[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 43746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21638]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-030-1920-00-4305]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Improvement of Diamond Bar Road From the Pearce Ferry Road 
Near Meadview, Arizona, to the Western Boundary of the Hualapai Indian 
Reservation in Mohave County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent, notice of scoping period, and notice of 
scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Kingman Field 
Office, will be directing the preparation of an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to analyze the impacts of a proposal to improve Diamond 
Bar Road, an existing unimproved road that crosses BLM and private 
lands in northwestern Arizona. The project proponent is the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs (BIA), Truxton Canyon Agency. The Bureau of Indian 
Affairs proposes to widen the existing road to a two-lane highway, pave 
it, construct dirt shoulders on each side, and install culverts as 
needed. Approximately 70 percent of the proposed roadway would follow 
the alignment of the existing road. This proposal conforms with BLM's 
Kingman Resource Area Resource Management Plan, approved in 1995. The 
BLM will act as Lead Agency and the BIA as Cooperating Agency for 
preparation of the EIS.
    This notice is intended to invite the public to participate in 
identifying issues and developing alternatives for the proposal.

DATES: Three meetings to identify public concerns will be held on the 
following dates at the locations indicated. Each meeting is scheduled 
to start at 6-8 p.m.

September 3, 1997, Holiday Inn, 3100 East Andy Devine, Kingman, Arizona 
86401
September 4, 1997, VFW Hall, 15943 Pearce Ferry Road, Dolan Springs, 
Arizona 86441
September 5, 1997, Hualapai Multipurpose Building, 921 Hualapai Way, 
Peach Springs, Arizona 86434

    Comments relating to the identification of issues and alternatives 
will be accepted for up to 30 days following the publication of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Bureau of Land Management, Kingman Field 
Office, 2475 Beverly Avenue, Kingman, Arizona 86401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Don McClure, Project Manager, (520) 
757-3161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of and need for this project are 
to enhance the safety and efficiency of motorized travel on Diamond Bar 
Road and to accommodate projected future traffic demand resulting from 
further development of Grand Canyon West on the Hualapai Indian 
Reservation. Diamond Bar Road provides access to Grand Canyon West, 
primarily for commercial and private vehicles originating from Las 
Vegas. Grand Canyon West is a development near the rim of the Grand 
Canyon that currently consists of an airport and associated terminal 
building, a food service facility, restrooms, and a permits office. 
Implementation of a master plan for Grand Canyon West completed in 
1994, is expected to cause up to a sixfold increase in the total number 
of visitors over a ten-year period. This increase would result in a 
substantial increase in the number of vehicles on Diamond Bar Road. The 
proposed improvement of Diamond Bar Road would accommodate this 
increased volume by providing a roadway designed for up to 2,400 
vehicles per day.

Anticipated Issues

    Management concerns that will be addressed include, but are not 
limited to, impacts on vegetation, visual quality, recreation, cultural 
resources, socioeconomic, public safety, and the Joshua Tree Forest 
Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Studies to be conducted include 
a native plant inventory, biological evaluation, cultural resource 
survey, traffic study, and visual impact analysis. Tribal consultation 
pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 
1966, as amended, is ongoing.

Other Relevant Information

    The EIS will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team of resource 
specialists in the fields of vegetation (including salvage), wildlife, 
visual quality, archaeological and traditional cultural resources, 
soils, range management, realty, and roadway design. Complete records 
of all phases of the EIS process will be available for public review at 
the Kingman Field Office, 2475 Beverly Avenue, Kingman, 86401.

    Dated: August 11, 1997.
Michael A. Ferguson,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 97-21638 Filed 8-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P