The 30-day comment period for the Preliminary Environmental Assessment for the Blue Dollar Complex Grazing Allotments Project on the Prairie City Ranger District began July 19 with publication of a legal notice in the Blue Mountain Eagle.

The Malheur National Forest is proposing to implement decisions regarding livestock grazing permits and rangeland management actions on the Bluebucket, Dollar Basin and Star Glade grazing allotments. District Ranger Ed Guzman is the responsible official for this project. The project planning area is located about 25 miles south of Prairie City, in Grant and Harney counties, and encompasses just over 40,000 acres of National Forest System lands. Approximately 2,200 acres of additional private and state lands are also within the overall project planning area boundary. The Prairie City Ranger District proposes modifications to grazing practices, changes to pasture and allotment boundaries and additions of structures and improvements to meet the purpose and need to reflect current management direction, policies, other applicable laws and regulations and to address resource concerns to achieve desired conditions.

The project documents can be accessed on the Forest Service website at fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48798, or copies can be requested from Marion Mahaffey, range NEPA coordinator, at 541-575-3302 or by emailing comments-pacificnorthwest-malheur-prairiecity@fs.fed.us.

Written comments concerning the project must be submitted to: Ed Guzman, Prairie City District Ranger, 327 SW Front Street (P.O. Box 337), OR 97869 or facsimile comments to: 541-820-4844. Hand-delivered comments must be submitted during business hours, 8-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, excluding holidays. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), or word (.doc) to comments-pacificnorthwest-malheur-prairiecity@fs.fed.us.

Only those who submit timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project or activity during a public comment period established by the responsible official are eligible to file an objection. It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to submit them by the close of the comment period and ensure that their comments have been received. Individuals and organizations wishing to be eligible to object must meet the information requirements of 36 CFR 218.

For more information, contact Mahaffey at 541-575-3302.