Most Activities on BLM-Arizona Managed lands to be Suspended due to Federal Government Shutdown As a result of the Federal government shutdown, essentially all services provided by the Bureau of Land Management will be suspended, with the exception of law enforcement and emergency response functions. Approximately 4,000 recreation facilities, including visitor centers, facilities, campgrounds, boat ramps and other recreation sites will be closed. With an estimated $4.8 billion in revenues in 2012, the BLM nationally returns more than four dollars for every budget dollar it receives. The BLM manages 245 million acres – more than any of the nation’s major natural resource agencies, with the smallest budget, the fewest employees, and the lowest cost. Recreation activities on BLM-managed lands will be similarly impacted. Public lands receive more than 57 million visitors every year, contributing more than $7 billion to local economies. In FY2012, Arizona received more than 5.7 million visitors every year contributing more than $496 (total funds) million to local economies. In Arizona, BLM closures include 14 developed campgrounds around the state, such as Burro Creek near Kingman, Painted Rocks near Gila Bend and Hot Well Dunes near Safford, Arizona. The BLM Arizona will furlough 452 of its approximate 507 employees during the funding lapse. After the initial shutdown procedures are completed, the BLM Arizona will maintain a total of 55 excepted employees with an additional 55 employees on call. Suspended activities and services will include: · non-emergency Abandoned Mine Land and hazardous-materials mitigation · processing of oil and gas drilling permits · processing of lease sales, permits and other non-emergency authorizations of onshore oil and gas, coal and other minerals · permits and approvals for renewable energy and other rights-of -way issuances · Endangered Species Act and cultural clearances · range management restoration · wild horse and burro adoptions · sand and gravel permits · timber sales · work on resource management plans, including those driven by court deadlines Suspended activities will resume once Congressional approves a budget for Fiscal Year 2014. Because the BLM website will not be maintained for the duration of the shutdown, the BLM will be re-directing to Interior’s site, where additional information will be available at DOI.gov/shutdown as well as at OPM.gov. The BLM manages 12.2 million surface acres of public land in Arizona. BLM Arizona employees are privileged to manage five National Monuments, three National Conservation Areas, 47 Wilderness Areas, two National Historic Trails and one National Scenic Trail and National Historic Landmark. In addition, BLM Arizona plays a vital role toward supporting many local gateway communities adjacent to public lands. BLM Arizona oversees 35.8 million acres of subsurface mineral estate, where resources include oil, gas, coal, copper, silver, and sand and gravel. The federal agency also issues rights-of-ways to authorize power transmission lines, roads, pipelines and communication towers that provide energy and connectivity to Arizona residents and other states.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 18:59:05 +0000