BLM to hold public meeting on proposed Hassayampa River corridor protections
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
PHOENIX — The Bureau of Land Management scheduled a public meeting on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Prescott Public Library, 215 E Goodwin St., Prescott, AZ 86303, to discuss a request from the U.S. Forest Service to protect 3,739 acres of land in the Prescott National Forest for 20 years.
The area requested for protection – known as a withdrawal – is home to sensitive wildlife species with native habitat along the Hassayampa River. This river corridor’s unique plant community occurs exclusively within the requested withdrawal area, and provides habitat for the Mexican spotted owl, northern goshawk, Cooper’s hawks, and flammulated owls. The Mexican spotted owl is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Hassayampa River corridor is located near a historically active mining area. The requested 20-year withdrawal would protect this area and its unique natural resources from new mining, oil and gas, and geothermal development, subject to valid existing rights.
A notice announcing the public meeting will appear in the Federal Register tomorrow. At the meeting, BLM and Forest Service staff will provide information about the requested withdrawal and answer questions.
The Forest Service is the lead agency for the National Environmental Policy Act environmental review process for the requested withdrawal, with BLM participating as a cooperating agency. Under federal law, the BLM processes withdrawals on public lands, including in the National Forest System.
For more information on the proposal please contact Chris Wonderly at jwonderly@blm.gov or 602-818-8295.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.