BLM invites public input on Middle Gila South Transportation Plan
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TUCSON, Ariz. – The Bureau of Land Management Tucson Field Office invites the public to participate in the scoping stage of the Middle Gila South Access and Transportation Management Plan and associated environmental assessment. This 30-day public scoping period is from March 2 to April 3, 2023.
The transportation management plan would establish the access and transportation system for providing entry points to public lands administered by the BLM for multiple land uses and activities, including hunting and other recreational opportunities. The transportation system would include designated roads, primitive roads and trails maintained to provide motorized and non-motorized access to public lands. The environmental assessment will analyze the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative effects from the designation and maintenance of the transportation system.
The planning area includes approximately 212,000 acres of BLM-administered public land close to Tucson and Phoenix and near small towns and communities in Pinal, Pima, Cochise, and Gila counties.
The BLM received public comments in Fall 2022 on access needs to develop preliminary strategies for providing access to public lands. Comments received during this public scoping period will help the BLM develop the environmental assessment by identifying issues and concerns, alternatives, and data and information to consider during the impact analysis.
The BLM will conduct two virtual Zoom meetings to provide information about the project and how to participate:
- Meeting 1: March 7, 2023, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NCeOaZKvRlKdqgXyEeDCIA
- Meeting 2: March 8, 2023, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R8GVTST3SwCuJbzobPFICg
Comments may be submitted in the following ways:
- Email to: middlegilasouth-tmp@blm.gov,
- US Mail to: BLM Tucson Field Office, ATTN: Middle Gila South Access and Transportation Management Plan, 3201 E. Universal Way, Tucson, AZ 85756
- Online via the “participate now” feature on the National NEPA Register.
The BLM plans to release the proposed travel management plan and environmental assessment for public review and comment in May 2023 and expects to issue the Decision Record in July 2023.
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.