[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21876-21879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08298]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAZ920000.L13400000.PQ0000.20X; AZA-09973]
Notice of Application for Withdrawal Extension; Notice of
Application for Withdrawal Addition; Notice of Segregation; and,
Opportunity for Public Meeting for the Barry M. Goldwater Range,
Arizona
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal applications.
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SUMMARY: The United States Department of the Air Force (USAF) and the
United States Department of the Navy (USN) have filed applications to
extend and expand existing Federal-land withdrawals in Maricopa, Pima,
and Yuma counties, Arizona. They have requested an extension of the
existing 1,743,426.42-acre withdrawal, along with the withdrawal of an
additional 2,366 acres of public lands at Gila Bend airfield from all
forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining
laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the geothermal leasing laws,
subject to valid existing rights for an indefinite period. The decision
about these applications will be made by Congress.
DATES: Comments on the withdrawal applications, including their
environmental consequences, should be received on or before July 20,
2020. In addition, the USAF, the USN, and the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) will host a public meeting addressing the withdrawal applications
and the associated environmental review process. The date and venue for
the public meeting is listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
ADDRESSES: Comments pertaining to the USAF and USN withdrawal extension
proposal or the USAF withdrawal
[[Page 21877]]
expansion proposal should be sent to the BLM, Arizona State Office;
Attention: Eddie Arreola, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix,
AZ 85004. Comments pertaining to this notice may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
Email: [email protected].
Fax: 602-417-9454.
Mail: BLM Arizona State Office, Attn: Eddie Arreola, One
North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
Copies of the legal descriptions and the maps depicting the lands
that are the subject of the USAF and USN's application are available
for public inspection at the following offices: State Director, BLM
Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix,
Arizona 85004; District Manager, BLM Phoenix District Office, 21605
North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85027; and Field Office Manager, BLM
Yuma Field Office, 7341 E 30th Street, Yuma, Arizona 85365.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eddie Arreola, Supervisory Project
Manager, at 602-417-9505 or email at [email protected] or at the above
addresses. Information on the proposed action (withdrawal extension and
addition), including the environmental review process, can be viewed at
the project's website at www.barry-m-goldwater-leis.com. 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,
seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Department of the Air
Force (USAF) and the United States Department of the Navy (USN), acting
on behalf of the United States Marine Corps, have filed an application
to extend the current withdrawal of 1,743,426.42 acres of Federal lands
from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including
the mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the geothermal leasing
laws, subject to valid existing rights, for military use of the Barry
M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) in Maricopa, Pima, and Yuma counties, Arizona
for an indefinite period (withdrawal extension). In accordance with the
Engle Act (43 U.S.C. 155-158), because it exceeds 5000 acres, this
withdrawal extension requires an Act of Congress. The USAF has also
requested the withdrawal of an additional 2,366 acres of public lands
at Gila Bend airfield from all forms of appropriation under the public
land laws, including the mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the
geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights for an
indefinite period (withdrawal expansion). These additional acres are
adjacent and contiguous to the existing withdrawal, and therefore,
under the Engle Act (43 U.S.C. 155-158), their withdrawal, too,
requires an Act of Congress. This notice segregates the 2,366 acres for
2 years from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws,
including the mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the geothermal
leasing laws; initiates an opportunity for the public to comment on the
proposed withdrawal extension and withdrawal expansion; and announces
the date, time, and location of public meetings on both the extension
and the expansion.
The BMGR was withdrawn under the Military Land Withdrawal Act
(MLWA) of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-65). The existing withdrawal expires on
October 4, 2024. In accordance with MLWA, the USAF and USN notified
Congress of a continuing military need for the BMGR withdrawn lands.
The USAF and USN are jointly preparing a Legislative Environmental
Impact Statement (LEIS). The USAF and USN anticipate Federal Register
publication of a separate Notice of Intent to prepare the LEIS.
As required by section 204(b)(1) of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(b)(1), and the BLM regulations
at 43 CFR part 2300, the BLM is publishing the notice of the USAF and
USN application. While the BLM and the Department of the Interior
assist the USAF and USN with the processing of withdrawal applications,
and the Secretary of the Interior makes a recommendation to Congress on
the proposed withdrawals, it will be Congress that will make the final
decision regarding whether to extend the existing BMGR withdrawal and/
or expand it to add 2,366 acres at Gila Bend Airfield.
The USAF and USN are requesting that Congress extend the BMGR land
withdrawal for an indefinite period due to the anticipated continuation
of national defense requirements.
Extension Request: The application requests an extension of the
existing BMGR withdrawal of 1,650,246 acres of Federal land in
accordance with the Engle Act, (43 U.S.C. 155-158).
The November 30, 2001, Federal Register publication (66 FR 59813)
identified 1,650,246 acres of public lands and 83,675 acres of former
State and private non-contiguous parcels acquired by the military, for
a total withdrawal of 1,733,921 acres.
