LEGAL NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT USDA Forest Service Idaho City Ranger District, Boise National Forest Heart of Gold #2 Mining Project, Plan of Operations The Idaho City Ranger District of the Boise National Forest is initiating public scoping and comment on a proposal to continue and slightly expand an existing placer mining operation in Boise County, Idaho, called the Heart of Gold #2 Mining Project. The Responsible Official for this decision is Joshua Newman, Idaho City District Ranger. The need for action is established by the responsibility of the U.S. Forest Service under the General Mining Law of 1872, as amended, and the agency's locatable mineral regulations (Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 228 (36 CFR 228) Subpart A). In accordance with 36 CFR 228.5, the Forest Service must analyze and provide a timely response to the submittal of a Plan of Operations. The proposed action would be a continuation and slight expansion of previous operations. Operations would continue with the same equipment and facilities on 5 acres over a period of 5 years. Proposed activities would occur in the same location as the previous project (a Categorical Exclusion), the Heart of Gold Mining Exploration Project, for which a signed decision was published in August of 2017. For this current project, the Forest Service expects to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI). For more detailed information, the Proposed Action Report is available electronically on the project webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/boise/projects/68870 (scroll down to "Project Documents" and click on the "Public Involvement" subfolder). How to Comment and Timeframe Pursuant to 36 CFR 218.25, comments on this proposed action will be accepted for 30 days beginning on the first day after the date of publication of this notice in the Idaho Statesman, the newspaper of record. The publication date of the legal notice in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to submit written comments on a proposed project or activity. The time period for the opportunity to comment on a proposed project shall not be extended. It is the responsibility of all individuals and organizations to ensure that their comments are received in a timely manner. A timely submission will be determined as outlined in 36 CFR 218.25(a)(4). Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, and electronic comments concerning this action will be accepted. Comments may be submitted through a web form on the project webpage (link above). To submit a comment using the web form, select "Comment/Object on Project" under "Get Connected" on the right panel of the project's webpage. Written comments must be submitted to: Idaho City Ranger District, 3833 Highway 21 PO Box 129, Idaho City, ID 83631. Be sure to include "ATTN: Heart of Gold #2" on the envelope. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to comments-intermtn-boise@usda.gov. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to a comment, the comment will be accepted and considered; however, a verification of identity will be required for objection eligibility. If using an electronic message, a scanned signature is one way to provide verification. Comments also may be faxed to 208-392-6684. This project is subject to the objection regulations found at 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. Only individuals or entities who submit timely, specific written comments (as specified in 36 CFR 218.2) about this proposed action within the comment periods established by the Responsible Official will be eligible to file an objection. Other eligibility requirements (36 CFR 218.25(a)(3)) include the commenter's name, postal address, title of the proposed action, and signature or other verification of identity upon request and identification of the individual or entity who authored the comment(s). Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record for this project. They will be available for public inspection and will be released in their entirety if requested pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. IPL0285534 Oct 31 2025