united states forest national forests and grasslands...
TRANSCRIPT
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Forest
Service
National Forests and Grasslands
in Texas
Angelina National Forest
Angelina/Sabine Ranger District
5050 State Hwy 21 East Hemphill, TX 75948
Phone 409-625-1940
Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper
File Code: 2720/1950 Date: May 31, 2012
Dear Friends of the Angelina National Forest,
Pursuant to 36 CFR 215, I am providing the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed
Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc. Powerline Special Use Permit Reissuance Project on
the Angelina National Forest. The purpose of the project is to issue four new Special Use Permit
authorizations to Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc. (JNEC) for existing electric
powerline right-of-ways. The current permits have expired and need to be reissued for a new
term. These existing permitted powerlines are located on the Angelina National Forest in
Angelina and Jasper County, Texas (map attached). The powerlines serve residents and
businesses in those counties. The JNEC intends on continuing the permitted use and are in
compliance with the terms of their original permits. The new authorizations involve only
administrative changes and do not approve any construction or other ground disturbing activity
or removal of timber. The most recent attachments and clauses will be added to the permits.
This project falls within the category of actions that may be categorically excluded from
documentation in an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, provided
there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action (36 CFR 220.6 (a)).
Specifically, the renewal of these existing special use permits meet Category 15, “Issuance of a
new special use authorization for a new term to replace an existing or expired special use
authorization when the only changes are administrative, there are not changes to the authorized
facilities or increases in the scope or intensity of authorized activities, and the applicant or holder
is in full compliance with the terms and conditions of the special use authorization.” (36 CFR
220.6(e) (15)). This proposal is consistent with the 1996 Land and Resource Management Plan
for the National Forest and Grassland in Texas (the Plan).
We have completed the Decision Memo (DM) for the Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Powerline Special Use Permit Reissuance Project. You are invited to comment on the proposed
action before the DM is signed. The DM is available online at
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas/projects/. A paper copy of the DM can be requested by calling
(409) 625-1940.
This decision is subject to administrative appeal in accordance with 36 CFR 215 and the judicial
ruling in Sequoia ForestKeeper v. Tidwell. In accordance with 36 CFR 215.6(a)(3), individuals
or organizations wishing to have standing to appeal must provide the following information:
1) Your name and address.
2) Title of the Proposed Action.
3) Responses specific to the proposed action, along with supporting reasons that the Responsible
Official should consider in reaching a decision.
4) Signature or other verification upon request: identification of the individual or organization
who authored the comment(s) is necessary for appeal eligibility requirements.
Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Permit Reissuance Page 2 of 4
The opportunity to comment on this project ends 30 days following the date of publication of this
legal notice in the Lufkin Daily News. Written comments may be submitted to me, Thomas C.
Philipps, Attn: Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc. Powerline Special Use Permit
Reissuance Project, 5050 State Hwy. 21 East, Hemphill, TX 75948. If you wish to submit oral
comments, please call me at (409) 625-1940. Hand-delivered comments may be received within
our normal business hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Comments may be mailed electronically to our office in a common digital format such as an
email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) at comments-southern-
[email protected] with Subject: Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc. Powerline
Special Use Permit Reissuance Project.
Names and addresses of those who comment will be considered part of the public record on this
proposed action, and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously
will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR Parts 215 or 217. Additionally,
pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27 (d), any person may request the agency to withhold a submission from
the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such
confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under FOIA,
confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade
secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency’s decision regarding the
request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied; the agency will return the submission
and notify the requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address
within 10 days.
I appreciate your interest and participation in the process thus far. For additional information
concerning the proposal, contact Tom Zimmerman at the Sabine District Office, telephone 409-
625-1940.
Sincerely,
/s/ Thomas C. Philipps
THOMAS C. PHILIPPS
Acting Angelina/Sabine District Ranger
enclosure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of
race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,
religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's
income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination
write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or
call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Permit Reissuance Page 3 of 4
Project Area
VICINITY MAPJasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Powerline Right-of-Way Special Use Permit ReissuanceVicinity of Permited UseAngelina National Forest
Angelina & Jasper County, Texas
Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Permit Reissuance Page 4 of 4
This GIS product was compiled from various sourcesand may be corrected, updated, modified, or replacedat any time.5-10-12 CF
Legend
Jasper-Newton Electric Coop Right-of-Way
LOCATION MAPJasper-Newton Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Powerline Right-of-Way Special Use Permit ReissuanceVicinity of Permited UseAngelina National Forest
Angelina & Jasper County, Texas
0 1.5 30.75 Miles