[Federal Register: September 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 170)]
[Notices]
[Page 52437-52438]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02se05-96]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AZ 422-1610-DO-090A-241E]
Notice of Intent To Prepare the San Pedro Riparian National
Conservation Area and Tucson Resource Management Plan and Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office, Tucson,
Arizona intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan and Environmental
Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the San Pedro Riparian National
Conservation Area and Tucson planning effort. When approved, the RMP
will replace those portions of the existing Phoenix Resource Management
Plan (1989) and Safford District Resource Management Plan (1992, 1994)
within the Tucson Field Office administrative boundary.
DATES: The scoping period commences with the publication of this notice
and will continue for at least 60 days. Public meetings will be held
approximately late 2005 to early 2006. All public meetings will be
announced through the local media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site
(http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.az.blm.gov) at least 15 days prior to the first meeting
(the Web site availability is subject to change). Public notice will be
provided specifying the date, time, and location that the meetings will
occur and include notification of when the scoping period will close
and when comments are due. Formal opportunities for public
participation will be provided upon publication of the Draft RMP/EIS.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Web Site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.az.blm.gov (subject to change). E-mail: AZ--TucsonRMP@blm.gov.
Fax: (520) 258-7238.
Mail: Tucson Field Office, 12661 East Broadway, Tucson,
Arizona 85748-7208.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Tucson
Field Office upon request. Public comments, including names and street
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at Bureau
of Land Management, 12661 East Broadway, Tucson, Arizona 85748 during
regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday,
except holidays. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If
you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or
from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state
this prominently at the beginning of your comments. Such requests will
be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their
entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Marianito, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, (520) 258-7241, or e-mail
Linda_Marianito@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
Field Office, Tucson, Arizona intends to prepare a Resource Management
Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the San Pedro
Riparian National Conservation Area and Tucson planning effort.
The two planning areas, the San Pedro RNCA and the Tucson Field
[[Page 52438]]
Office, are located in Cochise, Gila, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz
Counties, Arizona. This planning activity encompasses approximately
465,000 acres of public land. The plan will fulfill the needs and
obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management
policies. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to
identify the management decisions that are best suited to local,
regional, and national needs and concerns. Interested governmental
entities will be given the opportunity to request Cooperating Agency
status in the planning process.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and
RMP/EIS alternatives. These issues also guide the planning process.
Comments on issues and planning criteria can be submitted in writing to
the BLM at any public scoping meetings, or they may be mailed to the
BLM at the address listed above.
The changing needs and interests of the public necessitate a
revision to the existing Safford District and Phoenix RMPs for this
area. Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified
by BLM personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and
user groups. The major issue themes that will be addressed in the plan
effort include: (1) Protecting and sustaining cultural and natural
resources; (2) accommodating public demands for resources and providing
for appropriate uses; and, (3) providing direct community services.
After gathering public comments on what issues the plan should address,
the suggested issues will be placed in one of three categories.
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan.
2. Issues resolved through policy or administrative action.
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
In addition to these major issues, a number of management questions
and concerns will be addressed in the plan. The public is encouraged to
help identify these questions and concerns during the scoping phase.
An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the plan in
order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Disciplines involved in the planning process will include
specialists with expertise in rangeland management, minerals and
geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and
fisheries, threatened and endangered species, wilderness, lands and
realty, hydrology, soils, interpretation and education, sociology and
economics.
Joanie Losacco,
Acting Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 05-17505 Filed 9-1-05; 8:45 am]
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