[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14687-14688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7167]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ-030-1610-DH; AZA-31733]


Notice of Realty Action and Intent To Amend the Kingman Resource 
Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of realty action and intent to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) to consider amending the Kingman Resource Management 
Plan (RMP).

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kingman Field Office (KFO) 
proposes to amend the Kingman RMP (1995) to allow for classification 
and disposal of certain public lands (see A below), and special 
designation of certain other public lands (see B below), for use as a 
shooting range and buffer as requested by the Arizona Game & Fish 
Department (AG&FD). A decision to amend the land use plan would 
constitute a proposed classification of the land, thirty (30) days 
after which the land would be classified unless the Secretary exercises 
jurisdiction pursuant to 43 CFR 2450.5. The lands proposed under A--
Shooting Range below are proposed for classification under section 7 of 
the Taylor Grazing Act, 43 U.S.C. 315f and Executive Order No. 6910, 
and disposal under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes 
(R&PP) Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.):

A--Shooting Range

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Mohave County, Arizona

T. 19 N., R. 21 W.,
    Sec. 35, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/
2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/
4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 36, S\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\S\1/
2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\N\1/2\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\NE\1/
4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;

    Containing approximately 315 acres.

    The lands identified under B--Buffer below are being considered 
through the plan amendment process for special designation for 
retention and management under a Cooperative Management Plan/Agreement 
between the AG&FD and the BLM for safety purposes:

B--Buffer

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Mohave County, Arizona

T. 19 N., R. 21 W.,
    Sec. 25, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\N\1/
2\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 26, S\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, E\1/
2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, N\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 36, N\1/2\N\1/2\N\1/2\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\;

    Containing approximately 470 acres.

    Upon publication of this notice, the lands described under ``A'' 
above are hereby segregated from all forms of appropriation under the 
public land laws, including the general mining laws, except for 
conveyance under the R&PP Act. The segregative effect applies to the 
Federal surface but only to the Federally-owned minerals in section 36. 
The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify 
the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and 
national needs and concerns.

DATES: The public is invited to identify issues and concerns to be 
addressed in the EA to be prepared for the potential RMP amendment. 
Submissions should be in writing or by e-mail (see addresses below). 
Comments must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Future public 
involvement activities, opportunities and review/comment periods will 
be announced at least 15 days in advance through other notices, media 
releases, or mailings. A public open house will be held on the Mohave 
Valley Campus of Mohave Community College, Room 210, 3400 Highway 95, 
Bullhead City, Arizona.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the various aspects of this Notice as identified 
in the Supplemental Information should be sent to John R. Christensen, 
Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Kingman Field Office, 2475 
Beverly Avenue, Kingman, Arizona 86401. Comments, including names and 
street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at 
the Kingman Field Office during regular business hours, (7:45 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m.) Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, and may be 
published as part of the EA. Individual respondents may request 
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address 
from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information 
Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written 
comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. 
All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Cook, Realty Specialist, Kingman 
Field Office, 2475 Beverly Avenue, Kingman, Arizona, 86401, telephone 
(928) 692-4428.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Kingman Resource Management Plan (RMP), 
approved in 1995, identified land for R&PP uses, i.e. churches, 
schools, parks, fire departments, etc., with a caveat that non-
conforming uses may be considered on a case-by-case basis. A shooting 
range is considered, by most, to be a non-conforming use. A previously 
proposed location for this action was met with opposition based on its 
proximity to residential development. Planning criteria include those 
identified for R&PP in the RMP and project specific criteria developed 
to aid in location of the shooting range on public land and determine 
suitability for classification for disposal through R&PP. Other 
criteria may be developed through public input. The amendment would 
consider whether restrictions on uses or activities, such as case-by-
case approvals, would be needed to ensure public safety within the 
buffer area. The remainder of public land, not identified above, will 
continue to be managed as provided for in the approved RMP and actions 
in the vicinity of the shooting range would be considered on a case-by-

[[Page 14688]]

case basis to determine effects to or from the shooting range.
    Comments should be written and apply to one or more of the 
following aspects:
    Application Comments: Interested parties may submit comments 
regarding the specific use proposed in the application, proposed action 
and plan of development, whether the BLM followed proper administrative 
procedures in reaching the decision, or any other factor not directly 
related to the suitability of the land for a shooting range. Copies of 
the application, proposed action and plan of development are available 
from the BLM address or contact listed above.
    Amendment Comments: Interested parties may submit comments 
regarding the project planning criteria used to determine a location on 
public lands or provide additional criteria for consideration. Copies 
of the criteria for this project are available from the BLM address or 
contact listed above.
    Classification Comments: Interested parties may submit comments 
involving the suitability of the land for a shooting range. Comments on 
the classification should be limited to whether the land is physically 
suited for a shooting range, whether the use will maximize the future 
use or uses of the land, whether the use is consistent with local 
planning and zoning, or if the use is consistent with State and Federal 
programs.
    Following the public open house and end of the period to receive 
comments, an Environmental Assessment (EA) will be prepared by an 
interdisciplinary team consisting of BLM and AG&FD personnel to 
determine the impacts of the proposed plan amendment and classification 
for disposal.
    It is anticipated that the following issues will be analyzed in the 
EA: Noise, Drainage, Lead Contamination, Visual, Wildlife particularly 
Desert Tortoise, Mineral Ownership, Safety, Socio-Economics, Access, 
Cultural and Tribal Consultation.
    Following the preparation of the EA there will be further public 
involvement opportunities to comment on the EA.

    Dated: January 27, 2003.
Ruben A. Sanchez,
Acting Field Manager, Kingman Field Office.
[FR Doc. 03-7167 Filed 3-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P