[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58414-58415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29099]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-010-1040-00]


Intent to prepare four Riparian Habitat Management Plans and 
Associated Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/EISs)

    The HMPs/EISs will be prepared on the riparian areas in the 
following locations: (1) Farmington Field Office, (2) Mimbres planning 
area of the Las Cruces Field Office, (3) Rio Puerco area of the 
Albuquerque Field Office and (4) Taos Field Office.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare four Riparian Habitat Management 
Plans and Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/EISs) and invitation to 
participate in the developing the Habitat Management Plans and the 
Environmental Impact Statement process.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management is initiating the preparation of 
four Riparian Habitat Management Plans and Environmental Impact 
Statements (HMPs/EISs). This action will be located in the following 
four areas in New Mexico: locations: (1) Farmington Field Office, (2) 
Mimbres planning area of the Las Cruces Field Office, (3) Rio Puerco 
area of the Albuquerque Field Office and (4) Taos Field Office. The 
proposed dates for public scoping meetings are included herein.

DATES: Written comments regarding proposed issues to be addressed in 
developing the draft HMPs/EISs must be submitted by December 9, 1998. 
In addition to the written comments seven public scoping meetings will 
be held. See below for locations, dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the following locations.

(1) Farmington Field Office, Farmington HMP/EIS Team Leader, 1235 La 
Plata Highway, Farmington, NM 87401-1808
(2) Las Cruces Field Office, Mimbres HMP/EIS Team Leader, 1800 Marquess 
Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005-3371
(3) Albuquerque Field Office, Rio Puerco HMP/EIS Team Leader, 435 
Montano Road, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935
(4) Taos Field Office, Taos HMP/EIS Team Leader, 226 Cruz Alta Road, 
Taos, NM 87571-5983

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    (1) Farmington Field Office-Bob Moore-505-599-6311.
    (2) Las Cruces Field Office-Bill Merhege-505-525-4369.
    (3) Albuquerque Field Office-Jim Silva-505-761-8901.
    (4) Taos Field Office-Pam Herrera-505-751-4705.

     Public Meetings: The public is invited to attend seven public 
scoping meetings to identify issues to be considered in the preparation 
of the four Riparian Habitat Management Plans and Environmental Impact 
Statements (HMPs/EISs). The meetings will be held at the following 
locations:

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              Town                     Date/Time           Location
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Farmington......................  November 17, 1998   Civic Center, 200
                                   at 7:00 pm.         West Arrington
                                                       Farmington, NM.
Las Cruces......................  November 17, 1998   Lordsburg Civic
                                   at 7:00 pm.         Center, 313 East
                                                       4th, Lordsburg,
                                                       NM.
                                  November 18, 1998   Las Cruces Field
                                   at 7:00 pm.         Office, 1800
                                                       Marquess, Las
                                                       Cruces, NM.
Albuquerque.....................  November 17, 1998   Albuquerque, Field
                                   at 7:00 pm.         Office, 435
                                                       Montano NM,
                                                       Albuquerque, NM.
                                  November 18, 1998   Cuba High School
                                   at 7:00 pm.         Cafeteria, Cuba,
                                                       NM.
Taos............................  November 17, 1998   Taos Field Office,
                                   at 7:00 pm.         226 Cruz Alta
                                                       Road, Taos, NM.
                                  November 18, 1998   BLM-New Mexico
                                   at 7:00 pm.         State Office, 2nd
                                                       Floor Conference
                                                       Room, 1474 Rocteo
                                                       Road, Santa Fe,
                                                       NM.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The four Riparian Habitat Management Plans 
and Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/EISs) are being prepared to 
provide comprehensive riparian and aquatic management guidance for the 
four named areas and as a result of a United States District Judge 
Court ordered settlement agreement, signed September 10, 1998. This 
Federal Court Order stipulated preparation of the four named Riparian 
Habitat Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/
EISs), Civil No. 96-0693 JP/LCS.

    Planning Issues: Prior to scoping the following preliminary issues 
have been determined. They are use of riparian and aquatic habitat 
found with each area, competing demands for that habitat, recreation 
demands for that habitat, livestock grazing on the habitat, and mineral 
development within the habitat. During the scoping period comments will 
also be accepted concerning planning criteria. At the conclusion of the 
scoping process final issues and planning criteria for each of the four 
different locations will be developed.
    Public Participation: Public participation will include 
consultation with affected users and other agencies, meetings with 
interested groups and individuals, media notices, Federal Register 
Notices, public meetings and distribution of the draft and final HMPs 
and EISs. A complete record of each of the four HMPs/EISs will be 
available for

[[Page 58415]]

public review at their respective Field Office locations.

    Dated: October 27, 1998.
Linda S.C. Rundell,
Acting Deputy State Director, Division of Resources Planning, Use and 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 98-29099 Filed 10-30-98; 8:45 am]
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