[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 63380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31308]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-030-5700-77; NMNM 85612]


Public Land Order No. 7296; Withdrawal of National Forest System 
Land for Sacramento Peak Observatory; New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public Land Order.

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SUMMARY: This order withdraws 2,432.40 acres of National Forest System 
land from mining for a period of 20 years to protect the scientific 
value of the Sacramento Peak Observatory. The land has been and will 
remain open to mineral leasing.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 28, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine J. Salas, BLM Las Cruces 
District Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005, 505-525-
4388.
    By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior 
by Section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 
43 U.S.C. 1714 (1994), it is ordered as follows:
    1. Subject to valid existing rights, the following described 
National Forest System land is hereby withdrawn from location and entry 
under the United States mining laws (30 U.S.C. Ch. 2 (1994)), but not 
from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, to protect the Sacramento 
Peak Observatory:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

Lincoln National Forest

    T. 17 S., R. 11 E.,
    Sec. 26, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\ and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 28, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and S\1/2\, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 33, unsurveyed;
    Sec. 34, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, N\1/2\, and N\1/2\S\1/2\.
    The area described contains 2,432.40 acres in Otero County.

    2. The withdrawal made by this order does not alter the 
applicability of those land laws governing the use of the National 
Forest System land under lease, license, or permit, or governing the 
disposal of their mineral or vegetative resources other than under the 
mining laws.
    3. This withdrawal will expire 20 years from the effective date of 
this order unless, as a result of a review conducted before the 
expiration date pursuant to Section 204(f) of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f) (1994), the Secretary 
determines that the withdrawal shall be extended.

    Dated: November 14, 1997.
Bob Armstrong,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 97-31308 Filed 11-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P