[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 111 (Thursday, June 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32963-32968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13959]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNMF02000 L16100000.DP0000 LXSS026G0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Taos Field Office, New
Mexico
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Taos Field Office and by this notice is
announcing the opening of the comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future
meetings or hearings and any other public participation activities at
least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or
mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Taos Draft RMP/EIS by
any of the following methods:
Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Taos_Field_Office/taos_rmpr.html.
E-mail: [email protected].
Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Brad Higdon,
226 Cruz Alta, Taos, New Mexico 87571.
Copies of the Taos Draft RMP and EIS are available at the Taos
Field Office at the above address and at the New Mexico State Office at
301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508.
[[Page 32964]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Brad
Higdon, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Taos Field Office,
telephone (575) 751-4725; address 226 Cruz Alta, Taos, New Mexico
87571; e-mail [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Taos Draft RMP/EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of four alternative land use plans under
consideration by the BLM for managing approximately 595,100 acres of
surface estate and 1.5 million acres of mineral estate administered by
the Taos Field Office within Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Rio
Arriba, Santa Fe, Taos, and Union counties in northern New Mexico. This
land use plan would replace the current Taos RMP approved in 1988 and
is needed to provide updated management decisions including, but not
limited to, land tenure adjustments, land use authorizations, mineral
resources, recreation, renewable energy, special designations,
transportation and access, and visiual resources. Upon approval, the
Taos RMP will apply only to BLM-administered public lands and Federal
mineral estate.
The four alternatives analyzed in detail in the Draft RMP/EIS
include the No Action Alternative, or a continuation of the existing
management decisions; Alternative A, the BLM's preferred alternative,
which provides for a balance of resource uses with protections;
Alternative B, which emphasizes resource conservation and protection;
and Alternative C, which allows for a greater opportunity for resource
use and development. Among the special designations under consideration
within the range of alternatives, Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern (ACECs) are proposed to protect certain natural resource
values. Pertinent information regarding these ACECs, including proposed
designation acreages and resource use limitations per alternative, are
sumarized in the table below.
Proposed ACEC Designation Summary
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ACEC & values Summary of proposed resource use limitations Variance by alternative
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Black Mesa Rights-of-way would be excluded. No Action: 1,430 acres.
Cultural Livestock grazing would be excluded from Alternative A: ACEC
Vegetation pueblo sites and areas where other conflicts with rescinded; area would
cultural resources are apparent, as well as the be incorporated into
325-acre Ojo Caliente Demonstration Area. Ojo Caliente ACEC with
Closed to fluid mineral leasing. the identified resource
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry. use limitations.
Closed to mineral material sales. Alternative B: Same as
Alternative A.
Alternative C: ACEC
would be rescinded.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Portions would be closed to motorized
travel, while the remaining area would be limited
to designated roads.
A portion would be managed to protect its
wilderness characteristics.
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Chama Canyons Rights-of-way would be excluded. No Action: 6,140 acres
Riparian Livestock grazing would not be available would continue to be
Scenic along the Rio Cebolla. The availability of managed as a Special
Water quality grazing within the wilderness study area would be Management Area (SMA).
Wildlife subject to the Interim Management Policy for Alternative A: 7,680
Lands Under Wilderness Review (H-8550-1). Lands acres.
within the Chama Wild and Scenic River corridor Alternative B: Same as
and acquired lands would not be unavailable under Alternative A.
the no action alternative. Alternative C: ACEC
Closed to fluid mineral leasing. would not be designated
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry. and SMA would be
rescinded.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Closed to motorized travel.
Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class I
would apply.
A portion outside of the wilderness study
area would be managed to protect its wilderness
characteristics (Alternatives A and B only).
No surface disturbing activities would be
permitted.
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La Cienega Livestock grazing would be excluded from No Action: 3,730 acres.
Cultural pueblo ruins and other areas where substantial Alternative A: 13,390
Riparian conflicts with cultural resources are apparent to acres.
Scenic protect these resources, as well as from Santa Fe Alternative B: Same as
Wildlife habitat River canyon (Alternatives A and B only) to Alternative A.
protect riparian vegetation. Alternative C: Same as
A no surface occupancy stipulation would the no action
be applied to fluid mineral leasing under the no alternative.
action alternative and Alternative C. Most of the
area would be subject no surface occupancy under
Alternatives A and B, while control surface use
would be applied within the remainder of the
area.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind energy development
(Alternatives A and B only).
