Category Archives: National Government

Kaibab National Forest to offer firewood permits beginning May 1

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will offer firewood cutting permits for the 2017 firewood season beginning May 1 for all three ranger districts.

The minimum cost for a personal use firewood permit is $20, which is good for four cords of wood. Firewood cutting permits can be purchased at the following locations and during the specified hours Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays:

· Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (928) 635-5600
· Tusayan Ranger District, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 638-2443
· North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 643-7395

The 2017 firewood cutting season will remain open across the entire forest from May 1 to Nov 30. Free-use permits may also be available for specific areas on the forest. Individuals seeking such permits should check with the appropriate ranger district office for availability, locations and other information.

All permits issued will include a map and detailed cutting regulations as well as load tags, which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The goal of this load tagging system is to ensure accountability for the amount of wood removed from the forest.

The removal of firewood is permitted only from National Forest lands on the district for which the permit is issued. Firewood cutters are reminded to take note of property boundaries and cut only on National Forest lands.

Firewood cutters should also be aware that chainsaws can throw sparks and ignite grasses and brush. Always carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher or water in case of a fire start. Additionally, all chainsaws must be equipped with a stainless steel spark arrestor screen. Cutters should check with forest offices periodically for information about the implementation of fire restrictions.

Detailed firewood cutting information and maps for each ranger district are available on the Kaibab National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/fuelwood.

Kaibab National Forest to offer firewood permits beginning May 1

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The Kaibab National Forest will offer firewood cutting permits for the 2017 firewood season beginning May 1 for all three ranger districts.

The minimum cost for a personal use firewood permit is $20, which is good for four cords of wood. Firewood cutting permits can be purchased at the following locations and during the specified hours Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays:

· Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (928) 635-5600
· Tusayan Ranger District, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 638-2443
· North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 643-7395

The 2017 firewood cutting season will remain open across the entire forest from May 1 to Nov 30. Free-use permits may also be available for specific areas on the forest. Individuals seeking such permits should check with the appropriate ranger district office for availability, locations and other information.

All permits issued will include a map and detailed cutting regulations as well as load tags, which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The goal of this load tagging system is to ensure accountability for the amount of wood removed from the forest.

The removal of firewood is permitted only from National Forest lands on the district for which the permit is issued. Firewood cutters are reminded to take note of property boundaries and cut only on National Forest lands.

Firewood cutters should also be aware that chainsaws can throw sparks and ignite grasses and brush. Always carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher or water in case of a fire start. Additionally, all chainsaws must be equipped with a stainless steel spark arrestor screen. Cutters should check with forest offices periodically for information about the implementation of fire restrictions.

Detailed firewood cutting information and maps for each ranger district are available on the Kaibab National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/fuelwood.

Public comment sought to help develop revised Tonto Forest Plan

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The Tonto National Forest on April 6 published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to develop the Revised Tonto National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Forest Plans are used to guide management of the National Forest for 15-20 years.

The current Tonto National Forest Plan, approved in 1985, is in need of updating to reflect current conditions, and uses of the Forest. The plan revision process will be an extensive, multi-year public process, throughout which the Tonto National Forest will promote public comment and participation in development of the revised forest plan.

Publication of the Notice of Intent initiates the public involvement process, which guides the development of the Revised Plan and EIS. The Forest Service has allocated a 45-day scoping period, which will end on Monday, May 22, 2017. This is the first formal opportunity for the public to provide comments on the proposed action, or the need to change direction from current management of the Tonto National Forest.

“If you enjoy the Tonto National Forest and care about how it will be managed for your enjoyment and that of future generations, please review the Notice of Intent and provide comments to help the Forest Service develop the revised Tonto National Forest Plan,” said Neil Bosworth, Forest Supervisor, in a news release.

Public comments during the initial 45-day scoping period can be submitted by e-mail to tontoplan@fs.fed.us or by U.S. mail to Tonto National Forest, Attn: Tonto Plan Revision, 2324 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85006.

