July 20, 2023 - Stanislaus National Forest officials report the Forest Service is seeking comments on the Stanislaus National Forest Hazard Tree Management Project.

This is the second solicitation of comments for this particular project. The Forest Service first sought your comments in early April 2023. At that time the Forest Service had prepared Determination of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) and made that, and other related documentation available for review. Since that time an Environmental Assessment was prepared in lieu of the DNA. With an Environmental Assessment now available, the Forest Service is seeking your comments once again.

This project proposes felling and removal of hazardous trees adjacent to roads, high-use motorized trails, and recreation and administrative sites within the Stanislaus National Forest.

Hazard trees present an existing and future safety risk to the public, firefighters, and Forest Service, partner and contract personnel regardless of how the hazard originated e.g., insects, disease, drought, wildfire mortality. If hazard trees are left unabated, they may fall on roads and facilities such as trailheads, administrative sites, or within recreation areas, and either cause direct injury or death to people (such as a tree falls on a tent with a family sleeping inside) or indirect injury or death. Providing for a reduced hazard environment for both public and administrative use is a priority for the Forest Service.

The Environmental Assessment and other related supporting documentation are now available for review on the project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63553. To obtain a hard copy of the EA and other related material, please see the contact information below.

How to Comment

This 30-day comment period is provided pursuant to 36 CFR 218.22 to allow those interested in or affected by this proposal an opportunity to offer input before decision are made. Comments concerning this proposal will be accepted for 30 calendar days following publication of the legal notice in the Union Democrat, the newspaper of record for the Stanislaus National Forest.

This project is subject to the pre-decisional administrative review process pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. As always, it is important to the Forest Service and the NEPA process that you submit your specific written comments timely to allow us the opportunity to consider your comments before developing the draft decision (expected in September 2023). Only individuals or entities (as defined by 36 CFR 218.2) who submit timely and specific written comments during this 30-day combined public scoping and comment period will be eligible to file an objection during the objection period, if one 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 on 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 (35 CFR 218.25(a)(1)(iv)). Individuals and organizations wanting eligibility to object must meet the information requirements of 36 CFR 218.25(a)(3) including specific written comments 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 identify upon request (36 CFR 218.24(b)(8)). All written comments received by the responsible official become a matter of public record (36 CFR 218.25(b)(2)).

Please submit comments online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63553. From this location, click on the ‘Comment / Object on Project’ link located on the right-hand side under the ‘Get Connected’ box. Alternatively, you can use the following link to submit electronic comments with a few less mouse clicks: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=63553. 

If you are not able to access the online form, written comments may also be mailed to: Stanislaus National Forest, Attn: STF Hazard Tree, 19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370.

Contact Information

For additional information regarding this project, please contact Benjamin Cossel, Public Affairs Officer, at: Benjamin.cossel@usda.gov

• 2023_STF-HT_EACommentPeriod_CoverLetter.pdf
  
  Source: USDA