The Sacramento Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest (“Forest Service”) has released the final environmental assessment, draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact for the 45-day objection period on the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse Habitat Improvement Projects on the Sacramento Grazing Allotment. The legal location for the allotment is: Township 16 South, Range 10, 11, and 12 East; Township 17 South, Ranges 10, 11, and 12 East; Township 18 South, Ranges 10, 11, and 12 East; Township 19 South, Range 10, 11, and 12 East within Otero County, New Mexico. This proposal has a dual purpose. The first purpose is to strategically protect and improve New Mexico meadow jumping mouse critical habitat areas with high proportions of primary constituent elements within the allotment by: constructing permanent exclosures around the best habitat, thereby reducing impacts such as grazing and recreation; and, decommissioning a section of National Forest System Trail that bisects habitat, thereby reducing impacts from recreation. The second purpose is to continue to allow for livestock grazing and recreational activities by installing additional waterers and facilities and rerouting a section of National Forest System Trail by constructing a new section, respectively. As described in the draft decision notice, the Forest Service would select alternative 1 (proposed action), which includes: construction and maintenance of exclosure fencing, handling facilities, and water developments, rerouting and decommissioning a section of National Forest System Trail, and issuing a temporary closure order. The Forest Service would construct and maintain all proposed exclosure fencing. The handling facilities and water developments may be constructed by the Forest Service and/or allotment permittee(s). The handling facilities and water developments would be incorporated into the term grazing permit, therefore maintenance would be the responsibility of the allotment permittee(s). The project is expected to be implemented in phases over several years.
This project is subject to pre-decisional administrative review, also called the “objection process”, pursuant to 36 CFR Part 218, Subparts A and B. Objections will be accepted only 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 36 CFR §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 designated opportunities. If an objection is submitted on behalf of a number of individuals or organizations, each individual or organization listed must meet the eligibility requirement of having previously submitted specific written comments on the project (36 CFR §218.7). Names and addresses of objectors will become part of the public record.
Incorporation of documents by reference in the objection is permitted only as provided for at 36 CFR §218.8(b). Minimum content requirements of an objection (36 CFR §218.8(d)) include: (1) Objector’s name and address with a telephone number, if available, with signature or other verification of authorship supplied upon request; (2) Identification of the lead objector when multiple names are listed, along with verification upon request; (3) Name of the project, the responsible official, and national forest/ranger district of project; (4) Sufficient narrative description on those aspects of the proposed project object to, specific issues related to the project, and suggested remedies which would resolve the objection; and, (5) 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 for comment.
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; (email) objections-southwestern-lincoln@usda.gov and include “NMMJM Sacramento Allotment” in the subject line. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as an email message or attached to an email in a format such as, .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .doc, or .docx. The office business hours for submitting hand-delivered objections are: 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Objectors are responsible for ensuring that their objection is received in a timely manner. Timeliness of a written objection is determined by: (1) date of U.S. Postal Service postmark; (2) agency’s electronically generated posted date for emails and facsimiles; (3) shipping date for delivery by private carrier; and, (4) official agency date stamp showing receipt of hand delivery. For emailed objections, the sender should receive an automated electronic acknowledgement from the agency as confirmation of receipt. If the sender does not receive an automated acknowledgment of receipt of the objection, it is the sender's responsibility to ensure timely filing by other means.
The opportunity to object ends on the 45th day after publication of the legal notice. The publication date in the Alamogordo Daily News, which is the newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection (36 CFR §218.26). Persons wishing to object should not rely on dates or information provided by any other source. Extensions of the objection period are not permitted.
The final environmental assessment, draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact, and other documents are available on the project-specific information page on the Lincoln National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51153. For information about the project or the objection process contact Sendi Kalcic, NEPA Planner (575-682-5307 or sendi.kalcic@usda.gov).
