Date: 01/02/2009 BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
Scoping for Programmatic EA on Special Recreation Permits & Commercial Use Authorizations in Grand Canyon-Parashant & Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Strip District and National Park Service (NPS) will be preparing a programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the impacts from, and determine criteria for, authorizing future BLM Special Recreation Permits (SRPs) and/or NPS Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs). The SRPs and CUAs would be for motorized uses on recently designated routes in the Grand Canyon-Parashant and Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments. Motorized uses could include commercially guided activities and special events.
This EA will be developed through an interdisciplinary process with public input and in accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality regulations, and each agency's regulations and policies pertinent to these activities.
During the land use planning process, routes were designated in both Monuments. This EA will address implementation of route designations as it pertains to motorized SRP/CUA uses. The EA will examine impacts that may occur to Monument resources and appropriate levels for motorized SRP/CUA uses. This email seeks your assistance in helping to identify the following:
Issues to be addressed in the EA, specific to elements of the natural or human environment that may be affected by authorizing future motorized SRPs/CUAs
Management criteria that could be used in authorizing future motorized SRPs/CUAs
Motorized SRP/CUA use levels that should be established to avoid or reduce potential resource impacts or user conflicts
Relevant environmental information to be considered in developing the proposed SRP/CUA review criteria (e.g. noise effects from motorized vehicles on humans and wildlife; positive and negative user capacity issues; road maintenance standards)
Your thoughts regarding criteria for managing commercial or special event motorized uses on the designated routes in the Monuments, while assuring positive recreational experiences for a wide spectrum of visitors, will be especially helpful. Examples of potential criteria could include:
Minimum guide-to-participant ratio (e.g. I trained guide for every 5 participants)
Season of use to minimize potential conflicts (e.g. specific time periods established or excluded for uses or use areas)
Number and diversity of similar services already offered to the public
Capacity of sites and areas to withstand repeated use
Public demand for the proposed use(s)
Performance standards for specific uses
Required criteria would include:
Conformance with Federal law, policy, and guidance and Arizona State Law
Applicant's past performance and capability to carry out the proposed use(s)
Compliance with existing land use plan decisions
COMMENT DEADLINE IS JANUARY 23, 2009
Send written comments to:
Bureau of Land Management
Arizona Strip District Office
345 East Riverside Drive
St. George, Utah 84790
Email comments to:
Diana_Hawks@blm.gov
Please put "Programmatic EA" in the subject line.
In order to ensure that your comments and concerns are available to fully inform development of the Programmatic EA, please provide written comments no later than January 23, 2009. To submit comments, ask questions, or obtain additional information, please contact Diana Hawks, Arizona Strip District Recreation Team Lead, at (435) 688-3266. You can also email her at Diana_Hawks@blm.gov.
JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!
Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
Link
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
Scoping for Programmatic EA on Special Recreation Permits & Commercial Use Authorizations in Grand Canyon-Parashant & Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Strip District and National Park Service (NPS) will be preparing a programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the impacts from, and determine criteria for, authorizing future BLM Special Recreation Permits (SRPs) and/or NPS Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs). The SRPs and CUAs would be for motorized uses on recently designated routes in the Grand Canyon-Parashant and Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments. Motorized uses could include commercially guided activities and special events.
This EA will be developed through an interdisciplinary process with public input and in accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality regulations, and each agency's regulations and policies pertinent to these activities.
During the land use planning process, routes were designated in both Monuments. This EA will address implementation of route designations as it pertains to motorized SRP/CUA uses. The EA will examine impacts that may occur to Monument resources and appropriate levels for motorized SRP/CUA uses. This email seeks your assistance in helping to identify the following:
Issues to be addressed in the EA, specific to elements of the natural or human environment that may be affected by authorizing future motorized SRPs/CUAs
Management criteria that could be used in authorizing future motorized SRPs/CUAs
Motorized SRP/CUA use levels that should be established to avoid or reduce potential resource impacts or user conflicts
Relevant environmental information to be considered in developing the proposed SRP/CUA review criteria (e.g. noise effects from motorized vehicles on humans and wildlife; positive and negative user capacity issues; road maintenance standards)
Your thoughts regarding criteria for managing commercial or special event motorized uses on the designated routes in the Monuments, while assuring positive recreational experiences for a wide spectrum of visitors, will be especially helpful. Examples of potential criteria could include:
Minimum guide-to-participant ratio (e.g. I trained guide for every 5 participants)
Season of use to minimize potential conflicts (e.g. specific time periods established or excluded for uses or use areas)
Number and diversity of similar services already offered to the public
Capacity of sites and areas to withstand repeated use
Public demand for the proposed use(s)
Performance standards for specific uses
Required criteria would include:
Conformance with Federal law, policy, and guidance and Arizona State Law
Applicant's past performance and capability to carry out the proposed use(s)
Compliance with existing land use plan decisions
COMMENT DEADLINE IS JANUARY 23, 2009
Send written comments to:
Bureau of Land Management
Arizona Strip District Office
345 East Riverside Drive
St. George, Utah 84790
Email comments to:
Diana_Hawks@blm.gov
Please put "Programmatic EA" in the subject line.
In order to ensure that your comments and concerns are available to fully inform development of the Programmatic EA, please provide written comments no later than January 23, 2009. To submit comments, ask questions, or obtain additional information, please contact Diana Hawks, Arizona Strip District Recreation Team Lead, at (435) 688-3266. You can also email her at Diana_Hawks@blm.gov.
JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!
Thanks in advance for your support,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
Link