The Smokey Bear Ranger District is proposing to authorize the treatment of an approximately 90,750 acre are for habitat improvement, including mechanical treatment, prescribed fire, and cut-stump herbicide use on juniper.

Jodie Canfield, District Ranger of the Lincoln National Forest, Smokey Bear Ranger District, has prepared a final environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and draft decision notice (DN) for the Smokey Bear North Habitat Improvement Project. The project will implement habitat improvement activities on 90,750 acres of USFS land. Habitat improvement actions will be designed to achieve desired conditions that are unique to different habitat types. Accordingly, mixed conifer, ponderosa pine, piñon/juniper woodland, piñon/juniper grassland, shrubland, and grassland habitats may be treated differently to improve the health of that habitat type within an implementation unit. The toolbox will include prescribed fire (pile, jackpot, and small to large scale broadcast burning), mechanical/hand thinning, and the use of cut stump herbicide application on alligator juniper (to prevent resprouting to extend the life of the treatment and the timeframe before re-entry is required). Tools that are selected for use within an implementation unit will be chosen based on habitat type, slope, fuel loading, and anticipated effectiveness, and will be restricted or mitigated where needed to prevent undesirable resource impacts.

The EA, FONSI, and draft DN are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56473

These documents are also available for review at the Smokey Bear Ranger District. Additional information can be obtained from Jodie.Canfield@USDA.Gov, 575-257-4095. 901 Mechem Dr., Ruidoso, NM 88345.

The Smokey Bear North Habitat Improvement 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.

Objections, including attachments, must be filed via mail, fax, email, express delivery, or messenger service (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Travis G. Moseley, Forest Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest, ATTN: Objection Reviewing Officer, 3463 Las Palomas Road, Alamogordo, NM 88310, or by fax: 575-434-7218, or by email: objections-southwestern-lincoln@usda.gov. Electronically filed objections may be submitted by email in word (.doc), portable document format (.pdf), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), and hypertext markup language (.html).

Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Ruidoso News. 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, 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.

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.

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