The San Juan National Forest Dolores Ranger District is seeking comments from the public on a preliminary vegetation management assessment for the Taylor and Stoner mesas.

The project area is approximately 20 miles northeast of Dolores

The project proposes the use of coppice/clear-cutting methods to create stands of aspen seedlings for 920 acres and 33 treatment units in the aspen forest type. Five of the created openings are to be larger than 40 acres in size.

Additionally, 1,734 acres of treatment units and 18 treatment units of the spruce and fir forest type would undergo an uneven-age harvest meant to maintain a multi-aged structure, establish new tree seedlings and remove diseased trees.

In the spruce and fir forest type there are totaling. The selection harvests in spruce/fir would be an uneven-age harvest

The Environmental Assessment and comment form are available at www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48355.

Comments may be submitted through the comment form on the webpage, via email at djcasey@fs.fed.us, by mail to Derek Padilla, District Ranger, Dolores Ranger District, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, Colo. 81323, hand-delivered to the Dolores District Office during normal business hours, or faxed to Derek Padilla at 882-6841.

Comments received in response to this solicitation, which includes names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of public record related to this proposed action.