The Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest has released the Salter Vegetation Management Project Final Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and the Draft Decision Notice. The objection period opened June 23, for those who have previously submitted comments regarding the proposed project.
The Salter Vegetation Management Project is located on the Dolores Ranger District in the vicinity of Salter Y, Plateau Creek, Carlyle Point, Turkey Knoll, and Boggy Draw. The analysis area covers approximately 35,000 acres of forested areas on mesa tops and canyons within the Dolores River watershed. The Forest Service is proposing to treat approximately 22,346 acres of the ponderosa pine-Gambel oak vegetation type to 1) improve resilience and maintain the resistance and adaptability of forest ecosystems in an effort to increase protection against epidemic insect and disease outbreaks, 2) increase the structural diversity of the ponderosa pine forest represented across the landscape, and 3) provide economic support to local communities by providing timber products to local industries in a sustainable manner. Proposed activities include a combination of timber harvest, tree planting, and activity fuel burning to achieve the project purpose.
The final Draft Decision Notice, Final Environmental Assessment, and Finding of No Significant Impact are available online at the project webpage. The project webpage is also where electronic objections may be submitted: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57671. These documents are also available for review at the Dolores Ranger District office.
As described in the Draft Decision Notice, it is the responsible official’s intent to implement Alternative 2 (Modified Proposed Action), which is described in the Environmental Assessment for the Salter Vegetation Management project. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project, unless the issue is based on new information that arose after the opportunities to comment. Objections, including attachments, must be filed (electronic, regular mail, fax, email, hand-delivery, express delivery, or messenger service) with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 days following the publication of this legal notice on June 23 in the Cortez Journal. Objection instructions can be found on the project web page.
For additional information on the proposed Salter Vegetation Management Project, contact David Casey with the Dolores Ranger District at 970-882-7296 or by email at david.casey2@usda.gov. All offices on the San Juan National Forest are currently conducting business and providing services virtually. For information on the San Juan National Forest, call 970-247-4874.
