Neil Bosworth, Forest Supervisor of the Tonto National Forest, has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) and draft Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed Travel Management project.
This supplement is being prepared in response to objections received to the draft Record of Decision, issued June 6, 2016. The project area addressed in the document includes all six ranger districts of the Tonto National Forest, State of Arizona.
The proposed action for this project includes designating roads, trails, and areas that would be open for motorized use to the public. It would also designate a corridor adjacent to designated roads and trails for motorized big game retrieval of legally harvested elk and bear. An interactive web-based map displays all proposed designations. The map may be accessed at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/tontoTMP.
The FSEIS, supporting documentation, and draft ROD are available online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=28967. These documents are also available for review at the Tonto National Forest Supervisor’s Office, located at 2324 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona. Additional information regarding this action can be obtained from Greg Schuster, Recreation and Partnerships Program Manager, phone: 602-225-5200.
HOW TO FILE AN OBJECTION AND TIMELINE
This proposed project is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. Objections to the project will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted timely comments regarding these planning efforts during any designated opportunity for public comment, unless based on information not available during an earlier designated opportunity for public comment (i.e., new information).
Objections on the Travel Management project must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of the notice in the Arizona Capital Times. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. A timely submission will be determined by USPS postmark, the agency’s electronically generated posted date and time for email and facsimiles, shipping date for delivery by private carrier, or the official agency date stamp showing receipt of hand delivery. It is the responsibility of the sender to ensure timely receipt of any objections submitted.
Objections, including attachments, must be addressed to the reviewing official, Calvin Joyner, Regional Forester, filed via mail, express delivery, or messenger service to Objection Reviewing Officer, Southwestern Region, USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102; by facsimile to (505) 842-3173; by email to objections-southwestern-regional-office@usda.gov, or by hand-delivery to the Southwestern Regional Office (address above) Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. An automated response will confirm the electronic objection has been received. If an automated response is not received, the sender is responsible for ensuring timely filing by other means. Electronic objections must be submitted in MS Word, Word Perfect, portable document format (PDF), or rich text format (RTF). The subject line for electronic submissions should contain Tonto NF Travel Management.
Eligible objections must be filed, in writing, with the reviewing officer, and must be open to public inspection during the objection process. At a minimum, an objection must include the following: (1) The objector’s name and address, along with a telephone number or email address if available; (2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection; (3) Identification of the lead objector, when multiple names are listed on an objection, and verification of the identity of the lead objector, if requested. Individual members of an entity must have submitted their own individual comments in order to have eligibility to object as an individual. Additional requirements are included below. Including documents by reference is limited. Please contact Greg Schuster, Recreation and Partnerships Program Manager, phone: 602-225-5200 for further information.
HOW TO OBJECT TO THE TONTO TRAVEL MANAGEMENT PROJECT
In addition to the identifying information outlined above, written objection comments on the proposed project must include (1) the name of the proposed project, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name(s) of the forest or district on which the proposed project will be implemented; (2) 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 law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons the reviewing officer should consider; and (3) 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. Specific written comments are written comments within the scope of the proposed action, with a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider.
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