[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 119 (Friday, June 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33674-33675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16282]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AZA-28350]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Plan Amendment to the Phoenix and 
Safford District Resource Management Plans Combined With an 
Environmental Impact Statement Analyzing the Impacts of the Proposed 
Exchange of Approximately 10,336 Acres of Public Land Near Kearny, 
Arizona and 640 Acres of Federal Mineral Estate Near Casa Grande, 
Arizona for Private Lands of Equal Appraised Value in Central and 
Western Arizona

agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

action: Notice of intent.

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summary: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be directing the 
preparation of a combined plan amendment and an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for the exchange of public lands near Kearny and Casa 
Grande, Arizona for private lands of equal value (approximately 8,994 
acres) in central and western Arizona. The plan amendment/EIS will 
consider amending the Phoenix and Safford District Resource Management 
Plans under BLM planning regulations (43 CFR part 1600) for the purpose 
of exchanging public lands pursuant to Section 206 of the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1617) as amended. The 
exchange has been proposed by ASARCO Incorporated to support mining 
operations and mineral development.
    1. Description of the proposed planning action: In response to an 
exchange proposal, the plan amendment will consider amending the 
Phoenix and Safford District Resource Management Plans, specifically 
considering whether to change the land tenure decision for 10,336 acres 
from retention and management as public lands to disposal by exchange.
    2. Identification of the geographic areas involved: The plan 
amendment involves 10,336 acres near Kearny, Arizona, most situated 
within the White Canyon Resource Conservation Area currently managed by 
the BLM Phoenix Field Office. The proposed land exchange involves these 
same acres plus 640 acres near Casa Grande for a total of 10,976 acres.
    3. Alternatives to be analyzed: At a minimum, the no action 
alternative and an alternative that considers the proposed action will 
be analyzed.
    4. General types of issues anticipated: The planning area and 
proposed land exchange involves issues related to the natural and 
cultural values and uses of the public lands in question. Issues to be 
fully analyzed involve impacts on water resources, native vegetation, 
wilderness, riparian areas, wildlife, recreation, socioeconomics, 
public access, grazing allotments, county tax base, minerals, and 
cultural resources.
    5. Disciplines to be represented and used to prepare the 
environmental impact statement: Hydrology, biology, botany, wildlife, 
recreation, realty, range, socioeconomics, geology, and archaeology.
    6. The kind and extent of public participation: Public open houses 
scoping meetings will be held at: Kearny Open House, July 21, 1997 4 to 
8 p.m., Constitution Hall (Senior Citizen Center), 912 East Tilbury 
Drive, Kearny, Arizona (520-363-5547); Mesa Open House, July 22, 1997 4 
to 8 p.m., Mesa Community Center, Rendezvous Center, 201 North Center 
Street, Mesa, Arizona (602-644-2178); Kingman Open House, July 23, 1997 
4 to 8 p.m., Council Chambers, City of Kingman Council Building, 310 
North 4th Street, Kingman, Arizona (520-753-8102).

dates: Public comments may be submitted during the public meeting or in 
writing to the address below. Public

[[Page 33675]]

comments will be accepted if postmarked by August 4, 1997.

addresses: Written comments concerning the plan amendment/EIS should be 
submitted to Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Shela McFarlin, Project 
Manager, Arizona State Office (AZ-917), 222 N. Central, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85004.

for further information contact; Shela McFarlin, at the above address, 
phone (602) 417-9568.

supplementary information: Federal (public) lands (in Pinal and Gila 
counties) being analyzed for exchange include federal mineral estate 
(2,780 acres) and federal surface and mineral estate (8,196 acres). 
Most of these parcels surround the Ray Mine and Hayden Complex operated 
by ASARCO Incorporated; or, these consist of future prospects for 
mineral development, including 640 acres near Casa Grande. The non-
federal lands to be offered to the BLM include high resource values 
such as: wilderness inholdings or areas adjacent to the Mt. Tipton and 
New Water Wilderness, hydroriparian zone along the Gila River, desert 
tortoise category I and II habitat, and checkerboard inholdings within 
the McCracken Area of Critical Environmental concern. These parcels are 
located within Mohave (mainly), Gila and LaPaz counties.
    The plan amendment/EIS will be developed by a third party 
contractor approved by the BLM. The contractor will use an 
interdisciplinary team to develop the document. The BLM will have the 
responsibility for the review of the plan amendment/EIS.
    Complete records of all phases of the environmental documentation 
process will be available for public review at the BLM, Phoenix field 
Office, 2015 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85027, and at the 
BLM, Arizona State Office, 222 N. Central, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.

    Dated: June 17, 1997.
Ken R. Drew,
Program Manager, Phoenix Field Office.
[FR Doc. 97-16282 Filed 6-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M