The BTC project proposes to issue a 30-year permit to the City of Berkeley to reconstruct the Camp much as it was before being destroyed by the Rim Fire, while respecting the natural and cultural resources of its setting along the South Fork Tuolumne River, and to operate the Camp throughout the life of the permit (The footprint will be somewhat larger to accommodate current policy and direction).
The scoping package, maps and other project information are available at the Supervisor’s Office in Sonora, CA, or online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46690.
The City of Berkeley has been a permit holder on the STF for nearly a century. Unfortunately, approximately 90% of the camp was lost during the 2013 Rim Fire. The City of Berkeley has submitted an application for a new Special Use Permit to re-build BTC on the STF.
It is important to the Forest Service and the NEPA process that you submit your comments at this early point to allow the Forest Service the opportunity to incorporate your thoughts, concerns and issues into the analysis. Your scoping comments may be used to help identify issues or alternatives while preparing an Environmental Assessment. The formal project scoping period as provided for by the National Environmental Policy Act is open and is expected to end November 27.
Comments may be: mailed to the Stanislaus National Forest; Attn: BTC; 19777 Greenley Road; Sonora, CA 95370; delivered to the address shown above during business hours (M-F 8:00am to 4:30pm); or, submitted by FAX (209) 533-1890. Submit electronic comments, in common (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt) formats, to: comments-pacificsouthwest-stanislaus@fs.fed.us with Subject: BTC.
Specific written comments 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.
The STF began to work with the City of Berkeley on this project in early 2015. In March, project sideboards were developed and provided to the proponent. A series of public/community workshops was held both in the Groveland area and in and around the City of Berkeley area during April, May and June. Conceptual plans for re-building were shared at these workshops, and comments received helped guide the resulting proposed action.
For more information, please contact Phyllis Ashmead at 209-532-3671, ext. 322 pashmead@fs.fed.us
