[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 65665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30738]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-040-7122-00-5514; AZA 28789]
Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for
the Morenci Land Exchange, Greenlee County, AZ
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The BLM has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS), analyzing the impacts to the human environment, of a proposed
land exchange with the Phelps Dodge Mining Company, a Division of the
Phelps Dodge Corporation, near Morenci, Arizona. The proposed exchange
involves trading 3,979 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of
Land Management for 1,200 acres of private land owned by the Phelps
Dodge Mining Company. This DEIS (1) assesses the environmental impacts
of the proposed land exchange as described in the Proposed Action, and
the No Action Alternative; (2) determines if there are direct, indirect
and cumulative impacts; and (3) identifies necessary mitigative
measures. This DEIS was prepared to comply with the Council on
Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) for
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 43 U.S.C.
at 1701, The Federal Land Exchange Facilitation Act of 1988, 43 U.S.C.
at 1716 and 1740, and BLM regulations governing land exchanges (43 CFR
parts 2090 and 2200).
DATES: Written comments relating to the DEIS will be accepted until
February 20, 1996. Written or oral comments may also be presented at
the four public open houses to be held:
January 23, 1996--4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Greenlee County Offices, 4th
Street and Leonard Avenue, Clifton, Arizona
January 24, 1996--4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Bureau of Land Management,
Safford District Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona
January 30, 1996--4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Main Public Library, 101
North Stone Avenue, Tucson, Arizona
February 1, 1996--4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Bureau of Land Management,
Arizona State Office (2nd floor conference room) 3707 North 7th Street,
Phoenix, Arizona
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Bureau of Land Management,
Safford District Office, Attention: Scott Evans, Project Manager, 711
14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Public Lands proposed for exchange
include 17 small parcels, under 1 acre, surrounded by private property
and 12 larger parcels, 5 to 2,560 acres, adjacent to the existing
Phelps Dodge Morenci mining operation. Phelps Dodge wishes to acquire
these lands to continue and expand their existing mining operation.
More than 90 percent of the public lands proposed for exchange are
encumbered by mining claims held by Phelps Dodge Corporation and
others. The private lands offered for exchange include high resource
value inholdings within the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation
Area and the Cienega Creek Long-Term Management Area as well as two
parcels adjacent to the Dos Cabezas Mountains Wilderness Area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Evans, Project Manager, Mike
McQueen, NEPA Compliance Officer, at BLM, Safford District Office,
telephone (520) 428-4040 or Tina Lee, Project Manager, at SWCA, Inc.,
telephone (520) 325-9194.
Dated: December 13, 1995.
Frank Rowley,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-30738 Filed 12-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M
