Quemado, NM, May 11, 2018—The Gila National Forest is pleased to announce the release of the Gila National Forest’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Luna Restoration Project, and seeking your input. The Luna Restoration Project is located along the western portion of the Quemado Ranger District around the community of Luna.

The DEIS and maps may be downloaded from the Forest’s website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gila/home/?cid=STELPRD3828973. The DEIS discloses the environmental impacts associated with proposed treatments involving: vegetation, prescribed fire, watershed, roads, recreation, and wildlife. There are four alternatives in the DEIS with alternative C being identified as the preferred alternative.

Alternatives contain project-specific amendments to the Gila Forest Plan, which will be prepared under the 2012 Planning Rule. These project-specific amendments are a one-time amendment to the Gila Forest Plan for related activities proposed, and to be implemented under the Luna Restoration Project only.

A Notice of Availability of the DEIS was published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2018. The date of publication in the Federal Register marks the start of the 45-day comment period for the Luna Restoration Project DEIS. Check the project web page (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gila/home/?cid=STELPRD3828973  ) for the exact date of publication.

We invite and encourage you to review the DEIS and maps, and provide us with comments. It is important to remember that this is just a draft. Your comments will be critical in refining this DEIS prior to the final decision, which is anticipated to be released in fall 2018. If you have specific questions regarding the project contact Emily Irwin, District Ranger, at 575-773-4578.
 
For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila