Jodie Fleck 44000 SE Shotgun Road Post, Oregon 97752 Wednesday, February 04, 2009 US Department of
Agriculture Forest Service Ochoco National Forest Dear District Ranger Turner, I have continued to consider the Forest Service’s proposals for Rager Ranger Station since the public meeting on February 4, 2009. As you know I am opposed to reducing Rager from a full-time Ranger Station to a part-time work station. After trying to educate myself on the USFS website regarding this type of process, I have come to the following conclusions regarding this change. 1. This is a change to the Forest Plan for the Ochoco National Forest and a change to the Facility Master Plan, which requires a different chain of events to happen. At the very least a 30 day notice of public meetings and a 30 day comment period. 2. Administrative Actions are categorically excluded from the NEPA action process. After extensive research regarding NEPA requirements I conclude that this proposal is not an Administrative Action but rather a Major Federal Action that qualifies for the NEPA process. Under the NEPA process several steps that do not appear to have taken place in this process will need to be addressed. Specifically scoping of individuals that may be affected and notice to them regarding the proposal, as well considering alternate proposal from the public such as closing the Prineville SO and putting the people back at Ochoco Ranger Station and Rager Ranger station to their full capacity and Key District personnel at the Lamonta location. This makes much better sense. NEPA also would require several other report such as an EA and/or EIS. 3. This proposal is in direct conflict with an All Employee Letter from Chief Abigail Kimbell dated June 18, 2008 regarding the Environmental Management System (EMS). In part it states: “In this first year, I want all of us to learn more about what an EMS is and how it works by focusing on fleet management and reducing our fuel consumption. With fuel prices now averaging over $4 per gallon nationally, there are compelling economic and environmental reasons to reduce our fuel consumption. Our goal is to reduce fuel consumption by two percent every year through 2015. The monitoring and accountability offered by the EMS will help us reduce fuel use because we will more conscientiously apply fleet management and vehicle operation practices such as proper maintenance, ride sharing policies and ecodriving tips. The EMS will show us if and how these practices need to be improved over time.” The proposal will be counter productive with this goal that Chief Kimbell has set forth. At this time I ask that you reconsider your entire proposal. It is not in the best interest of the Ochoco National Forest specifically the Paulina Ranger District. If you are going to move forth with this, I ask that you reconsider the environmental impact of this proposal and move forward on the project using the NEPA process. I hereby request that I be noticed of all action regarding this matter as a concerned and affected individual. Furthermore if you do continue to move forward with this proposal I ask that you recheck the requirements for Public notice of proposed actions in the FSH and see that we (the effected public) are properly noticed and that amply comment time is afford to us. Your letter to the “Current Residents” of the 97751 zip code was postmarked January 26, 2009. It was received in the Paulina Post office box on Wednesday January 28, 2009 regarding a meeting in ONE week on Wednesday February 4, 2009. Your letter stated a February 11, 2009 deadline for the public comment period. A mere TWO week comment period is hardly enough time to form an educated opinion, let alone time enough to be able to put your thoughts together. At the VERY least I ask that you consider extending the public comment time. Respectfully, Jodie L. Fleck CC: Dan Torrence, Mike Johnson, Bill Queen, Brian Scholz, Kathleen Martin, Sue Currier, Patty Miller, Cathy Lund, Elvira Young, Paul Cutty Respectfully, Jodie Fleck
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