[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 235 (Friday, December 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85581-85582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/landmanagement/planning. 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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