[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25299-25300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10058]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZG02200.L16100000.DO0000.LXSS206A0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the 
San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and Associated 
Environmental Impact Statement, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act of 
1988 (creating the San Pedro National Conservation Area), the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) Tucson Field Office, Tucson, Arizona, intends to 
prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the San Pedro Riparian 
National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) and by this notice is announcing 
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues. The RMP will replace the existing Safford RMP 
decisions for the BLM land within the planning area.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
with associated EIS. Scoping will begin when the notice is published 
and extend for at least 90 days. The date(s) and location(s) of any 
scoping meetings have not yet been determined. All public meetings will 
be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, 
newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/fo/tucson_field_office.html. The BLM will accept scoping comments 
throughout the planning effort. However, in order to be included in the 
Scoping Report, comments must be received prior to the close of the 90-
day scoping period. Documentation of public meetings and all scoping 
comments received will be available in the public room of the BLM 
Tucson Field Office for public inspection and for any participant who 
wishes to clarify the views they have expressed. Additional 
opportunities for public participation will be provided throughout the 
process.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the SPRNCA RMP/EIS by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 520-258-7238.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management Tucson Field Office, 3201 
East Universal Way, Tucson, AZ 85756.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Tucson 
Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Markstein, Assistant Planner, 
telephone 520-258-7231; address 3201 East Universal Way, Tucson, AZ 
85756; email [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during 
normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a 
week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You 
will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Tucson Field Office, Tucson, Arizona, intends to prepare an RMP with an 
associated EIS for the SPRNCA, announces the beginning of the scoping 
process, and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The 
planning effort is focused on the SPRNCA, which encompasses 56,431 
acres of public land located within

[[Page 25300]]

Cochise County, Arizona. The planning area boundary (geographic extent 
of the planning area) has not yet been determined, and is an issue that 
will be considered during scoping. Decisions in the RMP will be limited 
to BLM-administered land within the planning area boundary. The purpose 
of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will 
influence the scope of the environmental analysis including the 
planning area boundary and alternatives to be considered. Preliminary 
issues for the planning area have been identified by the BLM personnel; 
Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders.
    The planning effort is needed to provide direction for the long-
range management and protection of the SPRNCA's resources, including 
aquatic; wildlife; archaeological; paleontological; scientific; 
cultural; educational; and recreational resources and values, as stated 
in Public Law 100-696 and codified at 16 U.S.C. 460xx.
    The purpose of the RMP is to identify the current management 
situation, desired future conditions to be maintained or achieved, and 
management actions necessary to achieve those objectives for the 
aforementioned resources.
    The issues include:
     The geographic extent of the planning area (the planning 
area boundary);
     Desired future conditions for water quantity;
     Desired future conditions for riparian and upland plant 
communities;
     Management of riparian vegetation along the San Pedro 
River;
     SPRNCA's designation as a Globally Important Bird Area;
     Determining which areas should be open and closed to 
grazing;
     Use restrictions for resource protection; and
     Management of resources near the urban interface.
    Preliminary planning criteria include:
     The RMP will comply with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other 
applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
     Program specific guidance for decisions at the land use 
planning level. The process will follow the BLM's policies in Appendix 
C of the Land Use Planning Handbook, H-1610-1.
     The RMP will recognize all valid existing rights.
     The RMP will meet the requirements of the Arizona-Idaho 
Conservation Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-696) to conserve, protect, and 
enhance the riparian area and the aquatic, wildlife, archaeological, 
paleontological, scientific, cultural, educational, and recreational 
resources of the conservation area.
     The RMP will not address any National Conservation Area 
boundary adjustments or proposals to change Public Law 100-696.
     The BLM will conduct government to government consultation 
with affiliated Native American tribes in accordance with Executive 
Order 13175.
     The planning process will include the consideration of any 
impacts on Native American Trust assets.
     The RMP decisions will comply with the Endangered Species 
Act (and be consistent with BLM Manual 6840 Special Status Species) and 
follow interagency agreements with the Fish and Wildlife Service 
regarding Section 7 Consultation and species recovery process.
     Coordination with the Arizona State Historic Preservation 
Office will be conducted throughout the planning process.
     The RMP will recognize Arizona Game and Fish Department's 
authority to manage wildlife, including hunting and fishing, within the 
planning area pursuant to the master memorandum of understanding (MOU) 
with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission establishing coordination and 
cooperation between agencies.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 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. The 
BLM will accept scoping comments throughout the planning effort. 
However, in order to be included in the Scoping Report, comments must 
be received prior to the close of the 90-day scoping period. 
Documentation of public meetings and all scoping comments received will 
be available in the public room of the BLM Tucson Field Office for 
public inspection and for any participant who wishes to clarify the 
views they have expressed. 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. The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be 
addressed in the plan and will place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS as 
to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also 
encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns that 
should be addressed in the plan. 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.
    The BLM will use information about historic and cultural resources 
within the planning area in identifying and evaluating impacts to such 
resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by 
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis 
as a cooperating agency.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines 
will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland management, outdoor 
recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife, fisheries, lands and 
realty, hydrology, sociology, and economics.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2

Raymond Suazo,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-10058 Filed 4-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P