Category Archives: National Government

Kaibab National Forest seeks public input on grassland restoration project

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forest-image004WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is seeking comments on a proposed grassland restoration project on the forest’s Williams and Tusayan ranger districts that would restore the structure and function of grasslands and woodland areas by reducing tree densities, reestablishing natural fire regimes, and promoting grassland-associated wildlife species.

The detailed proposal and associated documents, including maps, are available on the Kaibab National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44132. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit comments during the 30-day scoping period, which will run from March 24 to April 22.

Comments may be written, hand-delivered, oral, or electronically-delivered. Hand-delivered comments can be submitted to the Williams Ranger District office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, at 742 S. Clover Rd., Williams, AZ 86046, or to the Tusayan Ranger District office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, at 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023.

Comments may also be submitted via electronic mail to comments-southwestern-kaibab-williams@fs.fed.us. Please include “South Zone Grassland Restoration Project” in the subject line of the email.

The Southwestern landscape, including the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab, has been greatly altered over the past century by the encroachment of woody plants, particularly juniper, pinyon, and ponderosa pine, into areas that were formerly grasslands and open pinyon-juniper woodlands.

Many factors have played a role in this transition, including historical livestock grazing, fire suppression, changes in wildlife populations, and climate change. These factors have eliminated the vegetation necessary to carry low intensity surface fires across the landscape, thereby altering the natural fire regimes and allowing uncharacteristic forest succession to take place. Encroachment can alter water and nutrient cycling, impact soil integrity, and negatively impact wildlife habitat.

Forest managers are seeking to reduce this encroachment and move toward desired conditions by thinning conifer trees, conducting prescribed burns and implementing associated actions on a broad scale across the two southern districts of the Kaibab National Forest.

“Grasslands serve an important ecological role and provide habitat for wildlife including birds and mammals,” said Roger Joos, wildlife biologist and project lead. “Functional grasslands are much less abundant than they were historically, which reduces the amount of available habitat for grassland-associated species. Understanding the value of these grasslands and the threats they are facing, we recognize the need to work toward restoring them to healthier conditions.”

Tusayan Ranger District achieves goal of zero human-caused fires

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fire-20141020-1244212014, the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest achieved a longtime goal of zero human-caused wildfires. According to forest wildfire records, the last time the district had zero human fires was in 1965, exactly 50 years ago.

“Over the last three years, we have had a specific, written goal of reducing human-caused wildfires on the district to zero for the entire calendar year,” said Quentin Johnson, fire management officer for the Tusayan Ranger District. “Given that the district receives millions of visitors each year because it is located immediately adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park, we knew this would be an incredible challenge.”

Johnson added that while the district had been averaging about seven human-caused wildfires per year over the last 20 years, there were actually many summers during which 200 or more abandoned campfires had been found and extinguished by district fire personnel before they were declared wildfires.

The district’s success in 2014 was due largely to focused fire prevention efforts beginning almost 15 years ago that have chipped away at the leading cause of human fires on the district – abandoned campfires. Specifically, district fire prevention specialist Bob Blasi worked to gain compliance in dispersed camping areas and issued citations when necessary. With increased early-morning patrols, an extensive signing program, visits to local schools, Smokey Bear presence at local events, and a consistent prevention message for more than a decade, Blasi was able to systematically reduce the number of abandoned campfires and, therefore, the overall number of human-caused wildfires.

“This goal seemed almost impossible,” Blasi said. “Only one careless action by a single person can have a devastating outcome, as we see every year across this country somewhere in the wildlands of America. There were a couple years in the past decade when we only had two or three human-caused fires. It was then I realized that with a little extra effort focused on specific targets with increased fire prevention patrols, it might just be obtainable.”

Besides traditional fire prevention techniques such as patrols and signing, the Tusayan Ranger District has also been a leader in putting fire back on the landscape as frequently and broadly as conditions have allowed. Over the past 12 years, nearly 40 percent of the 327,250-acre Tusayan district has been treated with thinning and fire, which has contributed enormously to reducing human-caused wildfire.

“Because most of the popular camping areas have already been treated with fire at appropriate times of the year, these areas are less likely to catch on fire during the hottest, driest months,” Johnson said. “To truly prevent wildfire, you have to use all of the fire prevention tools available in combination.”

During the 2014 monsoon season alone, the Tusayan Ranger District managed more than 17,000 acres of fire across the landscape in order to improve forest health and reduce the likelihood of future high-severity fires resulting from sources such as abandoned campfires.

