Sedona AZ (February 6, 2016) – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Phoenix District Office is announcing the scheduled times and locations for the public scoping meetings 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.
The meetings will be held:
• Feb 24th, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Arizona Game & Fish Department
5000 West Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086
• Feb. 25th, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Gila Bend Community Center
202 North Euclid Avenue
Gila Bend, AZ 85337
• Feb. 26th, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Estrella Mountain Regional Park
14805 West Vineyard Avenue
Goodyear, AZ 85338
The purpose of public scoping is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental impact statement, including alternatives, and guide the planning process.
In order for your 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, 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 BLM_AZ_SDNMtargetshooting@BLM.gov.
All comments will be made available to the public.
The BLM manages more land – over 245 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Irony here is substitute Sedona for Sonoran?