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Opportunity to Object to the Broomy Lane Fence Project Decision on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest

 A Draft Decision Notice (DN) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) authorizing activities analyzed in the Broomy Lane Fence Project Environmental Assessment (EA) are available for review. The responsible official for this decision is Linda Wadleigh, Mogollon Rim District Ranger on the Coconino National Forest. The EA and Draft DN / FONSI are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57680. Hard copies of these documents can be made available for upon request.

 Based on analysis presented in the EA, the Draft Decision Notice identifies the Mogollon Rim District Ranger’s selected alternative as the Proposed Action. The specific elements of the Proposed Action are described in detail in Chapter 2 of the EA. This alternative would authorize the installation of approximately 5 miles of new fence, the re-routing of a small section of National Forest System roads FR 9722 and 9727B, the expansion of Jaycox waterlot by 2 acres, and removal of existing, unneeded pasture fences.

For additional information regarding this project or the objection process, contact Mike Dechter, NEPA Coordinator, at 928-527-3416 or michael.dechter@usda.gov.

 Filing an Objection

The Broomy Lane Fence Project is an activity implementing a land management plan and not authorized under the HFRA and is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the approved project during a comment period in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted, timely, and specific written comments regarding the project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.

Incorporation of documents by reference is not allowed, except for the following items that may be referenced by including date, page, and section of the cited document, along with a description of its content and applicability to the objection: 1) All or any part of a federal law or regulation; 2) Forest Service directives and land management plans; 3) Documents referenced by the Forest Service in the approved project environmental analysis document that is subject to objection. All other documents must be included with the objection.

At a minimum, an objection must include the following (36 CFR 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 (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection);
3. 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);
4. 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;
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.

Objections, including attachments, must be filed via mail or email to: Laura Jo West, Forest Supervisor, 1824 S Thompson St., Flagstaff, AZ, 86001; email: objections-southwestern-coconino@usda.gov. Electronically filed objections may be submitted by email in word (.doc or .docx), portable document format (.pdf),  rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), and/or hypertext markup language (.html).

Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this legal notice in the Arizona Daily Sun. 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.

It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to §218.9, which includes: date of U.S. Postal Service postmark or shipping date for delivery by private carrier for an objection received before the close of the fifth business day after the objection filing period; agency’s electronically generated date and time for email; or official agency date stamp showing receipt of hand delivery. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.

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