[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32241-32242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15683]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Intent To Amend the Phoenix Resource Management Plan, 
Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, the Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix Field Office, Arizona, 
will be preparing an Environmental Assessment-level plan amendment to 
the Phoenix Resource Management Plan. The plan amendment will assess 
impacts of proposed changes to a land tenure classification decision 
from retention to disposal through exchange of federal lands in Yavapai 
County in central Arizona.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until July 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Field Manager, Bureau of Land 
Management, Phoenix Field Office, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85027.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area will include a public and 
non-public land in Yavapai County in central Arizona, encompassing 480 
acres.
    Selected parcel lies within the Black Canyon Resource Conservation 
Area and is currently identified as a retention parcel. Proposed 
modification to the Phoenix Resource Management Plan will be integrated 
with the proposed E-Z Ranch Exchange, and the impacts thereof will be 
presented in a single Environmental Assessment-level analysis.
    The interdisciplinary team will consist of specialists representing 
wildlife, riparian, cultural resources, hydrology, and lands. 
Specialists with other expertise will be added if needed.

Description of Possible Alternatives

    Reasonable alternatives including the no-action alternative will be 
analyzed in the Environmental Assessment. One alternative will be 
selected as the agency-preferred alternative.

[[Page 32242]]

Anticipated Issues and Criteria

    Some issues expected to be addressed by the plan amendment include 
the following: proposed land tenure adjustments, and proposed 
management of lands and resources acquired by BLM through the proposed 
exchange.
    The following criteria are proposed to guide resolution of the 
issues:
    1. Actions must comply with laws, executive orders, and 
regulations.
    2. Protection of land containing high resource values is given 
priority for acquisition.
    3. Land which is difficult and uneconomical to manage is given 
priority for disposal.
    Criteria for land retention and disposal are discussed in the Draft 
Phoenix Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (p. 3) 
and related documents.

Public Input Requested

    Comments should address: (1) issues to be considered, (2) if the 
planning criteria are adequate for the issues, (3) feasible and 
reasonable alternatives to examine, and (4) relevant information having 
a bearing on the proposed plan amendment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL: William Gibson, phone: (602) 580-5500.

    Dated: June 8, 1998.
James V. Andersen,
Realty Specialist.
[FR Doc. 98-15683 Filed 6-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M