Correction! Does RGNF restrict comments on Village at Wolf Creek Draft Decision?

I'll leave my letter as it was and simply add Dan Dallas' clarification.

Open letter of inquiry to RGNF/USDA

Dan Dallas clarifies, "There is no limitation on who can comment, this is a mischaracterization of the process that we’ve tried our best to clearly describe 

What is limited is who has standing to file an objection of the decision because it (decision) is based on an existing EIS which has already been commented on. ..."   (7/23/18)

_______________________________________________________
Village at Wolf Creek Environmental Impact Statement and draft Record Of Decision 
are available on-line at: 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=35945. 

Comments are to be sent to before September 4th: 

Reviewing Officer, Tammy Whittington, Deputy Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, Region 2, 1617 Cole Blvd., Building 17, Lakewood, Colorado 80401 or email r02admin_review@fs.fed.us. 

__________________________________________________________________________ 

Dear RGNF Supervisor Dallas,

I was surprised to see that comments to RGNF/USDA’s most recent Draft Decision (in favor of access to facilitate the blindly destructive development of LMJV Alberta Park parcel, that extremely biologically productive wetlands areas - which happens to be among the source waters for the critically important Rio Grande River.*) are being restricted to people who commented on a previous altogether different Draft Decision?

I respectfully ask if you could explain the rational and justification for that limitation on who can comment?

Next I wonder if you can share some clarifying thoughts regarding the Rio Grande National Forest administration’s thinking when it comes to balancing between protecting irreparable landscapes of outstanding biological and wildlife habitat value with facilitating development that will inevitable cause profound damages to this landscape, that some argue is a national treasure and a resource that will only increase in societal importance as our real physical world continues warming and drying and radially altering before our eyes?

Respectfully,

Peter Miesler

July 22, 2018

(*sorry but that is what your decision amounts to.)  

__________________________________________________________________

Copy of Dan Dallas's July 19th invitation to comment . . .

Agency: Rio Grande National Forest / USDA

1803 West Highway 

160 Monte Vista, CO 81144 

719-852-5941    TDD: 719-852-6271 

Fax: 719-852-6250

File Code: 1950

Date: July 19, 2018

Dear Interested Party:

Responsible Official, Dan Dallas, Forest Supervisor, Rio Grande National Forest, has prepared a 2nd Draft Record of Decision (ROD) for the Village at Wolf Creek Access Project. 

A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft ROD was completed in November, 2014 and a final ROD selecting the land exchange alternative published in May, 2015. That decision was challenged in court and the decision was set aside in May, 2017. 

This current draft ROD selects the ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act) Access Road alternative from the November 2014 FEIS.

The project analysis and decision are to provide access to private lands surrounded by federal lands. Forest Supervisor Dan Dallas has selected alternative 3, the ANILCA Access alternative to allow the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture (LMJV) the opportunity to develop year-round access to their property.

The EIS and draft ROD are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=35945. These documents are also available for review at the Rio Grande NF Supervisor’s Office, 1803 West Highway 160, Monte Vista, CO 81144. Additional information may also be obtained from Deputy Forest Supervisor Tom Malecek (719) 852-5941.

This project is subject to the objection process pursuant to Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 218 (36 CFR 218), Subparts A and B. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or comments on the draft EIS.

Dan Dallas clarifies, There is no limitation on who can comment, this is a mischaracterization of the process that we’ve tried our best to clearly describe 

What is limited is who has standing to file an objection of the decision because it (decision) is based on an existing EIS which has already been commented on. .  

Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted, timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after designated comment opportunities.

Objections, including attachments, must be filed via mail, email (doc, docx, pdf, txt), hand delivery, express delivery, or FAX: 303-275-5134 

(Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays), to: 

Reviewing Officer, Tammy Whittington, Deputy Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, Region 2, 1617 Cole Blvd., Building 17, Lakewood, Colorado 80401 

or email r02admin_review@fs.fed.us.

{ The formal 45 day objection period will run through Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

This is the only time a citizens opinion has any chance of being heard - take advantage of it, it’s all we have - after that it all reverts back into the backrooms with their quiet power-political wheeling and dealing and surprise decisions. }

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