FSEIS Appendix A

Appendix A Public Involvement Table of Contents Public Involvement on the DSEIS and the Update to the DSEIS ................................................... 2 Content Analysis for the DSEIS and the Update to the DSEIS .................................................11 Response to Public Comments on the DSEIS and Update to the DSEIS .................................... 21 100 Legal and Administrative Framework (violations, lack of disclosure, decision making, laws, regulations, policy) ...........................................................................................................21 102–108 Issues Pertaining to the Alternatives ........................................................................37 110 Standards, Guidelines, Goals, and Objectives.................................................................65 130 Adequacy of Analysis and Data (content, use of information/data, conclusion not supported by data, need for additional analysis) ........................................................................74 160 Cumulative Effects Analysis .........................................................................................101 170 Desired Future Conditions (DFC) .................................................................................109 175 Historical Range of Variability (HRV) .........................................................................110 200 Monitoring .....................................................................................................................110 250 Public Involvement .......................................................................................................116 270 Social and Economic .....................................................................................................118 280 Management Indicator Species (MIS)...........................................................................136 340 Funding and Budget Constraints ...................................................................................137 380 Soils ...............................................................................................................................137 520 Vegetation Management) Diversity, Inventory, Restoration, Habitat, Botanical) ........138 540 Noxious Weeds (Non-native Plants) .............................................................................138 570 Wildlife Habitat .............................................................................................................139 640 Rangeland Management (Livestock Grazing)...............................................................197 700 Recreation Management ................................................................................................212 800 Tribal Interests (Treaties, trust obligation, fishing rights) ............................................213 990 Outside the Scope of Forest Plan and Miscellaneous .......................................................223 Agency, Elected Officials, and Tribal Comment Letters ............................................................ 224 Agency, Elected Officials and Tribal Letters on the DSEIS ...................................................224 Agency, Elected Officials and Tribal Letters on the Update to the DSEIS .............................225 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................... 227 i Public Involvement Appendix A Introduction In 2008, the Payette National Forest published a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) (USDA Forest Service 2008) to the 2003 Southwest Idaho Ecogroup Land and Resource Management Plans Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) (USDA Forest Service 2003) and Record of Decision (ROD). The DSEIS responded to the appeal instructions received from the Chief of the Forest Service on March 9, 2005, pertaining to the issue of bighorn sheep viability. The assessment contained several alternatives to the selected Alternative 7 in the FEIS. These alternatives were developed to analyze effects to bighorn sheep viability, rangeland resources, tribal rights and interests, and socio-economics. The DSEIS was released for public review and comment in October 2008; its release was followed by public meetings. Over 14,000 comments were received on the document and its analysis. The Forest Service completed a content analysis on the comments received. In response to the comments on the DSEIS, the Payette National Forest updated some analysis methods and models to better address the concerns that were raised and released an Update to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (USDA Forest Service 2010) in March 2010 for a 45-day comment period. The Updated to the DSEIS included 1) a core herd home range analysis; 2) habitat models; 3) sensitive species listing by Region 4 Regional Forester; 4) disease spread models; 5) quantitative content analysis; 6) a community and regional socio-economic analysis; 7) an environmental justice analysis and; 8) new alternatives. The Forest Service completed a content analysis on the 11,867 comments that were received on the Update to the DSEIS. Many methods were used to involve and inform the public, such as newsletters, website updates, public meetings, and presentations to groups upon request. Coordination, interaction, and consultation occurred with other federal, state, county, and tribal government officials, and with special interest groups, interested individuals, and the general public. In addition, cooperating status was requested and granted beginning in August 2007 to the States of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington; and the Tribal governments of the Nez Perce, Shoshone-Bannock, Shoshone-Paiute, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Many public meetings, briefings, conference calls, intergovernmental working meetings, and one-on-one information exchanges were held in and around the Payette National Forest. Following is a summarization of the activities that occurred from the release of the DSEIS through release of the Final Supplemental EIS and Plan Amendment. A summary of the comments received on the DSEIS and the Update to the DSEIS, and the Forest Service response to those comments is also included in this appendix, followed by Agency, elected officials and tribal comment letters. A-1 Appendix A Public Involvement Public Involvement on the DSEIS and the Update to the DSEIS Public involvement and participation was important throughout the process for the DSEIS and the Update to the DSEIS, and the communication strategy was adjusted as timeframes and issues evolved. The following list conveys the key opportunities presented for information sharing, participation, and involvement: • Personal contacts were made with key individuals, organizations, other agencies, Tribal governments, and elected officials to explain the process and receive input; • News releases and paid advertisements let the public know about the public meetings and the public participation opportunities; • Newsletters were mailed to the mailing list and also posted on the Payette NF website. The newsletters helped inform people of the project timeline, public participation opportunities, alternative formulation, and changes to the documents; • Public meetings were held to inform the public about the information in the documents and receive comments. They were designed for a presentation by Forest Service personnel and for the public to visit one-on-one with Forest Service specialists conducting the analysis, provide displays of the new analysis and maps, and to provide information to the line officer for decision making; • Information meetings were held with specific groups, tribes, and organizations; • Information meetings were held at project milestones for County Commissioners and Idaho Congressional delegation to provide project updates; • Information was made available on the Payette National Forest’s website. All public released information was posted on the website, including the opportunity to download documents, view alternatives and maps, and provide comment; • Employee briefings provided employees with information on the status of the project and what changes were being made based on public comment. Numerous meetings were held with various groups, interested parties, organizations, agencies, Tribes, counties, congressional representatives, and the general public to share information about the DSEIS and the Update to the DSEIS; and update them about the process and timeline. Following is a list of these meetings/briefings that were conducted beginning with the release of the DSEIS through the release of the Update to the DSEIS: Development of the DSEIS and the Update to the DSEIS Date Location Meeting With Cooperator Meetings 8/14/2007 McCall, ID Cooperators 9/25/2007 McCall, ID Cooperators 10/15/2007 McCall, ID Cooperators 10/29/2007 McCall, ID Cooperators 1/31/2008 Boise, ID Cooperators 2/28–2/29/2008 McCall, ID Cooperators 4/1–4/2/2008 McCall, ID Cooperators 6/25/2008 Video Teleconference Cooperators 4/30/2009 Video Teleconference Cooperators A-2 Public Involvement Appendix A Development of the DSEIS and the Update to the DSEIS Date Location Meeting With 5/12–5/14/2009 McCall, ID Cooperators 5/21–5/22/2009 McCall, ID Cooperators 5/28/2009 Video Teleconference Cooperators 6/24–6/25/2009 McCall, ID Cooperators 8/19/2009 Video Teleconference Cooperators 10/19–10/20/2009 McCall, ID Cooperators 12/14/2009 Conference

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