Final Revised Forest Plan, Environmental Statement, Draft Record of Decisio

The 90-day comment period for the draft land management plan (LMP) and draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) ended on March 12, 2020. Comments on the draft land management plan and DEIS are analyzed and reviewed in the development of a final land management plan and FEIS. The FEIS outlines any needed changes between the draft and final EIS.

The draft record of decision (ROD), final land management plan (LMP), and FEIS were made available with the publication of the notice of opportunity to object (NOO) in the Federal Register and legal notice in the Arizona Capitol Times, the newspaper of record, on March 25, 2022. The published federal register notice and legal notice included an incorrect web link to provide objections electronically. To ensure potential objectors have the opportunity to participate in the process the objection process is being reinitiated.

The federal register notice reinitiating the notice of opportunity to object (NOO) for the Tonto’s final revised land management plan (Forest Plan), and final environmental impact statement (EIS), and draft record of decision (DROD) was published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2022. A corresponding legal notice was also published in the Arizona Capitol Times, the newspaper of record, on the same day. These publications reinitiate the 60-day objection period for the plan revision process.

Members of the public who have been engaged in the forest plan revision process had an opportunity to file an objection before the forest plan decision is signed. You can view the eligible objections in the CARA reading room here.

The forest plan reflects changes in social, economic, and ecological conditions since the 1985 Land Management Plan. It outlines the strategic management for 2.9 million acres of national forest for the next 10 to 15 years and reflects input from elected officials, tribes, community members and many others. The land management plan is built on a foundation of public input, best available science, and emphasizes multiple uses supported by healthy ecosystems. These ecosystems provide clean drinking water for downstream communities and help to fuel the forest products, grazing, and mining industries, and the recreation opportunities on the forest. The final revised land management plan (LMP), final environmental impact statement (FEIS), and draft record of decision (ROD) for the Tonto National Forest plan revision process are now available for review.

Documents

Tonto Forest Plan

Geospatial data for the draft ROD, final forest plan, and FEIS are available by request at SM.FS.tontoplan@usda.gov. Please use that same email for more information or if you have any questions.