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`. General Comments received from individuals: Process /Procedural (7 Comments) 1. Several comments were submitted regarding the rationale that resulted in a change of preferred alternative since the 2005 FEIS/ROD. Response: The Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement describes the process and rationale that led to Alternative 3MOD being selected as the preferred alternative, including: SFEIS Sections 1.1- Background Information: Process Leading to the Creation of This Document, 1.5- Reasons for Changing the Preferred Alternative, and 2.2 Purpose of Additional information is also found in SFEISAppendix.'s A- Pequot Lakes Memorandum of Agreement with Mn1DOT, B- Highway 371 Alternative Route Study Group Report Executive Summary, and C- Pequot Lake City Council Resolutions. Section B of this ROD also summarizes the rationale for selecting Alternative 3MOD as the selected alterantive. 2. Comment regarding the participants of the Highway 371 Alternate Route Study Group. Response: In January 2007, the Pequot Lakes City Council commissioned the Highway 371 Alternate Route Study Group consisting of members of the City Council and the Planning Commission. This group was established for the expressed purpose of studying the issues and impacts of a Highway 371 bypass of Pequot Lakes. This study group met ten times between February and August 2007 to hear expert testimony and receive public feedback regarding a community bypass alignment. During these proceedings, MnIDOT participated by developing conceptual bypass alignments, providing general guidance related to highway design standards, and participating in a public forum to discuss a possible bypass alignment. The process received excellent media coverage with at least one, and often two, local newspapers in attendance at each meeting. Throughout the process, the City made current information available on -line at www. highway3 71. info and provided routine email updates and reminders to anyone who signed up for them at this site. The Study Group received written comments and, at nearly every meeting, set aside time to receive feedbackfrom stakeholders. The results of this effort are documented in the Highway 371Alternate Route Study Group Report 3. One comment raised an issue with the public. notification process followed for this project. Response: Public notification and meetings for the EIS and SEISprocesses (documented in the Draft EIS, Final EIS, SFEIS and previous ROD) have been provided consistent with state and federal environmental review process requirements. In addition, the project has been the subject of exceptional local newspaper coverage and controversy, further increasing public awareness of the project and opportunities for comment. Most recently, a draft version of the SFEIS was released for public review and comment in February /March 2010. The comment period for the draft SFEIS officially closed on April 16, 201 a Public Hearings were held on March 29, 2010 in Pequot Lakes and March 30, 2010 in Pine River. Legal Notices were published in the Brainerd Dispatch on March 9, 2010 and the Pine River Journal on March 11, 2010. There have been numerous articles in the Pine River Journal, Lake Country Echo, and Brainerd Dispatch. The final version of the SFEIS was released for TH371 Adequacy Determination Nisswa to Pine River 15 October 2010