[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55345-55346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22432]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNMA02000 L16100000.XH0000]
Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Socorro
Field Office Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement,
New Mexico
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability
of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP)
for the Socorro Field Office located in Socorro and Catron Counties,
New Mexico. The State Director signed the ROD on August 20, 2010, which
constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP
effective immediately.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request
from the Field Manager, Socorro Field Office, Bureau of Land
Management, 901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 or via the
Internet at http://www.blm.gov/nm. Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are
also available for public inspection at the Socorro Public Library
located at 401 Park Street, Socorro, New Mexico.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Kevin
Carson, Outdoor Recreation Planner, telephone 575-838-1280; address
Socorro Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 901 S. Highway 85,
Socorro, New Mexico 87801; e-mail [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Approved RMP provides direction for the
long-term management of 1.5 million surface acres of public land and 6
million acres of Federal mineral estate public land within Socorro and
Catron Counties and revises the 1989 Socorro RMP. Collaborative
planning was used throughout the development of the RMP, which included
public meetings, mailings, and other outreach activities. Catron County
and the Pueblo of Zuni were cooperating agencies.
Six issues are addressed in the Approved RMP. The issues include:
(1) Special designations, such as Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern;
(2) Improving soil and vegetation conditions at the watershed
level;
(3) Fluid and solid mineral development;
(4) Travel and transportation (e.g., off-highway vehicle use,
mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding);
(5) Land-use allocations and initiatives (e.g., land tenure, right-
of- way corridors, and areas where public and private lands abut one
another); and
(6) Regional heritage/tourism opportunities on the BLM-managed
public land. Management actions in the Approved RMP consequently
address those issues by program and resource area, including special
designations, soil and water resources; vegetation and land health;
wildlife, riparian and special status species; recreation,
[[Page 55346]]
cultural, visual, paleontological, and recreation resources; lands and
realty; nonrenewable and renewable energy development; wilderness; and
transportation and travel management.
On April 16, 2007, the BLM New Mexico released the Draft RMP/EIS
for a 90-day public comment period concurrent with a Notice of
Availability, which was published in the Federal Register. The BLM New
Mexico conducted public hearings on the Draft RMP/EIS and analyzed
public comments received. Minor modifications and technical changes
were made to the Preferred Alternative, which was carried forward as
the Proposed Alternative (Alternative B) in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS.
The BLM New Mexico released the Proposed RMP/Final EIS for a 60-day
Governor's Consistency Review and 30-day protest period on December 5,
2008. The BLM New Mexico modified one decision in the Approved RMP as a
result of the Governor's Consistency Review. The Governor's letter
stated that the BLM's land tenure and fluid mineral decisions regarding
a state-designated conservation easement at Horse Springs Ranch were
inconsistent with the purposes of the Conservation Easement (CE), which
is to protect wildlife habitat. In light of the Governor's letter, the
State Director modified Alternative B by selecting the lands and realty
decision in the No Action Alternative, which will retain the BLM
scattered parcels (3,856 acres) within the CE boundary. This decision
meets the objectives of the State's CE. With regard to the Governor's
concerns about the potential impacts that fluid mineral leasing
decisions may have within the area of the State's Horse Springs
Conservation Easement (``CE''), the State Director maintains the
discretion to decline to issue leases on a case-by-case basis. In
recognition of the particular resource concerns of this CE, the State
Director will carefully exercise this discretion for any lease proposal
in the surface area covered by the CE. After the issuance of this ROD,
the BLM will undertake a plan amendment process to consider closing the
area covered by the CE to fluid mineral leasing.
The BLM received three protests on the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. The
protests raised issues regarding rangeland resources, lands with
wilderness characteristics, and the Continental Divide National Scenic
Trail (Trail). As a result of the protests, minor editorial
modifications and technical clarifications were made in the ROD and in
the Approved RMP.
The first modification concerns lands with wilderness
characteristics. After review of the wilderness protest, an error in
the original wilderness inventory was identified in one small area
within a unit the protestor had proposed as having wilderness
characteristics. Approximately 600 acres of BLM public land was found
to contain wilderness characteristics because they adjoin the Chupadera
Wilderness, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages.
Therefore, the BLM will select Alternative C for this area, which has a
higher level of protection through a Lands and Realty decision. The BLM
will issue this ROD and subsequently initiate a Resource Management
Plan Amendment (RMPA) and supporting NEPA analysis to further address
this area's wilderness characteristics. The RMPA process will include
opportunities for public participation. The second modification
concerns the Trail and future opportunities for trail routing. The
decision reflects a map revision in the final RMP by adopting portions
of Alternative C and the No Action Alternative, lands suitable for
disposal in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. This modified decision will
provide more options for the future protection of the Trail.
Following modification of the aforementioned decisions and review
of the protests, it was determined that the Socorro Field Manager
followed all applicable procedures, laws, regulations, and policies,
and considered all relevant resource factors, as well as public input
in developing the Socorro RMP. Therefore, the protests were dismissed.
Decisions identifying routes of travel within designated areas for
motorized vehicles are implementation decisions, and are appealable
under 43 CFR part 4. These decisions are contained in Appendix J of the
Approved RMP. Any party adversely affected by the proposed route
identifications may appeal within 30 days of publication of this Notice
of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E. The appeal
should state the specific route(s), as identified in Appendix J of the
Approved RMP, on which the decision is being appealed. The appeal must
be filed with the Socorro Field Office Manager at the above listed
address. Please consult the appropriate regulations (43 CFR, part 4,
subpart E) for further appeal requirements.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6(b)(2).
Jesse Juen,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-22432 Filed 9-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MW-P