“Because of the support of fire managers, Kaibab National Forest leadership, the community and public, we have been able to go beyond just re-introducing fire into the ecosystem, to take it to the next level and demonstrate how when fire is managed responsibly, it becomes an integral part of obtaining desired forest health,” Blasi said. “This is the proof in the pudding. The more fire treatments we are able to successfully implement, the better chance we have of reducing and ultimately eliminating unwanted human-caused fire in our part of the forest.”

While focused fire prevention efforts have decreased the number of abandoned campfires in the Tusayan area, the challenge of eliminating all human-caused fires will continue. Each fire season brings a unique set of challenges including millions of new visitors to a popular tourist destination.

“If I were to designate one goal for the future, it would be that this record never last 50 years again,” Blasi said. “Eliminating human-caused fires is attainable through education, prevention and good stewardship.”

Kraft Foods Group Voluntarily Recalls Select Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinners Due to Possible Metal Pieces

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ucm438726NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kraft Foods Group is voluntarily recalling approximately 242,000 cases of select code dates and manufacturing codes of the Original flavor of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner – due to the possibility that some boxes may contain small pieces of metal. The recalled product is limited to the 7.25-oz. size of the Original flavor of boxed dinner with the “Best When Used By” dates of September 18, 2015 through October 11, 2015, with the code “C2” directly below the date on each individual box. The “C2” refers to a specific production line on which the affected product was made.

Some of these products have also been packed in multi-pack units that have a range of different code dates and manufacturing codes on the external packaging (box or shrink-wrap), depending on the package configuration (see table below).

Recalled product was shipped to customers in the U.S. and several other countries, excluding Canada. The affected dates of this product were sold in only these four configurations:

  • 7.25 oz. box, Original flavor
  • 3-pack box of those 7.25 oz. boxes, Original flavor
  • 4-pack shrink-wrap of those 7.25 oz. boxes, Original flavor
  • 5-pack shrink-wrap of those 7.25 oz. boxes, Original flavor

The following is being recalled:

Product Size Name of Product Sell Unit Best When Used By Code Date & Mfr. Code Individual Box Best When Used By Code Date & Mfr. Code Individual Box UPC Multi-Pack Unit UPC
7.25 oz. each Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinner
Original Flavor		 NA 18 SEP 2015 C2
through
11 OCT 2015 C2		 0 21000 65883 1 NA
3-Pack Box
(Three 7.25 oz. Boxes)
Net Wt. 21.75 oz.		 3-Pack Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinner
Original Flavor		 09 SEP 2015 XDG
27 SEP 2015 XDG
01 OCT 2015 XDG
02 OCT 2015 XDG
03 OCT 2015 XDG
20 NOV 2015 XDG		 18 SEP 2015 C2
through
11 OCT 2015 C2		 0 21000 65883 1 0 21000 05076 5
4-Pack
Shrink–wrap
(Four 7.25 oz. Boxes)
Net Wt. 29 oz.		 4-Pack Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinner
Original Flavor		 18 SEP 2015 C2
19 SEP 2015 C2
08 OCT 2015 C2		 18 SEP 2015 C2
through
11 OCT 2015 C2		 0 21000 65883 1 0 21000 72540 3
5-Pack
Shrink-wrap
(Five 7.25 oz. Boxes)
Net Wt. 36.25 oz.		 5-Pack Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Boxed Dinner
Original Flavor		 18 SEP 2015
through
11 OCT 2015
XAR or C2		 18 SEP 2015 C2
through
11 OCT 2015 C2		 0 21000 65883 1 0 21000 77436 4

No other sizes, varieties or pasta shapes and no other packaging configurations are included in this recall. And no products with manufacturing codes other than “C2” below the code date on the individual box are included in this recall.

Kraft has received eight consumer contacts about this product from the impacted line within this range of code dates and no injuries have been reported. We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed.

The recalled product was shipped by Kraft to customers nationwide in the U.S. The product was also distributed to Puerto Rico and some Caribbean and South American countries — but not to Canada.

Consumers who purchased this product should not eat it. They should return it to the store where purchased for an exchange or full refund. Consumers also can contact Kraft Foods Consumer Relations at 1-800-816-9432 between 9 am and 6 pm (Eastern) for a full refund.

National Park Service Sitting On Half-A-Billion Dollars Of Concessions Obligations

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640-gc-eltovarAcross the National Park System, there is an estimated half-a-billion-dollars of obligations owed concessionaires who run lodges, restaurants, and even some activities, for the National Park Service.

