[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 10039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5035]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-030-1110-00; NMNM 95104]


Notice of Intent To Prepare A Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
Amendment; Socorro Resource Area, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA)/
RMP amendment and an invitation for public participation.

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SUMMARY: The BLM will prepare an EA/RMP Amendment for the purpose of 
addressing impacts of implementing a proposed 20-year withdrawal of 
5,607.52 acres of public land in Socorro County, New Mexico from 
settlement, sale, location and entry under the general land laws, 
including the mining laws. The public is invited to participate in this 
planning effort with the identification of additional issues and 
planning criteria. The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is protection 
of desert bighorn sheep habitat.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the EA/RMP Amendment Team 
Leader, BLM, Socorro Resource Area Office, 198 Neel Ave., NW, Socorro, 
NM 87801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Bell, BLM Socorro Resource Area 
at (505) 835-0412.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to amend the existing 
Socorro RMP to allow for the withdrawal of 5,607.52 acres of public 
land in the vicinity of Devil's Backbone in Socorro County, New Mexico 
described as:

New Mexico Principal Meridian,

T. 5 S., R. 3 W.,
    Sec. 16, lots 5 to 8, inclusive, N\1/2\ and N\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Secs. 21, 28, 29 and 32.
T. 6 S., R. 3 W.,
    Sec. 4, lots 3 and 4, inclusive, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, W\1/2\;
    Sec. 15, W\1/2\;
    Sec. 16;
    Sec. 22, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, 
and SE\1/4\.
T. 5 S., R. 4 W.,
    Sec. 25, E\1/2\.

    The areas described aggregate 5,607.52 acres in Socorro County, 
New Mexico.

Types of Issues Anticipated

    1. Does the existing Socorro RMP provide adequate protection for 
desert bighorn sheep habitat in the Devil's Backbone area?
    2. Is a withdrawal necessary to properly protect desert bighorn 
sheep habitat in the Devil's Backbone area?

Criteria to Guide Development of the Planning Action

    The following planning criteria were identified to help guide the 
resolution of issues.

Non-Discretionary Criteria

    1. The proposed action must comply with laws, executive orders and 
regulations.
    2. The proposed action must be reasonable and achievable with 
available technology.

Discretionary Criteria

    1. Identify areas and resource values critical to desert bighorn 
sheep habitat in the area of Devil's Backbone.
    2. Determine how critical wildlife habitat values should best be 
managed in the Devil's Backbone area.

Disciplines To Be Represented on Interdisciplinary Team

    The plan amendment will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team 
consisting of an archaeologist, environmental coordinator, geologist, 
range land management specialist, realty specialist, recreation 
planner, surface protection specialist and a wildlife biologist.

Kind and Extent of Public Participation To Be Provided

    A copy of this notice will be published in a local newspaper. 
Public participation will be in the form of written comments submitted 
to the Socorro Resource Area Office.

Location and Availability of Documents Relative to the Planning 
Process

    All pertinent information is available in the BLM Socorro Resource 
Area Office, 198 Neel Avenue, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 and is 
available for public review weekdays during regular office hours, from 
7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Dated: February 20, 1998.
Linda S.C. Rundell,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-5035 Filed 2-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P