The Sacramento Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest has prepared an Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact and a Draft Decision Notice for the Scott Able Grazing Allotment Management Analysis and is providing an opportunity for objection. The Scott Able Grazing Allotment is located in the southwestern portion of the Sacramento Ranger District, Otero County, New Mexico. The legal location for the allotment is: T. 17 S., R. 12 E., sec. 32-33; T. 18 S., R. 12 E., sec. 3-10, 15-22, and 27-36. The draft decision (draft decision notice) is to implement the proposed action which includes: issuance of a term grazing permit on the Scott Able grazing allotment. The new term grazing permit would be issued up to 10 years and authorize up to 592 AUMs from May 20th to November 15th, annually. The new permit and its associated AMP would authorize maintenance or replacement of existing range improvement structures, maintenance of wells and access routes, installation of new improvements which include: water distribution pipelines, storage tanks, water troughs, fencing and livestock handling facilities; and adaptive management to adjust to changing conditions.
This proposed project is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. An objection, including attachments, must be in writing and filed with the Reviewing Officer: Travis Moseley, Forest Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest, 3463 Las Palomas Road, Alamogordo, NM 88310; (fax) 575-434-7218; (e-mail) objections-southwestern-lincoln@fs.fed.us and include “Scott Able Allotment” in the subject line, within 45 days of the publication date of this legal notice in the Alamogordo Daily News (Newspaper of Record). The opportunity to object ends on the 45th day after publication in the newspaper. The publication date in the Alamogordo Daily News is the exclusive means for calculating the time frame for filing an objection, objectors should not rely on timeframe information provided in any other source and ensure their objection is received in a timely manner (218.9). Objections must be filed via regular mail, fax, email, hand delivery, express delivery, or messenger service. Hand deliveries can be filed at Forest Supervisor’s Office from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F. Electronically filed objections, such as email, may be submitted by email in plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), hypertext markup language (.html), portable document format (.pdf), or Word (.doc) format. Only those individuals and organizations that submitted written comments during the designated opportunities for public comment may file an objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218. The Environmental Assessment has the comments received during public opportunities to comment and responses to those comments listed in Appendix 2. 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 designated opportunities to comment. For further details on the project and the analysis completed, you can visit the Lincoln National Forest website for the project: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=22893, and download the Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and the Draft Decision Notice for review, or for more information about the project contact Ciara Cusack, NEPA Planner at 575-682-2551 or ccusack@fs.fed.us. For more information about the objection process contact Peggy Luensmann, Forest NEPA Coordinator, psluensmann@fs.fed.us or at 575-434-7200.
It is the objector’s responsibility to provide sufficient narrative description of those aspects of the Scott Able Grazing Allotment Management Project addressed by the objection, specific issues related to the project, and suggested remedies which would resolve the objection. As part of the objection, incorporation of documents by reference is not allowed. At a minimum, the objection must include the following: (1) Objector’s name and address (Please include telephone number if available.); (2) 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 the objection, provide identification of the lead objector and verification of the identity of the lead objector upon request; and (4) The name of the project (Scott Able Grazing Allotment Management), the name and title of the Responsible Official (Elizabeth Humphrey, District Ranger), Sacramento Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest; (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; and supporting reasons for the Reviewing Officer to consider; (6)A statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunities for comment. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process, and names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
