Recreational Shooting Sports Microsites Pilot Project

Recreational shooting sports are one of our nation’s oldest and most popular pastimes and are a long-standing and appropriate use of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands. These activities generate funds that support wildlife conservation, public land restoration projects, and hunter education. In Arizona, approximately 97 percent of BLM lands are available for dispersed recreational shooting.

The rapid population growth in Maricopa and Pinal Counties has significantly increased the demand for a variety of recreation opportunities, including recreational target shooting, on public lands near the Phoenix metropolitan area. In order to enhance recreation access, public safety, and natural resource stewardship, the BLM is proposing a shooting sports pilot project that will evaluate a variety of active management options at four “microsites” near Phoenix. The BLM is accepting public comments on the Phoenix District Recreational Shooting Sports Microsites Pilot Project (Pilot Project) from June 3 to July 2, 2019.

Key Objectives – The BLM aims to answer the following questions:

· Will shooting at microsites increase? Does shooting decrease in other areas less suitable or safe for these activities (no back stops, adjacent to roads, near residences or hiking trails)?

· Do the microsites promote responsible shooting practices elsewhere (increased safety, keeping sites clean)? · Does the incidence of new user-created shooting areas decrease?

· With the availability of the microsites, do conflicts with other appropriate uses of BLM lands such as hiking, equestrian, off-highway vehicle use, or camping decrease?

· Are the BLM or other entities, such as the Arizona Game and Fish Department or counties, better suited for the development and management of fully-developed microsites?

· Are there other suitable sites within the Phoenix District Office that the BLM should consider for these microsites?

Authorities and Applicable Laws

There are various authorities for the BLM to lease or manage recreational shooting sports on public lands. Section 102 (8) of the Federal Land Management and Policy Act states, “…public lands will be managed in a manner…that will provide for outdoor recreation.” More recently, Section 4104 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S.47) enacted in 2019 provides authority to “lease or permit the use of Federal land for a shooting range.”

This public scoping is being carried out to comply with the public participation requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act.

In order to assess this proposal, the BLM is preparing an environmental assessment that considers the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts. The BLM will also consult with tribes and the State Historic Preservation Office under the National Historic Preservation Act. Public scoping is the first formal step in this process and provides an opportunity for early public input.

Once the draft environmental analysis has been prepared, there will be a second opportunity for public input. The pilot would not change existing dispersed recreational shooting access, and would have no effect on hunting activities as regulated under applicable Arizona state law.

Microsites Descriptions

This Pilot Project consists of the development and active management by the BLM of four microsites, preliminarily described below and shown in the conceptual drawings on the project website. The proposed microsites would offer shooting sports enthusiasts enhanced access and safety through various levels of development:

Saddleback Mountain – Located ¼ mile south of State Route 74. Proposed minimally developed site. Amenities could include parking improvements, backstops and “projectile zone.”

Box Canyon – Located on N. Hidden Valley Road. Proposed semi-developed site. Initial amenities could include parking improvements, short- and long-range firing areas, portable toilet(s), target structures and “projectile zone.” Future development could include shade structures, permanent restrooms, overnight camping area, picnic tables and “projectile zone.”

Church Camp Road – Located ½ mile north of State Route 74 on N. Christian/Church Camp Road. Proposed developed site. Amenities could include established parking areas, shooting bays for multiple categories, concrete shooting platforms, permanent restroom(s), shade structures and “projectile zone”.

Narramore Road – Located on Narramore Road. Proposed fully developed site. Amenities could include long-range rifle range with fixed steel targets, 100-, 50-, and 25-yard bays, shotgun skeet shooting range, gravel access road and improvements to parking, concrete paved platforms with shooting structures, shade structures, permanent restroom(s) and “projectile zone.”

In order to address the potential environmental exposure from lead waste, all sites would be considered for possible construction of lead weirs and retention basins.

“Projectile zones” could be established and would likely be enclosed within fencing (including tortoise fencing where appropriate).

The BLM will determine the extent of “projectile zone” that could be delineated for each microsite to protect public safety. The BLM will also consider whether there is a need to close or re-route an existing travel route(s) that could occur within any “projectile zone” under 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 8364 and 43 CFR 8365.

The BLM may consider fees at any of the semi- to fully-developed microsites.

What to Include in Comments

The objectives of public scoping fall into three broad categories:

1. The relevant issues associated with a proposal;

2. If there are means to minimize the effects from the proposal; and

3. If there are reasonable action alternatives that meet the project purpose and need the BLM should consider during the environmental analysis.

How to Comment

This is the first and best opportunity for you to help us with this proposal. The BLM has made four conceptual drawings available for your input. Here are some things to consider:

· Do you have knowledge of the resources or existing uses at one of the sites?

 · If you participate in shooting sports, have you used one of these sites?

· Would the improvements including in the conceptual drawings maintain or increase your use of the site?

· Is there something new we should consider at one or more of the sites?

· Would establishing these sites decrease conflicts with other allowable uses on BLM lands?

· Would establishing these sites decrease impacts to areas not suitable or safe for this activity, such as in rare or unique wildlife habitat, adjacent to cultural sites etc.?

Comments need to be submitted by July 2, 2019 in order to be considered.

For more information contact: Tyler Lindsey, Acting Project Manager at: 623-580-5500.

Thank you for your interest in this proposal