Arizona plan criticized

More criticism came from a coalition of conservation groups: The Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society and the Grand Canyon Wildlands Council. They said the BLM is "woefully understaffed" to complete even the most basic monitoring already in place to protect the natural resources in the region.

They offered numerous alternatives in a separate proposal, and they complained that those "reasonable solutions" were not analyzed in the draft environmental-impact statement. The group's chief points of difference with the BLM concern management plans for travel and off-road-vehicles, preservation of the area's wilderness character, oil and gas drilling and uranium mining.

The "explosive growth rates" of the surrounding areas contribute to additional use of public lands, the coalition said. "Such a dramatic increase in population calls for a rigorous protection of public lands."

A public comment period on the draft environmental-impact statement closed March 17, although Hawks said additional comments could be accepted through the next few weeks.

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