See the Tonto Forest Plan Revision page to learn more about the Tonto Forest Plan Revision; the process, final assessment, needs to change, and public involvement leading up to this point.

Frito-Lay Recalls Jalapeño Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips and Jalapeño Flavored Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips

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Frito-Lay announced it is voluntarily recalling select Jalapeño Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips and Jalapeño Flavored Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked potato chips due to the potential presence of Salmonella in the seasoning. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

This action is the direct result of a supplier’s recent recall of a seasoning blend which includes jalapeño powder that could contain Salmonella. Although no Salmonella was found in the seasoning supplied to Frito-Lay, the company has decided to recall these products out of an abundance of caution.

No illness related to this matter has been confirmed to date.

The products covered by this recall were distributed in retail stores and via foodservice, vending and other channels throughout the U.S.

The specific recalled product information is listed below:

  • All sizes of the following two products that have a “guaranteed fresh” date of JUL 4 or prior printed on the front upper panel of the package:
    • Jalapeño Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips
    • Jalapeño Flavored Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked potato chips
  • All of the following multipack offerings that have a “use by” date of JUN 20 or prior printed on the multipack package. In addition, a “guaranteed fresh” date of JUL 4 or prior is printed on the front upper panel of the individual recalled product packages inside each multipack offering. Any other products or flavors contained in these multipacks are not being recalled.
    • 12 count Lay’s Kettle Cooked Multipack Sack
    • 20 count Frito-Lay Bold Mix Sack
    • 30 count Miss Vickie’s Multipack Tray
    • 30 count Lay’s Kettle Cooked Multipack Tray
    • 32 count Miss Vickie’s Multipack Box

No other flavors of Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips or Miss Vickie’s potato chips are impacted or being recalled. Jalapeño Cheddar Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked 40% Less Fat potato chips are not impacted or being recalled.

Consumers who have purchased these recalled products are advised not to consume them. Frito-Lay is working with the FDA on this recall to ensure the recalled products are removed from store shelves and are no longer distributed.

Consumers can contact Frito-Lay Consumer Relations at 866-272-9393 for additional information from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Representative product images can be found at fritolay.com. For product reimbursement, consumers can visit www.jalapenochiprecall.com.

Campbell Soup Company Recalls Chicken Soup Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens

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Class I recall is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health

Campbell Soup Company, a Maxton, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 4,185 pounds of chicken soup products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. The chicken with whole grain pasta soup items were produced on Feb. 13, 2017.

18.6-oz. cans of “Campbell’s Homestyle Healthy Request Chicken with Whole Grain Pasta” with Best By date of Feb. 13, 2019 located on the bottom of the cans.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 4R” on the bottom of the cans. These items were shipped to retail locations in Florida.

The problem was discovered on April 20, 2017 when the firm received notification from their corporate office of multiple consumer complaints of the wrong product noticed inside the cans. The products were labeled as “Campbell’s Homestyle Healthy Request Chicken with Whole Grain Pasta” but actually contain “Campbell’s Homestyle Healthy Request Italian-Style Wedding Spinach & Meatballs in Chicken Broth” soup.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Prescribed burn planned to begin Wednesday south of Tusayan

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TUSAYAN – Crews plan to begin ignitions on a prescribed burn on the 681 acre Reed Prescribed Fire Project on Wednesday April 19 and intend to continue burning for approximately three days in the area if conditions remain favorable. The burn area is located approximately three miles south of the town of Tusayan.

Smoke may be visible from Highway 64 and in the communities of Valle and Tusayan. Light smoke may linger overnight and in the early morning hours. To minimize smoke impacts, fire managers will limit ignitions to approximately 200 acres per day and will only conduct ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to ventilate away from sensitive areas.

“Because this prescribed fire will be burning immediately adjacent to Highway 64, we suggest that motorists slow down when driving through the area and use extreme caution due to firefighters working along the roadway and potential impacts to visibility.” said Fire Management Officer Quentin Johnson.

Smoke is expected to disperse to the east and northeast during the day. Residual smoke may settle into drainages and low lying areas overnight but will dissipate rapidly throughout the morning hours.

