

Payson Public Library, Payson, AZ

Isabelle Hunt Memorial Library, Pine, AZ

Globe Public Library, Globe, AZ

Young Public Library, Young, AZ

Tonto Basin Public Library, Tonto Basin, AZ

Superior Public Library, Superior, AZ

Apache Junction Public Library, Apache Junction, AZ

Miami Memorial Library, Miami, AZ

Red Mountain Library, Mesa, AZ

Desert Foothills Library, Cave Creek, AZ

Fountain Hills Library, Fountain Hills, AZ



If you would like to request a copy of the documents contact the plan revision team by



Payson Public Library, Payson, AZIsabelle Hunt Memorial Library, Pine, AZGlobe Public Library, Globe, AZYoung Public Library, Young, AZTonto Basin Public Library, Tonto Basin, AZSuperior Public Library, Superior, AZApache Junction Public Library, Apache Junction, AZMiami Memorial Library, Miami, AZRed Mountain Library, Mesa, AZDesert Foothills Library, Cave Creek, AZFountain Hills Library, Fountain Hills, AZIf you would like to request a copy of the documents contact the plan revision team by email or by phone at 602-225-5200.

TIPS FOR DEVELOPING COMMENTS

Organize Thoughts





Comments should be clear, concise, and relevant to the analysis of the documents. Take the time to organize your thoughts so your comments are understood.





Identify the Why





Share your reasoning. Comments that are solution-oriented and provide specific examples will be most effective. Comments that contribute to developing alternatives that address the purpose and need for the action are also effective.



There is No Need to Duplicate





If you submitted comments during other Forest Plan Revision comment periods, you do not have to submit them again, as these comments have been captured.





Remember: Comments are not Votes





Commenting is not a form of “voting” on an alternative. The number of negative comments an agency receives does not prevent an action from moving forward. Numerous comments that repeat the same basic message of support or opposition will typically be responded to collectively.





Include your Name





Only those who have submitted substantive comments related to the Tonto National Forest plan revision during at least one of the public comment periods and have included a name and contact information will be eligible to file an objection under the 2012 rule objection process.





THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING A COMMENT





Changes to Plan Components





The Tonto National Forest welcomes suggestions for changes to the wording of a specific plan component, suggestions for new or deleted plan components, or changes to the type of plan component. When making these suggestions, remember to include the “why”.





Changes to Management Areas





The Tonto NF welcomes changes to location, inclusion, or boundaries of a management area and why. Think about whether specific plan components should apply forest-wide or only to designated or management areas, and why.





Draft EIS





Comments on the environmental analysis in the DEIS, including the need for more clarity on the effects or recommendations of additional sources.





Values and On-The-Ground Work





What impact will the draft forest plan (or any of the alternatives in the DEIS) have on your values?





Monitoring of Desired Conditions





Help us identify which desired conditions will be the most important to monitor to determine if the plan is successful? What monitoring measures do you recommend? Do you have any specific sources of monitoring that can be used to monitor plan success?





SUBMIT AN ONLINE COMMENT HERE MAIL COMMENTS TO

Tonto National Forest, Attn: Forest Planner 2324 E McDowell Rd Phoenix, AZ 85006

PUBLIC MEETINGS



Open house public meetings (all between 5pm – 8pm):





The open house meetings will all take place between 5pm – 8pm at the locations listed below. There will be educational materials and resource specialists available at these meetings to answer questions and talk about different pieces of the draft forest plan and DEIS. These will be similar to previous rounds of open house meetings we have had throughout the plan revision process .





The public workings days will all take place between 11am – 2pm at the locations listed below. These meetings are informal and will be an opportunity to sit down with members of the planning team and discuss your thoughts on the draft forest plan and management of the forest. Additionally, these meetings offer the opportunity to bring specific questions to the planning team during the day in various locations in and around the forest.



Phoenix, AZ – January 29, 2020,

Phoenix, AZ ‐ February 25, 2020 (tentatively scheduled)



The technical partner meetings will both be all-day from 9am – 4pm. These meetings will be an opportunity to discuss the components of the draft forest plan and DEIS in more detail alongside Tonto National Forest leadership and resource specialists as well as other members of our forest communities. A draft agenda for these meetings is being developed and will be finalized shortly. These meetings will further build on the



The Tonto National Forest looks forward to collaborating with you throughout this process. For more information, please contact Kenna Belsky, Forest Planner, and the rest of the plan revision team by











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Phoenix, AZ – January 29, 2020, 24th Street Conference Center Phoenix, AZ ‐ February 25, 2020 (tentatively scheduled)The technical partner meetings will both be all-day from 9am – 4pm. These meetings will be an opportunity to discuss the components of the draft forest plan and DEIS in more detail alongside Tonto National Forest leadership and resource specialists as well as other members of our forest communities. A draft agenda for these meetings is being developed and will be finalized shortly. These meetings will further build on the previous technical partner meetings we have held during the plan revision process.The Tonto National Forest looks forward to collaborating with you throughout this process. For more information, please contact Kenna Belsky, Forest Planner, and the rest of the plan revision team by email or by phone at 602-225-5200.

Roads should be closed or impacts mitigated if geologic hazards (e.g., landslides, rock falls, or flooding) or hazard trees occur.Decommission at least 10 miles ofevery 5 years that are deemed unsustainable, low-use, a hazard to public safety, or no remarkable destination value.Decommission of recreation sites and campgrounds that are deemed unsustainable, low-use, a hazard to public safety or have no remarkable destination value.Dispersed camping near cultural sites, sensitive species areas, and interpretive sites, and within 200 feet of trailheads is prohibited by closure order.Closure of dispersed recreation sites where environmental damage is occurring and there are conflicts with other resource (e.g., riparian areas) desired conditions.Where rock climbing is an appropriate recreational activity, permanent fixed anchors or bolts for rock climbing and rappelling should be allowed only by prior written authorization, if demonstrated impacts to at-risk species, scenic integrity, cultural resources, or user-conflict concerns have been communicated to the public, and there are no other safe means of descent available and the area is impassable by the use of removable anchors.Permit systems and management areas requiring a fee for OHV areas, wilderness areas, and target shooting areas.Implementing off-highway vehicle permit zones to increase public awareness and improve compliance in areas with high user conflicts or resource damage.Plans of operation shall be required for all mineral operations that will likely cause significant disturbance of surface resources.Abandoned mine features (e.g., adits, shafts, and stopes) should be closed unless they are determined to contain habitat for at-risk species or contain cultural resources. Gating should be considered an alternative to destruction in these instances.A new management plan for the Salt River horses.49 recommended wilderness areas; about 375,576 acres20 recommended Wild and Scenic Rivers5 proposed Botanical Areas5 proposed Natural Research Areas