[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