The San Juan National Forest has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Dolores Recreation Access and Infrastructure Improvement Project. The proposed action is to be located on the Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, in three discrete locations, including the Boggy Draw trail system, the Transfer Horse Campground Horse Corral, and Forest Service Road 385.
The Responsible Official for this decision is Shauna Jensen, Acting District Ranger. The Responsible Official is planning to implement the proposed action, which proposes the following activities: expansion of one parking area, construction of three new parking areas, installation of two bathrooms, rerouting approximately 3.3 miles of unmotorized trail, construction of approximately 4,400 feet of new unmotorized trail, and redesignation of approximately 11.4 miles of existing off-highway vehicle trail to permit vehicles up to 62 inches in width.
The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Dolores Recreation Access and Infrastructure Improvement Project are available upon request at the Dolores Ranger District office, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 8323. These documents are also available at the project website. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Tom Rice, at 970-882-6843 or by e-mail at thomas.b.rice@usda.gov.
The Dolores Recreation Access and Infrastructure Improvement Project is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of a legal notice of opportunity to object, published on March 8, 2023 in The Journal, the newspaper of record. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Objectors should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to 36 CFR 218.9.
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 in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless the issue is based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b). Objections that do not adhere to these requirements make review of an objection difficult and are conditions under which the reviewing officer may set aside an objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218.10. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process. Electronic objections are preferred and can be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online, with “Dolores Recreation Access and Infrastructure Improvement Project Objection” in the subject line.
Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software (e.g., Word, PDF, Rich Text) and be searchable. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received.
Objections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at 970-882-0175. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: Dolores Recreation Access and Infrastructure Improvement Project” and should specify the number of pages being submitted.
Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: San Juan National Forest, Dolores Ranger District, Attn: Reviewing Officer, 29211 Hwy 184 Dolores CO, 81323.
Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: San Juan National Forest, Dolores Ranger District, Attn: Reviewing Officer, 29211 Hwy 184 Dolores CO, 81323. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8-4:30, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.