The Santa Catalina Ranger District Coronado National Forest has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) draft Decision Notice (DN) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Catalina-Rincon FireScape (CRFS) Project. The CRFS project area comprises approximately 265000 acres of National Forest System lands in Pima Pinal and Cochise counties and includes two wilderness areas two research natural areas and six inventoried roadless areas. The CRFS is a landscape-scale restoration project that focuses on promoting resilient ecosystems; protecting life property and natural resources; and encouraging natural wildland fire to function as a healthy process in the ecosystem. The draft DN details the intended selection of the Proposed Action with modifications and provides the rationale for selecting that alternative.
The EA draft DN and FONSI are available online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=27526. These documents are also available for review at the Santa Catalina Ranger District office. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the District Ranger at SantaCatalinaRD@fs.fed.us.
How to File an Objection
The publication of the legal notice in the Arizona Star opens a 45-day objection period. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities. Electronic objections in common formats (.doc .rtf .pdf or .txt) may be submitted to objections-southwestern-coronado@fs.fed.us with the Subject titled: “Catalina-Rincon FireScape.” Objections may also be faxed to 520-388-8305 to the attention of “OBJECTION: Catalina-Rincon FireScape” sent by mail to the following address or hand-delivered during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays:
Kerwin S. Dewberry
Forest Supervisor and Reviewing Officer
Coronado National Forest
300 W. Congress St.
Tucson AZ 85701
A written objection including attachments must be postmarked or received within 45 days after the date that notice of the draft decision is published in the Arizona Daily Star. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection.
At a minimum an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)):
Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider employer and lender.
Kerwin Dewberry