Integrated Non-Native Invasive Plant Management #31150

The forest will be developing a proposal to manage the nonnative invasive plants within the Lincoln National Forest's boundaries. Adaptive management would be incorporated into the analysis.

Opportunity to Object to Lincoln National Forest’s Integrated Non-Native Invasive Plant Management Project

The Lincoln National Forest has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) and draft record of decision (ROD) for the Integrated Non-Native Invasive Plant Management Project. The draft ROD includes selecting Alternative B, which contains an integrated forest-wide management strategy to control the spread of non-native invasive plants or weeds within the Lincoln National Forest. Under Alternative B, the Forest Service would utilize manual, mechanical, biological control, and herbicide application treatments to control non-native invasive plants. This project would require a project-specific amendment to the current Forest Plan, because the decision would allow weed treatments in places and under conditions that were not foreseen when the current Forest Plan was developed in 1986. The amendment would except the project from specific Forest Plan standards and guidelines so manual, mechanical, biological, and chemical controls can be utilized where appropriate. The Responsible Official is the Forest Supervisor for the Lincoln National Forest, Jason Freeman. The proposed project is an activity implementing a land management plan and is subject to pre-decisional objection process at 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B.

The proposed project details, final EIS, draft ROD, and supporting documentation are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln/projects/31150. Additional information can be obtained from Jason Freeman, Forest Supervisor, at 575-434-7306 or Jason.Freeman2@usda.gov.

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). Objections must be based on previously submitted, timely, and specific written comments regarding the proposed project, unless they are based on new information that emerged after the designated comment periods.

Electronic comments are preferred and can be submitted on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln/projects/31150 (under the heading “Get Connected,” select Comment/Object on Project).” If the comment function is unavailable for any reason, electronic comments may also be submitted by email to objections-southwestern-regional-office@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). The objection reviewing officer is the Regional Forester.  If you are unable to submit an objection electronically, then please use postal delivery.

Objections filed via mail must be addressed to the Reviewing Official, Southwestern Regional Forester, 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.

Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of the legal notice in the Alamogordo Daily News of the final EIS and draft ROD for a proposed project. 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 of the National Forest 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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