There seems to be quite a bit of confusion and mis-information floating around regarding the Arizona Strip and Parashant Monument. The DEIS (environmental impact statement) can be viewed at:

http://www.blm.gov/az/LUP/strip/strip_plan.htm

There do not appear to be any definitive plans to "close" or render strips unusable. However, the wording is vague and arbitrary actions of this kind have not been ruled out. Please write letters and send emails anyway!

The following is further clarification from Steve Durtschi, UBCP president:

Earlier in the week, we sent an e-mail asking UBCP members to respond to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement concerning recreational backcountry landing strips in the Parashaunt National Monument / Arizona Strip. In that note, we indicated that Imlay and Pakoon were slated for closure. We have since learned that this is not the case. Both of these landing strips are "authorized" in the Draft EIS.

Imlay and Pakoon Well are not considered recreational landing strips. Both have been used as a BLM fire base and for other government duties. Pakoon Well has BLM housing and other government buildings on the site.

The prime recreational landing strips are:

Grand Gulch, Pakoon Springs, and Copper Mt. Mine.

The DEIS is silent on the continued use of these recreational landing strips. The DEIS indicates the following in lands within the Monument called "Special Status Species Habitat Areas": "Unauthorized landing strips and dump sites will be given the highest priority for removal clean up actions" (italics are mine). We are not sure if any of the above listed recreational landing strips fall into these special areas, but regardless, the continued authorized use of what we consider to be valuable backcountry landing strips are not addressed in the EIS. This indicates to us that these strips will be closed under this alternative.

We apologize for the mis-information concerning Imlay and Pakoon Well. For those who may have sent letters specifically mentioning these landing strips, we are contacting the Monument managers and explaining that the error is ours. We still encourage you to write or e-mail the BLM and urge them to include aviation and the recreational backcountry landing strips, listed above, as an approved activity in the management plan.

Steve Durtschi,
Pres. UBCP

Hey VET or anyone: Is Copper Mt. Mine in the Special Flight Rules Area?

I was told by BLM that Pakoon Springs is in a "special status species habitat" area and therefore will probably be removed eventually.

For me Grand Gulch Mine Airstrip is one of the big issues.

Yes it is inside the SFAR and just beyond the 3 mile limit that would enable special access such as Cliff Dwellers and Marble Canyon. Therefore unuseable. It won't go away though because it can not be accessed easily by any other means but by air, I think. It may also be on NPS land so watch out for the Cessna 206 marked "patrol".

Thanks Vet:

So... Probably be best to leave Copper Mt. Mine out of your letters to the BLM. Not exactly a "prime recreational landing strip".

How about Imlay....Is it in the Special Flight Rules Area ??

As the Vet said:

SFAR No. 50-2 - Special Flight Rules in the Vicinity of the Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

Section 3. Aircraft operations: general. Except in an emergency, no person may operate an aircraft in the Special Flight Rules, Area under VFR on or after September 22, 1988, or under IFR on or after April 6, 1989, unless the operation -- (a) Is conducted in accordance with the following procedures:

(b) Is authorized in writing by the Flight Standards District Office ....etc.

(e) Is conducted within 3 nautical miles of Whitmore Airstrip, Pearce Ferry Airstrip, North Rim Airstrip, Cliff Dwellers Airstrip, or Marble Canyon Airstrip at an altitudes less than 3,000 feet above airport elevation, for the purpose of landing at or taking off from that facility.

Has anyone ever had a problem using Imlay? I may not have the correct Lat/Lon.

Imlay is authorized and up to the north of the SFAR.
Imlay N 36 40.91 W 113 37.57

Lake Flat is inside the SFAR and is
Lake Flat N 36 08.51 W 113 31.92

Lake Flat is on NPS land as well and should be left alone.

Hey thanks Vet:

I just got a list from Mark Hawkins and I see that I had Imlay and Lake Flat reversed.
As you say Lake Flat is inside the SFAR. According to a note on an old chart of mine I was at Lake Flat about 1991 but I don't recall any info.

Thanks again..

Many thanks to all those that did send in comments on the Az Strip Parashant Nat'l Monument proposed use plan. They (BLM) were a bit overwhelmed by the number of comments they received from our peers. Let's hope they not only take notice but implement some of the ideas and requests they received. I offered the services of the Arizona Pilots Association to legitimize and help maintain those strips and somehow get them recognized as authorized.
Again many thanks, and especially those that kept the pot stirring!
The comment time hass come and gone and I think the backcountry aviation community has done well here.
Mark Hawkins
Arizona Pilots Association
recreational Airport Committee