Rio Grande Valley Broadband • Entered by Susan Ostlie on September 6, 2020
Objection to the Record of Decision for CE for expansion of USAF training sites and use of the Magdalena RD
June 18, 2020
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 6 |
| Post Admin hours | 1 |
| Activity Hours | 2 |
| Participants | 4 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
Key Issue: Landscape Planning (Forest Plans, RMPs, TMPs, etc.)
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: NM Wilderness Alliance – Attorney Logan Glasenapp, the Wilderness Society, Dr. Arian Pregenzer, resident and complainant, RGVBB
Landscape/area: Cibola National Forest (1616435 acres)
Short Description of Activity
The four parties mentioned as key partners wrote objections to the Record of Decision for a CE for the USAF to renew and expand a use permit for 3 additional landing areas for military training missions from Kirtland AFB. The CE also expanded the areas for on the ground maneuvers near private inholdings and violates the integrity of an area with wilderness character that has been proposed for recommended wilderness in the plan revision process.
Reflection/Evaluation
The Cibola NF and the Region 2 office responded to the objections with a mediation conference call on 6/18. The request for an expanded EA and for analysis of alternatives that were never considered, was not received very positively. The FS was supposed to issue a reply to the objections by 6/27, but no one has heard from them yet. It looks like the two primary complainants will probably need to begin a litigation process.