Opportunity to Object Public Service Company of New Mexico – Special Use Permit Reissuance for the Operation and Maintenance of Facilities and Infrastructure; Access; and Vegetation Management Program Gila National Forest Silver City, Glenwood, and Wilderness Ranger Districts Grant, Hidalgo, and Catron Counties, New Mexico
Camille Howes, Forest Supervisor of the Gila National Forest, has prepared an environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and draft decision notice (DN) for Public Service Company of New Mexico – Special Use Permit Reissuance for the Operation and Maintenance of Facilities and Infrastructure; Access; and Vegetation Management Program (PNM MSUP Project). The Gila National Forest proposes to renew and combine PNM’s special use permits for electric powerlines and infrastructure within the Gila National Forest into one Master Special Use Permit for the operation and maintenance of facilities, infrastructure, access, and vegetation management program. The project includes three existing electric transmission lines, approximately 70 miles of electric distribution lines, one substation, two communication sites, and administrative access routes.
The EA, FONSI, and draft DN are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/projects/298774. These documents are also available for review at the Gila National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Silver City Ranger District, Glenwood Ranger District, and Wilderness Ranger District. Additional information can be obtained from: Maribeth Pecotte, 3005 E. Camino Del Bosque, Silver City, NM 88061, (575) 388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov.
The PNM MSUP Project is an activity implementing a land management plan and not authorized under the HFRA and is subject 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 addressed to the Reviewing Officer, Southwestern Regional Forester, filed via the project website, email, mail, express delivery, or messenger service to 333 Broadway Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Objections delivered by mail must be postmarked by the closing day of the objection filing period and received before close of the fifth business day following the end of the objection period. 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).
Electronic comments are preferred and can be submitted on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila/projects/298774 (under the heading “Get Connected,” select Comment/Object on Project). If the comment function is unavailable for any reason, electronic comments may be submitted by email to objections-southwestern-regional-office@usda.gov. If submitting comments by email, please put “PNM MSUP Project” in the subject line.
Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Silver City Daily Press. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. It is the responsibility of objectors to ensure that their objection is received in a timely manner. 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; and 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.
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