Plan of Operations: Blue Fire Opal Project #51034

The Forest proposes to analyze the effects of a Plan of Operations submitted by Blue Fire Gem Company to extract opals from an existing claim using hand tools and expanding the area from 2 acres to approximately 4 acres over a ten year period.

The Coronado National Forest, Nogales Ranger District, has prepared an environmental assessment (EA), draft Decision Notice (DN) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Blue Fire Opal Project.  The Nogales Ranger District is proposing to approve a Plan of Operations submitted by Blue Fire Gem Company. The proposed project would consist of small-scale mining activities to locate and extract opals on a 4.3-acre area, located approximately 50 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona in the Atascosa Mountains.  The draft DN details the intended selection of the Proposed Action and provides the rationale for selecting that alternative.

The EA, draft DN, and FONSI are available online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=51034.

How to File an Objection

This legal notice opens a 45-day objection period.  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.

Electronic objections in common formats (.doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf, or .txt) may be submitted to objections-southwestern-coronado@fs.fed.us with the Subject titled: “Blue Fire Opal Project.”  

Objections may also be sent by mail to the following address, or hand-delivered during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays:

Mr. Kerwin S. Dewberry

Forest Supervisor and Reviewing Officer 
300 W. Congress St.

Tucson, AZ 85701 

A written objection, including attachments, must be postmarked or received within 45 days after the date this notice of the draft decision is published 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 email may be filed with the objection);
3. Identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed on an objection, (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request);
4. The name of the proposed project (Blue Fire Opal Project), the name and title of the Responsible Official (James Copeland, District Ranger), and the name of the National Forest (Coronado) and Ranger District (Nogales) 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.n. Interested members of the public should review the proposal’s information to determine the applicable administrative review process and the eligibility requirements for that process. The date of the legal notice of opportunity to comment on this proposed action is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period. For proposals to be documented with an Environmental Assessment, the legal notice announcing the comment period appears in the Newspaper of Record . For Draft Environmental Impact Statements, the Notice of Availability announcing the comment period appears in the Federal Register.