County

Forest Service releases draft decision for Buford/New Castle Project

RBC | The White River National Forest has released a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) and draft Decision Notice (DN) for the Buford New Castle Project, located on the Rifle and Blanco Ranger Districts, in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties.
“This decision represents a unique opportunity to manage vegetation for a variety of benefits,” said Sarah Hankens, Rifle District Ranger. “The Buford New Castle Project demonstrates how recreation management and vegetation management can work together for long-term benefits and how active forest management sets the stage for a healthy future forest.”
The Final EA and FONSI describes the proposed activities in detail and analyzes the potential environmental effects of implementation. The draft DN includes the District Ranger’s Selected Alternative and a rationale for this decision. The Selected Alternative will authorize vegetation management treatments on 615 acres and a variety of silviculture methods will be used.
Additional activities authorized with the proposed action include installing interpretive signs along the road corridor, the development of 10-stock ponds, widening of the Buford New Castle Road to provide a more uniform width, improvements to create safer driving conditions on the Buford New Castle Road, and road maintenance through grading.
According to Doug Leyva, Timber and Fuels program manager for the White River National Forest, “The Selected Alternative gives the Forest Service an opportunity to actively manage aspen across the landscapes, increase diversity to make ecosystems more resilient to natural disturbance processes and provides forest products to local businesses.”
The Selected Alternative best meets the Purpose and Need of the project while balancing effects to natural and social resources. The Forest Service carefully considered comments from members of the public and developed site-specific design features to minimize negative effects associated with logging activities.
The release of this draft decision initiates the 45-day objections period. Individuals who submitted timely and specific written comments during the combined scoping and comment period (Nov. 19, 2015 through Dec. 18, 2015) will have eligibility to file an objection to the draft DN under 36 CFR 218.
Both documents are available for download on the White River National Forest website at fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=47451. Hardcopies may be reviewed at the Rifle Ranger District, in Rifle, Colo.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed via mail, fax, email, hand-delivery, express delivery or messenger service (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Reviewing Officer, Brian Ferebee, Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, 740 Simms, Golden, CO 80401; FAX: 303-275-5134, or email [email protected].
Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of a legal notice in the Rifle Citizen Telegram. The legal notice is anticipated to be published March 9, 2017. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection.

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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