For Immediate Release Contact: Pamela A. Mathis
April 25, 2008 Public Affairs at: 623-580-5509 or cell at: 602-402-7690
Public Input Wanted on Proposed Road from Goodyear to Mobile
Two-to-Six Lanes near Sonoran Desert National Monument
(PHOENIX, Az.)—Residents, interested individuals, and groups from Tucson to Phoenix are provided advanced notice and encouraged to attend one of three open-house meetings in late May to learn about a proposed 17-mile road project from Goodyear to Mobile through public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and adjacent to the Sonoran Desert National Monument.
The Monument, administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is located 60 miles south of Phoenix and designated by presidential proclamation to protect diverse Sonoran desert landscapes and high quality saguro cactus forests.
The City of Goodyear (City) has submitted a right of way application to the Lower Sonoran Field Office BLM for the construction of a two-lane road, expanding to six lanes, that provides access between Goodyear and its recently annexed area to the south, in Mobile. While the exact route has yet to be determined, a primary proposal places the road between the Sierra Estrella Mountains to the east and along the edge of the Sonoran Desert National Monument to the west. Other alternatives place the road within five or six miles of the Monument, though still on public lands.
The City of Goodyear and developers propose the road to enhance emergency services travel (e.g., fire, law enforcement, ambulance) and to provide direct access to the core of Goodyear.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to take into consideration the environmental consequences of proposed actions as well as input from state and local governments, Indian tribes, the public, and other federal agencies. Because the City of Goodyear must obtain a right of way grant from the BLM, a federal agency, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to address the impact of road construction through BLM alternative routes. Three Public Scoping Meetings are scheduled as follows:
- Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 – 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Goodyear City Hall, 190 North Litchfield Road, Goodyear
- Thursday, May 29th, 2008 – 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the Global Water Conference Center, 22590 North Powers Parkway, Maricopa
- Thursday, May 29th, 2008 – 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Mobile Elementary School, 42798 South 99th Avenue, north of State Route 238
BLM staff and City of Goodyear resource specialists will be available at these meetings to answer questions on the proposed road project. The BLM encourages public comments through June 13th, 2008 by mail, e-mail, and phone to: “Goodyear Road” at BLM, Lower Sonoran Field Office, 21605 N. 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ. 85027; or email at: azsvpp@blm.gov ;or for more information, call Jim, Andersen: 623-580-5570.
Comments received become part of the public record (including name and address); or at your request, names are withheld to the extent allowed by the Freedom of Information Act or other applicable law.
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