[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19526-19527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07037]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[XXX.LLAZ920000.L19200000.ET0000.LRORA2020000, AZA-38426]


Notice of Withdrawal Application and Notice of Public Meetings 
for the Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal application.

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SUMMARY: The United States Army (Army) filed an application with the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting a withdrawal and reservation 
of 21,200 acres of public lands from all forms of appropriation under 
the public land laws, including location and entry under the United 
States mining laws, and from leasing under the mineral and geothermal 
leasing laws, and 800 acres of Federal surface estate public lands from 
appropriation under the public land laws for an indefinite period for 
defense purposes as an addition to the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) 
located in La Paz and Yuma Counties, Arizona, subject to valid existing 
rights. Any decision about the application will be made by the United 
States Congress. Publication of this notice temporarily segregates the 
lands for up to 2 years and announces to the public an opportunity to 
comment and participate in public meetings on the Army's application 
for withdrawal.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 5, 2022. In addition, the Army 
and the BLM will host virtual public meetings addressing the requested 
withdrawal and the associated environmental review process. The dates 
and instructions for the public meetings are listed in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be sent to the BLM Arizona State Office, 
1 North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004; faxed to (602) 
417-9452; or sent by email to [email protected]. The 
BLM will not consider comments via telephone calls.
    Information on the proposed action, including the environmental 
review process, can be viewed at the YPG's website: https://ypg-environmental.com/highway-95-land-withdrawal-leis/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Ouellett, Realty Specialist, 
BLM Arizona State Office, telephone 602-417-9561, email at 
[email protected]; or you may contact the BLM Arizona State Office at 
the earlier-listed address. Individuals in the United States who are 
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In its application, the Army requests the 
withdrawal and reservation of the specified public lands for military 
testing and training purposes for an indefinite term, subject to valid 
existing rights. In accordance with the Engle Act (43 U.S.C. 155-158), 
because the public lands requested exceed 5,000 acres, this withdrawal 
request must be directed to Congress.
    The following described public lands are the subject of the Army's 
withdrawal

[[Page 19527]]

application, and are temporarily segregated for a period of up to 2 
years from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, 
including location and entry under the United States mining laws, and 
from leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to 
valid existing rights:

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

(Surface and Subsurface)

T. 1 N., R. 19 W.,
    Sec. 4, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way of 
U.S. Route 95;
    Secs. 5 and 8;
    Sec. 9, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way of 
U.S. Route 95;
    Secs. 17 and 20;
    Secs. 21 and 28, those portions lying westerly of the westerly 
right-of-way of U.S. Route 95;
    Sec. 29;
    Sec. 33, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way 
of U.S. Route 95.
T. 2 N., R. 19 W.,
    Sec. 33, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\, that part lying 
westerly of the westerly right-of-way of U.S. Route 95.
T. 1 S., R. 19 W.,
    Secs. 4 thru 9 and secs. 16 thru 21;
    Sec. 28, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way 
of U.S. Route 95;
    Secs. 29 thru 32;
    Sec. 33, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way 
of U.S. Route 95.
T. 2 S., R. 19 W.,
    Sec. 4, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way of 
U.S. Route 95;
    Secs. 5 thru 7;
    Sec. 8, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way of 
U.S. Route 95, excepting NE\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way of 
U.S. Route 95;
    Sec. 17, that part lying westerly of the westerly right-of-way 
of U.S. Route 95, excepting S1/2SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 18;
    Sec. 19, lots 1 thru 4, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, and E\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lot 1.

    The areas described aggregate 21,200 acres in La Paz and Yuma 
Counties.

    The following-described Federal surface estate public lands are the 
subject of the Army's withdrawal application, and are temporarily 
segregated for up to 2 years from all forms of appropriation under the 
public land laws subject to valid existing rights;

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

(Surface Only; Subsurface Excepted--Non-Federal Ownership)

T. 1 N., R. 19 W.,
    Sec. 32.
T. 2 N., R. 19 W.,
    Sec. 32, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate approximately 800 acres in La Paz 
and Yuma Counties.

    The use of a right-of-way, interagency agreement, or cooperative 
agreement is precluded because of the expected annual usage, daily 
duration, and impact to the public of the proposed military activities 
within the requested withdrawal area.
    No additional water rights are needed to fulfill the purpose of the 
requested withdrawal area.
    There are no suitable alternative sites within or outside of the 
YPG boundaries that are compatible with the proposed use since the 
subject withdrawal area will be an additional surface safety zone 
adjacent to an existing YPG parachute drop zone. The drop zone was 
specifically established for its soil attributes, topography, and 
airspace which are optimal for testing and observation of parachute and 
air delivery systems. The additional safety zone is needed to enhance 
the testing of new technology on existing drop zones by preventing 
public entry into hazardous areas during high-altitude drop operations.
    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.
    Notice is hereby given for two public meetings in connection with 
the proposed withdrawal. In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) 
pandemic in the United States, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention recommendations for social distancing and avoidance of 
large public gatherings, the BLM and Army will not hold in-person 
public meetings for this action. The BLM and Army will host the public 
meetings online and by telephone. There will be two public online 
meetings scheduled for Tuesday June 7, 2022, at 3 p.m. and Wednesday 
June 8, 2022, at 5 p.m. Mountain Time. The BLM and Army will publish 
the instructions on how to access the online meetings in the Yuma Sun 
(Yuma), Bajo El Sol (Yuma), and Desert Messenger (Quartzsite) 
newspapers at a minimum of 15 days prior to the meetings and on the 
website: https://ypg-environmental.com/highway-95-land-withdrawal-leis/.
    For a period until April 4, 2024, the lands will be segregated as 
specified earlier unless the application is denied or canceled. 
Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements, or discretionary land-use 
authorizations of a temporary nature that would not impact the lands 
may be allowed with the approval of an authorized officer of the BLM 
during the segregative period.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations at 43 CFR part 2310.3 and 43 U.S.C. 155-158.

(Authority: 43 U.S.C. 155-158, 43 U.S.C. 1714(b)(1) and 43 CFR 2300)

Raymond Suazo,
Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-07037 Filed 4-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P