February 25, 2022 - Stanislaus National Forest public release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the SERAL project.
Dear Interested Party:
As the Responsible Official, I have prepared a draft Record of Decisions (draft ROD) for the Social and Ecological Resilience across the Landscape (SERAL) selecting many, but not all, of the actions proposed in Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative) of the SERAL Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) (Title: A Significant Step Toward Resiliency ―Draft Record of Decision).
You are receiving this notice because you submitted specific written comments during a previously offered designated comment period for the SERAL project or have expressed interest in the project. The FEIS and draft RODs, maps and other supporting documentation are available online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56500.
Administrative Review (Objection) Opportunities
The draft ROD is subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. Objections will be accepted only from those who submitted project specific written comments, during a designated comment period (36 CFR 218.5(a)). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted comments unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities (36 CFR 218.8(c)).
Objections must be submitted within 45 days following the publication of the opportunity to object legal notice in the Union Democrat (expected on February 25,2022) which is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. The Forest will post the actual legal notice on the project website address noted above as soon as it is available. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframes provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure evidence of timely receipt (36 CFR 218.9).
Objections must be submitted to the Reviewing Officer: Jennifer Eberlien, Regional Forester; USDA Forest Service. Please submit objections online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56500 by clicking the “Comment / Object on Project” link located under the “Get Connected” box on righthand side of the project link provided. Objections may also be submitted USPS or private carrier to the reviewing officer: Jennifer Eberlien, Regional Forester, Attn: SERAL 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592.
At a minimum, objections must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)(1)-(6)): 1) name, address and telephone; 2) signature or other verification of authorship; 3) identify a single lead objector when applicable; 4) project name, Responsible Official name and title, and name of affected National Forest and/or Ranger Districts; 5) a description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection; if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; reasons for, and suggested remedies to resolve, your objections; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; ;and, 6) a description of the connection between your objections and your prior comments. Incorporate documents by reference only as provided for at 36 CFR 218.8(b).
Additional Decisions
In addition to the A Significant Step Toward Resiliency ―Draft ROD made available today, I will also be preparing two additional decisions. In the A Significant Step Toward Resiliency ―Draft ROD , I intentionally chose not to include all aspects of Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative). The rationale for having multiple decisions, in part, is the same as the for the SERAL project as a whole, we must use new tools, and chart forward a new path to restore and maintain resiliency across the landscape.
A detailed description of my rationale for multiple record of decisions and the estimated date the other two RODS will be available is included in the A Significant Step Toward Resiliency ―Draft ROD.
For more information, contact Benjamin Cossel at benjamin.cossel@usda.gov
Sincerely,
Jason Kuiken
Forest Supervisor
Stanislaus National Forest