Prescribed fires are essential tools for restoring the forests in a fire-adapted ecosystem, and smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of these efforts. Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. Burns occur when winds and other atmospheric conditions will push the majority of smoke away from homes and ultimately limit the number of days smoke is in the air. Fire managers work closely with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, partners in the Grand Canyon National Park, as well as surrounding Native American tribes to monitor air quality.

Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided regularly throughout the season. The public can find this information online or through a recorded hotline. Contact your local Kaibab National Forest office for additional information.

 

Vandalism damages recreational facilities on Williams Ranger District

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WILLIAMS – A recent trend of vandalism occurring at numerous Kaibab National Forest recreation sites on the Williams Ranger District has prompted a public service announcement in an attempt to curtail these unlawful activities.

Unsightly graffiti paint, physical structure damage, and theft are among the latest offenses identified at several recreational locations that are about to open for the summer season.

“This kind of unruly activity makes it difficult to prepare our facilities for opening by the scheduled dates.” said Recreation Specialist Dutch Maatman. “Not only does it take extra time to make these repairs, but it can be very costly detracting from our limited budget allocations. It negatively impacts both our visitors and our program.”

Forest officials are encouraging all members of the public to speak up if you witness any activity that disturbs, defaces or damages any property being managed by your national forest. If you see something, say something.

As with any crime you may be witness to, contacting your local law enforcement authority is always the safest action to take. You can also call the local district offices directly to report a crime or any other suspicious activity that may be occurring. Contact your local office at these locations:

• Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (928) 635-5600
• Tusayan Ranger District, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 638-2443
• North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 643-7395

The mission of the United States Forest Service is “To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.” Its motto is “Caring for the land and serving people.”

Kaibab National Forest Officials would like to invite everyone to take a vested interest in helping with the success of the mission by participating in the protection and conservation of your national forest resources.

For more information about the Kaibab National Forest, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Public input sought on proposed 4FRI forest restoration alternatives for Rim Country

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PHOENIX — The U.S. Forest Service and the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) Stakeholders Group are seeking public input regarding draft alternatives for proposed forest restoration activities along the Rim Country of Arizona.

Two public workshops are scheduled this month for the U.S. Forest Service to present, and obtain public comment upon, the alternatives for the 4FRI Rim Country project area. The draft alternatives describe various ways to meet restoration goals, and input is desired by 4FRI project proponents to ensure the public’s interests are included.

The meetings/workshops are scheduled for:

Thursday, April 13, Payson, 5-8 p.m., Julia Randall Elementary School Gymnasium, 902 W. Main St., Payson, Ariz.

Tuesday, April 18, Show Low, 4:30-7 p.m., Show Low City Hall, Deuce of Clubs meeting room, 180 N. 9th St., Show Low, Ariz.

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The Rim Country environmental analysis covers 1.2 million acres of National Forest lands. Treatments are planned for the Black Mesa and Lakeside Ranger Districts of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, the Mogollon and Red Rock Ranger Districts of the Coconino National Forest, and the Payson and Pleasant Valley Ranger Districts of the Tonto National Forest. This environmental analysis is the largest of its kind in the country, and will set the stage for forest restoration treatments in its footprint for the next 10 or more years.

The alternatives were developed in response to comments from earlier public scoping as well as National Forest staff’s continuing research and analysis of the Rim Country project area.

Once alternatives are finalized, the specifics of each will be analyzed and presented to the public in the form of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) next year.

More information about the project can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/4FRIRimCountry.

The Rim Country EIS is the second landscape-scale, multi-forest environmental assessment for the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Forest Service, the public, and a stakeholder group representing nearly 40 individuals, organizations, and government entities (including the Arizona Game and Fish Department). For more information, visit www.4fri.org.

Medtronic Announces Voluntary Worldwide Recall of its Stratamr Adjustable Valves and Shunts

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DUBLIN – Medtronic plc today announced that on February 22, 2017 it notified customers of a voluntary recall of all unused units of the StrataMR™ adjustable valves and shunts. These products are manufactured and marketed by Medtronic’s Neurosurgery business, which is part of the Brain Therapies division of the company’s Restorative Therapies Group. This recall only applies to StrataMR adjustable valves and shunts and does not apply to Strata™ II or Strata™ NSC products.

