In the Summer 1997 Newsletter we included an article on how to write a letter to a public official. One of our members called to say he liked the letter, but didn't know how to learn of the particular issues related to a project.
Here's how:
Simply write a one-sentence letter to:
Mr. Loren Kroenke, District Rangerand ask to be placed on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest's mailing list for all new projects.
Salt Lake Ranger District
6944 So 3000 East, SLC UT 84121
Then when a new project has been proposed to the Forest Service:
You will receive a "Scoping Comments Letter" describing the proposed action and tell when an open house will be held with the Forest Service and the organization proposing the action. You can then meet with them, discuss their project, form an opinion, and decide if you want to support or object to the project, by commenting on the Scoping Letter. If you comment, then sometime later you will receive a Draft Environmental Impact or Assessment defining the Alternatives that are under consideration. You can comment on the Draft. Later the Forest Service will issue their Final Environmental Impact Statement or Assessment which defines what they will permit the applicant to do.
Also, the US Forest Service publishes on their internet web site a
Proposed Projects overview of all projects underway and anticipated
along with any appropriate dates and status (the Schedule of Proposed
Actions). If you are interested in accessing it, you may do it by
going through the
Wasatch-Cache
homepage
to the heading of Projects and Plans.
To learn more about the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
process click here.