Recreational Shooting Sports Project - Bureau of Land Management

Phoenix District Office

Recreational Shooting Sports Project

Final Environmental Assessment

DOI-BLM-AZ-P000-2019-0001-EA U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Phoenix District Office 21605 North 7th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85027 623-580-5500

January 2020

It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

DOI-BLM-AZ-P000-2019-0001-EA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................1

1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Scoping and Issue Identification ...................................................................................... 1 1.4 Land Use Plan Conformance Statement........................................................................... 2 1.5 Relationships to Statutes, Regulations, Manuals and Other Plans ................................... 2 1.6 Decision to be Made......................................................................................................... 3

2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES .........................................4

2.1 Proposed Action ............................................................................................................... 4 2.2 No Action Alternative .................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis .................................. 11

3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES.................................................................................................12

3.1 Resources Considered for Analysis................................................................................ 12 3.2 Types of Effects ............................................................................................................. 12 3.3.1 Recreation ? Affected Environment ........................................................................... 13 3.3.2 Recreation ? Environmental Consequences ............................................................... 14 3.4.1 Cultural Resources ? Affected Environment.............................................................. 16 3.4.2 Cultural Resources ? Environmental Consequences .................................................. 19 3.5.1 Biological Resources ? Affected Environment .......................................................... 20 3.5.2 Biological Resources ? Environmental Consequences .............................................. 21 3.6.1 Wastes, Hazardous or Solid ? Affected Environment ................................................ 24 3.6.2 Wastes, Hazardous or Solid ? Environmental Consequences .................................... 25 3.7.1 Livestock Grazing ? Affected Environment............................................................... 26 3.7.2 Livestock Grazing ? Environmental Consequences ................................................... 27 3.8.1 Noise ? Affected Environment ................................................................................... 28 3.8.2 Noise ? Environmental Consequences ....................................................................... 29 3.9.1 Public Safety ? Affected Environment ....................................................................... 31

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3.9.2 Public Safety ? Environmental Consequences ........................................................... 32 3.10.1 Soils ? Affected Environment .................................................................................... 34 3.10.2 Soils ? Environmental Consequences......................................................................... 36 3.11.1 Visual Resource Management ? Affected Environment ............................................ 37 3.11.2 Visual Resource Management ? Environmental Consequences ................................ 39

4.0 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS .........................................................................41

4.1 Geographic Scope .......................................................................................................... 41 4.2 Timeframe of Effects ..................................................................................................... 42 4.3 Past and Present Actions ................................................................................................ 42 4.4 Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ........................................................................ 43 4.5 Analysis by Resource ..................................................................................................... 44

5.0 PERSONS, GROUPS, AND AGENCIES CONSULTED ........................51

5.1 List of Preparers ............................................................................................................. 51 5.2 Public Review ................................................................................................................ 51 5.3 Tribes, Individuals, Organizations or Agencies Consulted............................................ 51

6.0 REFERENCES .............................................................................................53

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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G

Resources and Issue Identification Checklist Design Features Section 106 Compliance Document Visual Contrast Ratings Additional Land Use Conformance Statements Comments and Responses to Comments Preliminary Environmental Stewardship Plans

LIST OF MAPS

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10

Figure 11 Figure 12

Figure 13 Figure 14 Figure 15 Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 18 Figure 19 Figure 20 Figure 21 Figure 22

Regional Map North Vicinity Map South Vicinity Map Baldy Mountain Recreation Area Box Canyon Recreation Area Church Camp Road and Saddleback Mountain Recreation Areas Narramore Road Recreation Area Baldy Mountain ? Biological Resources and Noise Cumulative Effects Study Area Baldy Mountain ? Visual Resources Cumulative Effects Study Area Saddleback Mountain ? Biological Resources and Noise Cumulative Effects Study Area Saddleback Mountain ? Visual Resources Cumulative Effects Study Area Church Camp Road ? Biological Resources and Noise Cumulative Effects Study Area Church Camp Road ? Visual Resources Cumulative Effects Study Area Box Canyon ? Biological Resources and Noise Cumulative Effects Study Area Box Canyon ? Visual Resources Cumulative Effects Study Area Narramore Road ? Biological Resources and Noise Cumulative Effects Study Area Narramore Road ? Visual Resources Cumulative Effects Study Area Baldy Mountain ? Temporary Construction Closure Area Saddleback Mountain ? Temporary Construction Closure Area Box Canyon ? Temporary Construction Closure Area Church Camp Road ? Temporary Construction Closure Area Narramore Road ? Temporary Construction Closure Area

