The Forest Service, Sawtooth National Forest, Fairfield Ranger District proposes to open an over-snow motorized corridor through the existing closure area from Couch Summit to Fleck Summit; to add new motorized restrictions in the South Fork Boise River headwaters area to minimize disturbance to wintering mountain goats and wolverine denning and to correct the Winter Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) class in the project area from "Primitive" to "Semi Primitive Motorized."
The project area is located approximately 15 miles north of the City of Fairfield in the South Fork Boise River drainage and is within the Fairfield Ranger District, Sawtooth National Forest, ldaho.
A detailed proposed action description and other information are available for review at the Fairfield Ranger District office, 102 First Street East, Fairfield, ID. Additional information regarding this action can be obtained from: Steve Frost, Fairfield Ranger District, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, lD 83327, or via telephone at (208) 764-3202.
The purpose of this comment period is to provide an opportunity for the public to provide early and meaningful participation on a proposed action prior to a decision being made by the Responsible Official.
How To Comment And Timeframe
Individuals and organizations wishing to be eligible to object must meet the information requirements of 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to submit them by the close of the comment period. Only those who submit timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a public comment period established by the responsible official are eligible to file an objection under 218.
Written, facsimile, hand-delivered and electronic comments concerning this action will be accepted for 30 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Times-News newspaper based in Twin Falls, ID. The publication date in the newspaper of record (Times-News) is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for this analysis. Those wishing to comment should not rely upon dates or time frame information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the length of the comment period.
Written comments must be submitted to: Mike Dettori, District Ranger, Fairfield Ranger District, 102 First Street East, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, lD 83327, Fax number (208) 764-3211.
The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an e-mail message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (. rtf), or Word (.doc) to comments-intermtn-saMoothfairfield@fs.fed.us. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to a comment, a verification of identity will be required for objection eligibility. If using an electronic message, a scanned signature is one way to provide verification. For objection eligibility each individual or representative from each entity submitting timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request.
All comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposed action and will be available for public inspection.