Responsible Official Steve Hattenbach, Forest Supervisor of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands (Cibola NF), has prepared an environmental assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and draft Decision Notice (DN) for the proposed Military Training Exercises Project.
The project area consists of 68,972 total acres on the Mount Taylor, Magdalena, Mountainair, and Sandia Ranger Districts. The purpose of the Military Training Exercises project is to authorize the renewal of the existing United States Air Force special use permit with the Cibola NF and update the training needs of the military. Under the Proposed Action, the USFS would renew the special use permit to continue to conduct training exercises with limited increases in specific types of training on the Cibola NF. The Final EA evaluates the potential environmental consequences from military training activities performed on United States Forest Service (USFS) property.
The EA, FONSI, supporting documentation, and draft DN are available online at the following websites: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=5375 and https://www.kirtland.af.mil/Home/Environment/. Additional information regarding this action can be obtained from: Zack Parsons, 505-346-3871, zachary.parsons@usda.gov.
This proposed project is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. Objections to the Military Training Exercises project will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted timely comments regarding these efforts during any designated opportunity for public comment, unless based on information not available during an earlier designated opportunity for public comment (i.e., new information).
Objections on the Military Training Exercises project must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of the notice in the Albuquerque Journal. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. A timely submission will be determined by USPS postmark date, the agency’s electronically generated posted date and time for email. It is the responsibility of the objector to ensure timely receipt of any objections submitted.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed via mail, email, (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Regional Forester, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102; or by email to objections-southwestern-regional-office@usda.gov. An automated response will confirm the electronic objection has been received. If an automated response is not received, it is the sender’s responsibility to ensure timely filing by other means. Electronic objections must be submitted in MS Word, portable document format (PDF), or rich text format (RTF). The subject line for electronic submissions should contain Military Training Exercises within the Cibola National Forest.
Eligible objections must be filed, in writing, with the reviewing officer and must be open to public inspection during the objection process. At a minimum, an objection must include the following: (1) The objector’s name and address, along with a telephone number or email address if available; (2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); (3) Identification of the lead objector, when multiple names are listed on an objection, and verification of the identity of the lead objector, if requested. Individual members of an entity must have submitted their own individual comments in order to have eligibility to object as an individual. Additional requirements are included below.
In addition to the identifying information outlined above, written objection comments on the proposed project must include (1) the name of the proposed project, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name(s) of the forest or district on which the proposed project will be implemented; (2) 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 the reviewing officer should consider; and (3) a statement that demonstrates the 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 opportunity(ies) for comment. Specific written comments are written comments within the scope of the proposed action, with a direct relationship to the proposed action, and included supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider.
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