woods worker access to the affected areas. An ESD would waive the pre-decisional objection process under 36 CFR 218, allowing expedited implementation of the proposed activities in early summer of next calendar year. Whether an ESD will be pursued or not will be determined based on the findings in the initial analysis phase, prior to the public comment period. The Regional Office may also seek alternative arrangements with the Chief of the Forest Service (36 CFR 220.4(b)(2)) or use other emergency authorities.

If you do not wish to comment but would like to follow the development of this project proposal, please let us know in writing. Submitted comments and/or addresses will be used to develop a list of interested persons for future mailings.