Opportunity to Object: Black Hills 2 Vegetation Management Project, Yavapai County, Arizona
The Prescott National Forest has released the final environmental assessment, finding of no significant impact, and draft decision notice for the Black Hills 2 Vegetation Management Project. These and other supporting documents are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/prescott/projects/63736. Hard or electronic copies of these documents can be made available upon request.
The project area is located about 13 miles east of Prescott, Arizona in Yavapai County. The communities of Jerome and Cherry occur within the project area, and Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Camp Verde and Dewey are within a few miles of the project area. This project would supplement the 2011 Black Hills Vegetation Management Project and its objectives. The project is needed to increase the pace and scale of vegetation management activities for reducing wildfire risk and improving ecological resilience. Proposed treatments and activities include broadcast burning, pile burning, hand thinning, forest health mechanical thinning, mastication, reforestation treatments, and soil stabilization techniques such as erosion control.
This project is an activity implementing a land management plan not authorized under the HFRA and is subject to the 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 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.
At a minimum, an objection must include the following (§218.8(d)): (1) The objector’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available; (2) A signature or other verification of authorship upon request; (3) When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector; (4) The name of the proposed project, name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name of the National Forest and Ranger District(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented; (5) 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 for the reviewing officer to consider; and (6) A statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection.
The opportunity to object ends 45 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in The Verde Independent, 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 length of the comment period. 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. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Objections may be submitted by email at objections-southwestern-prescott@usda.gov. Written objections may be mailed to: Sarah Clawson, Reviewing Officer, Prescott National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 735 N Hwy 89, Chino Valley, Arizona 86323. For more information regarding this project, contact Benjamin Roebuck, Forest Silviculturist, at 928-202-0281 or benjamin.roebuck@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
