Snow vehicle use opens to public comment

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests welcomes comments on a proposed Kaniksu Over-Snow Vehicle Use Designation project environmental assessment.

The purpose of this project is to designate roads, trails, and areas open to over-snow vehicle use on the Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake and Sandpoint Ranger Districts of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. A proposed action was originally shared for public input in August 2022. Since that time, the Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act.

The environmental assessment and supporting documents are available on the project webpage at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53091.

The Forest Service will host a virtual town hall to answer public questions regarding the project. The virtual event will be from 4-6 p.m. Pacific Time, April 12. Additional information on how to join the meeting will be emailed to the project mailing list and posted to the project webpage prior to the meeting date.

How to comment

Comments will be accepted for 30 days following publication of the legal notice in the Coeur d’Alene Press (the newspaper of record). Written comments are requested electronically via the project webpage. On the right side of the webpage, click on the “Comment/Object on Project” and submit comments using the comment form. The comment form is available at: cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=53091.

Attachments to comments must be submitted in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word, rich text format (rtf), or as a PDF. If unable to access the online form, comments may also be submitted by regular mail to the Bonners Ferry Ranger District, 6286 Main St., Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, attention: Doug Nishek. The office business hours for submitting hand-delivered comments are: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Administrative review eligibility

The proposed project is an activity implementing a land management plan and is subject to the pre-decisional objection process at 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. Only those who submit timely and specific written comments (36 CFR 218.2) regarding the proposed project or activity during a public comment period established by the responsible official are eligible to file an objection (36 CFR 218.24(b)(6)). For issues to be raised in objections, they must be based on previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project or activity and attributed to the objector. It is the responsibility of all individuals and organizations to ensure that their comments are received in a timely manner. For objection eligibility, each individual or representative from each entity submitting timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project or activity must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request (36 CFR 218.24(b)(8)).

Contact

For additional information about the project or the public meeting, please contact Kaleigh Maze, project team leader, at [email protected] or 530-643-6221.