BLM outlines future process to address ailing San Pedro cottonwood trees
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TUCSON, Ariz. – The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Tucson Field Office has decided to proceed with an Environmental Assessment (EA) to guide future actions addressing two ailing cottonwood trees located in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. The decision to conduct an EA was made after reviewing dozens of comments received during public scoping in July.
“Our goal is to keep the public and key partners informed on our process and acknowledge the concerns we've heard so far,” said Scott Feldhausen, Gila District Manager.
The two large trees, located adjacent to the historic San Pedro House, have prompted safety concerns. One tree has shed several large limbs onto walkways and on the house, causing structural damage. The second tree has been determined by an arborist to be near “catastrophic failure” due to a weakened trunk and the weight of its many large branches. This tree is currently fenced and the public is asked to stay away from it.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an EA determines whether or not a federal action has the potential to cause significant environmental effects.
An interdisciplinary team, including an arborist, will inspect the trees and evaluate the site in order to identify a proposed action and alternative solutions and then draft an EA. The draft EA, which will include a proposed action and alternatives, will be presented online and at a public meeting later this year, and the public will be asked to provide written comments on the proposals. The BLM will consider the public comments and also consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prior to making a decision on how to address the trees.
Scoping documents and the arborist’s report are available on the BLM ePlanning portal:
Additional information about the NEPA process can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/nepa/national-environmental-policy-act-review-process
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.