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A Baldy Mountain 100% Design Attachment B Saddleback Mountain 100% Design Attachment C Box Canyon 100% Design Attachment D Church Camp Road 100% Design Attachment E Narramore Road 100% Design

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1.0 INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE AND NEED

1.1 Introduction Recreational shooting sports are a popular, long-standing, and allowable use of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands. The Phoenix District is proposing this Recreational Shooting Sports Project (Project) to evaluate a variety of construction and operation options at five recreational shooting areas1 near Phoenix, Arizona (Figure 1). Three areas (Baldy Mountain, Church Camp Road, and Saddleback Mountain) are located within the Hassayampa Field Office (Figure 2) and two areas (Box Canyon and Narramore Road) are located in the Lower Sonoran Field Office (Figure 3). These areas would range from minimally- to fully-developed and collectively would consist of approximately 4,109 acres of BLM-managed lands (Project Area).

The Phoenix metropolitan area is one of the fastest growing regions in the U.S. Demands for all forms of recreational activities have been increasing on BLM-managed lands. The number and extent of user-created concentrated recreational shooting sites has been expanding for more than a decade. Recreational shooting can create unique challenges in managing natural and cultural resources, and in limiting user-conflicts and public safety concerns.

1.2 Purpose and Need The purpose of this action is to evaluate a variety of construction and operation options for five proposed recreational shooting areas on BLM-managed lands near Phoenix, Arizona.

The need for the action is to comply with direction in: 1) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) to provide for outdoor recreation (Section 102 [a] [8]); 2) the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9) to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of recreational shooting opportunities on federal land (Section 4001 [a] [1]); and 3) Secretarial Order (SO) 3356 "Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting, and Wildlife Conservation Opportunities and Coordination with States, Tribes, and Territories."

1.3 Scoping and Issue Identification The BLM conducted a 30-day public scoping period from June 3 to July 2, 2019. Notifications were sent to approximately 159 individuals, organizations, and agencies. There was also extensive media coverage in newspapers and on television for this Project. Open-house style meetings were held on June 11, 2019 at the Buckeye Community Center in Buckeye, Arizona and on June 13, 2019 at the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Approximately 45 people attended the meeting in Buckeye, and approximately 25 people attended the meeting in Phoenix. The BLM received approximately 200 comments by email or letter to consider. Based on internal and public input, the following issues were identified for the BLM to consider in the environmental analysis:

? How would the BLM manage trash and lead waste at each site? ? What uses would be not allowed within the "projectile zones?" (now known as "Hazardous

Exclusion Area")

1 In this document the terms recreation "area" and "site" are synonomous, and recreation site or area, is synomous with developed recreation site or area.

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? How would the BLM control fugitive dust in parking areas and on access roads? ? How would the BLM address those sites located within Category II or III Sonoran desert

tortoise habitat (Gopherus morafkai)? ? What types of targets would be allowed? ? What would be the range safety rules?

1.4 Land Use Plan Conformance Statement The Project would be in conformance with the two applicable land use plans, the BradshawHarquahala Approved Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision (BradshawHarquahala RMP) (BLM 2010) and the Lower Sonoran Approved Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision (Lower Sonoran RMP) (BLM 2012).

The Bradshaw-Harquahala RMP states:

RR-24: "Recreational target shooting activities are permitted on public lands in the Bradshaw-Harquahala area and are governed by state law...."

RR-25: "BLM will work with the public, organizations, and law enforcement to promote safe shooting practices that limit user conflict and damage to natural and cultural resources..."

The Lower Sonoran RMP states:

RM-2: "Provide recreation opportunities and experiences derived from public land resource values which are responsive to visitor demand and where recreation use and program investments are commensurate with the management of other resources and resource uses while sustaining the principal recreation activities and associated qualities and conditions of the area..."

See Appendix E for additional details.

1.5 Relationships to Statutes, Regulations, Manuals and Other Plans The following statutes, regulations and other authorities that apply to this Project, include but are not limited to:

? Federal Land Policy and Management Act ? National Environmental Policy Act ? National Historic Preservation Act ? John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (Dingell Act) ? Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act ? The Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 ? 43 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 4100 ? Grazing Administration ? Exclusive of Alaska

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1.6 Decision to be Made The Authorized Officer is the Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, who will decide whether to approve the construction and operation of one or more recreational shooting sports sites as described in Section 2.1 of this environmental assessment (EA). The Phoenix District Manager is the Authorized Officer who will decide whether to cancel the existing permit for the Gable-Peterson grazing allotment as described in Section 2.1 of this EA. If this Project is approved, the Authorized Officers would decide whether to implement mitigation, and/or other measures to minimize or reduce impacts.

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