Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 

New Special-Use Permits for Recreation 

Residences on the Safford Ranger District

Coronado National Forest 

Graham County, Arizona 

Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service 

Responsible Official: Jeanine A. Derby, Forest Supervisor 

Coronado National Forest 

300 West Congress Street 

Tucson, AZ 85701 

For Information Contact: Andrea Wargo Campbell, Forest NEPA Coordinator 

Coronado National Forest 

300 West Congress Street 

Tucson, AZ 85701 

(520) 388-8352 

 Ms. Toni Strauss, Ranger 

Safford Ranger District 

711 14th Ave., Suite D 

Safford, AZ 85546 

(928) 428-4150 

Abstract: The Coronado National Forest proposes to issue 88 new special-use permits for 

occupancy and use of recreation residences on the Safford Ranger District when they expire on 

December 31, 2008. There would be no change in the use of the residences upon issuance of a 

new permit. Each new permit term would extend 20 years, from January 1, 2009 through 

December 31, 2028. A draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was prepared to evaluate the 

potential impacts of the proposed action (alternative 2) and three alternatives. Alternative 1 (no 

action) would allow the current permits to expire and, in accordance with Forest Service policy, 

10-year permits would be issued for continued occupancy, after which permit holders would be 

required to remove residences and improvements. Alternative 3 would authorize the permits for 

74 Turkey Flat recreation residences to be issued, and the 14 permits for residences within the 

Old Columbine tract would be allowed to expire. New permits would be issued to Old Columbine 

permit holders for a 10-year period, after which they would be required to remove improvements. 

Alternative 4 would authorize the permits for the Old Columbine residences to be issued, and the 

74 permits for the Turkey Flat tract would be allowed to expire. New permits would be issued to 

Turkey Flat permit holders for a 10-year period, after which they would be required to remove 

improvements. Alternative 2 (proposed action) is the preferred alternative. 

Mail Comments to: Andrea Wargo Campbell, Forest NEPA Coordinator 

Coronado National Forest 

300 West Congress Street 

Tucson, AZ 85701 

Environmental Impact Statement for New Special-Use Permits for Recreation Residences i 
E-mail Comments to: comments-southwestern-coronado@fs.fed.us

[Subject: Safford Recreation Residence EIS] 

Date Comments Must Be Received: The 45-day public comment period begins on the day after 

the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a Notice of Availability for the draft EIS in the 

Federal Register. Comments MUST be received before the close of business on the last day of the 

comment period. 

Additional Information: The public is encouraged to provide the Forest Service with comments 

during the draft environmental impact statement comment period to enable the Forest Service to 

efficiently and effectively analyze issues and concerns, respond to them using the best available 

scientific information, and use new information, as appropriate, in preparation of the final 

environmental impact statement. The submittal of timely public comments helps to minimize 

undue delay in the decisionmaking process. Reviewers have an obligation to structure their 

participation in the National Environmental Policy Act process so that it is meaningful and alerts 

the agency to the reviewers’ position and contentions [Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. 

NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)]. Environmental objections that could have been raised at the 

draft stage may be waived if not raised until after completion of the final environmental impact 

statement [City of Angoon v. Hodel (9th Circuit, l986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 

490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)]. Comments on the draft environmental impact 

statement should be specific and should address the adequacy of the statement and the merits of 

the alternatives discussed (40 CFR 1503.3).

ii DEIS for New Special-Use Permits for Recreation Residences, Safford Ranger District