Draft PEA (Programmatic Environmental Assessment)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Navajo Region, announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Draft Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) for the Former Bennett Freeze Area (FBFA) of the western portion of the Navajo Nation. The 30-day public comment period for the Draft PEA begins May 24, 2021 and ends on June 23, 2021. A PEA evaluates the effects of broad proposals or planning-level decisions used to determine environmental management actions.

Programmatic environmental documents analyze effects on a broad scale, such as those resulting from proposed policies, plans, programs, or projects where subsequent specific actions will be implemented. Therefore, additional environmental analyses under NEPA will be required for all future site-specific project proposals in the FBFA. This PEA incorporates by reference the information in the FBFA Draft IRMP (NNDNR/BIA 2020).

This PEA was prepared following the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500-1508), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), and the Department of the Interior implementing regulations, and the Indian Affairs NEPA Guidebook (BIA 2012).

Download the Draft PEA (3.2mb)
Download the Draft PEA Appendices (6mb)

Comments must be received by June 23, 2021.

Proposed Alternatives

Alternatives for implementing the Former Bennett Freeze Area (FBFA) Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) were developed through community input received during the planning process and internal scoping with the project Interdisciplinary Team.

Alternative 1: No Action.

Alternative 2: Balanced Growth Emphasis Alternative: Developed to incorporate community goals and objectives of the affected communities while taking into consideration natural, environmental, and cultural resources, and existing infrastructure in the FBFA.

How to Submit Comments:

The 30-day public comment period for the PEA begins May 24, 2021, and ends June 23, 2021. Written comments may be submitted during the scoping period via email, fax or mail. Please submit comments by June 23, 2021. In the subject line of your mail, fax or email, please address as “Comments for the FBFA EA”.

Email: FBFA-Comments@bia.gov(link sends e-mail) | Fax: (928) 283-2215 or Mail to: BIA – Western Navajo Agency C/O: Renee Benally, Natural Resource Specialist P.O. Box 127, Tuba City, Arizona 86045

Public Meeting Schedule

Public comment meetings will be held virtually on the internet using the Zoom meeting program. Register below by clicking the meeting links you would like to attend. You may also call in to each meeting with the phone number and meeting codes:

This toll-free phone number will be used for all meetings: (346) 248-7799

Meeting 1 June 2, 2021 10am Register in advance for this webinar:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nPTRq-_BQWO_5DQ0sPa4Hw(link is external)

Zoom ID: 915 5278 2620

Password is not needed to access the webinar.

Meeting 2

June 3, 2021 10am Register in advance for this webinar:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Dve3LPJWRA6SfYgGfLjGOw(link is external)

Zoom ID: 946 2784 5992

Password is not needed to access the webinar.

Meeting 3

June 3, 2021 6pm Register in advance for this webinar:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZQdpJDvsRXmZRKCI0oC9Ig(link is external)

Zoom ID: 916 0558 5585

Password is not needed to access the webinar.

Meeting 4

June 5, 2021 10am Register in advance for this webinar:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZQdpJDvsRXmZRKCI0oC9Ig(link is external)

Zoom ID: 934 0699 2079

Password is not needed to access the webinar.