[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 99 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28006-28007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12998]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-030-1430-01; NMNM24542]


Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for Land 
Ownership and Boundary Adjustment and Direct Sale of Public Land Within 
The Organ/Franklin Mountains Area of Critical Environmental Concern 
(ACEC), New Mexico

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a proposed RMP amendment and Notice 
of Realty Action (NORA).

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SUMMARY: The BLM, Las Cruces Field Office, announces the availability 
of a proposed RMP Amendment/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), 
supporting Environmental Assessment (EA) and NORA. The Proposed Plan 
adjusts the boundary of the Organ/Franklin Mountains ACEC to exclude 
the following public land that has been found suitable for direct sale 
under Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(90 Stat. 2750, 43 U.S.C. 1713), at no less than the estimated fair 
market value. The land will not be offered for sale until at least 60 
days after the date of this notice.

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 25 S., R. 3 E.,
    Section 13: S\1/2\.
    Containing 320 acres.

This land has been leased by Our Lady's Youth Center since 1975, as 
part of a youth ranch and retreat known as the Lord's Ranch. The 
proposed direct sale is for surface rights only. The disposal is 
consistent with this Proposed RMP Amendment for the Mimbres RMP, State 
and local government programs, plans, and applicable regulations.

DATES: Protests on the Proposed Plan must be postmarked on or before 
June 24, 1999.
    Comments regarding the proposed direct sale must be postmarked on 
or before July 9, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Protests on the Proposed Plan should be sent in writing to 
the Director, BLM, Attn: Brenda Williams, Protests Coordinator, WO-210/
LS-1075, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 20240. Only 
those persons or organizations who participated in the planning process 
may protest. Comments on the direct sale should be sent to the BLM, Las 
Cruces Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marvin M. James at the BLM, Las Cruces 
Field Office or at (505) 525-4349.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Plan is to remove the 320 acres 
from within the boundary of the Organ/Franklin Mountains ACEC and 
reclassify as suitable for disposal, by direct sale to Our Lady's Youth 
Center of El Paso, Texas. The land will continue to be used as part of 
the Lord's Ranch on the adjacent private land. The Proposed Plan was 
BLM's preferred alternative in the Draft RMP Amendment/EA.
    At the end of the 30-day protest period, the Proposed Plan 
excluding any portions under protest, will become final. A Decision 
Record will be published following resolution of any protest.
    Any person who is on record for participating in the planning 
process

[[Page 28007]]

and has an interest that may be adversely affected may protest approval 
of the Plan Amendment. Protest should be made to the BLM Director with 
the following information: (1) Name, mailing address, telephone number, 
and interest of the person filing the protest; (2) a statement of the 
concern or concerns being protested; (3) a statement of the part or 
parts being protested; (4) a copy of all documents addressing the 
concern or concerns that were submitted during the planning process by 
the protesting party or an indication of the date the concern or 
concerns were discussed for the records; and (5) a concise statement 
explaining why the BLM New Mexico State Director's decision is wrong. 
At the end of the 30-day protest period, the Proposed Plan, excluding 
any portions under protest, will become final. Approval will be 
withheld on any portion of the Plan under protest until final action 
has been completed on such protest. Individuals not wishing to protest 
the Plan, but wanting to comment, may send comments to the BLM, Las 
Cruces Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005. All 
comments received will be considered in preparation of the Decision 
Record.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the BLM Las Cruces Field Office, 1800 
Marquess, Las Cruces, New Mexico, during regular business hours (7:45 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be 
published as part of the RMP Amendment/EA. Individual respondents may 
request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street 
address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public 
inspection in their entirety.
    The direct sale will be subject to:
    1. A reservation to the United States of a right-of-way for ditches 
or canals constructed by the authority of the United States in 
accordance with the Act of August 30, 1890 (43 U.S.C. 945).
    2. All minerals shall be reserved to the United States, together 
with the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the minerals. A more 
detailed description of this reservation, which will be incorporated in 
the patent document or other document of conveyance is available for 
review at this BLM office. Publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register will segregate the public land from appropriations under the 
public land laws including the mining laws but not the mineral leasing 
laws. This segregation will terminate upon the issuance of a patent or 
other document of conveyance, 270 days from date of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register or upon publication of Notice of 
Termination, whichever occurs first.
    Any adverse comments concerning the direct sale will be evaluated 
by the State Director who may sustain, vacate, or modify the realty 
action. In the absence of any objections, the realty action will become 
the final determination of the Department of the Interior.

    Dated: May 18, 1999.
Linda S.C. Rundell,
Field Manager, Las Cruces.
[FR Doc. 99-12998 Filed 5-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P