[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34771-34772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16819]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-018-1610-00/G010-G7-0251]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Coordinated Resource Management 
Plan (CRMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); 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 have 
completed a Draft CRMP/EIS, and a Taos Resource Management Plan 
Amendment. This document contains descriptions and analyses of future 
options for managing the 94-mile Rio Grande corridor from La Sauses, 
Colorado to Velarde, New Mexico, and addresses legislative requirements 
for the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River extension and study areas.
    The public is invited to participate in the review of the Draft 
CRMP/EIS. Copies are available for review at public libraries in 
Alamosa, Colorado, and in Taos, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Espanola, and 
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Additional copies are available at the 
following BLM offices: San Luis Resource Area, 1921 State Street, 
Alamosa, Colorado; Taos Resource Area, 226 Cruz Alta, Taos, New Mexico; 
New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and 
Albuquerque District Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque, New 
Mexico.

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked no later than October 8, 
1997, and should be addressed to the CRMP Team Leader at the address 
below. Formal oral comments will be received at the following public 
hearings, beginning at 7:00 p.m.:

August 19, 1997--Holiday Inn, E. Highway 160, Alamosa, Colorado;
August 20, 1997--Holiday Inn, 1005 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos, New 
Mexico;
August 21, 1997--BLM New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe, 
New Mexico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CRMP Team Leader, Taos Resource Area, 
226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571; phone (505) 758-8851.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Draft CRMP/EIS contains the analyses of 
four management alternatives to resolve the

[[Page 34772]]

following public land issues: Wild and Scenic rivers, protection of 
riparian areas, soils, vegetation, water quality, terrestrial and 
aquatic habitat, historical and archaeological resources, scenic 
quality, recreation, commercial uses, access, and resource 
interpretation/education. The alternatives can be summarized as: (A) No 
Action or Existing Management; (B) Biodiversity Protection; (C) 
Resource Use; (D) Preferred, which is a balance between the other 
three.
    Under the Preferred Alternative, the BLM would implement the CRMP 
in both the Taos and San Luis Resource Areas, along with the following 
Taos Resource Management Plan amendments: designation of the identified 
areas of the Lower Gorge and Copper Hill Units as Areas of Critical 
Concern for wildlife habitat and scenic quality values; exclusion of 
58,765 acres from grazing; withdrawal of 73,820 acres from mineral 
entry; closure of 50,173 acres to mineral leasing; application of No 
Surface Occupancy standards for oil and gas development on 25,615 
acres; closure of 65,432 acres to mineral material disposal; 
prohibition of land disposals, except for Color-of-Title sales (in the 
Dixon area) and three parcels identified for community needs; exclusion 
of rights of way from within the expanded Wild Rivers Recreation Area, 
the Lower Gorge Unit (with exceptions), and portions of the Copper Hill 
Unit. The BLM would also recommend the Rio Grande Bosque segment (as 
identified in Pub. L. 103-242) for Wild and Scenic River designation, 
with a Recreational classification, and the Rio Embudo for designation 
with a Wild classification. Finally under the Preferred Alternative, 
the agency would increase protection of riparian areas, vegetation, 
soils, water quality, wildlife habitat, and scenic quality, while 
placing limits on recreational uses in the corridor and restricting 
vehicle access to some areas.
    Public participation has occurred throughout the CRMP process. A 
Notice of Intent was published on November 14, 1994, in the Federal 
Register (Vol. 59, No. 218, 56528-29), and an amended notice was 
published on February 20, 1996 (Vol. 61, No. 34, 6383-84).
Mike Ford,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-16819 Filed 6-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-AG-P