[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 1820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-673]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM 030-1430-01; NMNM 86816]


Public land order No. 7375; Withdrawal of Public Lands for 
Sacramento Escarpment Area of Critical Environmental Concern; New 
Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public land order.

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SUMMARY: This order withdraws 5,364.87 acres of public lands from 
surface entry and mining for a period of 20 years, for the Bureau of 
Land Management to protect and preserve the special status species, 
scenic values, and unique resources of the Sacramento Escarpment Area 
of Critical Environmental Concern. The lands have been and will remain 
open to mineral leasing. An additional 80 acres of non-Federal lands, 
if acquired by the United States, would become subject to the 
withdrawal.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 12, 1999.

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 public 
lands are hereby withdrawn from settlement, sale, location, or entry 
under the general land laws, including the United States mining laws 
(30 U.S.C. Ch. 2 (1994)), but not from leasing under the mineral 
leasing laws, to protect the Bureau of Land Management's Sacramento 
Escarpment Area of Critical Environmental Concern:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 17 S., R. 10 E.,
    Sec. 4, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\ (unsurveyed);
    Sec. 5, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 7, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, N\1/2\, SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, E\1/2\ and N\1/2\NW\1/4\ (unsurveyed);
    Sec. 20, NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 28 (unsurveyed);
    Sec. 29, E\1/2\;
    Sec. 33 (unsurveyed).
T. 18 S., R. 10 E.,
    Sec. 4 (unsurveyed);
    Sec. 5, lots 1 and 2, and S\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9 (unsurveyed);
    Sec. 35, E\1/2\ (unsurveyed).
T. 19 S., R. 10 E.,
    Sec. 2, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and 
N\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate approximately 5,364.87 acres in 
Otero County.

    2. The following described non-Federal lands are located within 
the boundary of the Sacramento Escarpment Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern. In the event these lands return to Federal 
ownership, they would be subject to the terms and conditions of this 
withdrawal:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 17 S., R. 10 E.,
    Sec. 8, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 80 acres in Otero County.

    3. The withdrawal made by this order does not alter the 
applicability of those public land laws governing the use of the lands 
under lease, license, or permit, or governing the disposal of their 
mineral or vegetative resources other than under the mining laws.
    4. 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: December 23, 1998.
John Berry,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-673 Filed 1-11-99; 8:45 am]
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