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Dear Interested Party, The San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) is pleased to announce the availability of the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Trails project. The purpose of this letter is to notify the public of the opportunity to comment pursuant to 36 CFR 218. The Rattlesnake Mountain OHV Trails EA evaluates the environmental consequences of the proposal to designate off highway vehicle (OHV) routes and to close/restore unauthorized routes in the Rattlesnake Mountain and Big Pine Flat areas of the SBNF. The proposed action is to designate 8.1 miles of OHV trail and road access and to close/restore approximately 25 miles of unauthorized routes within the approximately 8,000 acre project area. The proposed action also includes a project-specific Forest Plan amendment to change current zoning along some of the proposed trails from non-motorized to motorized use. An alternative to the proposed action has been developed in response to public scoping. The alternative would designate an additional 4.9 miles of Coxey Road (3N14) as OHV mixed use. The project is located in San Bernardino County, California, on the Mountaintop Ranger District of the SBNF, between the Town of Apple Valley and the community of Fawnskin. The Project Area includes the following Sections (or parts thereof): 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25 and 26, of Township 3 North, Range 2 West, and Sections 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29 and 30 of Township 3 North, Range 1 West, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian. The purpose of this comment period is to provide an opportunity for the public to provide specific written comments regarding concerns about the proposed action and alternatives prior to a decision being made by the SBNF Forest Supervisor. How to Comment and Timeframe: The draft Environmental Assessment and supporting documentation is available on-line at the project web page: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=43331 . The SBNF will accept comments on this proposal for 30 calendar days following publication of the “opportunity to comment” legal notice in the San Bernardino County Sun (publication date is November 16, 2015). Comments must be received by December 16, 2015. Only those who submit timely project-specific written comments during a public comment period are eligible to file an objection. Individuals or representatives of an entity submitting comments must sign the comments or verify identity upon request. It is the commenter’s responsibility to ensure timely receipt of comments (36 CFR 218.25). Electronic comments are preferred. Comments may be submitted by following the “Comment on Project’ link from the project web page (see link above). Or, comments may be emailed to the SBNF Mountaintop Ranger District inbox at:comments_pacificsouthwest_san_bernardino_mountaintop@fs.fed.us . Attachments in common formats (.doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, .txt) may also be sent to this email address. If a reviewer is unable to submit comments electronically, comments may be mailed to: Mountaintop Ranger District, Attn: Scott Eliason, PO Box 290, Fawnskin CA 92333. Comments and names of commenters will be part of the public record and subject to the Freedom of Information Act. For additional information or assistance accessing the draft Environmental Assessment, contact Scott Eliason, Mountaintop Ranger District, at (909) 382-2830. Sincerely, /s/ Marc Stamer MARC STAMER District Ranger dEA-letter.pdf