[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 173 (Friday, September 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50695-50696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19521]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Intent To Issue Forest Order Closing Areas Along the 
Wildland Urban Interface on the Eastern Side of the Huachuca Mountains 
to Recreational Shooting

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture, (USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is giving 
notice of its intent to issue a forest order closing areas in proximity 
to canyon roads on the eastern side of the Huachuca Mountains in the 
vicinity of the City of Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, and the 
communities of Hereford and Palominas, Arizona to recreational shooting 
in advance of the public comment period for the proposed closure. At 
the end of the period of advance notice, the Forest Service will 
solicit public comments, as specified in this notice, on the proposed 
forest order.

DATES: Advance notice of the opportunity to provide public comment on a 
proposed recreational shooting order is being provided until September 
17, 2021. Beginning on September 17, 2021, the Forest Service will 
accept comments on the proposed forest order for 60 days. The notice of 
opportunity for public comment will be posted on the Coronado National 
Forest web page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado/ and at the Forest 
Service's website at www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.

ADDRESSES: The proposed forest order and the justification for the 
forest order are available on the Coronado National Forest web page 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado/ and at the Forest Service's website 
at www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies or can be viewed 
at the Sierra Vista Ranger District Office, Coronado National Forest, 
4070 S Avenida Saracino, Hereford, AZ 85615. Please call ahead to 
ensure access: 520-378-0311.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Celeste Kinsey, District Ranger, 520-
378-0311, [email protected]. Individuals who use 
telecommunications devices for the hearing-impaired (TDD) may call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every 
day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Advance Notice and Public Comment Procedures

    Section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, 
and Recreation Act (Pub. L. 116-9) requires that the Secretary of 
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, provide 
public notice and comment before permanently or temporarily closing any 
National Forest System lands to hunting, fishing, or recreational 
shooting. Section 4103 applies to the proposed forest order closing 
areas in proximity to canyon roads on the eastern side of the Huachuca 
Mountains in the vicinity of the City of Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, 
and the communities of Hereford and Palominas, Arizona to recreational 
shooting, with the exception of hunting under Arizona state law. The 
public notice and comment process in section 4103(b)(2) requires the 
Secretary to publish an advance notice of intent, in the Federal 
Register, of the proposed closure in advance of the public comment 
period for the closure. This notice meets the requirement to publish a 
notice of intent in the Federal Register in advance of the public 
comment period. Following the notice of intent, section 4103(b)(2) 
requires an opportunity for public comment. Because the proposed forest 
order would permanently close areas in proximity to canyon roads on the 
eastern side of the Huachuca Mountains in the vicinity of the City of 
Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, and the communities of Hereford and 
Palominas, Arizona to recreational shooting, the public comment period 
must be not less than 60 days. Beginning on September 17, 2021, the 
Forest Service will accept public comments on the proposed order for 60 
days. The notice of opportunity for public comment will be posted on 
the Coronado National Forest web page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado/ and at the Forest Service's website at www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.
    Section 4103(b)(2) requires the Forest Service to respond to public 
comments received on the proposed order before issuing a final order, 
including an explanation of how any significant issues raised by the 
comments were resolved and, if applicable, how resolution of those 
issues affected the proposed order or the justification for the 
proposed order. The response to comments on the proposed order, 
justification for the final order, and the issuance of the final forest 
order will all be posted on the Coronado National Forest web page at 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado/ and at the Forest Service's website 
at www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.

II. Background and Need for Forest Order

    This permanent recreational shooting closure is needed to address 
the potential for significant harm to human health and safety, the 
threat of wildfire resulting from ricocheting ammunition, as well as 
harm to wildlife habitat and vegetation resulting from the discharge of 
firearms in tight canyon areas within the Wildland Urban Interface, 
specifically, Ash, Lutz, Stump, Hunter, Miller, Carr, and Brown 
Canyons. Approximately 71,900 people live within close proximity to, or 
along, the National Forest boundary in the vicinity of these canyons, 
and this convenient access results in heavy forest use. The area that 
is proposed for closure to recreational shooting falls generally in 
multiple sections of Township 23 S., Range 20 E., and comprises all 
National Forest System lands within a quarter mile of all National 
Forest System roads (specifically, National Forest System

[[Page 50696]]

Roads 5731, 59, 5720, 796, 4794, 367, 56, 4915, 4790, 4789, 368, and 
5736), for a total closed area of approximately 5,090 acres, which is 
the minimum amount of acreage necessary to protect public health and 
safety.
    The proposed forest order, map, and the justification for the 
forest order are available on the Coronado National Forest web page at 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/coronado/ and at the Forest Service's website 
at www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.

    Dated: August 27, 2021.
Tina Johna Terrell,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2021-19521 Filed 9-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P