As of the initiation of this recall, 2,622 StrataMR valves and shunts potentially affected by this recall had been distributed worldwide. The affected StrataMR valves and shunts were manufactured from October 27, 2015 to November 11, 2016. Medtronic initiated the recall due to an increase in the product complaint rate. As of April 1, 2017, the product complaint rate related to this issue was 2.75 percent of total units distributed.Medtronic StrataMR adjustable valves and shunts are used in the management of hydrocephalus. They control the flow of cerebrospinal fluid being drained from the brain to relieve intracranial pressure. Medtronic is conducting this voluntary recall due to an issue that can occur post-implantation that can lead to the potential for under-drainage of cerebrospinal fluid.

Under-drainage of cerebrospinal fluid may result in the following adverse health consequences: headaches, nausea, vomiting and lethargy.

  • If any of the affected products have been implanted in patients, physicians should refer to the StrataMR customer recall letter sent February 22, 2017 as well as the valve adjustment instructions in the instructions for use (IFU) for continued patient care.
  • Patients and their caregivers should monitor the patient’s condition and if they find they are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms, they should consult the physician who implanted the StrataMR valve.

If left untreated, under-drainage can potentially lead to coma and death. There has been one reported patient death, but the cause of death has not been confirmed to be related to this issue.

Medtronic initiated customer communication of the recall by letter and is requesting that customers cease use of all affected product that remains in inventory and return all unused units to Medtronic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory bodies also have been notified.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, by regular mail, or by fax.

Precautionary Recall of a Limited Quantity of Organic Marketside Spring Mix Salad is Announced by Fresh Express

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Orlando, Fla. – Fresh Express is announcing a precautionary recall of a limited number of cases of Organic Marketside Spring Mix.

The item subject to the recall is 5 oz. Organic Marketside Spring Mix marketed in a clear container with production code G089B19 and best-if-used-by date of APR 14, 2017 located on the front label, and UPC code 6 8113132897 5 located on the bottom of the container. The recalled salads were distributed only to Walmart stores located in the Southeastern region of the United States.

The recall was necessitated when Fresh Express was notified that extraneous animal matter was allegedly found in a single container of the salad. Out of an abundance of caution, all salads manufactured in the same production run are being recalled.

No other Marketside salads are included in the recall. Fresh Express salads are not subject to a recall.

Walmart acted quickly to remove the product from store shelves.

Consumers who may have already purchased the recalled product should discard and not consume it. A full refund is available where purchased or by calling the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center toll-free at (800) 242-5472 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

Upon receiving notification, both Walmart and Fresh Express food safety and rapid response teams, in close coordination with regulatory authorities, acted immediately to review all relevant records, launch an intensive investigation and initiate product removal and recall procedures.

Fresh Express takes matters of food safety very seriously and rigorously complies with all food safety regulations including the proscribed Good Agricultural Practices. In addition, a range of stringent controls are in place during growing and harvesting to mitigate against field material from entering the raw product system. In manufacturing, additional controls including thorough washing and filtration systems as well as visual inspections that are designed to eliminate unwanted debris.

Recalled Product Details

  • Organic Marketside Spring Mix – 5 oz. clear container
  • Production Code of G089B19 and best-if-used-by date of APR 14 2017, located on the top label
  • UPC Code of 6 8113132897 5 located on the bottom of the container next to the bar code

Recalled Product Distribution

Fresh Express Precautionary Recall, 5 oz. Organic Marketside Spring Mix
(No other Marketside Salads and No Fresh Express Salads are included in this recall)

Brand PRODUCT NAME SIZE UPC PRODUCTION CODE BEST IF USED BY DATE POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTION STATES
Marketside Organic Spring Mix 5 oz. 6 8113132897 5 G089B19 APR 14 2017 AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, VA,