[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9098]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NM-030-4210-01]

 

Intent To Prepare Resource Management Plan Amendment; Caballo 
Resource Area, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and invitation to participate in an amendment 
of the White Sands Resource Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Las Cruces District, 
Caballo Resource Area is initiating the preparation of a Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) Amendment, which will include an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the possible designation of six Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs) in Otero County in south-central New 
Mexico. Approximately 19,000 acres are identified for designation. The 
plan amendment will guide BLM programs and management practices on the 
ACECs.
    The public is invited to participate in the planning process. Two 
public meetings will be held to obtain public input for the RMP 
Amendment. The meetings will be held at the following times and 
locations:

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            Date/Time                             Location              
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May 4, 1994--7 pm................  Civic Center, 800 1st St., Room D,   
                                    Alamogordo, New Mexico.             
May 5, 1994--7 pm................  BLM Office, 1800 Marquess, Las       
                                    Cruces, New Mexico.                 
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DATES: Comments relating to the designation of ACECs and criteria for 
selecting them will be accepted until May 20, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Area Manager, BLM Caballo 
Resource Area, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Timothy M. Murphy, Area Manager, BLM, Caballo Resource Area at (505) 
525-4372, or Mike Howard, Team Leader, Caballo Resource Area at (505) 
525-4348.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ACECs are land designations unique to the 
BLM. The purpose of ACECs is to recognize, protect, and manage unique 
or sensitive resources or potential hazards to the public. Each area 
receives management or protection based on its unique needs, in 
consultation and coordination with the public.
    The Caballo Resource Area has completed an inventory of areas 
containing unique or sensitive biological resources suitable for 
designation as ACECs. In addition, the Resource Area has received 
nominations both internally and from the public to consider several 
areas as ACECs based on visual, cultural, and biological values. In 
some cases, the nominations overlap those areas that were inventoried.
    At this time, the Resource Area has more areas nominated than can 
reasonably be addressed in this effort. The Resource Area has elected 
to consider six areas. Nominations for other potential ACECs will be 
accepted at any time, but studies for the designation of these and 
other existing nominations will be addressed at a future date.
    The nominated ACECs selected for consideration in this effort will 
include approximately 19,000 acres in Otero County, New Mexico. Maps 
showing the areas are available for review in the Caballo Resource Area 
Office.
    The following nominated ACECs will be addressed: The Alkali Lakes 
area is located 80 miles southeast of Alamogordo, New Mexico and near 
the Texas border. This area was nominated to protect and manage 
endangered and sensitive plants and the plant community in which they 
occur. Total area to be considered is approximately 7,000 acres.
    The Sacramento Escarpment ACEC is located 2 miles south of 
Alamogordo, New Mexico along the west face of the Sacramento Mountains. 
This area currently is a designated ACEC for the management of visual 
resources. The RMP amendment will consider expansion to provide for the 
protection and management of scenic resources and an endangered and 
sensitive plant community. Total area to be considered is approximately 
4,800 acres.
    Cornudas Mountain is located 60 miles southeast of Alamogordo, New 
Mexico and near the Texas border. The area was nominated to protect and 
manage visual resources, cultural resources, and sensitive plants. 
Total area to be considered is approximately 850 acres.
    Wind Mountain is located 64 miles southeast of Alamogordo, New 
Mexico and near the Texas border. The area was nominated to protect and 
manage visual resources, cultural resources, and unique and sensitive 
plants and animals. Total area to be considered is approximately 2,500 
acres.
    Alamo Mountain is located 61 miles southeast of Alamogordo, New 
Mexico and near the Texas border. The area was nominated to protect and 
manage visual and cultural resources. Total area to be considered is 
approximately 2,800 acres.
    The Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is located 30 miles north of 
Alamogordo, New Mexico. The area was nominated to protect and manage 
cultural resources. Total area to be considered is approximately 1,200 
acres.
    The RMP Amendment will address the designation of these areas as 
ACECs and include general management and protection measures that may 
apply to them. The management or protection measures to be considered 
for the six areas may include, but are not limited to, development of 
site-specific management plans; withdrawal from the mining laws except 
for valid existing rights; closure to permitting of new rights-of-way; 
restriction or closure to mineral leasing and sales; allowances and 
restrictions for recreational use including off-road vehicles; 
provision for interpretation of resources for the public; management of 
livestock grazing (specific to the Alkali Lakes area only); land 
exchanges; and public land access acquisition, restrictions, and 
permitting.
    The RMP Amendment will be developed by an interdisciplinary team 
consisting of a Team leader, Technical Coordinator, Writer-Editor, 
Range Conservationists, Realty Specialists, Wildlife Biologists, 
Botanist, Geologist, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Archaeologist, and 
Public Affairs Officer. Additional technical support will be provided 
by other specialists as needed.
    The planning criteria proposed to guide the development of the RMP 
amendment are:
    1. Resource values.
    2. Manageability of an area to preserve its resource values.
    Existing ACEC designations and wilderness study areas.
    4. Current and potential land uses.
    5. Effects of designation on other resources and uses.
    6. Effects on non-designation on other resources and uses.
    7. Social and economic effects.
    8. Public interest and attitudes.
    9. Consistency of designation with resource plans of other Federal, 
State, and local governments and Indian Tribes.
    10. Consultation with Federal, State, and local agencies, the 
scientific community, and individuals.
    11. Long-term (more than 20 years) versus short-term (less than 20 
years) benefits.
    12. Management concerns along the U.S./Mexico border.
    13. Public health and safety.
    Public participation activities during the planning process will 
include consultation with affected users and other agencies, meetings 
with interested groups and individuals, mail outs, media notices, 
Federal Register notices, public meetings, and distribution of the RMP 
amendment and EA for comments.
    Complete records of the planning process will be available for 
public review at the Caballo Resource Area Office at the address above.

    Dated: April 8, 1994.
Carol L. Sampson,
Acting Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 94-9098 Filed 4-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M