VRM Class I would apply to a portion of
the area (Alternatives A and B only).
[[Page 32965]]
Portions would be closed to motorized
travel, while the remaining area would be limited
to designated roads (Alternatives A and B only).
No tree removal in a portion of the area.
Santa Fe River canyon would be closed to
target shooting (Alternatives A, B, and C only).
No tree removal in T. 16 N., R. & E.,
Sec. 7 to protect Gray Vireo habitat.
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Copper Hill Livestock grazing would be excluded from All alternatives:
Cultural lands within allotments 518, 519, and 520, while 177,200 acres.
Fish habitat grazing would become excluded on allotment 521
Riparian when the permit is no longer used.
Scenic Rights-of-way would be excluded from Agua
Watershed Caliente, Rio Embudo, and Lower Embudo zones.
Wildlife habitat Closed to fluid mineral leasing under
Alternative B, while only certain zones would be
closed and/or subject to no surface occupancy
under the other alternatives.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Closed to mineral material sales except
at Piedra Lumbre and Hilltop.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Visual Resource Management Class I would
apply to a portion of the area under the no
action alternative and Alternatives A and B.
Fire suppression methods causing surface
disturbance would not be allowed in the Lower
Embudo zone.
Soil and vegetation disturbing activities
would be prohibited within 100-year floodplains.
Vehicle access to pueblo ruins in Lower
Embudo zone by permit only.
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Galisteo Basin 450 acres of public lands would be No Action: 80 acres
Cultural managed according to the provisions of the would continue to be
Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection managed as an SMA.
Act of 2004 under all alternatives. Alternative A: 450
Livestock grazing would be excluded from acres.
cultural sites (i.e., pueblo ruins). Alternative B: 450
Rights-of-way would be excluded. acres.
Closed to fluid mineral leasing. Alternative C: ACEC
would not be
designated.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Closed to target shooting.
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Lower Gorge Withdrawn from public land laws. No Action: 16,510 acres
Cultural Rights-of-way would be excluded except (includes designated
Riparian for road upgrades to improve safety or to provide Wild and Scenic River
Special Status Species access or utility service to non-federal lands corridor).
Wildlife habitat where no practicable alternative exists. Alternative A: 21,150
Livestock grazing would be excluded from acres.
riparian and wetland areas. Alternative B: Same as
Closed to fluid mineral leasing. Alternative A.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry. Alternative C: 14,490
acres (does not include
designated Wild and
Scenic River corridor).
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
A portion of the area would be managed as
VRM Class I (Alternatives A and B only).
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing
activities would be prohibited within 100-year
floodplains to prevent the degradation of aquatic
habitat.
Southwestern willow flycatcher habitat
would be protected.
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Ojo Caliente Rights-of-way would be excluded from the No Action: 13,370 acres.
Cultural Rincon del Cuervo area under Alternatives A and Alternative A: 66,150
Ecological Processes B, as well as the Cerro Colorado area under acres.
Riparian Alternative B. Alternative B: 66,150
Scenic Livestock grazing would be excluded from acres.
Special Status Species pueblo ruins and other areas where substantial Alternative C: 13,370
Wildlife habitat conflicts with cultural resources are apparent, acres.
as well as from the 325-acre Ojo Caliente
Demonstration Area.
Closed to fluid mineral leasing under
Alternatives A and B, while nearly a third of the
area would be closed under the no action
alternative and Alternative C.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry
(Alternatives A and B only).
[[Page 32966]]
Mostly closed to mineral material sales
(Alternative A and B only).
Closed to wind and solar energy.
A portion would be closed to motorized
travel, while the remaining area would be limited
to designated roads (Alternatives A, B, and C
only).
VRM Class I would apply to the Rincon del
Cuervo under Alternatives A and B, as well as
Cerro Colorado under Alternative B.
Rincon del Cuervo would be managed to
protect its wilderness characteristics under
Alternatives A and B, as well as the Cerro
Colorado area under Alternative B.
