Input needed on BLM plan for the Arizona Strip

[re_guderian]

Forgot to mention this at the Friday meeting... I had clipped a newspaper article from late November last year about this. The BLM is coming up with a new use plan for the Arizona Strip and the National Monuments there.

Comments can be made locally in the Phoenix area on Wednesday, January 25th at the Deer Valley community Center, 2001 W. Wahalla Lane, Phoenix, from 4-7 PM, or Thursday January 26th at the Du Bois Center at NAU in Flagstaff, same time.


Summary:

• BLM's proposal is a compromise of 5 sumbitted plans. It will
  
• Close 300 of the current 1300 miles of unpaved roads, keeping 1000 of them open.
  
• No new wilderness areas created, but 280,000 acres managed as wilderness without the designation
  
• 5 new areas of "critical concern" would be designated.
  
• Mining and oil/gas allowed outside of Natl Monuments.
  
• Grazing allowed, with some restrictions.
  
• No new recreational sites immediately planned.

The Sierra Club, Wildlands Council, the Wilderness Society, and the Grand Canyon Trust are all over this saying it is too permissive. They say "What we recommeded were ust the primary routes " to remain open. Not sure how they define "primary routes" but there aren't that many roads that can be classified as "primary routes"...

After heading down to Toroweap this past weekend and traversing some of this area, I'd hate to see it shut down. There isn't any technical wheeling (that I'm aware of) in that area, but just one of the last real remote areas in the lower 48 without any civilization to speak of.

 

[sjpitts]

Forgot to mention this at the Friday meeting... I had clipped a newspaper article from late November last year about this. The BLM is coming up with a new use plan for the Arizona Strip and the National Monuments there.

Comments can be made locally in the Phoenix area on Wednesday, January 25th at the Deer Valley community Center, 2001 W. Wahalla Lane, Phoenix, from 4-7 PM, or Thursday January 26th at the Du Bois Center at NAU in Flagstaff, same time.


Summary:

• BLM's proposal is a compromise of 5 sumbitted plans. It will
  
• Close 300 of the current 1300 miles of unpaved roads, keeping 1000 of them open.
  
• No new wilderness areas created, but 280,000 acres managed as wilderness without the designation
  
• 5 new areas of "critical concern" would be designated.
  
• Mining and oil/gas allowed outside of Natl Monuments.
  
• Grazing allowed, with some restrictions.
  
• No new recreational sites immediately planned.

The Sierra Club, Wildlands Council, the Wilderness Society, and the Grand Canyon Trust are all over this saying it is too permissive. They say "What we recommeded were ust the primary routes " to remain open. Not sure how they define "primary routes" but there aren't that many roads that can be classified as "primary routes"...

After heading down to Toroweap this past weekend and traversing some of this area, I'd hate to see it shut down. There isn't any technical wheeling (that I'm aware of) in that area, but just one of the last real remote areas in the lower 48 without any civilization to speak of.

Thanks for the info. It really bugs me how, when the papers cover these issues, they quote the guys from the sierra club but never anyone else.

I think there is a similiar issue with the Aqua Fria National Monument right now.

Do you know if there is a web site where we can submit comments?

Jared

 

[desertdude]

There is a form on this page as well as a comments email address


http://www.blm.gov/az/LUP/strip/strip_plan.htm

 

[re_guderian]

Thanks for the info. It really bugs me how, when the papers cover these issues, they quote the guys from the sierra club but never anyone else.

Jared

no doubt. The headline was "Groups say BLM plas for Arizona land use is disruptive"... wth? They're proposing to CLOSE 23% of the existing roads!!!