•A United States Forest Kern River Ranger District USD~epartment of Service Giant Sequoia National Monument Lake Isabella Office ~ griculture P.O. Box 3810 Lake Isabella, CA 93240 (760) 379-5646 www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia/

File Code: 1950 /2720 Date: OCT 3 1 2016 Greetings,

The Sequoia National Forest is asking for public comments on the Chadwick Outdoor Education School Outfitter Guide Special Use Permit Renewal. The Outfitter proposes to use various trails across the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument as part of their Outdoor Education Program. The Outfitter is in compliance with their current SUP that expires on December 31, 2016. The proposal is to re-issue the SUP for a 10-year period with no changes in operations.

The Outfitter fulfills the school's mission statement by impelling students into small group adventures in the wilderness. Students are challenged in the unique learning environment to discover a sense of self, understand their community, and explore and respect the natural world. The Outfitter is accredited by the Association for Experiential Education and has received this accreditation consistently since 1996. The program was re-accredited in 2010 and issued a 10-year re-accreditation certificate. All instructors who work with children under the age of 18 are required to undergo a criminal background check.

You are receiving this notice because you requested a copy, or because it is believed you may have an active interest in this project. Additional information including maps are available online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=50403.

The Outfitter works with eighth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students in sma ll groups. Activities include hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, camping, and monitored solitude. Students do not travel so lo or independently from their instructors. Each group carries emergency contact information, a first aid kit, medicine kit, tool kit, a satellite phone, emergency contact information, and their instructor manual containing policies and procedures. All groups use "leave no trace" practices at al l times. None of the trips include using livestock. Emergency vehicles are located at selected trailheads, will not block other users, are parked in a safe manner, and moved to accommodate student groups, as needed. The campsites used are all pre-existing and are located in developed campgrounds or dispersed areas (wilderness and non-wilderness) and are also used by the general public.

There is no ground disturbance anticipated w ith this use. All trash is carried out by the Outfitter and students from wilderness and non-wilderness areas. All human waste is either buried at least 200 feet from trails and water ways or packed out by the Outfitter or students. The Outfitter is required to adhere to all fire restrictions and forest closures in effect during group excursions. The following is a summary of the yearly trips:

April - Eighth Grade Backpacking Course, Kern 4-mile Rincon Trip Two groups of 10-12 students/group (120 service days estimated) with two instructors (Wilderness First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certified) travel on separate itineraries for five days traveling in opposite directions in the Rincon Trail vicinity along the Upper Kern River.

May/June-Twelfth Grade Backpacking Expedition in Golden Trout and Areas

"1-. Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper .., Chadwick School SUP scoping

Six groups of 10-12 students/group (600-750 service days estimated) with two instructors (WFR and CPR certified) travel on separate routes for 21 day itineraries through the Golden Trout and South Sierra Wilderness areas. Trips start at Kennedy Meadow CG. Each group is supplied with food and supplies once at a trail head in route during the 21-day expedition by a logistics person and a program director. A support team, made up of at least one program director and three logistics coordinators are located at base camps on the outskirts of the wilderness areas and are available for emergency support.

June - Eleventh Grade Backpack Course, Dome Land Wilderness Six or seven groups of 10-12 students/group (500 service days estimated) with two instructors (WFR and CPR certified) travel on separate itineraries for six days in the Dome Land Wilderness. Two logistics coordinators are located at base camps on the outskirts of the wilderness area at Kennedy Meadow Campground and are available for emergency support.

August/September - Tenth Grade Course, Jennie Lakes and Areas Two groups of 10-12 students/group (120 service days estimated) with two instructors (WFR and CPR certified) travel on separate itineraries through the Golden Trout Wilderness Area . Two groups of 10-12 students/group (120 service days estimated) with two instructors (WFR and CPR certified) travel on separate itineraries in t he Jennie Lakes Wi lderness area.

September - Eighth Grade Base Camp Course, Quaking Aspen Six groups of 13-15 students/group (450 service days estimated) with two instructors (WFR and CPR certified) are located at base camps in mult iple group sites of the Quaking Aspen Group Campground. Groups participate in daily activities in their smaller groups including day hike of Slate Mountain, day hike to Wheel Meadow Sequoia Grove, and top rope climbing/rappe lling at Dome Rock. The program directors oversee the rock climbing and rappel sites. Directors are certified top rope instructors, and the program is accredited to manage climbing operations.

Th e SUP w ill be administered by the Kern River Ranger District and will include an operating plan outlining scheduled trips and designed to promote client safety, resource protection, and compliance with t he Sequoia National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Giant Sequoia National Monument Management Plan and other related documents. If you have any information concerning this OFG proposal or know of any unusual situations or extraordinary circumstances that may lead this proposed action to cause significant environmental effects, please let us know by November 15, 2016.

Send your comments in writing or email ([email protected]) to: Artie Colson, Interdisciplinary Team Leader Kern River Ranger District P.O. Box 3810 Lake Isabella, CA 93240

Refer to the "Chadwick School OFG SUP Proposal" at the beginning of your response. I will send each respondent additional information about the project as the analysis continues. If you do not respond in some way to this scoping letter I will remo e your name from the mailing list for this proposal. Thank you for your inter lo forward hearing from you.

Sincerely,

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