Strategic Firebreaks – Public Comments

Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Los Padres Seeks Public Comments
on Proposed Strategic Community Fuelbreak

GOLETA, Calif., February 1, 2017 – Forest Service officials today announced the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Strategic Community Fuelbreak Project on the Monterey Ranger District. The purpose of the project is to design and establish fuelbreaks in a non-emergency environment to enhance protection for at-risk communities, reduce suppression costs, and preserve wilderness character.

The Environmental Protection Agency published a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft EIS in the Federal Register on January 27, 2017. The Forest Service will accept comments on this proposal for 45 calendar days following publication of the NOA, which is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for a proposed action documented in a Draft EIS. Commenters should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the commenter’s responsibility to ensure timely receipt of comments (36 CFR 218.25).

(Ed. Note: The Draft EIS is available on line http://fs.usda.gov/project/?project=40713

Two public open houses are scheduled to provide interested parties with an opportunity to learn more about the project and the Draft EIS:
Ø February 15, 2017, 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the U. S. Forest Service Big Sur Station: 47555 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920.
Ø February 16, 2017, 5:30pm – 7:30pm at the U. S. Forest Service Monterey District office: 406 South Mildred Ave., King City, CA 93930.

Written comments may be mailed to the Monterey Ranger District, Attn: Jeff Kwasny; 406 South Mildred Ave., King City, CA 93930; or hand delivered to the Monterey Ranger District at the address shown above during business hours (M-F 8:00am to 4:30pm); or submitted by FAX to (831) 385-0628. Electronic comments, in common formats (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt), may be submitted to: comments-pacificsouthwest-los-padres-monterey@fs.fed.us. Please include “Strategic Community Fuelbreak Project” in the subject line