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Opportunity to Object the Veach Allotment Analysis and Seventy-Six, Two Troughs, and Cedar Springs Allotment Analysis

The Coronado National Forest, Safford Ranger District has completed two separate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses to evaluate the environmental effects of the proposed authorization of livestock grazing on the Veach Allotment and the Seventy Six, Two Troughs, and Cedar Springs Allotments, respectively.

George Garcia, District Ranger of the Coronado National Forest, Safford Ranger District, has prepared an environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and draft decision notice (DN) for the Veach Allotment Analysis. The Veach Allotment Analysis covers approximately 12,860 acres and is located 14 miles south of Safford, Arizona in the Pinaleño Mountains. The selected alternative would reauthorize grazing and involves extending the grazing season by one month and the maximum annual livestock numbers from 1,031 animal unit months (AUMs) to 1,380 AUMs to increase management flexibility, installation of new structural range improvements to improve grazing distribution and management flexibility, and implementation of design features to mitigate impacts to resources. The Veach Allotment FEA, FONSI, and draft DN are available online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=49781. Additional information can be obtained from: Steven T. Lunt, 711 S. 14th Ave, Safford, Arizona, steven.lunt@usda.gov.

Safford District Ranger George Garcia has also prepared an environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and draft decision notice (DN) for the Seventy Six, Two Troughs, and Cedar Springs Allotments Analysis. The Seventy Six, Two Troughs, and Cedar Springs Allotment Analysis covers three contiguous grazing allotments consisting of approximately 15,500 acres, located approximately 20 miles southwest of Safford, Arizona in the Pinaleño Mountains. The selected alternative would reauthorize grazing and involves extending the grazing season by one month to increase management flexibility. Although the permitted season of use would be extended one month, the permitted AUMs would remain the same. This means that either the same number of head would be authorized to graze for 5 months sometime during the 6-month season, or fewer head would be authorized to graze for the full 6 months. The selected alternative also includes installation of new structural range improvements to improve grazing distribution and management flexibility, and implementation of design features to mitigate impacts to resources. The Seventy Six, Two Troughs, and Cedar Springs Allotments FEA, FONSI, and draft DN are available online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=44354. Additional information can be obtained from: James Heitholt, 300 West Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701, james.heitholt@usda.gov.

The Veach Allotment Analysis and Seventy Six, Two Troughs, and Cedar Springs Allotments Analysis are activities implementing a land management plan and not authorized under the HFRA and are subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. Each project will have a separate decision; however, these projects are going through concurrent objection processes to allow for more efficient administrative review.

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(s) during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objection must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the individual proposed project(s) unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities. Each issue raised in the objection must identify by name to which project it applies.

Objections, including attachments, must be filed with Kurt Davis, the Reviewing Officer. Objections may be submitted by email to objections-southwestern-coronado@usda.gov. Objections may also be mailed to:

Kurt Davis, Acting Forest Supervisor and Reviewing Officer

USDA Forest Service, Coronado National Forest

300 West Congress Street

Tucson AZ, 85701

Objections filed electronically must be submitted in a format such as email message, Word (.doc), portable document format (.pdf), rich text format (.rtf), plain text (.txt), and hypertext markup language (.html). Please state “Veach Allotment Analysis” and/or “Seventy Six, Two Troughs, and Cedar Springs Allotment Analysis” in the subject line when providing objections electronically, or on the envelope when submitting by mail.

Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Eastern Arizona Courier. 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)):

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 (Veach Allotment Analysis or Seventy Six, Two Troughs, and Cedar Springs Allotments Analysis), the name and title of the Responsible Official (George Garcia, District Ranger), and the name of the National Forest (Coronado National Forest) and/or Ranger District (Safford Ranger District) on which the proposed project(s) will be implemented;
5. A description of the issues and/or aspects of the proposed project(s) addressed by the objection, with the name of the respective project to which each issue applies, including 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.

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 pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.