[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 73 (Friday, April 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18932-18933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9556]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-930-1430-01; NMNM-102308]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal; New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 
approximately 8,470.59 acres of Federal surface and minerals and 480 
acres of Federal minerals underlying private surface to protect 
possible cave system north and northeast of the existing ``cave 
protection area'' protected by the Lechuguilla Cave Protection Act (107 
Stat. 1983 (1993)). An additional 8,198.72 acres of State land and 
mineral estate within the proposal withdrawal area, if acquired by the 
United States, would become subject to the withdrawal. This notice 
segregates the lands described below for up to 2 years from settlement, 
location, sale or entry under the general land laws, including the 
mining laws, and from mineral leasing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clarence Hougland, Bureau of Land 
Management, P.O. Box 27115, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502-0115, 505-438-
7593.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to 
protect the identified area from activities that might threaten 
possible cave resources in the area. The proposal, if finalized, would 
expand the existing ``cave protection area'' to better conform to 
geological information about the northern and eastern extent of cave 
resources, as identified by the so-called Guadalupe Geoplogy Panel. If 
finalized,

[[Page 18933]]

it would withdraw the following described Federal lands and minerals 
from settlement, location, sale, and entry under the general land laws, 
including the mining laws, and from mineral leasing, subject to valid 
existing rights:

New Mexico Principal Meridian, New Mexico

T. 24 S., R. 23 E.,
    Sec. 24, all;
    Sec. 33, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and NE\1/4\SE\1/4\ (all Federal 
minerals only);
    Sec. 34, E\1/4\, NW\1/4\, (Federal minerals only), NW\1/4\SW\1/
4\ (Federal minerals only), E\1/2\,SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SW\1/4\,
    Sec. 35, N\1/2\.
T. 24 S., R. 24 E.,
    Sec. 14, N\1/2\;
    Sec. 15, N\1/2\;
    Sec. 17, N\1/2\, N\1/2\,S\1/2\, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 18, lots 3, 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
T. 24 S., R. 25 E.,
    Sec. 11, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 12, N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 13, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 14, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\,NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec 22, all;
    Sec. 23, N\1/2\, SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, W\1/2\E\1/
2\SE\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, N\1/2\, E\1/2\E\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, 
SW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec 25, N\1/2\;
    Sec. 26, N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\.
T. 24 S., R. 26 E.,
    Sec. 17, lot 1, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\ (all 
West of Highway 180);
    Sec. 18, lots 1, 2, 4, W\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, 
NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 19, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, NE\1/4\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\ (all 
West of Highway 180).

    The areas described aggregate 8,950.59 acres in Eddy County. All 
lands are federally owned surface and subsurface (mineral) unless 
otherwise noted.
    The following described State lands and mineral estates would, 
if acquired by the United States, become subject to the withdrawal:

New Mexico Principal Meridian, New Mexico

T. 24 S., R. 23 E.,
    Sec. 22, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 23, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 26, all;
    Sec. 27, all;
    Sec. 28, E\1/2\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, W\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\.
T. 24 S., R. 24 E.,
    Sec. 12, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 13, all;
    Sec. 16, all.
T. 24 S., R. 25 E.
    Sec. 7, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 8. S\1/2\;
    Sec. 9, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 10, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 15, N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 16, all;
    Sec. 17, all;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\.

    The area described aggregates approximately 8,198.72 acres in Eddy 
County.

    For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, the lands will be segregated from settlement, 
location, sale and entry under the general lands laws, including the 
mining laws, and from mineral leasing, subject to valid existing 
rights, unless the proposal is cancelled or unless the withdrawal is 
finalized prior to the end of the segregation period. Existing uses of 
the segregated lands may be continued in accordance with their terms 
(except for the location or relocation of mining claims during the 
pendency of the 2-year segregative period), including but not limited 
to livestock grazing, lawful ingress and egress to any valid mining 
claims and patented claims and mineral leases that may exist on the 
segregated lands or nearby public lands inside the existing cave 
protection area, use of all rights-of-way, lawful access to non-Federal 
lands and interests in lands, all current recreational uses including 
hunting, camping and day use, and all commercial uses being conducted 
under special use permits. The Bureau of Land Management is authorized 
to grant rights-of-way, easements (including drilling easements), 
permits and other approvals for the exercise of valid existing rights 
on the segregated lands or nearby public lands inside the existing cave 
protection area. The Federal lands will remain under the jurisdiction 
of the Bureau of Land Management.

    Dated: April 9, 1999.
M. J. Chavez,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-9556 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M