USDA Forest Service News Release Feb 12, 2015

NEWS RELEASE

Village at Wolf Creek Access Project objection resolution period extended

February 12, 2015

USDA Forest Service

Rocky Mountain Region

www.fs.usda.gov/r2

740 Simms Street   Golden, CO  80401

Regional Office Contact: Mike Stearly, 303-275-5359

Rio Grande National Forest Contact: Mike Blakeman, 719-852-6212 

                            

GOLDEN, Colo. – Deputy Regional Forester Maribeth Gustafson is extending the objection resolution period an additional 30 days, as allowed under Forest Service regulations, for the Village at Wolf Creek Access Project. The current 45-day resolution period was due to end February 17.

“Due to the high volume and complexity of the objections, I have made the decision to extend the resolution period an additional 30 days,” said Gustafson. “This additional time period will allow for a thorough analysis of the objections enabling me to provide solid guidance to the Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor Dan Dallas regarding the project’s final environmental impact statement and draft decision.”

On November 20, 2014, the Rio Grande National Forest released the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and draft record of decision (ROD) for the Village at Wolf Creek Access Project. The draft decision approved the land exchange to meet the legal obligation of the U.S. Forest Service to provide access to private property owned by Levell-McCombs Joint Venture.

The draft record of decision initiated a 45-day objection filing period, with no extensions allowed per Federal Regulations. The Rocky Mountain Regional Office received 20 objections to the FEIS and Draft ROD.

Upon completion of the objection resolution period, Gustafson will respond to each objector and may provide a letter of direction to the forest.

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The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $27 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.