It’s a sum that, while Park Service officials say is manageable, has seemingly stifled concessions competition in some parks and led the agency to divert tens of millions of dollars from some parks to others to reduce the debts.

At Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, the outstanding amount is more than $57 million. At Glacier National Park in Montana, it’s $22 million. At Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, it’s nearly $100 million. At Yellowstone National Park, the sum is $21.5 million.

Read more at National Parks Traveler

Frontier Co-op Initiates Voluntary Class 1 Recall Due to Possible Health Risk from Organic Garlic Powder

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recall-3Frontier Co-op is voluntarily recalling several of its products manufactured with organic garlic powder that were sold under its Frontier and Simply Organic brands, and one product sold under the Whole Foods Market brand due to potential Salmonella contamination. To date, no illnesses have been associated with these products.

The product in question was raw material received by Frontier, which tested positive for Salmonella during a test by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Given that Salmonella may be present, Frontier is immediately initiating this recall.

Frontier Co-op is immediately initiating added precautions to the safety of the supply chain and instituting additional product testing, beyond FDA guidelines, to mitigate any future occurrence.

Consumption of products containing Salmonella 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, 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, endocarditic and arthritis.

Recalled products were sold in all 50 states and in some parts of Canada to distributors, retailers and consumers. Below the release is a list of products containing the organic garlic powder. Images of the affected products can be viewed at the following link: http://www.frontiercoop.com/recalldisclaimer icon.

On foil bulk packages, the four-digit lot code will be found on the front label directly above the UPC code. On bottled items, the four-digit lot code can be found on the bottom of the bottle. On seasoning mixes, the four-digit lot code is embossed on the right side of the packet.

Consumers should not consume these products and should either throw away any remaining products or return to the point of purchase for a refund.

Please contact Frontier Co-op with any questions or to inquire about replacement or reimbursement at 1- 800-669-3275 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central time.
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Primal Pet Foods Voluntarily Recalls A Single Lot of Raw Frozen Cat Food

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300-PrimalPrimal Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling a single batch production code of Feline Turkey Raw Frozen Formula 3-pound bag. FDA tested product in response to a single consumer complaint. Primal Pet Foods was alerted by FDA that the testing of two bags of this lot resulted in a low thiamine level. Neither FDA nor Primal have received any other reports concerning Thiamine in Primal products. No other product manufactured by Primal Pet Foods is involved in this voluntary recall.

Cats fed only diets low in thiamine for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurologic signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. If your cat has consumed the recalled lot and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.

Only the product with the following Best By date and production code is included in the voluntary recall. It is best to check the production code on the back of the bag to determine if the product has been recalled or not.

The lot involved in this voluntary recall is:

Primal Pet Foods Feline Turkey Raw Frozen Formula 3-pound bag (UPC# 8 50334-00414 0) with Best By date 060815 B22

Primal takes very seriously, the need for adequate Thiamine levels in our feline diets. We include Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder as a natural B-Complex supplement to ensure that adequate levels of Thiamine are met. Additionally, Thiamine occurs naturally in other ingredients contained in our Feline Turkey Formula such as: Turkey Muscle Meat (including heart), Turkey Liver, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Dried Organic Kelp, Organic Collard Greens and Organic Squash.

Consumers who still have bags of cat food from this lot should stop feeding it to their cats and call us at (866) 566-4652 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm PST. Consumers with further questions should visit our website at www.primalpetfoods.com or call us at this same number.

Kaibab National Forest Seeks Public Input on Project Proposal

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forest-image004FREDONIA— The Kaibab National Forest is seeking comments from the public on its proposal to implement vegetation management treatments in the Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project area within 28,060 acres of the North Kaibab Ranger District.

The proposed Burnt Corral project, which lies within the southwest portion of the Kaibab Plateau, will improve forest health and vigor while enhancing habitat conditions by making them more resilient to change in the event of wildfire or other climatic condition changes such as drought.  The proposed project calls for mechanical thinning as well as the use of prescribed fire.

The public scoping letter and packet, which contains detailed information about the proposed project activities, was mailed out to the public and stakeholders yesterday. The scoping packet may be obtained electronically from the Kaibab National Forest website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=44236.

Participation of interested persons, state and local governments, and Native American tribes in the development of the Burnt Corral project is encouraged now and throughout the National Environmental Policy Act process. Public scoping and gathering public comments on the project’s Proposed Action is just the first step under the NEPA process.

