In early 2003, the BLM published the Scoping Report for the Agua Fria National Monument/Bradshaw-Harquahala Planning Areas (Jones and Stokes 2003). This document summarized the procedures, issues, and management concerns that were identified as the result of public meetings, comments received through the mail, and via email. Following the publication of the scoping report, the BLM continued to solicit input from the public, agencies, and staff members. Those additional comments all fell within the issues identified in the scoping report.

After the publication of the Agua Fria National Monument and Bradshaw-Harquahala DRMP/DEIS in January 2006, the BLM received 431 individual comment letters and 1,046 form letters during the 90-day public comment period. These letters contained more than 2,300 comments. Comments relating to the Bradshaw-Harquahala planning area focused on land tenure (favoring retention of public lands as open space); travel management issues; recreational opportunities and public access; protection of natural and cultural resource values and wildlife habitat; and management of lands with wilderness characteristics .