Edhat StaffSource: Los Padres National Forest Service
Forest Service officials today announced the opportunity for interested members of the public to comment on two proposed noxious weed treatment programs on the Los Padres National Forest. Environmental analysis for both programs is being conducted concurrently in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to promote forest health, wildlife habitat improvement, ecosystem restoration, and forest fire recovery and risk management, particularly within the Zaca and Piru Fire burn scars.
The first program is a proposal by the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Riparian InVasion Research Laboratory (RIVRLab) to carry out and monitor releases of the northern tamarisk beetle for biocontrol of the invasive tamarisk plant within the selected riparian environments of the Ojai Ranger District. The second program is a forest-wide proposal to take an integrated approach to invasive and non-native vegetation control using a combination of traditional mechanical and chemical treatments, with the addition of biocontrol for tamarisk. More information on the proposals is available on the Los Padres National Forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/
The Forest Service is requesting comments on the proposals by June 28, 2017. While comments will be accepted any time during the process, to establish standing for objection eligibility comments must be submitted by the requested date. Specific written comments as defined by 36 CFR 218.2 should be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and must include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider. It is the responsibility of all individuals and organizations to ensure that their comments are received in a timely manner.
Two public open houses are scheduled to provide interested parties with an opportunity to learn more about the projects:
- June 14, 2017, 4:30 – 6:30 pm at the U.S. Forest Service Ojai Ranger District office, 1190 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023.
- June 15, 2017, 4:30 – 6:30 pm at the U.S. Forest Service Santa Lucia District office, 1616 N. Carlotti Dr., Santa Maria, CA 93454.
Written comments may be mailed to the Los Padres National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Attention: Kyle Kinports, 6750 Navigator Way, Suite 150, Goleta, CA 93117; or hand delivered to the Supervisor’s Office at the address shown above during business hours (M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm); or submitted by FAX to 805-961-5729. Electronic comments, in common formats (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt), may be submitted to the following mailboxes:
- Tamarisk Beetle Release Pilot Program – comments-pacificsouthwest-los-
padres-ojai@fs.fed.us - Forest-wide Noxious Weed Program – comments-pacificsouthwest-los-
padres@fs.fed.us
When submitting comments, please state the project name, “Tamarisk Beetle Release Pilot Program,” or “Forest-wide Noxious Weed Program,” on the envelope and your letter when providing comments by mail, or in the subject line when sending them electronically.