Specific comments on this project will be accepted during the 30-day public review and comment period. Comments can be submitted electronically via fax or e-mail, or can be mailed or hand-delivered to the district office at 430 South Main Street in Fredonia on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information about the Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project, please contact:

Garry Domis (NKRD Silviculturist – Project Lead)
U.S. Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest – North Kaibab Ranger District
430 S. Main Street, P.O. Box 248
Fredonia, AZ, 86022
(928) 643-8140

ATF withdraws greentip ammunition ban

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640-green-tipThe BATFE has apparently withdrawn its proposal for what some call back door gun control. At least for now.

The BATFE issued a ban on the sale of M855 “Green Tip” ammunition which proponents of the ban say will be used to kill police. The ammo and weapon has not been shown to have killed any police officer to date. After a record number of comments and pressure from Congress, the BATFE issued a short statement today which read:

Thank you for your interest in ATF’s proposed framework for determining whether certain projectiles are “primarily intended for sporting purposes” within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(C). The informal comment period will close on Monday, March 16, 2015. ATF has already received more than 80,000 comments, which will be made publicly available as soon as practicable.

Although ATF endeavored to create a proposal that reflected a good faith interpretation of the law and balanced the interests of law enforcement, industry, and sportsmen, the vast majority of the comments received to date are critical of the framework, and include issues that deserve further study. Accordingly, ATF will not at this time seek to issue a final framework. After the close of the comment period, ATF will process the comments received, further evaluate the issues raised therein, and provide additional open and transparent process (for example, through additional proposals and opportunities for comment) before proceeding with any framework.

The ban was proposed allegedly to protect police officers from armor piercing bullets. This is the same administration who made every effort to condemn a police officer who was protecting his life in Ferguson, Missouri.


EXCLUSIVE: Common AR-15 Green Tip Ammunition Already Banned in New ATF Regulation Guide

Urgent: El Popocatepetl Ind., Inc. issues an allergy alert on Sundried Tomato, Spinach Pesto, and Chipotle Wraps

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wraps-1

El Popocatepetl Ind., Inc. of Chicago, Illinois is voluntarily recalling El Popocatepetl’s 8 in. Chipotle, Spinach Pesto, and Sun Dried Tomato Wraps because they may contain undeclared milk and Yellow #5. People who have allergies to milk and/or Yellow #5 run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

El Popocatepetl’s 8in. Flavored Wraps were distributed in the state of Illinois, primarily in the Chicago area.

The information on how the recalled products can be identified is listed below:

Product Name: 8in. Sundried Tomato
Brand Name: El Popocatepetl
Description: 8in. Tomato Flavored Wrap
UPC: 0 20784 99505 7
Any Product with the Best By Date of
April 1, 2015 and Before.
Product Name: 8in. Spinach Pest
Brand Name: El Popocatepetl
Description: 8in. Spinach Flavored Wrap
UPC: 0 20784 58314 8
Any Product with the Best By Date of
April 1, 2015 and Before.
Product Name: 8in. Chipotle
Brand Name: El Popocatepetl
Description: 8in. Chipotle Flavored Wrap
UPC: 0 20784 78248 0
Any Product with the Best By Date of
April 1, 2015 and Before.

The recall was initiated during a review of the product ingredients and the labeled ingredients revealed milk and Yellow #5 was present in an ingredient used to make the flavored wraps but not listed as ingredients on the labels. No Illnesses have been reported to date.

All recalled products are being removed from the store shelves. No other El Popocatepetl products are involved in this recall.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled product can return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the Company Consumer Department at 773-843-0888.

Hummingbird Wholesale Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter

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hummingbird-1WASHINGTON — Hummingbird Wholesale in Eugene Oregon is recalling 110 jars of Hummingbird Brand Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter that may contain undeclared milk. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk products run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled product sold to retail outlets in California, Oregon, and Washington and directly to consumers in Oregon in 1 pound (454 gram) glass jars that show lot number of 15023 on a white sticker on the jar between the dates of 1/27/15 and 2/19/15.

HW Item # Lot # UPC Code
N270 15023 6-96859-11035-1

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a supplier had changed the ingredients without notice to include milk in the 65% dark chocolate used to make the Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter. The label does not show milk as an ingredient. Only lot # 15023 was made with the affected chocolate.

Consumers who purchased this product are welcome to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, or to contact Hummingbird at 541-686-0921 ext. 105 from 8am to 4pm PST Monday through Friday.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Hummingbird Wholesale has taken immediate action to recall the affected Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter in order to ensure the safety of its consumers.

Hummingbird Wholesale is dedicated to providing the highest quality organic and raw products, and the safety of our customers is our number one priority.