[Federal Register: January 27, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 17)]
[Notices]
[Page 3892-3893]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27ja03-85]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Land Use Plan Amendment and
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State Office.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Land Use Plan Amendment (LUP) and
Environmental Assessment (EA).
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SUMMARY: This document provides notice that the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), Arizona (AZ) State Office intends to prepare an
Arizona Statewide Land Use Plan Amendment to incorporate current fire
management policy and to prepare an Environmental Assessment that will
amend seven land use plans. These plans are: Arizona Strip District
Resource Management Plan (RMP) (1992), Kingman RMP (1995), Lower Gila
North Management Framework Plan (MFP) (1983), Lower Gila South RMP
(1988), Phoenix RMP (1989), Safford RMP (1992 and 1994) and Yuma RMP
(1986 and 1987). The purpose of the Arizona Statewide LUP Amendment is
to establish consistent methods of managing Arizona wildland fire
across the state and among the various agencies and groups who
participate in wildland fire fighting, ecology, and management, while
at the same time allowing appropriate and fire-safe enjoyment of BLM-
administered lands in Arizona. The amendment will result in a
consistent approach to incorporating the National Fire Policy in land
use plans.
This planning activity encompasses approximately 12 million surface
acres of public land. The action is being conducted under the authority
of BLM Planning Regulation 43 CFR, 1610 and will fulfill the needs and
obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management
policies. This collaborative process will take into account local,
regional, and national needs and concerns by involving other federal
agencies, Native American tribes, conservation groups, recreationists,
the public, and other stakeholders throughout the planning process.
This plan amendment will analyze fires and fuels management actions
and their impacts on the human environment for the seven BLM field
offices in one document in order to ensure consistency and
collaboration of the interested publics. An EA-level analysis and
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are anticipated, followed with
an approved plan amendment and Decision Record (DR).
DATES: The public comment period commences with the publication of this
notice. Public meetings will be held throughout the plan scoping and
preparation period and will tentatively be held in February and March
of 2003. In order to ensure local community participation and input,
BLM will rotate public meetings among towns in the planning area, which
include the metro-Phoenix, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Yuma, Tucson, and
Safford, Arizona; and St. George, Utah. BLM encourages early
participation by all those interested so that they can determine the
future management of the public lands. At least 15 days public notice
will be given for activities where the public is invited to attend, and
meetings and comment deadlines will be announced through the local news
media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site (http://www.az.blm.gov). The
minutes and list of attendees for each meeting will be available to the
public and open for 30 days to any participant who wishes to clarify
the views they expressed. Written comments will be accepted throughout
the planning process. In addition to the ongoing public participation
process, formal opportunities for public participation will be provided
upon publication of the EA.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: AZ LUP Fire, Fuels and
Air Quality Amendment Planning, Bureau of Land Management, 222 North
Central, Phoenix, AZ 85002-2203. Use the above address to mail or hand-
deliver written comments; additionally, comments can be faxed to (928)
692-4414. Comments, including names and street addresses of
respondents, will be available for public review at the BLM Arizona
State Office at the above address during regular business hours, 7:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be
published as part of the EA. Documents relevant to the planning effort
may be examined during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, at
the BLM Arizona State Office at the above address. Individual
respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your
name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the
Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the
beginning of your comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent
allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials
of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection
in their entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information and/or to have your
name added to our mailing list, contact Sherry Hirst, Kingman Field
Office, 2475 Beverly Avenue, Kingman, AZ 86401, telephone (928) 692-
4435.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During the planning process, the BLM will
consider appropriate management response to wildland fires as well as
how prescribed fire can be used to help achieve resource objectives and
to reduce dangerous accumulations of hazardous fuels. The amendment
will emphasize appropriate response to wildland fires based on a
consideration of firefighter and public safety, threats to private
property, anticipated suppression costs, resource values at risk,
resource benefits, the return of fire as a process to ecosystems,
public attitudes and behavior regarding wildland fire hazards, and
political and social concerns. Other issues that will be addressed
include: hazardous fuels as an issue, and the use of prescribed fire,
mechanical treatment, and/or chemical treatment(s) to reduce and/or
manage hazardous fuels; hazardous fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface
(WUI) and associated issues, and the various tools to approach these
issues; appropriate management response, including managing natural
fire starts for resource benefit; a statewide programmatic emergency
fire rehabilitation plan; and air quality analysis.
[[Page 3893]]
Each year, the BLM responds to wildland fires that burn thousands
of acres of land for which BLM has fire protection responsibility. The
BLM has wildland fire protection responsibility on more than 12 million
acres of public land in Arizona. By agreement, the BLM also protects
approximately 9 million acres of other federal and state agency lands
in Arizona.
Recent fire history statistics demonstrate the connection between
past fire management practices and threats to human life and safety,
risk of severe wildland fire, and disruption of critical ecological
processes. The deaths of 34 firefighters during the 1994 fire season
emphasized the danger that fuels accumulation poses to firefighters,
and led to the 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and
Program. The effect of severe wildland fire on resource values is an
additional concern to resource-management agencies. In 2002, wildland
fires raged across Arizona, with over 600,000 of acres impacted, the
largest number of acres to be impacted by wildland fire in the states
history. Nationally, more acres burned in 2002 than in any other year
in the last half-century.
BLM personnel, other agencies, individuals and user groups have
identified preliminary issues and management concerns. Additional
issues and modifications to known issues will be identified during
public scoping. The major issues identified so far include management
of public land resources including natural resource management;
cultural resource management and protection; recreation/visitor use and
safety; management of grazing, and other uses; as well as integration
of public land management with the local community, tribal groups, and
other agency needs and plans.
After gathering public comments on what issues the plan should
address, BLM will place the suggested issues in one of three categories
and provide an explanation for each issue placed into category two or
three:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
2. Issues resolved through policy or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
The public is encouraged to help identify planning issues and
concerns during the scoping phase.
An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the plan in
order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Disciplines involved in the planning process will include
but not limited to rangeland management, outdoor recreation, fire,
archaeology, wildlife, wilderness, hydrology, soils, sociology, and
economics.
Frank B. Miller,
Acting Deputy State Director Resources, Arizona BLM State Office.
[FR Doc. 03-1740 Filed 1-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P