LEGAL NOTICE

USDA FOREST SERVICE

ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST

OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT

West Sheffield Project

The Bradford Ranger District has prepared an environmental assessment for the West Sheffield Project. An opportunity to comment begins when this legal notice is published in the Bradford Era and ends 30 days after publication occurs.

The project area is located on the Bradford Ranger District in Cherry Grove, Mead, Pleasant, Sheffield and Watson Townships in Warren County, Pennsylvania. The proposed action proposes vegetation management and other natural resource related actions within the West Sheffield Project Area.

A draft decision notice will be prepared after this comment period ends. Eligible parties may object to the draft decision under the procedures identified at 36 C.F.R. part 218.

· To be eligible to object, an individual or entity must submit timely and specific written comments during a designated comment period. This comment period, and the earlier scoping period, are both considered designated comment periods.

· Comments must be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider. They must also identify the title of the project and provide the name and postal address of the commenter. A signature, or other verification of identify, may also be required upon request.

· Comments must be postmarked, or otherwise received, no later than 30 days after publication of this legal notice.

This project initiated public comment after the publication of the proposed amendment to the regulations at 36 CFR 218 in the Federal Register on February 6, 2026 (91 FR 5387). This project and the associated EA, FONSI and ROD may be subject to the revised administrative review process if the final 36 CFR 218 rule is published before the project’s objection period is initiated. Otherwise, this project will follow the administrative review process established prior to the proposed rule.

Comments received, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be available for public inspection as part of the project record. They may be submitted to the responsible official in the following ways:

· Mail: Rich Hatfield, District Ranger, Bradford Ranger District, 29 Forest Service Drive, Bradford, PA 16701

· Fax: 814-362-2761 · Email at comments-eastern-allegheny-bradford@usda.gov

· Phone: Comments may also be provided by calling 814-363-6000. Normal business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Additional information may be obtained online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/allegheny/projects/68968 or by contacting Rich Hatfield, District Ranger, 814-363-6098.