Email: [email protected] Forest Service Web: http://www.fs.usda.gov/ashley Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests 857 South Jordan Parkway South Jordan, Utah 84095-8594 Web: http://www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf Twitter: https://twitter.com/UWCNF Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Forest-Service-Uinta- Wasatch-Cache-National-Forest/1477262249207367 Forest Service News Release Ashley National Forest 355 North Vernal Avenue Media Contact: Louis Haynes Vernal, Utah 84078 435-781-5105 Voice: 435-789-1181 [email protected] Ashley and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests Evaluate Domestic Sheep Allotments in the High Uinta Mountains Vernal, Utah … The Ashley and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests have published a notice of intent to complete an Environmental Impact Statement evaluating domestic sheep grazing on 10 domestic sheep allotments encompassing about 160,000 acres. This analysis will evaluate the effects of domestic sheep grazing on soil and water, fish and wildlife, recreation, and wilderness and the social/economics of affected communities and will also determine whether or not to permit domestic sheep grazing on the ten allotments. The proposed action would continue to authorize sheep grazing on these allotments. Grazing allotments are reviewed on a periodic basis to evaluate rangeland conditions. A comment period is open for the public and all interested parties to comment and provide the planning team with information and actions to consider during the formation of alternatives that will be used for the planning effort. The comment period opened on February 23, 2016 and will run for 60 days. John R. Erickson, Forest Supervisor on the Ashley National Forest stated, “Throughout this process it is our intent to actively engage local, state and federal agencies, allotment permit holders, environmental interests and the public to ensure all points of view are considered during this effort.” The analysis will take about three years to complete. -MORE- 2-2-2 The project area is located in Duchesne and Summit Counties in Utah on the Evanston-Mountain View and Duchesne-Roosevelt Ranger Districts. There are five allotments on the Ashley National Forest and five allotments on the Uinta-Wasatch- Cache National Forest. The five allotments on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest are the Gilbert Peak, Hessie Lake / Henry’s Fork, Red Castle, East Fork of Blacks Fork, and the Middle Fork of Blacks Fork allotments. The five allotments on the Ashley National Forest are the painter basin, Tungsten, Oweep, Ottoson Basin, and Fall Creek allotments. These allotments are located in the High Uintas Wilderness Area on both the north and south facing slopes of the central ridge line. Please address your comments to David Whittekiend, Uinta-Wasatch -Cache National Forest Supervisor at 857 West South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, UT 84095. Office hours, for those who wish to hand deliver their comments, are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., MST, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). Alternatively comments may be submitted by facsimile at 801- 253-8118, or by [email protected], or [email protected]. (in the subject line, include "Comments on the High Uintas Wilderness Domestic Sheep Grazing Project"). For more information on the project, please visit the following website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44503. There will be another opportunity for public comment after the alternatives have been developed and reviewed by the planning team in the form of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. -30- .