The Gunflint Ranger District is having an open house on October 25 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. to hear comments from the public about the proposed action to manage forest vegetation in the ShokoShoe Project Area.
Located approximately 20 miles north of Grand Marais, the project encompasses more than 100,000 acres—42,000 acres of it on federal land—and runs from the Mid-Gunflint Trail on the east side to the border of the Grand Portage Reservation from the west side.
“This past spring and summer we worked with tribal representatives, Minnesota Department of Natural Resource personnel and the public to develop this project,” said Nancy Larson, Gunflint District Ranger. “We held engagement sessions to consider what the critical needs were in the area, what treatment options were available and where to conduct activities.
“Based on the needs and opportunities identified by the interdisciplinary team and incorporating tribal collaboration and public feedback, we developed the ShokoShoe Project to address three primary critical needs: 1) promote diverse and healthy forests; 2) improve public and firefighter safety by reducing hazardous fuels, and 3) improve moose habitat.”
Larson said comments from the public “help us identify environmental issues to analyze or alternative ways to meet the project’s purpose and needs.”
If you cannot attend the open house at the ranger station but would like to offer suggestions, submit them by writing, faxing, emailing, or calling. All comments received (including names and addresses) will become part of the project file and are public information.
Please be sure to include your name, address, and the ShokoShoe Project name regardless of how comments are submitted.
Written comments sent via mail, FAX (218- 387-3246), or email must be directed to Nancy Larson, District Ranger ATTN: ShokoShoe Project, Gunflint Ranger Station, 2020 W. Hwy. 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
Submitted electronic comments must be sent in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), Word (.doc), or any software supported by Microsoft applications to comments-eastern-superior-gunflint@fs.fed.us. Oral comments will be heard at the Gunflint Ranger District during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) via telephone at (218) 387-1750, or in person at the above address.
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