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing
activities would be prohibited within 100-year
floodplains to prevent the degradation of aquatic
habitat.
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Pueblos Rights-of-way would be excluded. No Action: Six pueblos
Cultural Livestock grazing would be excluded from on 315 acres would
pueblo ruin sites. continue to be managed
Closed to fluid mineral leasing. as an SMA.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry. Alternative A: 240 aces
Mostly closed to mineral material sales. (two sites included in
Closed to wind and solar energy the SMA under the no
(Alternatives A and B). action alternative are
Other resource uses, except for site incorporated into other
recordation or research, would not be allowed at ACECs).
the pueblo ruin sites. Alternative B: Same as
Alternative A.
Alternative C: 335 acres
(includes six sites
included in the SMA
under the no action
alternative plus two
additional sites).
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Riparian/Aquatic Rights-of-way would be excluded unless No Action: 2,250 acres.
Riparian impacts can be mitigated, based on site-specific Alternative A: ACEC
Aquatic analysis. would be rescinded.
Livestock grazing would be excluded from Alternative B: 1,275
select riparian areas or where livestock grazing acres (limited to
is determined to degrade the resource and cannot riparian areas not
be mitigated otherwise. within other ACECs or
Portions would be closed to fluid mineral along designated Wild
leasing, while others would have no surface and Scenic Rivers).
occupancy or controlled surface use stipulations Alternative C: ACEC
attached to leases. would be rescinded.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Mostly closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy under
Alternative B.
Much of the area would be closed to
motorized travel under the no action alternative.
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Sabinoso Rights-of-way would be excluded. No Action: 19,570 acres
Riparian Livestock grazing would be excluded in would continue to be
Scenic riparian areas. managed as an SMA.
Wildlife habitat Closed to fluid mineral leasing (within Alternative A: 19,780
designated wilderness only under the no action acres.
alternative). Alternative B: Same as
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry Alternative A.
(within designated wilderness only under the no Alternative C: ACEC
action alternative). would be rescinded.
Closed to mineral material sales (within
designated wilderness only under the no action
alternative).
Closed to wind and solar energy (within
designated wilderness only under the no action
alternative).
The designated wilderness would be closed
to motorized travel.
VRM Class I would apply.
A portion of the area adjacent to
Sabinoso Wilderness would be managed to protect
its wilderness characteristics (Alternatives A
and B only).
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing
activities would be restricted in order to reduce
soil loss and degradation to water quality.
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[[Page 32967]]
San Antonio (includes the San Livestock grazing would be unavailable No Action: 57,750 acres
Antonio Gorge and Winter Range within the Rio San Antonio corridor. would continue to be
ACEC units) The San Antonio Wilderness Study Area managed as an SMA and
Ecological Processes (WSA), Rio San Antonio corridor, and Warm Springs include smaller ACEC
Riparian area would be closed to fluid mineral leasing, units.
Scenic while the remaining area would be subject to Alternative A: ACEC
Wildlife habitat controlled surface use, including timing rescinded, but area
limitations. would be incorporate
Withdraw the San Antonio Gorge and Los into Taos Plateau ACEC.
Cerritos de la Cruz areas from locatable mineral Alternative B: ACEC
entry. rescinded, but area
Close the San Antonio WSA, San Antonio would be incorporate
Gorge, and Los Cerritos de Taos to mineral into Taos Plateau ACEC.
material sales. Alternative C: The SMA
The San Antonio WSA and Rio San Antonio and its ACEC units
corridor would be closed to motorized travel would be rescinded, but
(Alternative C only). the whole area would be
Visual Resource Management Class I would designated a single
apply to San Antonio WSA and the Rio San Antonio ACEC.
corridor (Alternative C only).
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing
activities would be prohibited within 100-year
floodplains to prevent the degradation of aquatic
habitat.
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Santa Fe Ranch Rights-of-way would be excluded with No Action: No existing
Cultural certain exceptions. ACEC.
Geological Scenic A portion would be closed to fluid Alternative A: 21,032
Special Status Species mineral leasing while the majority would have acres.
Wildlife habitat controlled surface use stipulations attached to Alternative B: 21,032
leases. acres.
