Ten-day Interested person status request period opened October 10
SILVER CITY, NM, Oct. 15, 2024 – The objection filing period for the Gila National Forest revised land management plan and associated final environmental impact statement, draft record of decision, and the Southwestern Regional Forester's Species of Conservation Concern list for the Gila National Forest ended on September 30. The Forest Service received 15 eligible objections. These objections are detailed in a legal notice that was published on October 10. The objections may be viewed online in the Public Comment/Objection Reading Room at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=51887.
The Forest Service objection process allows the Agency to consider public concerns early on, before a decision is made, aligning with the Forest Service's collaborative approach to forest management and increasing the likelihood of resolving ongoing concerns. In order to ensure potential objection resolution discussions are open and transparent, interested persons may participate in those discussions. The meetings are open to observation by the public.
Interested person requests must include:
name and affiliation, if any, of the requester;
mailing address, phone number, and email address, if available, for the requester;
the objection issues the requester has an interest in; a brief explanation of the requester's interest in the objections and any specific concerns, including a description of support or opposition to the objections; and
a statement demonstrating the requester's previous participation in the planning process - for example, identifying when the requester submitted comments or attended meetings.
Formally identified cooperating agencies with an open memorandum of understanding for participation in plan revision and governments of federally recognized tribes are automatically granted interested person status. However, they must notify the reviewing officer of their interest in specific objections and intent to participate so that the reviewing officer is able to provide notification of relevant meetings. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or
