Comments are requested on the South Fork Mountain Vegetation Management Project.

Opportunity to Comment South Fork Mountain Vegetation Management Project USDA Forest Service Six Rivers National Forest Shasta-Trinity National Forest Mad River Ranger District Trinity and Humboldt Counties, California The Six Rivers National Forest and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest are seeking comments on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the South Fork Mountain Vegetation Management Project. A comment period is being provided for this EA pursuant to 36 CFR 219.16(b) and is intended to provide those interested in or affected by this action with an opportunity to make their concerns known prior to a decision being made by the Responsible Official. The project planning area encompasses 7,855 acres and follows the South Fork Mountain ridge between the Mad River, Hayfork, and the Yolla Bolla Ranger Districts boundaries, straddling both Trinity and Humboldt Counties. The two forests seek to improve forest health and fire resiliency by removing diseased trees, create defensible space for communities in the wildland-urban interface, promote stand resilience by reducing stem density in overstocked stands, amongst other actions. Authorization was received for this project to continue under the Emergency Action Determination under the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, Section 40807, Emergency Actions. Under this emergency authority, the project Decision Notice will not be subjection to pre-decisional administrative review as implemented by Subparts A and B of 36 CFR 218. In addition, a project-specific plan amendment is being proposed for this project to ease restrictions on mechanized ground equipment on slopes of 35% up to 50%, allowing areas of higher fuel density to be treated. For more information, or to review the draft EA and other supporting documents, please check the project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/projects/66933. How to Comment and Timeframe Comments concerning this action will be accepted until the close of business, 30 days following the publication of this notice on the Redding Record Searchlight and the Eureka Times Standard. Electronic comments including attachments should be submitted using the link provided above, by clicking the "Comment/Object on Project" under the "Get Connected" group at the bottom of the project website. Physical scoping comments may be mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered (between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays) to the Mad River Ranger District, 741 State Highway 36, Bridgeville, CA 95526 (fax: 707-574-6273). Please make sure to include ATTN: South Fork Mountain Project in the subject line of your mail. For additional information, please contact For additional information, please contact FS_Planning_SRF@usda.gov with "SFM" in the subject line.