Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona, and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment, 17095 [2020-06363]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 59 (Thursday, March 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 17095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06363]



[[Page 17095]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ-P040-2020-1711-DT-1000-241A]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the 
Sonoran Desert National Monument, Arizona, and Prepare an Associated 
Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lower 
Sonoran Field Office, Phoenix, Arizona, intends to prepare a Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) Amendment with an associated Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM) to 
address a court order related to livestock grazing on the SDNM. This 
notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments to identify issues to be addressed in the RMP Amendment/EA.

DATES: This notice initiates the 30-day public scoping process for the 
RMP Amendment/EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until 
April 27, 2020. In order to be included in the analysis, all comments 
must be received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period. There 
will be an additional public participation opportunity when the draft 
EA is available.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, issues and planning criteria 
related to the RMP Amendment/EA addressing livestock grazing in the 
SDNM by any of the methods outlined below:

 Internet: https://go.usa.gov/xp8W6
 Email: [email protected]
 Fax: 623-580-5623
 Mail: BLM, Sonoran Desert National Monument, 21605 North 7th 
Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85027

    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Phoenix 
District Office, 21605 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward J. Kender, Lower Sonoran Field 
Office Manager, telephone 623-580-5616; address 21605 North 7th Avenue, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85027; email [email protected]. Contact Mr. Kender to 
have your name added to our mailing list. 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 individual 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 business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Lower Sonoran Field Office, Phoenix, Arizona, intends to prepare an RMP 
Amendment and associated EA addressing a 2016 court order in Western 
Watersheds Project v. BLM, 181 F.Supp.3d 673 (D.Ariz. 2016), requiring 
the compatibility of livestock grazing on the SDNM be reevaluated in a 
new Land Health Evaluation (LHE) and Grazing Compatibility Analysis 
(GCA). This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to 
identify issues and planning criteria for the RMP Amendment/EA. The 
planning area is located in Maricopa and Pinal counties, Arizona, and 
encompasses approximately 252,472 acres of public land. The purpose of 
the public scoping process is to solicit comments to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the EA, including alternatives, 
and guide the planning process. Preliminary issues for the plan 
amendment area have been identified by BLM personnel and include: (1) 
Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts from livestock grazing on 
monument objects and other resources; and (2) Impacts to local 
economies and livestock operators if the area is made available or 
unavailable for livestock grazing.
    Preliminary planning criteria includes the following: (1) The RMP 
Amendment will cover BLM-administered public lands within the SDNM 
north of Interstate 8; (2) The EA will consider a range of reasonable 
alternatives; (3) The BLM will consider current scientific information, 
research, new technologies, and resource assessments, monitoring, and 
coordination; and (4) Decisions in the RMP Amendment will comply as 
appropriate with all applicable law, regulations, policy and guidance.
    You may submit comments on issues in writing by using one of the 
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Comments need to be 
submitted by the close of the 30-day scoping period.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The information about historic and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the alternatives will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    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 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 alternatives 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 RMP Amendment/EA as a cooperating agency.
    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. In the RMP Amendment/EA, the BLM will address the 
comments received during scoping and sort them into one of three 
categories for consideration:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the LHE and GCA;
    2. Issues to be resolved in the RMP Amendment/EA;
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this RMP Amendment/EA.
    The BLM will summarize the scoping effort and comments received in 
the Draft RMP Amendment/EA. The public is also encouraged to help 
identify any management questions and concerns that should be addressed 
in the RMP Amendment/EA. The BLM will work with interested parties to 
identify management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, 
and national needs and concerns.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the RMP 
Amendment/EA in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines that may be involved in the RMP Amendment/EA process 
include: National Conservation Lands, outdoor recreation, archaeology, 
wildlife, rangeland management, soils, and socioeconomics.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2)

Raymond Suazo,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-06363 Filed 3-25-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-32-P