19667 3/3/26 PUBLIC NOTICE Opportunity to Comment on

19667 3/3/26 PUBLIC NOTICE Opportunity to Comment on Material Source Pits (Ramer, 824, Braddock, and Castle Dome) project The Forest Service is proposing to authorize Gila County (County) to expand three existing material source pits (Ramer, Braddock, and Castle Dome) and excavate one new material source pit (824), all located in rural Gila County, Arizona. A material source pit is a designated excavation site where sand and gravel are extracted and sorted for use in road maintenance activities such as grading, resurfacing, and stabilization. The Ramer material source pit is located along Forest Service Road (FSR) 109, approximately 27 miles east of Payson and approximately 0.5 miles east of FSR 512 (also known as Young Road). The proposed 824 material source pit would be located along FSR 512, approximately 25 miles east of Payson. The Braddock material source pit is located along FSR 203, approximately 18 miles north of Globe and three miles east of State Route (SR) 288 and Roosevelt Lake. The Castle Dome material source pit is located along Castle Dome Road (FSR 287B), adjacent to the Pinto Valley Mine, approximately four miles west of Miami More information about this project, including maps and supporting documents, can be found electronically at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto/projects/68964 . Questions about this project should be directed to: Michelle Tom, Forest Engineering and Minerals Staff Officer at 480-826-7660 or comments-southwestern-tonto@usda.gov The Forest Service is combining the scoping and comment period as part of the public involvement effort for this project. We are inviting your input on this project, which is an activity implementing a land management plan and subject to the objection process described in 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. How to Comment and Timeframe Specific written comments on the proposed project will be accepted for 30 calendar days following publication in the Payson Roundup. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period. The regulations prohibit extending the length of the comment period. Comments may be submitted via email at comments-southwestern-tonto@usda.gov with Subject: Material Source Pits, or via postal mail Tonto National Forest, Attn: Michelle Tom, 2324 E McDowell Rd., Phoenix, Az, 85006. It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to submit them by the close of the comment period. Only those who submit timely and specific written comments will have eligibility to file an objection under 36 CFR 218.8. Individuals and organizations wishing to be eligible to object must meet the information requirements in 36 CFR 218.25(a)(3). Names and contact information submitted with comments will become part of the public record and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.