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The Coconino National Forest Responsible Official Forest Supervisor Laura Jo West is providing notice that the objection process currently underway on the Agassiz Chairlift Replacement Project Environmental Assessment and draft Decision Notice is being cancelled (36 CFR 218 10(a)(9)) and the objection process is being reinitiated via this notice. The objection filing period was previously initiated on October 16 2019 with the publication of a Legal Notice Opportunity to Object in the Arizona Daily Sun. Any objections filed on or after October 16 2019 in response to the legal notice published on October 16 2019 and prior to the publication of this notice will be set aside from review per 36 CFR 218.10(a)(9).

A Draft Decision Notice (DN) regarding the projects analyzed in the Arizona Snowbowl Agassiz Chairlift Replacement Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for review. The EA and Draft DN are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53153. Hard copies of these documents are also available for review at the Coconino National Forest Supervisor’s Office upon request.

Based on analysis presented in the EA the Draft Decision Notice identifies the Forest Supervisor’s Selected Alternative as the Proposed Action. The specific elements of the Selected Alternative are described in detail in Chapter 2 of the EA. The Selected Alternative would include the replacement and upgrade of the existing Agassiz chairlift and associated activities needed to facilitate the construction and/or operation of this infrastructure.

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

Filing an Objection

The Draft DN 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 fax email hand-delivery express delivery or messenger service (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. excluding holidays) to: Cal Joyner Regional Forester 333 Broadway Blvd SE Albuquerque NM 87102; FAX: (505) 842-3800; email: objections-southwestern-regional-office@usda.gov. Electronically filed objections may be submitted by email in word (.doc or .docx) 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 and facsimiles; 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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