[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23201]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-020-00-4333-04; AZA-25486, 25487, 25489, 25490]

 

Notice of Availability of Draft Wilderness Management Plan and 
Environmental Assessment; Notice of Public Comment Period; Notice of 
Public Meetings

AGENCY: Lower Gila Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: The Draft Maricopa Complex Wilderness Management Plan and 
Environmental Assessment is available for public review and comment. 
Two open public meetings will be held to facilitate and record public 
comment. Written comments will also be accepted through November 2, 
1994.

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SUMMARY: (1) Scope of Proposed Action and Alternatives: The draft plan 
covers the management of four Wilderness Areas: the Sierra Estrella, 
the North Maricopa Mountains, South Maricopa Mountains and the Table 
Top for a period of ten years. The environmental assessment document 
describes the impacts of the proposed action and three alternatives.
    (2) Geographic Areas Involved: Four separate wilderness areas, 
totaling 173,000 acres in the Lower Sonoran Desert of Southwestern 
Arizona, southern Maricopa and western Pinal Counties, within a 45 mile 
radius of Gila Bend, Arizona and 12 to 45 miles south of the 
metropolitan Phoenix. Other towns in the vicinity are Maricopa, 
Stanfield, Casa Grande, Avondale and Buckeye, Arizona.
    (3) Summary of Proposed Actions: Seventy nine miles of former 
vehicle ways reclaimed; 16 miles converted to pedestrian and/or 
equestrian trails. Four access routes shortened. Seventeen vehicle 
barriers constructed. Four new trails and seven trailheads established 
and two existing trails and trailheads improved and maintained. Signs, 
enlarged parking areas, and minimal camping facilities provided at some 
trailheads. Two vehicle safety shoulders created along Interstate 8. 
Trail and human encounter standards adopted, maps and other information 
provided. Commercial recreation outfitters and guides permitted. Six 
wildlife water catchments and associated fencing modified, and along 
with two others, maintained. One new pump installed in a wildlife water 
well. Transplants of desert bighorn sheep and aircraft telemetry 
following allowed. Installation of new wildlife catchments to be 
evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Animal damage control allowed. Five 
earthen livestock water tanks abandoned. Thirteen livestock control 
fences maintained. Coordination with multi-jurisdictional law 
enforcement and search and rescue agencies and organizations improved. 
Five thousand seven hundred and sixty acres of State of Arizona surface 
and subsurface inholdings acquired plus some access easements. New 
grazing standards established. All wildfire suppressed but related 
activities restricted. Reduction in low-level civilian aircraft flights 
encouraged. Twenty nine instances of motorized/mechanized use allowed 
annually over 9 years dropping to 18 per year thereafter, to: maintain 
8 livestock fences, modify 6 wildlife catchments, maintain and haul 
water to these and two other catchments, respond to life-threatening 
emergencies, rescue sick livestock, pursue felons or major game 
violators, and census or track wildlife. Response actions if monitoring 
standards are exceeded are identified.
    (4) Proposed Restrictions: No campfires, charcoal fires, wood 
gathering or wood cutting, and other surface disturbances. Pets 
prohibited on one trail; horses on another. No camping within 200 feet 
or sight of the established trails, five day camping limit of stay at 
trailheads. Some pack stock activity restrictions.
    (5) Summary of Alternatives: A visitor use and wildlife enhancement 
alternative with additional hiking and/or riding trails and wildlife 
developments; a naturalness enhancement alternative without maintained 
trails, with most developments removed, and 10 instances of low level 
aircraft use occurring yearly for wildlife census; and a no action 
alternative maintaining the status quo.
    (6) Kind and Extent of Public Involvement Provided: Two open public 
meetings will be held to record comments on the draft proposals. These 
will be held in Gila Bend and Phoenix, Arizona at the following times 
and locations:
    Wednesday, September 28, 1994, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Gila Bend Community 
Center, 202 Euclid Ave., Gila Bend, Arizona.
    Monday, October 3, 1994, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Phoenix District Office, 
Bureau of Land Management, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, 
Arizona.
    Written comments on the draft plan and environmental assessment 
will be accepted through November 2, 1994. Comments should be sent to 
the address identified below. Comments received at that address, which 
are postmarked on or before November 2, 1994, will be considered in the 
development of the final plan.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft plan and environmental assessment are 
available by contacting the Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix 
District, Lower Gila Resource Area, 2015 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, 
Arizona, 85027. Written comments regarding these documents should be 
mailed to this address. Address your written request to the attention 
of John Jamrog. Requests for the document may also be made by phoning 
the Phoenix District Office at (602) 780-8090.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Jamrog, Bureau of Land 
Management, Phoenix District, Lower Gila Resource Area, Telephone 602-
780-8090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These four areas were added to the 
Wilderness Preservation System by Public Law 101-628, of November 28, 
1990, known as the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990. The 
management and use of these areas is directed by this law, the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Wilderness Act of 1964. 
All four areas share similar natural characteristics and generally are 
subject to the same type and amounts of uses.

    Dated: September 14, 1994.
William T. Childress,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-23201 Filed 9-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M