Aspen project scoping period begins
By Mindy Gould on Friday, June 24th, 2022 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
John Day, Hines and Prairie City, OR. — (June 23, 2022) The Malheur National Forest – Emigrant Creek Ranger District has announced the Aspen Project Scoping Period.
The Emigrant Creek Ranger District of the Malheur National Forest is proposing a district-wide aspen restoration project, within Harney, Grant and Crook counties. The proposal includes conifer encroachment treatments, aspen regeneration treatments, aspen regeneration protection treatments and connected actions. Management would be based on the results of an implementation assessment and utilize adaptive management principles to apply actions to maintain or improve conditions for the aspen community. An environmental assessment should form the basis for a decision.
The Emigrant Creek Ranger District Aspen project was developed in cooperation with the Harney County Restoration Collaborative (HCRC). The project proposes to treat aspen stands across the 634,096-acre Emigrant Creek Ranger District. For more information about the proposed action, a scoping package can be obtained from the Emigrant Creek District Office in Hines, Oregon or on the Malheur National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62352.
For your convenience, answers to all your questions such as, what’s the purpose, why it’s needed, the direction the Forest is headed and information on the scoping process- be sure to check out the Story Map here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/10e9d69fe4ce47b48f83b000d2c16312
Individuals and entities who have submitted timely, specific written comments regarding a proposed project or activity during any designated opportunity for public comment may file an objection. Opportunity for public comment on this project includes during scoping, the 30-day public review period. Specific written comments should be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and must include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider. During this scoping phase of the NEPA process, we are seeking input, either verbal or written. We are interested in any site-specific issues, concerns or opportunities that you think need to be considered in the development of this analysis.
Please submit your comments by July 22, 2022. The preferred method to submit comments is electronically through this portal: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=62352
Alternatively, written comments may be submitted using the following methods: Postal Mail: Joshua Giles, ECRD Aspen Project, Malheur National Forest, 265 Hwy 20 South, Hines, Oregon 97738.E-mail: comments-pacificnorthwest-malheur-emigrantcreek@usda.gov
Thank you for your interest in the management of the Malheur National Forest.
