[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 141 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 45361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18561]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Barry M. Goldwater Range Integrated Natural Resources 
Management Plan

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, DoD.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500 to 1508), the 
Departments of the Air Force and Navy, in partnership with the 
Department of the Interior and the State of Arizona (Arizona Game and 
Fish Department), intend to prepare an EIS to evaluate the 
environmental effects of the implementation of the Integrated Natural 
Resources Management Plan being prepared for the Barry M. Goldwater 
Range.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than August 28, 2000 to 
ensure full consideration in the EIS.

ADDRESSES: See Supplementary Information section for meeting addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luke Air Force Base, 56 FW/RMO, 6605 
North 140th Drive, Luke AFB, AZ 85309-1934 (Attn: Mr. Bob Barry, 
telephone 623-856-3823, extension 242); Marine Corps Air Station Yuma 
at Range Management Department, Box 99160, Yuma, AZ 85369-9160 (Attn: 
Mr. Ron Pearce, telephone 520-341-3401); Bureau of Land Management at 
Phoenix Field Office, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, AZ 85027 
(Attn: Mr. Gene Dahlem, telephone 623-580-5525); or Arizona Game and 
Fish Department, 2221 W. Greenway Road WM-HB, Phoenix, AZ 85023-4312 
(Attn: Mr. John Kennedy, telephone 602-789-3602).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Barry M. Goldwater Range, located in 
southwestern Arizona, was rewithdrawn from the public domain for 
military training purposes under the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 
1999 (Public Law 106-65). In compliance with this Act, the Air Force 
and Marine Corps, in partnership with the Department of the Interior 
and the State of Arizona (Arizona Game and Fish Department), will 
manage the natural resources present on the Range in accordance with 
the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670).
    Accordingly, the Air Force and Marine Corps, in partnership with 
the Department of Interior and the State of Arizona (Arizona Game and 
Fish Department), are preparing and will implement an Integrated 
Natural Resources Management Plan for the Goldwater Range. Pursuant to 
the requirements of Public Law 106-65 and the Sikes Act, this Plan will 
provide for: (1) Management of natural and cultural resources present 
on the Range in support of the requirements of the military mission, 
(2) sustainable public use to the extent that use is compatible with 
military activities and natural and cultural resource compliance 
requirements, (3) compliance with laws protecting sensitive biological 
and cultural resources, including endangered species management, and 
(4) participation in local initiatives to advance regional biodiversity 
goals. The EIS, which is being prepared concurrently with the 
Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan, will evaluate the 
environmental effects of the management alternatives proposed in the 
Plan. Given the military purposes of the Range and the safety and 
security requirements associated with those purposes, the alternatives 
to be studied will focus on the protection, conservation, and 
management of resources and public use opportunities to the extent 
possible while not jeopardizing the military purposes of the Range.
    Environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS include but are not 
limited to earth, biological, cultural, water, and visual resources; 
regional biological diversity management; wildlife management; 
threatened and endangered species; air quality; noise; land use 
compatibility; socioeconomics; recreation; environmental justice; and 
public health and safety.
    The Air Force and Marine Corps, in partnership with the Department 
of the Interior and the State of Arizona (Arizona Game and Fish 
Department), are initiating a scoping process to determine the extent 
of issues to be addressed and identify the significant issues related 
to this action. Scoping meetings will be held in six southern Arizona 
communities, as indicated in the Meetings section below. Each meeting 
will begin with an open house at which the public may review maps and 
other displays. At each meeting location, the open house will be 
followed by a formal presentation beginning at 7:00 p.m. These meetings 
also will be advertised in area newspapers. A Tohono O'odham translator 
will be available at the meeting in Sells, AZ.
    Air Force, Marine Corps, Department of the Interior, and State of 
Arizona representatives will be available at these meetings to receive 
comments from the public regarding issues of concern to the public. 
Federal, state and local agencies, any affected Native American tribes, 
and interested individuals are encouraged to take this opportunity to 
identify environmental concerns that should be addressed during the 
preparation of the EIS. Agencies and the public are also invited and 
encouraged to provide written comment on issues that are important to 
them in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the public 
meeting. To be most helpful, comments should clearly describe specific 
issues or topics, which the commentor believes the EIS should address. 
Written statements and or questions regarding the Integrated Natural 
Resources Management Plan and associated EIS should be mailed to BMGR 
INRMP, P.O. Box 67132, Phoenix, AZ 85082-7132.

Meetings

    Public scoping meetings will be held:
    1. Monday, August 7, 2000, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Glendale Adult Center 
Palo Verde Building, 7121 North 57th Avenue, Glendale, AZ.
    2. Tuesday, August 8, 2000, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Ajo Community 
Center, 290 East 5th Street, Ajo, AZ.
    3. Wednesday, August 9, 2000, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., El Rio Center, 
1390 West Speedway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ.
    4. Thursday, August 10, 2000, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Kofa High School, 
3100 Avenue A, Yuma, AZ.
    5. Friday, August 11, 2000, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Gila Bend Union High 
School, 308 North Martin, Gila Bend, AZ.
    6. Tuesday, August 15, 2000, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tribal Council 
Chambers, Sells, AZ.

Janet A. Long,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-18561 Filed 7-20-00; 8:45 am]
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