Notice2023-26961
Final Record of Decision for the Tonto National Forest
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 8, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
Neil Bosworth, the Forest Supervisor for the Tonto National Forest, Southwestern Region, signed the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for the revised Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Tonto National Forest. The ROD documents the rationale for approving the revised LMP and is consistent with the Reviewing Officer's responses to objections and instructions.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 235 (Friday, December 8, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 235 (Friday, December 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85581-85582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26961]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Final Record of Decision for the Tonto National Forest
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of approval of the revised Land Management Plan for the
Tonto National Forest.
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SUMMARY: Neil Bosworth, the Forest Supervisor for the Tonto National
Forest, Southwestern Region, signed the Final Record of Decision (ROD)
for the revised Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Tonto National
Forest. The ROD documents the rationale for approving the revised LMP
and is consistent with the Reviewing Officer's responses to objections
and instructions.
DATES: The revised LMP for the Tonto National Forest will become
effective 30 days after the publication of this notice of approval in
the Federal Register (36 CFR 219.17(a)(1)).
ADDRESSES: To view the final ROD, Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS), revised LMP, and other related documents, please visit the
Tonto National Forest website at: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/landmanagement/planning">https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/landmanagement/planning</a>. A legal notice of approval is also being
published in the newspaper of record, the Arizona Capitol Times. A copy
of this legal notice will be posted on the Tonto National Forest's
website as listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyna Yost, Acting Forest Planner,
Tonto National Forest, by telephone 602-225-5200 or via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1d4e50335b4e3369727369726d717c735d686e797c337a726b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e1b2accfa7b2cf958e8f958e918d808fa194928580cf868e97">[email protected]</span></a>.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf and hard
of hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339, 24
hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. Written
requests for information may be sent to Tonto National Forest, Attn:
Tonto National Forest Plan Revision, 2324 E McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ
85006.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tonto National Forest covers six ranger
districts across nearly 2.9 million acres of National Forest System
land in central Arizona overlapping the counties of Coconino, Gila,
Maricopa, Pinal, and Yavapai. The LMP was developed pursuant to the
2012 Forest Service Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) and will replace the
1985 LMP. The revised LMP describes desired conditions, objectives,
standards, guidelines, and land suitability for project and activity
decision-making and will guide all resource management activities on
the Forest.
The Tonto National Forest plays an important role supporting and
partnering with communities in central Arizona and throughout the
southwestern United States by providing economic benefits including
fuelwood gathering, livestock grazing, mining, and abundant
recreational opportunities. The development of the revised LMP was
shaped by the best available scientific information, current laws, and
public input.
The Tonto National Forest lies adjacent to the Phoenix metropolitan
area, making it one of the most heavily visited National Forests. It
spans a range of ecosystems from the Sonoran Desert through a variety
of chaparral and pinyon pine/juniper up to the ponderosa pine and mixed
conifer of the Mogollon Rim. The Tonto's rivers and lakes maintain
riparian habitat and habitat connectivity for wildlife, including most
of the Forest's Endangered Species Act listed species, and provide
diverse opportunities for water-based recreation. Additionally, over
half of the water supply for the city of Phoenix comes from these
reservoirs.
The Tonto National Forest initiated LMP revision in 2014 and
engaged the public frequently throughout the process. This engagement
effort has included conventional public meetings, information sharing
via social media, and collaborative work sessions with cooperating
agencies. The Forest invited State, local, and Tribal governments, and
other Federal Agencies from around the region to participate in the
process
[[Page 85582]]
to revise the LMP. The Tonto National Forest engaged in government-to-
government consultation with 13 Tribes during LMP revision, ensuring
tribal-related LMP direction accurately reflects the Tonto National
Forest's trust responsibilities and government-to-government
relationship with tribes. During the 90-day comment period in 2019 for
the draft LMP and draft EIS, the Tonto National Forest received
approximately 4,300 comment letters of which 181 were unique. These
helped refine the preferred alternative and LMP content based on
response to comments.
A draft ROD, LMP, and FEIS were released in July 2022, initiating a
60-day objection filing period. The Tonto National Forest received 14
eligible objections. Through a comprehensive review of each objection,
a variety of issues were identified. Following the objection review,
the Reviewing Officer held objection resolution meetings with objectors
and interested persons. Based on these meetings, the Reviewing Officer
issued a written response on May 19, 2023. The instructions from the
Reviewing Officer were addressed in the ROD, LMP, and FEIS.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Department of
Agriculture are formal cooperating agencies and have participated in
the development of the LMP, helping to develop plan direction and
associated analysis for wildlife-related recreation and the Salt River
Horse management area, respectively, for which they are subject matter
experts.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official for approving the revised LMP is Neil
Bosworth, Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest. The Responsible
Official approving the list of species of conservation concern is
Michiko Martin, Regional Forester, Southwestern Region.
Dated: November 29, 2023.
Troy Heithecker,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2023-26961 Filed 12-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.