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Opportunity to Object to the Holden Canyon Connector Road Environmental Assessment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, Nogales Ranger District have prepared a final environmental assessment (FEA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and draft decision notice (DN) for the Holden Canyon Connector project. This project proposes to improve, repair, and construct approximately 12.43 miles of unpaved road within the Nogales Ranger District. Approximately 8.68 miles of the proposed Holden Canyon Connector Road consist of existing unpaved road and approximately 3.75 miles consist of undeveloped areas that would require new road construction. The Proposed Action also includes the decommissioning of 18 unpaved roads (3.57 miles).

The FEA, FONSI, and draft DN are available online at: https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/folder/213560649793. Questions concerning this authorization or accessing project documentation should be directed to sm.fs.r3cnfnepa@usda.gov.

The proposed project is an activity implementing a land management plan, not authorized under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA), and is subject to the pre-decisional 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 a designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in the 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.

Objections, including attachments, must be submitted to the reviewing officer: Kerwin Dewberry, Forest Supervisor, 300 West Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701. Objections may be submitted via mail or electronically. Electronic objections, in common (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt) formats, may be submitted to: objections-southwestern-coronado@usda.gov with subject: “OBJECTION: Holden Canyon Connector”. Submission through the online Public Comment Form website will not be available for this project.

Objections must be submitted within 45 days following the publication of a legal notice in the Nogales International. 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 electronic mail 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 the 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 the 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 36 CFR 218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.

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