[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 64 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 17449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7462]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[AZ 020-2004-1150-JP-123A]


Bureau of Land Management

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix Field Office, Phoenix, AZ.

ACTION: Notice of intent to amend the Lower Gila South Resource 
Management Plan (RMP).

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice that the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), Phoenix Field Office, intends to prepare an Amendment 
to the Lower Gila South RMP that will include an environmental 
assessment level analysis. The plan amendment will consider changing 
the land use allocation on the Cameron Allotment by closing 
approximately 58,275 acres of public land to domestic livestock grazing 
in order to implement measures to conserve the endangered Sonoran 
pronghorn.

DATES: For a period of 30 days from the date of this notice, interested 
parties may submit comments to the Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix 
Field Office, attn: Field Manager, 21605 N. 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 
86027.
    Public Participation: Public comments received during the 30-day 
comment period will be considered during the preparation of the 
proposed plan amendment and environmental assessment level analysis.

ADDRESSES: Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix Field 
Office, 21605 N. 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027; Fax 623-580-5580. For 
further information, contact Tim Hughes, Phoenix Field Office, 623-580-
5572.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cameron Allotment is classified as a 
Perennial-Ephemeral Allotment. The grazing permit for the allotment 
prior to June of 2003 authorized 2,532 animal unit months (AUMs) or 211 
cows yearlong and provided for ephemeral use during wet years. The BLM 
completed a rangeland health evaluation, biological evaluation, and 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis for the grazing 
allotment in 2003. Based on the results of these evaluations, the 
grazing permit was modified and reissued with new terms and conditions 
in 2003. The current permit authorizes 684 AUMs or 57 cows, under the 
following terms and conditions: (1) The allotment will be operated as a 
rest-rotation grazing system; (2) seasonal restrictions will be imposed 
on grazing in pronghorn fawning pastures; (3) ephemeral use can only be 
authorized when the Sonoran pronghorn population is over 100 animals 
and increasing and there is an abundance of ephemeral forage available 
throughout the pronghorn range; (4) lay-down fences will be installed 
and maintained between the BLM lands and Organ Pipe Cactus National 
Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and (5) 
maintenance of range improvements that involves surface disturbance can 
only be carried out between July 1 and December 31 annually.
    The U.S. population of Sonoran pronghorn has experienced an 87 
percent decline since 2001. This population is currently vulnerable to 
extirpation due to low numbers and continued drought. Limited 
management options on adjacent lands make the public lands that 
comprise the Cameron Allotment extremely valuable for implementation of 
recovery actions for the pronghorn. Continued livestock grazing on the 
Cameron Allotment would require the continued use of fencing for 
livestock management, which hinders movement of pronghorn. Water 
impoundments needed by livestock would continue to provide breeding 
grounds for biting midges that may transmit disease from domestic 
livestock to pronghorn. Additionally, continued livestock grazing would 
hinder or preclude implementation of recovery actions, such as the 
development of food plots.
    The BLM is required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended, in section 7. (a) (1) to ``* * * utilize [its] authorities in 
furtherance of the purposes of this Act by carrying out programs for 
the conservation of endangered species * * *'' Due to the precarious 
status of the U.S. population of Sonoran pronghorn, it is prudent that 
the BLM consider actions within their authority to stabilize and 
recover this endangered species. To that end, it would be consistent 
with the BLM's authorities and responsibilities to consider closing the 
Cameron Allotment to domestic livestock grazing and allocate the 
resources toward the recovery of endangered Sonoran pronghorn.
    If a decision is made through the amendment process to use the land 
for pronghorn recovery, the BLM is required to compensate the permittee 
for their financial interest in authorized range improvements.
    Planning Criteria: This notice also provides the public notice of 
planning criteria availability. The Federal Land Management Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), the Taylor Grazing Act of June 28, 
1934, as amended, and the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 
constitute the planning criteria applicable to the proposed amendment 
to the Lower Gila South RMP.

Teresa Raml,
Field Manager, Phoenix Field Office.
[FR Doc. 04-7462 Filed 4-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P