[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16608-16609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6997]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ 050-04-1610-DO; 1610]


Arizona: Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan 
and Environmental Impact Statement for the BLM Yuma Field Office

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Yuma Field Office intends 
to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the public lands located 
within the boundaries of the Yuma Field Office. The revised Yuma RMP 
will replace portions of the existing Yuma District Resource Management 
Plan (1987), portions of the Lower Gila South Resource Management Plan 
(1988), and portions of the Lower Gila North Management Framework Plan 
(1983). Public scoping meetings to identify relevant issues will be 
announced in advance through BLM's Web site and in local news media.

DATES: The scoping comment period commences with the publication of 
this notice and will continue for at least 60 days. Public meetings 
will be held during the spring of 2004. Public notice will be provided 
specifying when the meetings will occur and will include notification 
of when the scoping period will close.

ADDRESSES: Yuma Resource Management Plan--Bureau of Land Management, 
Yuma Field Office, 2555 E. Gila Ridge Rd., Yuma, AZ 85365. Use the 
above mailing address to mail or hand deliver written comments; 
additionally, comments can be faxed to (928) 317-3250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Micki Bailey, Yuma Field 
Office, 2555 E. Gila Ridge Rd., Yuma, AZ 85365, telephone (928) 317-
3215.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Yuma Field Office, Yuma, Arizona, intends to prepare an RMP with an 
associated EIS for the public lands within the boundaries of the Yuma 
Field Office. The RMP/EIS will fulfill the needs and obligations set 
forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), other laws, regulations, and BLM 
management policies. The BLM will work closely with interested parties 
to identify the management decisions that are best suited to the needs 
of the public. This collaborative process will take into account local, 
regional, and national needs and concerns. The first phase of the 
planning process is scoping which includes the identification of issues 
that should be addressed in the planning process and development of 
planning criteria.
    The Yuma Field Office area encompasses 1.2 million acres along the 
lower Colorado River in southwest Arizona and southeast California, 
extending eastward into Arizona. The public lands are configured in an 
area 155 miles long and up to 90 miles wide. This area extends 
northward along the lower Colorado River from the Southern 
International Boundary at San Luis, Arizona, to north of Blythe, 
California, and Ehrenberg, Arizona. The Yuma Field Office boundary 
extends eastward to the Eagletail Mountains Wilderness

[[Page 16609]]

Area and south along the Yuma and Maricopa county line to the northern 
boundary of the Barry Goldwater Range. The planning area is located in 
Yuma, La Paz, and Maricopa Counties in Arizona; and Imperial and 
Riverside Counties in California. The purpose of the public scoping 
process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope 
of the environmental analysis and EIS alternatives. These issues also 
guide the planning process. Comments, including names and street 
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the 
BLM Yuma Field Office at the above address during regular business 
hours, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, 
and may be published as part of the EIS. Documents relevant to the 
planning effort may be examined during normal business hours, Monday 
through Friday, at the BLM Yuma Field Office at the above address. 
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 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.
    Public meetings will be held throughout the planning process. In 
order to ensure local community participation and input, public 
meetings will occur in many cities and towns within the planning area, 
which include Dateland, Quartzsite, San Luis, Somerton, Wellton, and 
Yuma, Arizona; and Blythe, California. Early participation by all those 
interested is encouraged and will help determine the future management 
of the public lands. At least 15 days public notice will be given for 
activities where the public is invited to attend. Meetings and comment 
deadlines will be announced through the local news media and 
newsletters. In addition to the ongoing public participation process, 
formal opportunities for public participation will be provided upon 
publication of the Draft RMP/Draft EIS.
    Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by 
BLM personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and 
user groups. This represents the BLM's knowledge to date on the 
existing issues and concerns with current management. Additional issues 
and refinement of known issues will be identified during public 
scoping. The major issues that will be addressed during the planning 
process include, but are not limited to, management of public land 
resources including natural resource management; cultural resource 
management and protection; recreation/visitor use and safety; access 
and transportation on the public lands; location and management of 
utility corridors; management of grazing, mining, mineral materials, 
and other uses; and better coordination of public land management, 
local community, tribal, and other agency needs and plans.
    After gathering public comments on what issues the plan should 
address, the suggested issues will be placed in one of four categories:
    1. How do we best protect and manage the natural, biological, and 
cultural resources on the public lands?
    2. What resource uses are appropriate for the Yuma Field Office? 
How should public use activities be managed?
    3. How do we evaluate public lands under appropriate designations?
    4. How do we coordinate public land management with other agency 
and community plans?
    In addition to these major issues, a number of management questions 
and concerns will be addressed in the plan. The public is encouraged to 
help identify management concerns during the scoping phase.
    An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the plan in 
order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified. Disciplines involved in the planning process will include 
rangeland management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, 
archaeology, wildlife, wilderness, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, 
sociology, and economics. Where necessary, outside expertise may be 
used.

    Dated: January 29, 2004.
Thomas Zale,
Acting Field Manager, Yuma.
[FR Doc. 04-6997 Filed 3-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P