Ecosystem restoration treatments including prescribed fire, prescribed cutting (hand thinning, mechanical treatment), selective herbicide use, and watershed improvement (erosion control, planting, seeding, reforestation) on approximately 85,129 acres in the Peloncillo Mountains.
Opportunity to Object to the Peloncillo FireScape Environmental Assessment
The Coronado National Forest, Douglas Ranger District, has prepared a final environmental assessment (FEA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and draft decision notice (DN) for the Peloncillo FireScape project in Cochise County, Arizona, and Hidalgo County, New Mexico. This project proposes ecosystem restoration treatments, including prescribed fire, prescribed cutting (hand thinning, mechanical treatment), selective herbicide use, and watershed improvements (erosion control, planting, seeding, reforestation) on approximately 85,129 acres of National Forest System lands in the Peloncillo Ecosystem Management Area.
The proposed project is an activity implementing a land management plan, not authorized under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA), and is subject to the pre-decisional objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B.
How to File an Objection and Timeframe
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in the 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.
Objections, including attachments, must be submitted to the Reviewing Officer: Kurt J. Davis, Deputy Forest Supervisor, 300 West Congress Street, Tucson, AZ, 85701. Objections may be submitted via mail or electronically. Electronic objections, in common (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt) formats, may be submitted on the project website at
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coronado/projects/58434 (under the heading “Get Connected,” select Comment/Object on Project). If the comment function is unavailable for any reason, electronic comments may also be submitted by email to: objections-southwestern-coronado@usda.gov with subject: “OBJECTION: Peloncillo FireScape Project.”
Objections must be submitted within 45 days following the publication of a legal notice in the Hidalgo County Herald, the newspaper of record. 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)):
- The objector’s name and address as defined in 36 CFR 218.2, with a telephone number, if available;
- A signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection);
- When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request or the Reviewing Officer will designate a lead objector as provided for in 36 CFR 218.5(d));
- The name of the proposed project, the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name(s) of the national forest(s) and/or ranger district(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented;
- A description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project; if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates the law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and
- A statement that demonstrates the connection between prior, specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunities for comment (36 CFR 218.8(c)).
Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the Reviewing Officer pursuant to 36 CFR 218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
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