[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 55 (Friday, March 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16124-16125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05956]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZP00000.L122000000.DF0000.LXSSA3610000]


Notice of Intent To Temporarily Close Selected Public Lands in 
Maricopa and Pinal Counties, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to temporarily close.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to temporarily 
close public lands to public entry for all uses for up to 180 days on 
certain public lands administered by the Hassayampa and Lower Sonoran 
Field Offices, during the construction of four recreational shooting 
sports sites. Additionally, temporary closures of these sites, as well 
as one additional recreational shooting sports site, are proposed for a 
few days on a periodic basis for public safety, maintenance, 
administration, or compliance with applicable laws.

DATES: Interested parties may submit written comments regarding the 
impacts to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting no later than 
April 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments regarding the 
proposed temporary closure of public lands to hunting, fishing, and 
recreational shooting, during the proposed temporary closures to public 
entry by any of the following methods:
     BLM National NEPA Website: https://go.usa.gov/xmfVv.
     Mail: BLM, Phoenix District Office, Attention: Tyler 
Lindsey, 21605 N 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John (Jake) Szympruch, District Chief 
Ranger at email: [email protected]; or Lane Cowger, Hassayampa Field 
Office Manager at email: [email protected]; or Ed Kender, Lower Sonoran 
Field Office Manager at email: [email protected]; or at 623-580-5500. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individuals during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive 
a reply during normal hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Hassayampa and Lower Sonoran Field 
Offices propose to temporarily close public lands to public entry for 
all uses during the construction of the Box Canyon, Church Camp Road, 
Narramore Road, and Saddleback Mountain recreational shooting sports 
sites. After construction and during the operation of each site, 
temporary closures at these recreational shooting sports sites, as well 
as Baldy Mountain (which is located on public lands administered by the 
Hassayampa Field Office) are proposed on a recurring basis for public 
safety, maintenance, administration, or compliance with applicable laws 
within the smallest area for the least amount of time. The Baldy 
Mountain, Church Camp Road, Narramore Road, and Saddleback Mountain 
sites are located in Maricopa County. Box Canyon is located in Pinal 
County.
    In compliance with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, 
Management, and Recreation Act (Dingell Act; 16 U.S.C. 7913(a)(1)), and 
in compliance with 43 CFR 8364.1, notice of intent is hereby given that 
the proposed closures would temporarily close public lands to public 
entry, including entry for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. 
These proposed temporary closures are necessary to ensure public and 
worker safety during construction of the recreational shooting sports 
sites. To the extent feasible, only one or two sites would be closed at 
a time until construction is completed, and the recreational shooting 
sports site(s) can be opened for public use. The BLM has not determined 
specific construction dates for Box Canyon, Church Camp Road, Narramore 
Road, or Saddleback Mountain recreational shooting sports sites. The 
temporary closures for each site should not exceed 180 days. However, 
if construction exceeds 180 days, renewal of the temporary closure 
would require separate notice of intent to be published in the Federal 
Register to initiate an additional 30-day comment period prior to a 
renewal decision being issued.
    These temporary closures for construction and operation were 
analyzed under the Recreational Shooting Sports Project Final 
Environmental Assessment (January 2020) and in consultation with the 
Arizona Game and Fish Department.
    Under the Dingell Act, the BLM is required to consider public 
comments when temporary closures are proposed and would affect hunting, 
fishing, and recreational shooting on public lands. This notice 
announces the beginning of the 30-day comment period for the proposed 
temporary closure of public lands to all entry, whereby comments on 
impacts to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting are being 
accepted by the BLM. Following the public comment period, the BLM will 
issue a final decision which will respond in a reasonable manner to the 
comments received, will explain how significant issues were resolved, 
and will be made available on the project website at: https://go.usa.gov/xmfVv. Before including your address, phone number, email 
address, or other personal identifying information in any comment, 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, the BLM cannot guarantee that we will 
be able to do so.
    The legal description of the affected public lands are:

Baldy Mountain (Approximately 399 Acres)

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 6 N., R. 1 W.,
    Sec. 10, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\ (portions of);
    Sec. 11, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\ 
(portions of).

Box Canyon (Approximately 478 Acres)

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 5 S., R. 2 E.,
    Sec. 9, N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\ (portions of).

Church Camp Road (Approximately 200 Acres)

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 6 N., R. 1 W.,
    Sec. 23, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\.

Narramore Road (Approximately 163 Acre)

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 1 S., R. 5 W.,
    Sec. 17, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\.

Saddleback Mountain (Approximately 400 Acres)

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 6 N., R. 1 W.,
    Sec. 26, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 35, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\.

    A copy of this notice and map for the closure area will be posted 
at least 30 days in advance of the effective date of the temporary 
closure at the main entry points to each of these sites, available at

[[Page 16125]]

the Phoenix District Office, 21605 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 
85027, and available on the project website located at: https://go.usa.gov/xmfVv. This notice satisfies the requirements found at 43 
CFR 8364.1. Therefore, the temporary closures authorized in the final 
decision would be enforced by the BLM under the authority of Section 
303(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1733(a)), 43 CFR 8360.0-7, and 43 CFR 8364.1 within the closure area 
for each site.
    Temporary closures authorized in the final decision would cover the 
entire affected areas as described earlier and in the time period as 
described above would be temporarily closed to public entry.
    The following persons would be exempt from the proposed temporary 
closure orders: Federal, State, and local officers and employees in the 
performance of their official duties; members of organized rescue or 
fire-fighting forces in the performance of their official duties; and 
persons with written authorization from the BLM.
    Any person who violates temporary closures authorized in a final 
decision may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined in 
accordance with 18 U.S.C. 3571, imprisoned no more than 12 months under 
43 U.S.C. 1733(a) and 43 CFR 8360.0-7, or both. In accordance with 43 
CFR 8365.1-7, State or local officials may also impose penalties for 
violations of Arizona law.

(Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1 and 16 U.S.C. 7913)

Leon Thomas,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2020-05956 Filed 3-19-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-32-P