The Buckman-Diablo Canyon area would be Alternative C: ACEC
withdrawn from locatable mineral entry. would not be
Closed to mineral material sales. designated.
Closed to wind energy.
A portion would be closed to motorized
travel. Vehicular use of the arroyo in Diablo
Canyon would be allowed by permit only.
Visual Resource Management Class I would
apply to a portion on the area, but to a larger
portion under Alternative B.
Ephemeral stream channels would be
protected to maintain stable hydrological
processes and appropriate vegetative communities
as measured by diversity and cover density.
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Sombrillo A 115-acre Off-Highway Vehicle staging No Action: 8,600 acres.
Cultural area would be unavailable to livestock grazing Alternative A: 17,440
Paleontological (Alternative A only). acres.
Scenic Controlled surface use stipulations would Alternative B: 17,440
be applied to fluid mineral leases under the no acres.
action alternative and Alternative C, while no Alternative C: 8,600
surface occupancy would be applied under acres.
Alternatives A and B.
The 60-acre traditional cultural property
would be withdrawn from locatable mineral entry
(Alternatives A and B only).
Closed to mineral material sales
(Alternatives A and B only).
Ephemeral stream channels would be
protected to maintain stable hydrological
processes and appropriate vegetative communities
as measured by diversity and cover density.
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing
activities would be restricted in order to reduce
soil loss and degradation to water quality.
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Taos Plateau Rights-of-way would be excluded from the No Action: No existing
Scenic Wild Rivers, Ute Mountain, and San Antonio areas. ACEC.
Special Status Species Livestock grazing would be limited and Alternative A: 222,500
Water quality and quantity managed to ensure enhancement of critical elk and acres.
Wetlands pronghorn winter range. No increase in grazing Alternative B: 222,500
Wildlife habitat preference would be permitted. acres.
The Ute Mountain, San Antonio, and Wild Alternative C: ACEC not
Rivers areas would be closed to fluid mineral designated.
leasing under Alternative A, while the entire
ACEC would be closed under Alternative B.
The North Unit, Ute Mountain, and Wild
Rivers areas would be withdrawn from locatable
mineral entry under Alternatives A and B, while
the San Antonio area would also be withdrawn
under Alternative B.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Cerro de la Olla, the San Antonio area,
and Ute Mountain would be closed to motorized
travel.
Visual Resource Management Class I would
apply to the Ute Mountain and San Antonio areas.
Cerro de la Olla, the San Antonio area,
and Ute Mountain would be managed to protect
their wilderness characteristics.
[[Page 32968]]
Modification of playa surface and
adjacent uplands would be prohibited.
Coordinate with U.S. Forest Service to
close Forest Road 1016 on a seasonal basis.
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The land use planning process was initiated on May 26, 2006,
through a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register (Volume
71, Number 102, Page 30446), notifying the public of a formal scoping
period and soliciting public participation in the planning process.
Four scoping meetings were held in June 2006 in Taos, Las Vegas,
Espanola, and Santa Fe. A scoping presentation was also made at an
Eight Northern Pueblos Council meeting to engage the Governors of the
eight Northern Pueblos. In addition, two Economic Profile System
workshops were held in July 2006 to work with local citizens and
community leaders to develop a common understanding of the local
economies and the ways in which land use planning decisions might
affect them. During the scoping period, which ended August 31, 2006,
the public provided the Taos Field Office with input on relevant issues
to consider in the planning process. Based on this public input and the
BLM's goals and objectives, the Taos Field Office was able to formulate
the four alternatives for consideration and analysis in the Draft RMP/
EIS. Following the close of the public review and comment period,
public comments will be used to revise the Draft RMP/EIS in preparation
for its release to the public as the Taos Proposed Resource Management
Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement. The BLM will respond to
each substantive comment by making appropriate revisions to the
document or by explaining why a comment did not warrant a change.
Notice of the availability of the Proposed RMP and Final EIS will be
posted in the Federal Register.
Please note that public comments and information submitted,
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of respondents,
will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address
during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through
Friday, except holidays.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Jesse Juen,
Acting State Director.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 40 CFR 1506.10; 43 CFR 1610.2.
[FR Doc. 2010-13959 Filed 6-9-10; 8:45 am]
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