BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

Welcome !  Location of restrooms & telephones  Please turn-off or silence pagers and cell phones BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

 Critique ideas, not people…show respect for the views of others  What is the rule on confidentiality?  Listen with an open mind – many different users  Avoid side conversations  Speak for yourself…in your own words  Thirty second soapbox?  Enjoy your time together BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

 Welcome and introductions  Resource Management Plan presentation  Participant discussion - please hold questions until this portion of the agenda  Open House BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona  Encroaching urban-interface  New & changing land uses  Need to consolidate several planning documents  2001 Presidential Proclamation of SDNM

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

 1.4 million surface acres  Sonoran Desert Nat’l Mon. (486,400 acres)  Anza Nat’l Historic Trail  Six Wilderness Areas  Four endangered & four candidate species  High interest in utility- scale solar energy development BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

Two Decision Areas:  Sonoran Desert National Monument – 486,400 acres  Lower Sonoran – 930,200 acres At the end of the process, there will be two Records of Decision BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

 Extensive scoping in 2003 at 11 public meetings – received >6000 comments  Ongoing engagement with the Resource Advisory Council (RAC), government agencies, user interests, environmental groups and tribes. BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona Management Topics Renewable and traditional energy facilities T&E habitat, wildlife corridors and water developments Wilderness Characteristics Transportation and access Compatibility of livestock grazing with protecting monument objects in the SDNM Recreational target shooting

LS-SDNM DRMP/EIS Alternative ANo action: Current management (baseline for resource and land use allocations) Alternative BResource use and development emphasis Alternative CBalance of resource use and protection Alternative DResource protection emphasis Alternative EPreferred BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona Provide a range of reasonable combinations of resource uses and mgt practices developed to address issues identified during scoping that offer distinct choice among potential mgt strategies.

GIS analysis to identify potential conflicts?  Exclude from development  NLCS, WC, ACECs, Fred J. Weiler (PL 1015) Greenbelt, Sentinel Plain  Avoidance BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona Collaboration with Restoration Design Energy Project (RDEP). Solar PEIS and RDEP will amend RMPs, if necessary. Preferred alternative does not conflict with other ongoing analyses.

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona Merit special mgt attention to protect resources and prevent irreparable damage (Appendix V)

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

 Designate as perennial, perennial/ephemeral, or ephemeral, as appropriate  Consider season of use adjustments  Further analyses for allotment management plan NEPA  Land Health Evaluation (LHE) completed for six SDNM allotments  Compatibility analysis completed (Append. E)  Finding – modified grazing practices would be compatible. BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

 All 930,200 acres will remain open for recreational target shooting  Activity may be adaptively managed due to safety concerns or resource conflicts BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona Hunting would continue in accordance with federal, state and local laws

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona Substantive Comments:  Reasonably question accuracy of:  Information;  Assumptions;  Methodology;  Present new information;  Provide reasonable alternatives;  Cause revision of alternative(s);  Be specific, detailed, factual.

Mail: BLM, N 7 th Ave, Phoenix, AZ Fax: ePlanning – Access now (we will help) if ready to comment or access by web address below later BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona

BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona RMP Timetable Aug 26, 2011 Draft Resource Mgt Plan released Oct 2011 Public meetings held Nov 25, 2011 Public Comment Period Ends; Prepare Proposed RMP May 2012 Proposed Resource Mgt Plan / Final EIS released June 2012 (30 days) Protest period (for those with “standing”) Sept Records of Decision signed Oct 2012 (30 days) Appeal period (implementation decisions)

 National Landscape Conservation System  Wildlife Habitat  Recreation  Livestock Grazing  Cultural Resources  Travel Management  Energy & Land Use  Minerals BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona BLM planning team are here to answer questions specific to DRMP

We are so pleased you joined us tonight. Thank you for sharing your evening to help improve management of our Public Land. BLM Lower Sonoran Field Office Arizona