The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Prescott National Forest (PNF) will host a public meeting on December 17, 2024, from 6 – 8 p.m. at The Center to discuss a the Hassayampa River Riparian Corridor Mineral Withdrawal Reinstatement Project, a proposal to withdraw 3,739 acres of land in the PNF from location and entry under the U.S. mining laws, and from leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, for a 20-year term, subject to valid existing rights. The public meeting will be a traditional in-person meeting with no online or virtual options for attending. The Center is located at 1280 E. Rosser St., Prescott, AZ 86301.
At the meeting, BLM and Forest Service staff will provide information and answer questions about the proposal. The Forest Service is the lead agency for the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) environmental review process for the requested withdrawal, with BLM participating as a cooperating agency. Under federal law, the BLM processes withdrawals on public lands, including National Forest System lands.
The DRAFT Environmental Assessment (DRAFT EA), maps, and other documents associated with the proposal are posted online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/prescott/?project=64529. The availability of the DRAFT EA will be advertised via public notice in the Prescott Daily Courier on Sunday, December 15, 2024, beginning the official 30-day comment period for the EA which ends on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
Questions and/or official comments about the minerals withdrawal can be submitted in writing online, by mail or in person. Please include “Hassayampa River Minerals Withdrawal” in the subject line on all written comments submitted.
- Email – Realty Specialist Chris Welker at [email protected]
- Mail – Prescott National Forest, Attention: Hassayampa River Minerals Withdrawal, 344 S. Cortez Street, Prescott, AZ 86303;
- In person at the Bradshaw and Chino Valley Ranger District Office at the address above. Office hours are posted on our Contact Us webpage.
The area requested for protection is home to sensitive wildlife species with native habitat along the Hassayampa River. This river corridor’s unique plant community occurs exclusively within the requested withdrawal area, and provides habitat for the Mexican spotted owl, northern goshawk, Cooper’s hawks, and flammulated owls. The Mexican spotted owl is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Hassayampa River corridor is located near a historically active mining area. The requested 20-year withdrawal would protect this area and its unique natural resources from new mining, oil and gas, and geothermal development, subject to valid existing rights.
For more information on the proposal please contact Realty Specialist Chris Welker at [email protected] or 928-443-8072.
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