Bureau of Land Management seeks public input on Sonoran Desert National Monument grazing plan amendment
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PHOENIX – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Sonoran Desert National Monument (Monument). The RMP Amendment is being prepared in response to a 2016 Federal court order and the EA analyzes permitted livestock grazing on certain allotments within the Monument.
“Public participation is critical in this process. We invite interested stakeholders to provide substantive comment and highlight key items for consideration in the final environmental analysis,” said District Manager Leon Thomas.
This 30-day public comment period begins today and ends on June 6, 2020. Maps and documents associated with the project can be found on BLM’s ePlanning website. Public comments can be made directly on the ePlanning website or submitted via email to BLM_AZ_PDO_SDNMgrazing@blm.gov.
On March 26, 2020 the BLM initiated this RMP Amendment by publishing a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register, conducting a 30-day public scoping period and making the land health evaluation and grazing compatibility analysis available for public comment. The BLM has analyzed a range of alternatives in the EA, from no grazing to making all allotments available for grazing under the proposed action.
The 2001 presidential proclamation that established the Monument, directed the BLM to determine the compatibility of livestock grazing on Monument lands north of Interstate 8, which bisects the Monument. The BLM completed an RMP and Record of Decision for the Monument in 2012, which addressed grazing and other resource uses. In 2016, the U.S. District Court in Arizona remanded a portion of the 2012 RMP and Record of Decision back to the BLM.
Before including any personal identifying information in a comment, be aware that this information may be made available to the public at any time. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
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.