USDA United States Forest Okanogan and Wenatchee 24 West Chewuch Road

=> Department of Service National Forests . Winthrop, WA 98862
ME A criculture Methow Valley Ranger District __ (509) 996-4003

File Code: 1950
Date: August 31, 2010

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Pack and Saddle Stock
Outfitter-Guide Special Use Permit Issuance is available electronically on the Forest
website at http://www. fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/projects/projects.shtml. The analysis for
the DEIS was conducted by an Interdisciplinary Team of Forest Service resource
specialists. The project area includes most of the Methow Valley Ranger District, and a
portion of the Chelan and Tonasket Ranger Districts in central Washington. The proposed
action responds to existing applications for priority use permits from current pack and
saddle stock outfitter-guides, meets the determined minimum extent necessary for
commercial services in wilderness, and amends the forest plans to correct conflicting
management direction pertaining to barren core in established campsites.

Based on comments received during the scoping phase of this project, several key issues
focused on impacts to wilderness character, wetlands, water quality, and wildlife habitat
were identified. The No Action and two Action Alternatives were developed to address
key issues. At this time, the preferred alternative is Alternative 2 (issuance of 10-year
permits).

If you wish to obtain a paper copy of the Summary or Draft Environmental Impact Statement,
please contact us at the number provided below.

Your assistance in reviewing this DEIS is requested to ensure our range of alternatives have
addressed the key issues and the potential environmental consequences have been adequately
assessed. It would be especially helpful if you could focus your comments on specific points or
subject areas in the document. Comments received during the comment period enable Forest
Service specialists to analyze and respond to the comments at one time and to use the
information in the preparation of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS), thus
avoiding undue delay in the decision-making process. When the FEIS is complete, a decision
will be made. Please submit comments to:

Michael C. Liu, District Ranger

Methow Valley Ranger District

24 West Chewuch Road

Winthrop, WA 98862

(Phone: 509-996-4003; FAX: 509-996-2208)

if you prefer, you may submit your comments electronically to: comments-

pacificnorthwest-okanogan-methowvalley@fs.fed.us. Please include the project name in

the subject line and submit comments either as part of the e-mail message or as an
attachment in one of the following three formats: Microsoft Word, rich text format (rtf) or

& Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper G



Adobe Portable Document Format (pdf).

Comments for the DEIS will accepted during the 45 day comment period. Accordingly,
your comments must be hand delivered, e-mailed, or postmarked to the comment
address no later than October 25, 2010.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Zbyszewski or Laurie Dowie at (509)
996-4003.

Thank you for your participation in this project.

Sincerely,