[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39467-39468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19146]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[AZ-050-06-1220-00-1610-00]
Arizona: Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment
(Yuma Desert) and Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan
Amendment/Environmental Assessment and Invitation to Participate in the
Identification of Issues; Yuma District, AZ.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management, Yuma District (BLM), is
preparing an Amendment/Environmental Assessment to the Yuma District
and Lower Gila South (Goldwater Amendment) Resource Management Plans
(RMP). The Goldwater Amendment established the 84,500-acre Yuma Desert
and Sand Dunes Habitat Management Area and the 25,500-acre Gran
Desierto Dunes Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC),
emphasizing protection and enhancement of flat-tailed horned lizard
habitat and a unique dune system. The proposed Amendment would expand
these boundaries to form the Yuma Desert Management Area, modify and
expand management prescriptions throughout the management area,
designate a utility corridor between Interstate 8 and the Southerly
International Boundary, and establish a mitigation and compensation
policy within flat-tailed horned lizard habitat in Yuma District.
DATES: Written comments related to the identification of issues will be
accepted until August 28, 1996. Due to the noncontroversial nature of
the proposal, no public meetings are scheduled.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Bureau of Land Management, Yuma District
Office, Attention: Brenda Smith, 2555 East Gila Ridge Road, Yuma,
Arizona 85365.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Smith, Renewable Resources
Advisor, Yuma District Office, Yuma, Arizona. Telephone (520) 317-3216.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BLM has been working with U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) and several other agencies to develop a
conservation agreement to alleviate threats to the flat-tailed horned
lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii), a species proposed for listing as
threatened under the Endangered Species Act. As part of the management
strategy for this species, these agencies have proposed establishing a
management area for the flat-tailed horned lizard in the Yuma Desert,
Yuma
[[Page 39468]]
County, Arizona. BLM currently administers a portion of this management
area as the Yuma Desert and Sand Dunes Habitat Management Area and the
Gran Desierto Dunes ACEC. BLM proposes to expand the Yuma Desert and
Sand Dunes Habitat Management Area to include the remaining flat-tailed
horned lizard habitat within the Barry M. Goldwater Range, Yuma County,
Arizona.
Existing management prescriptions for the Yuma Desert and Sand
Dunes Habitat Management Area and Gran Desierto Dunes ACEC would be
modified to further limit surface disturbances within the expanded
management area. These modifications would exclude Federally-owned
lands within the management area from disposal, place additional limits
on land-use authorizations and camping within the area, prohibit
commercial collection or sales of native plant products, prescribe fire
suppression methods, and limit other discretionary actions that may
result in loss or degradation of flat-tailed horned lizard habitat.
There is no designated utility corridor between Interstate 8 and
the Southerly International Boundary in Yuma County. The Amendment
would designate one right-of-way corridor and limit new utilities and
roads to this corridor.
In addition, the amendment would establish a policy for mitigating
and compensating for impacts to flat-tailed horned lizards from
projects within flat-tailed horned lizard habitat. Mitigation and
compensation would be applied both within and outside of the Yuma
Desert and Sand Dunes Habitat Management Area.
Possible adverse socioeconomic impacts to Yuma County government
and private entities may result from increased costs associated with
development activities on Federal lands. Lands within the management
area would not be available for lease or disposal. Possible benefits
would be alleviation of threats to the flat-tailed horned lizard in
this area and conservation of the species and its habitat.
Complete records of all phases of the planning process will be
available for public review at the Yuma District Office, 2555 East Gila
Ridge Road, Yuma, Arizona.
This notice is published under the authority found in 43 CFR
1610.2(c).
Dated: July 23, 1996
David Daniels,
Surface Protection Specialist/Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-19146 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M
