[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