[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27948]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-010-1610-00/G010-G50001]

 

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Coordinated Resource Management 
Plan and Amend the Taos Resource Management Plan; Taos Resource Area, 
New Mexico and San Luis Resource Area, Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Albuquerque District, Taos 
Resource Area and Canon City District, San Luis Resource Area are 
initiating preparation of a Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP) 
in combination with a Taos Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA). 
This document will enable coordinated management activities throughout 
the 94-mile Rio Grande corridor from La Sauses, Colorado to Velarde, 
New Mexico; address inadequacies of the Taos Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) relating to the BLM's Supplemental Program Guidance for wildlife 
and fire; and include an Environmental Impact Statement to meet 
legislative requirements for the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River 
extension and study areas. The plan's management strategy will center 
around conserving, restoring and maintaining the public lands' 
ecological integrity, productivity and biological diversity, while 
considering social, economic, cultural and ecological factors.
    The public is invited to participate in each stage of the planning 
process, and public meetings will be held. The initial scoping meetings 
will occur at 7:00 p.m. at the following locations: Santa Fe, NM (BLM 
State Office, 1474 Rodeo Rd.)--December 5, 1994; Dixon, NM (Dixon 
Elementary School, Hwy. 76)--December 6, 1994; Taos, NM (Taos Civic 
Plaza & Convention Center, 121 Civic Plaza Drive)--December 7, 1994; 
Questa, NM (Village Council Chambers, Hwy. 522)--December 8, 1994; 
Alamosa, CO (Holiday Inn, 333 Santa Fe Ave.)--January 17, 1995; and 
Antonito, CO (Chamber of Commerce, Hwy. 285)--January 18, 1995.

DATES: Written comments relating to the planning process will be 
accepted on or before January 20, 1995, and should be brought or mailed 
to Terry Humphrey at the address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Terry Humphrey, Taos Resource Area, 
224 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571; phone (505) 758-8851.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This CRMP is proposed to link activity-level 
planning throughout the Rio Grande corridor. The Taos RMP and San Luis 
RMP objectives and management prescriptions that relate to the Rio 
Grande corridor will serve as the baseline for this plan, limiting the 
scope and range of alternatives. A primary concern in completing this 
activity-level planning is to encourage a larger ``landscape'' approach 
to management through coordination across administrative and political 
boundaries.
    Activity plans are needed for the Rio Grande Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC) and San Luis Hills ACEC in Colorado; and 
the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, Racecourse ACEC, Warm Springs Special 
Management Area (SMA), Black Mesa ACEC, Lower Embudo SMA, and Riparian/
Aquatic SMA in New Mexico. Activity plan updates are needed for the 
Wild Rivers SMA and 52 miles of the Wild and Scenic Rio Grande/Red 
River. The Taos RMP also calls for an evaluation of the Embudo Canyon 
ACEC for potential Wild and Scenic designation.
    The BLM must complete a management plan for the newly designated 
12-mile Wild and Scenic segment of the Rio Grande (from Taos Junction 
Bridge to Rinconada, New Mexico, just below the Taos County Line), by 
May 1997. The legislation designating the segment also requires that a 
study be completed for an 8-mile segment from Rinconada to the Velarde 
diversion structure by the same date.
    Major issues to be addressed include upland and riparian 
vegetation; fish and wildlife habitat; water quantity and quality; 
historical and archaeological resources; socioeconomic conditions and 
quality of life; enforcement, trespass and emergency services; 
recreational access, transportation and facilities; recreational 
opportunities, use limits and allocations; guided and outfitted 
services; and visual resources.
    The Taos RMP did not adequately address threatened (T), endangered 
(E), or sensitive wildlife species within the corridor. The corridor 
plan will identify areas of T&E habitat and restrict uses that would 
compromise this habitat.
    The RMP decisions restricting vegetative manipulation within SMAs 
and Wilderness Study Areas also needs further analysis. The Taos RMP 
did not delineate areas of initial fire attack response or those that 
would be allowed to burn under modified suppression. Areas where 
modified or limited suppression could occur without compromising 
resource values will be identified. An opportunity also exists to use 
prescribed fire to enhance vegetative conditions and maintain 
biological diversity, and as a tool to reduce fuel accumulations where 
adjacent properties may be threatened by wildfire.
    The recommended planning area boundary roughly follows the rims of 
the Rio Grande corridor except where SMAs extend beyond it. In Colorado 
the boundary incorporates the Rio Grande River Corridor ACEC, the San 
Luis Hills ACEC, and BLM-administered lands between the two ACECs, for 
a total of approximately 35,000 acres. In New Mexico the boundary 
encompasses approximately 65,000 acres, including two designated Wild 
and Scenic River segments and an 8-mile study segment; the Wild Rivers 
SMA, including the Guadalupe Mountain ACEC; the abandoned Molycorp 
molybdenum millsite; the Orilla Verde Recreation Area; the Racecourse 
ACEC; the Warm Springs SMA (including the Agua Caliente and Embudo 
Canyon ACECs); the Black Mesa ACEC; and the Riparian-Aquatic ACEC. 
Adjustments to the planning area boundary may be needed, however, 
because management actions may be recommended for areas outside of it 
to resolve issues.
    A boundary recommendation for the 12-mile extension to the Rio 
Grande Wild and Scenic River will also be a part of this planning 
effort. Until Congressional approval is granted for the recommended 
boundary, the interim boundary is \1/4\ mile (1,320 feet) from the 
ordinary high-water mark on both sides of the river.
    Maps of the affected area are available for public inspection at 
BLM offices in Santa Fe (1474 Rodeo Rd.), Albuquerque (435 Montano Rd. 
NE), and Taos (224 Cruz Alta Rd.). The CRMP/RMPA is being developed by 
an interdisciplinary team of specialists with backgrounds in 
recreation, wildlife biology, range conservation, realty, geology, 
soils, hydrology, visual resources, archaeology, public affairs, and 
writing-editing. Additional technical support will be provided by other 
specialists as needed.

    Dated: November 2, 1994.
Mike Ford,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-27948 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P