Since 2001, the BLM has surveyed the western portion of the
withdrawal used by the USN and has produced a more accurate acreage
than was originally provided in the 2001 Federal Register publication.
The total calculated acres of Federal interest and acquired lands is
1,743,426.42 acres, of which 1,659,364.92 acres are public lands and
84,061.51 acres are acquired lands. There is a difference of 9,505.89
acres between the 2001 acreage and the resurveyed acreage, even though
there is no change in the existing boundary and the legal description
remains the same, as noted below. The difference in acreage is due to
an accumulation of fractions of acres within the boundary of the
existing withdrawal due to more recent and accurate geographic
information system mapping.
Legal Description of Withdrawal Extension
Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona
T. 8 S., R. 1 W.,
Sec. 30, lots 3 and 4 and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 31;
Sec. 32, NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Sec. 33, SW\1/4\.
T. 9 S., R. 1 W.,
Sec. 3, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 4 thru 11;
Sec. 12, SW\1/4\;
Secs. 13 thru 36.
T. 8 S., R. 2 W.,
Sec. 7, lots 1 thru 4, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/
4\;
Sec. 8, SW\1/4\;
Sec. 16, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 17 thru 22;
Sec. 23, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Sec. 25, NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 26 thru 36.
T. 9 S., R. 2 W.
T. 7 S., R. 3 W.,
Sec. 19, lots 3 and 4 and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 28, SW\1/4\;
Sec. 29, NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 30 thru 33;
Sec. 34, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\.
T. 8 S., R. 3 W.,
Sec. 1, SW\1/4\;
Secs. 2 thru 36.
T. 9 S., R. 3 W.
T. 10 S., R. 3 W.,
Secs. 4 thru 9;
Secs. 16 thru 21;
Secs. 28 thru 33.
T. 7 S., R. 4 W.,
Sec. 14, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 15 thru 23;
Sec. 24, NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 25 thru 36.
Tps. 8, 9, and 10 S., R. 4 W.
T. 6 S., R. 5 W.,
Sec. 13;
Sec. 14, NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 15 thru 17;
Sec. 18, lots 3 and 4, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
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Secs. 19 thru 36.
Tps. 7 thru 10 S., R. 5 W.
T. 6 S., R. 6 W.,
Sec. 13, E\1/2\SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 22, E\1/2\SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 23, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\,
and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 24 thru 27;
Secs. 34 thru 36.
T. 7 S., R. 6 W.,
Secs. 1 thru 3;
Secs. 10 thru 36.
Tps. 8 thru 10 S., R. 6 W.
T. 11 S., R. 6 W.,
Secs. 5 thru 8;
Secs. 4, 9, 10, and 15, all those portions lying west of the
westerly boundaries of the State Route 85 (100 feet) and detention
basin (700 feet) rights-of-way, as more particularly identified and
described on the official BLM plat maps;
Secs. 16 thru 21;
Secs. 22 and 27, all those portions lying west of the westerly
boundary of the State Route 85 (100 feet) right-of-way, as more
particularly identified and described on the official BLM plat maps;
Secs. 28 thru 30.
T. 7 S., R. 7 W.,
Secs. 13 thru 36.
Tps. 8 thru 10 S., R. 7W.
T. 7 S., R. 8 W.,
Secs. 13 thru 15;
Sec. 16, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Sec. 17, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Sec. 18, lots 3 and 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 19 thru 36.
Tps. 8 and 9 S., R. 8 W., unsurveyed.
T. 10 S., R. 8 W.
T. 7 S., R. 9 W.
Sec. 13, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Sec. 14, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 19 thru 36.
Tps. 8 thru 11 S., R. 9 W., unsurveyed.
Tps. 8 and 9 S., R. 10 W.
Tps. 10 and 11 S., R. 10 W., unsurveyed.
Tps. 8 thru 10 S., R. 11 W.
T. 11 S., R. 11 W., unsurveyed.
T. 8 and 9 S., R. 11 \1/2\ W and 12 W.
T. 10 S., R. 12 W.
T. 11 S., R. 12 W., unsurveyed.
T. 8 S., R. 13 W.,
Secs. 1 thru 3;
Secs. 4 thru 7, all of those portions lying south of the
southerly boundary of the railroad right-of-way, as more
particularly identified and described on the official BLM plat maps.
Secs. 8 thru 36.
Tps. 9 and 10 S., R. 13 W.
T. 11 S., R. 13 W., unsurveyed.
T. 8 S., R. 14 W.,
Secs. 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 21, all those portions lying south
of the southerly boundary of the railroad right-of-way, as more
particularly identified and described on the official BLM plat maps;
Sec. 20, all those portions lying south of the southerly
boundaries of the railroad right-of-way and the Interstate Highway 8
right-of-way, as more particularly identified and described on the
official BLM plat maps;
Sec. 13 and 22 thru 36;
Tps. 9 and 10 S., R. 14 W.
