[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43152-43153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20626]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZ910000.L14300000.ET0000241A; AZA-35138]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
a Proposed Withdrawal in the Vicinity of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Strip District 
office is the lead agency on behalf of the BLM and the United States 
Forest Service for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
address potential effects of a proposed withdrawal of approximately 
633,547 acres of BLM-administered public lands and 360,002 acres of 
National Forest System lands for up to 20 years from location and entry 
under the Mining Law of 1872. The purpose of the withdrawal, if 
determined to be appropriate, would be to protect the Grand Canyon 
watershed from adverse effects of locatable mineral exploration and 
mining, except for those effects stemming from valid existing rights. 
The U.S. Forest Service (Kaibab National Forest), National Park Service 
(Grand Canyon National Park), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. 
Geological Survey have been invited and have agreed to participate as 
cooperating agencies. Additional local state and Federal agencies and 
Tribes may request cooperating agency status during this process.

DATES: By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the 
public scoping process for the EIS and soliciting input on the 
identification of issues. The public scoping period will end on October 
26, 2009. During the public scoping period, the BLM solicits public 
comment on issues, concerns, and opportunities that should be 
considered in the analysis of the proposed action. Comments on issues, 
potential impacts, or suggestions for additional alternatives may be 
submitted in writing to the address listed below. To be considered in 
the Draft EIS analysis, comments must be received prior to the close of 
the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever 
is later.
    The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify relevant 
issues through news media, newspapers, and the BLM's Web site. A 
meeting is planned to be held in Fredonia, Arizona on September 30, 
2009, and in Flagstaff, Arizona on October 15, 2009. The time and 
location of the meetings will be announced at least 30 days in advance 
by the methods mentioned above. Other meetings will be scheduled and 
announced at least 15 days in advance by the same methods. Further 
opportunities for public participation will be provided upon 
publication of the Draft EIS, including a minimum 45-day public comment 
period.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by either of the following 
methods:
     Mail: Grand Canyon Mining Withdrawal Project, ATTN: Scott 
Florence, District Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Strip 
District Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790-6714,
    Electronic Mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the EIS 
process or to have your name added to the mailing list, send requests 
to Scott Florence, BLM District Manager, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. 
George, Utah 84790-6714, (435) 688-3200. For information pertaining to 
the National Forest System Lands included in the proposed withdrawal, 
contact Michael Williams, Forest Supervisor, Forest Service, Kaibab 
National Forest, 800 South Sixth Street, Williams, Arizona 86046, (928) 
635-8200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the public scoping process is 
to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the 
environmental analysis, including alternatives. The Secretary of the 
Interior proposes to withdraw approximately 633, 547 acres of BLM-
administered public lands and 360,002 acres of National Forest System 
lands for up to 20 years from location and entry under the Mining Law 
of 1872, 30 U.S.C. 22 et seq. The proposed withdrawal applies to 
Federal locatable minerals, subject to valid existing rights, including 
locatable minerals that underlie non-Federal surface. It would not 
apply to non-Federal mineral estate. The purpose of the withdrawal, if 
determined to be appropriate, would be to protect the Grand Canyon 
watershed from adverse effects of locatable mineral

[[Page 43153]]

exploration and mining, except for those effects stemming from valid 
existing rights. The EIS will analyze at least two alternatives, 
including a withdrawal as currently proposed and the ``No Action'' 
alternative, which would be to continue to allow location of new mining 
claims. Other alternatives may be analyzed as appropriate, including 
withdrawal of a smaller area.
    The proposed action is to withdraw, subject to valid existing 
rights, certain public lands and National Forest System lands from 
location and entry under the 1872 Mining Law, but not the mineral 
leasing, geothermal leasing, mineral materials laws, or public land 
laws. The subject areas were previously described in BLM's Notice of 
Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; Arizona which 
published in the Federal Register on July 21, 2009 [74 FR 35887]. The 
map for the ``Petition/Application for Withdrawal'' is available from 
the BLM Arizona Strip District office and the Forest Service Kaibab 
National Forest office at the addresses listed above.
    The total areas described aggregate approximately 993,549 acres of 
BLM-administered public lands and National Forest System lands and any 
Federal locatable minerals underlying non-Federal surface in Coconino 
and Mohave Counties located adjacent to the Grand Canyon National Park 
in Arizona. The total non-Federal lands within the area aggregate 
approximately 85,673 acres in Coconino and Mohave Counties.
    If the withdrawal were to be approved by the Secretary of the 
Interior, the closure to location and entry under the Mining Law would 
be subject to valid existing rights and authorized in accordance with 
section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 
U.S.C. 1714, and the Federal regulations at 43 CFR part 2300.
    You may submit comments on issues in writing to the BLM at any 
public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using one of 
the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, 
you should submit comments within 15 days after the last public 
meeting. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

(Authority: 43 CFR part 2300)

Helen M. Hankins,
Arizona Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. E9-20626 Filed 8-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P