[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 2013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-510]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ-931-07, 1430-ET, AZA 33648]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; 
Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 
has filed an application requesting the Secretary of the Interior to 
withdraw 387.50 acres of National Forest System land from mining for 
protection and conservation of the Arizona Hedgehog Cactus 
(Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. arizonicus) located in the Tonto 
National Forest, Arizona. This notice segregates the land for up to 2 
years from location and entry under the United States mining laws. The 
land will remain open to all other uses which may by law be authorized 
on National Forest System lands.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than April 17, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to both the 
Arizona Lands Program Lead, Division of Resources, Bureau of Land 
Management, One N. Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, 
and the Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest, 2324 E. McDowell 
Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Harbour, Tonto National Forest, 
at the above address or at 602-225-5200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service has filed an application 
with the Bureau of Land Management, pursuant to Section 204 of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714, to 
withdraw the following-described National Forest System land within the 
Tonto National Forest for a period of 20 years from location and entry 
under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights:

Gila and Salt River Meridian

T. 1 S., R. 13 E.
    Sec. 12, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/
2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\E\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, 
and NE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 13, S\1/2\N\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/
2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\S\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\.
T. 1 S., R. 14 E.
    Sec. 7, S\1/2\N\1/2\N\1/2\ of Lot 2, S\1/2\N\1/2\ of Lot 2, S\1/
2\ of Lot 2, Lot 3, Lots 7-10, inclusive, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, 
S\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, W\1/2\E\1/2\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\N\1/2\NW\1/
4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/
4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, Lots 1 and 2, and E\1/2\NW\1/4\, excepting a portion of 
Mineral Survey No. 2337.

    The area described contains 387.50 acres, more or less, in Gila 
and Pinal Counties.

    The purpose of the proposed withdrawal would be to protect and 
conserve an ecologically viable population of Arizona Hedgehog Cactus 
to compensate for occupied habitat that will be lost as a result of 
open-pit mine and processing facilities located within the Tonto 
National Forest. The cactus is listed as a Federal Endangered Species 
and is also on the Forest Service Sensitive Species list.
    The use of a right-of-way, an interagency agreement, or a 
cooperative agreement would not adequately constrain nondiscretionary 
uses which could irrevocably damage the plants and their habitat.
    There are no suitable alternative sites that can be considered 
because the above-described land was identified as the best choice for 
mitigation by a committee of botanists familiar with the species.
    No water rights are needed to fulfill the purpose of the requested 
withdrawal.
    Records relating to the application may be examined by interested 
parties at the address of the Bureau of Land Management office stated 
above.
    For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or 
objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal may present their 
views in writing, by the date specified above, to both the Arizona 
Lands Program Lead, Division of Resources, Bureau of Land Management, 
and the Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest at the addresses 
stated above.
    Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested 
persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on 
the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request, by the date 
specified above, to both the Arizona Lands Program Lead, Bureau of Land 
Management, and the Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest at the 
addresses stated above. Upon determination by the authorized officer 
that a public meeting will be held, a notice of time and place will be 
published in the Federal Register at least 30 days before the scheduled 
date of the meeting.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the Tonto National Forest at the 
above address during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may request 
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or address from 
public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. Such 
requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions 
from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.
    On January 17, 2007 the above-described land will be segregated 
from location and entry under the United States mining laws. The 
segregative effect of the application shall terminate upon denial or 
cancellation of the application; approval of the application; or 
January 19, 2009, whichever occurs first.

    Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1.

    Dated: November 28, 2006.
Michael A. Taylor,
Deputy State Director, Resources Division.
[FR Doc. E7-510 Filed 1-16-07; 8:45 am]
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