[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 170 (Friday, September 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52437-52438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17505]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ 422-1610-DO-090A-241E]


Notice of Intent To Prepare the San Pedro Riparian National 
Conservation Area and Tucson Resource Management Plan and Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office, Tucson, 
Arizona intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan and Environmental 
Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the San Pedro Riparian National 
Conservation Area and Tucson planning effort. When approved, the RMP 
will replace those portions of the existing Phoenix Resource Management 
Plan (1989) and Safford District Resource Management Plan (1992, 1994) 
within the Tucson Field Office administrative boundary.

DATES: The scoping period commences with the publication of this notice 
and will continue for at least 60 days. Public meetings will be held 
approximately late 2005 to early 2006. All public meetings will be 
announced through the local media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site 
(http://www.az.blm.gov) at least 15 days prior to the first meeting 
(the Web site availability is subject to change). Public notice will be 
provided specifying the date, time, and location that the meetings will 
occur and include notification of when the scoping period will close 
and when comments are due. Formal opportunities for public 
participation will be provided upon publication of the Draft RMP/EIS.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Web Site: http://www.az.blm.gov (subject to change).
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (520) 258-7238.
     Mail: Tucson Field Office, 12661 East Broadway, Tucson, 
Arizona 85748-7208.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Tucson 
Field Office upon request. Public comments, including names and street 
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at Bureau 
of Land Management, 12661 East Broadway, Tucson, Arizona 85748 during 
regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, 
except holidays. 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 comments. Such requests will 
be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Marianito, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, (520) 258-7241, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Field Office, Tucson, Arizona intends to prepare a Resource Management 
Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the San Pedro 
Riparian National Conservation Area and Tucson planning effort.
    The two planning areas, the San Pedro RNCA and the Tucson Field

[[Page 52438]]

Office, are located in Cochise, Gila, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz 
Counties, Arizona. This planning activity encompasses approximately 
465,000 acres of public land. The plan will fulfill the needs and 
obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management 
policies. 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. Interested governmental 
entities will be given the opportunity to request Cooperating Agency 
status in the planning process.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and 
RMP/EIS alternatives. These issues also guide the planning process. 
Comments on issues and planning criteria can be submitted in writing to 
the BLM at any public scoping meetings, or they may be mailed to the 
BLM at the address listed above.
    The changing needs and interests of the public necessitate a 
revision to the existing Safford District and Phoenix RMPs for this 
area. Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified 
by BLM personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and 
user groups. The major issue themes that will be addressed in the plan 
effort include: (1) Protecting and sustaining cultural and natural 
resources; (2) accommodating public demands for resources and providing 
for appropriate uses; and, (3) providing direct community services. 
After gathering public comments on what issues the plan should address, 
the suggested issues will be placed in one of three categories.
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan.
    2. Issues resolved through policy or administrative action.
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.

    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 these questions and 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 
specialists with expertise in rangeland management, minerals and 
geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and 
fisheries, threatened and endangered species, wilderness, lands and 
realty, hydrology, soils, interpretation and education, sociology and 
economics.

Joanie Losacco,
Acting Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 05-17505 Filed 9-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P