[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