T. 11 S., R. 14 W., unsurveyed.
T. 8 S. R. 15 W.,
Secs. 33 thru 36.
Tps. 9 and 10 S., R. 15W.
T. 11 S., R. 15 W., unsurveyed.
T. 9 S., R. 16 W.,
Secs. 1 and 2;
Secs. 7 thru 36.
T. 10 S., R. 16 W.
T. 11 S., R. 16 W., unsurveyed.
T. 9 S., R. 17 W., partially surveyed.
Secs. 12 thru 14;
Secs. 15 and 16, partially surveyed;
Sec. 17, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 19 thru 36.
T. 10 S., R. 17 W.,
Tps. 11 thru 14 S., R. 17 W., unsurveyed.
T. 9 S., R. 18 W.,
Sec. 21, SE\1/4\;
Sec. 22, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 23 thru 36.
T. 10 S., R. 18 W.
Tps. 11 thru 13 S., R. 18 W., unsurveyed.
T. 9 S., R. 19 W.,
Secs. 25 thru 36.
Tps. 10 thru 13 S., R. 19 W., unsurveyed.
T. 9 S., R. 20 W.,
Secs. 25 thru 36.
Tps. 10 thru 12 S., R. 20 W., unsurveyed.
T. 9 S., R. 21 W.,
Secs. 25 thru 36.
Tps. 10 thru 12 S., R. 21 W.
T. 9 S., R. 22 W.,
Secs. 25 thru 28;
Sec. 29, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 32 thru 36.
T. 10 S., R. 22 W.,
Secs. 1 thru 5;
Sec. 6, lots 1 and 2, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Secs. 7 thru 36.
Tps. 11 and 12 S., R. 22 W.
The areas described aggregate 1,743,426.42 acres.
Addition Request: In accordance with the Engle Act, (43 U.S.C. 155-
158), the USAF filed an application requesting withdrawal and
reservation of 2,366 acres of additional Federal lands for military
training exercises involving the BMGR, Maricopa County, Arizona (the
``Addition area''). The USAF requests that the land be withdrawn from
all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the
mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the geothermal leasing laws,
subject to valid existing rights, and reserved for use of the USAF for
testing and training, consistent with the purpose of the BMGR.
Legal Description of Addition Lands
Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona
T. 6 S. R. 4 W.,
Sec. 19, lots 3 and 4, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 31; Lots 1 and 2, and E\1/2\NW\1/4\.
T. 7 S., R. 4 W.,
Sec. 5, SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\;
Secs. 6, Lots 3 thru 7, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/
4\;
Secs. 7 and 8;
Sec. 9, SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\.
The areas described aggregate 2,366 acres.
In the event any non-federally owned lands within the requested
withdrawal area return or pass to Federal ownership in the future, they
would be subject to the terms and conditions described above.
The purpose of the requested withdrawal extension and expansion is
to withdraw and reserve the lands for use by the USAF and USN for
military testing and training.
For a period until July 20, 2020, all persons who wish to submit
comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the withdrawal
application may present their comments in writing to the persons and
offices listed in the ADDRESSES section above. All comments received
will be considered before the Secretary of the Interior makes any
recommendation for withdrawal to Congress.
As a direct result of the National Emergency declared by the
President on Friday, March 13, 2020, in response to the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic, no in-person public meeting will be held. Instead,
a virtual (online) public meeting will be conducted on Thursday, May 26
at 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, May 28 at 3:00 p.m. via a virtual meeting.
The BLM will publish the date and instructions on how to access the
online public meeting in the Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), Ajo Copper
News, Gila Bend Sun, Arizona Republic (Phoenix Metropolitan area), Casa
Grande Dispatch, The Glendale Star, Yuma Sun, Baja El Sol (Yuma), La
Voz (Phoenix), and The Runner (Tohono O'odham Nation) newspapers for a
minimum of 15 days prior to the meetings.
Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will
be available for public review at the project website noted above.
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 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.
Subject to valid existing rights, the 2366 acres of Federal lands
that are the subject of the USAF application for addition of the
withdrawal and reservation for USAF military use, and that are
described in this notice, will be segregated from all forms of
appropriation under the public land
[[Page 21879]]
laws, including the mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the
geothermal leasing laws. The segregation will continue for a period of
2 years from date of publication in the Federal Register, unless the
applications/proposal are denied or cancelled, or the withdrawal is
approved prior to that date. Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements,
or discretionary land use authorizations may be allowed during the
period of segregation, but only with the approval of the authorized
officer and, as appropriate, with the concurrence of the USAF.
The applications for withdrawal and reservation will be processed
in accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR part 2300.
(Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1714(b)(1) and 43 CFR 2300)
Raymond Suazo,
Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-08298 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P