[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27949]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[AZ-026-5-1610-00]
Draft Amendment and Environmental Assessment to Lower Gila North
and Lower Gila South Planning Documents, Phoenix District, Arizona
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Lower Gila Resource Area, Phoenix District, has prepared a
draft amendment and environmental assessment to its Lower Gila North
Management Framework Plan and Lower Gila South Resource Management Plan
for public review and comment. This is in compliance with sections 202
and 210 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 CFR 1600) and
the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1500).
The amendment/environmental assessment proposes to resolve issues
concerning land tenure adjustment, desert tortoise habitat management,
desert bighorn sheep augmentation and reestablishment, wild horse and
burro management, recreation management, and oil and gas development.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed actions include:
Land Tenure Adjustment
Identifying approximately 45,260 acres of public land for
disposal.
Identifying five management areas in which private lands
with public and resource values may be acquired on a willing seller-
willing buyer basis.
Desert Tortoise Habitat Management
Managing habitat to assure that populations of the desert
tortoise do not become threatened or endangered through Bureau of Land
Management actions.
Addressing at the activity planning level specific and
quantifiable objectives for categorized habitat.
Addressing in environmental decision documents mitigation
measures to offset loss of category I and II tortoise habitats.
Granting new land use authorizations in category I and II
habitats only if no reasonable alternative exists, and evaluating
mitigation, including compensation, to meet the no net loss goal.
Prohibiting new off-highway vehicle competitive courses in
category I and II habitats, and evaluating proposals for new off-
highway vehicle competitive courses in category III habitat and
mitigating the impacts.
Considering the forage needs of desert tortoise in
relation to livestock use and determining and prioritizing efforts to
resolve conflicts.
Allowing only those range improvements for livestock that
will not conflict with category I and II habitats or populations.
Allowing only those desert bighorn sheep augmentations and
reestablishments that do not create conflicts with desert tortoise
habitat or populations.
Restricting sales of ornamental boulders to areas that
will result in no net loss of habitat.
Desert Bighorn Sheep Augmentation and Reestablishment
Considering augmentations and reestablishments of desert
bighorn sheep on a case-by-case basis with the appropriate National
Environmental Policy Act consideration of conflicts and requirement for
public participation.
Wild Horse and Burro Management
Managing the Alamo Herd Management Area, Harquahala and
Painted Rock herd areas, and the Little Harquahala herd area in the
Yuma Resource Area, as self-sustaining populations which contain the
optimum number of wild burros in a thriving natural ecological balance
with other ecosystem components.
Recreation Management
Designating all public lands described in the Lower Gila
North and South planning documents as ``limited'', which will limit
off-highway vehicle use to existing and/or designated roads, trails,
and traditional or historically used vehicle routes (wildernesses will
remain closed); this includes those lands transferred to the Phoenix,
Havasu, and Yuma Resource Areas.
Changing the off-highway vehicle designation in the Vekol
Valley Grassland Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the
Coffeepot Botanical Area of Critical Environmental Concern from
``closed'' to ``limited to designated routes only''.
Planning and developing off-highway vehicle management
plans.
Permitting ultralight and hang glider launches and
landings in designated areas.
Establishing long-term, extended, and short-term camping
areas, and maintaining the existing 14-day camping stay limit for lands
outside of established camping areas and wildernesses.
Planning and developing special use areas (rockhounding,
climbing, shooting, etc.) through interdisciplinary planning.
Establishing and planning the Vulture Mountains, Gila
Trail, Saddle Mountain, and Ajo Special Recreation Management Areas,
and revising plans for two special recreation management areas on the
Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range; and developing in these areas and
the remaining extensive management area, where appropriate, the
activities mentioned above plus activities such as hiking, horseback
riding, mountain biking, and scenic, cultural, and wildlife viewing.
Oil and Gas Development
Permitting an estimated twenty oil and gas leases and the
drilling of up to ten wells subject to the standard lease and special
stipulations to mitigate resource impacts.
DATES: The sixty day comment period ends January 23, 1995. Comments
received after this date may be considered but will not be included in
the comments reproduced in the final document.
During this comment period in December and January, open houses
will be held in Wickenburg, Phoenix, Buckeye, Gila Bend, Ajo, and
Tucson. Dates and locations will be announced through the media and in
direct mailing to our mailing list. Open houses or meetings in other
places will be held as requested.
ADDRESSES: A limited number of draft amendments are available from the
Lower Gila Resource Area, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona,
85027.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Laver, Team Leader, at (602)
780-8090.
Dated: November 4, 1994.
David J. Miller,
Associate District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-27949 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P
