The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Phoenix District Office is seeking public input as it begins revision of a portion of the land use plan for the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM).
Under a March 2015 federal court order, BLM is required to reanalyze the impacts of recreational target shooting on the Monument.
This begins the 60-day public scoping process. The purpose of public scoping is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the planning process.
In order for comments to be included in the analysis, all comments should be received prior to the close of the 60-day comment period on March 21. Additionally, three public information meetings will be held in February, with dates and locations publicized at least 15 days in advance.
Based on the public comments and suggestions received during scoping, the BLM will develop and consider a range of alternatives related to recreational target shooting on the SDNM. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) completed with the RMP amendment will analyze the impacts of each alternative. The Draft RMP amendment and Draft EIS will be available for public review and comment.
Upon completion of the Proposed Plan Amendment and Final EIS, an alternative will be selected that meets the intent of the SDNM’s proclamation and best balances the environmental impacts with the desired use of the land, and upon approval, the current SDNM RMP will be amended to allow recreational target shooting, disallow it, or allow it with potential restrictions.
On July 17, 2015, the U.S. District Court – District of Arizona ordered the BLM to close a small portion (3 percent) of the SDNM to recreational target shooting while the BLM completes its reconsideration of the portions of the RMP and EIS the court found deficient in a March 27, 2015, order.
A Notice of Intent to Amend the Resource Management Plan (RMP) was published in the Federal Register, Jan. 21, 2016.
Written comments may be mailed to the BLM’s project manager, Wayne Monger, at 21605 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix AZ 85027. Comments may also be faxed to (623) 580-5623, or emailed to [email protected].
All comments will be made available to the public.
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