[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 111 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31287-31288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14917]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CO-935-1430-01; COC-62995]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal; Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 
approximately 165,000 acres of Federal lands and 6,400 acres of 
reserved Federal minerals to protect nationally significant scientific 
and cultural resource values, and the ecological diversity of the 
Yellow Jacket Canyon region of southwestern Colorado. This notice 
segregates the lands and minerals described below for up to 2 years 
from surface entry, mineral material sales, and mining. The lands will 
remain open to mineral leasing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Stiles, Southwest Center Manager, 
Bureau of Land Management, 2465 South Townsend, Montrose, Colorado 
81401, 970-240-5300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to 
protect the nationally significant scientific and cultural resource 
values and the ecological diversity of the Yellow Jacket Canyon area 
while the lands are under study for additional protection through some 
form of special designation. The area represents the focus of northern 
Anasazi development, with more than 100 sites per square mile in many 
areas, representing the highest known archaeologic site density of any 
area in the nation. The total number of sites on public lands within 
the area is estimated at nearly 20,000. In 1985, the Bureau of Land 
Management's Resource Management Plan for the San Juan/San Miguel 
Planning Area designated the area as the Anasazi Culture Multiple Use 
Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in recognition of the 
tremendous cultural values present.
    Approximately 90 percent of the land proposed for withdrawal is 
currently leased for oil and gas under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920. 
Approximately 74 producing oil, gas, and carbon dioxide wells maintain 
these leases. The temporary segregation and subsequent withdrawal would 
not affect existing mineral leases or any of the associated facilities 
or authorizations currently in place, nor would it affect the ability 
of the Bureau of Land Management to authorize actions typically 
associated with oil and gas development (such as

[[Page 31288]]

the drilling of new wells, re-drilling or re-completion of wells, 
construction of collection systems, and plugging and abandonment). 
Development of oil and gas resources in this area has been carefully 
managed over the years to mitigate potential impacts to cultural 
resources and other values. Effective mitigation of such potential 
impacts would continue to be emphasized during the temporary 
segregation period and under the proposed withdrawal.
    The proposal, if finalized, would withdraw the following described 
Federal lands and minerals, subject to valid existing rights, from 
settlement, sale, location, and entry under the general land laws, 
including the mining and mineral material sales laws, but not the 
mineral leasing laws. The proposal includes withdrawing the reserved 
Federal mineral interest underlying private surface within the ACEC, 
but would not affect surface rights of those private lands. The 
allowance of any temporary land use permits, rights-of-way or 
cooperative agreements would be authorized only when necessary to 
accommodate valid existing rights and previously authorized actions.

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 35 N., R. 16 W.,
    Sec. 6.
T. 35 N., R. 17 W.,
    Secs. 1, 12, and 13.
T. 35 N., R. 19 W.,
    Secs. 3 to 10, inclusive, secs.15 to 22, inclusive, and secs. 28 
to 30, inclusive.
T. 35 N., R. 20 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 3, inclusive, secs.10 to 15, inclusive, secs. 22 to 
27, inclusive, secs. 34 and 35.
T. 36 N., R. 16 W.,
    Secs. 18 to 20, inclusive, and secs. 29 to 32, inclusive.
T. 36 N., R. 17 W.,
    Secs. 4, secs. 8 to11, inclusive, secs. 13 to 30, inclusive, and 
sec. 36.
T. 36 N., R. 18 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 32, inclusive; sec. 36, N\1/2\.
T. 36 N., R. 19 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 34, inclusive, and sec. 36.
T. 36 N., R. 20 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 3, inclusive, secs. 10 to 15, inclusive, secs. 22 to 
27, inclusive, and secs. 34 to 36, inclusive.
T. 37 N., R. 17 W.,
    Secs. 3, 4, secs. 8 to 10, inclusive, secs. 16 to 20, inclusive, 
and secs. 30 and 31.
T. 37 N., R. 18 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 36, inclusive.
T. 37 N., R. 19 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 36, inclusive.
T. 37 N., R. 20 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 3, inclusive, secs. 10 to 15, inclusive, secs. 22 to 
27, inclusive, and secs. 34 to 36, inclusive.
T. 38 N., R. 17 W.,
    Secs. 33 and 34.
T. 38 N., R. 18 W.,
    Secs. 13 to 15, inclusive, and secs.17 to 35, inclusive.
T. 38 N., R. 19 W.,
    Secs. 2 to 36, inclusive.
T. 38 N., R. 20 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 3, inclusive, secs.10 to 15, inclusive, secs. 22 to 
27, inclusive, and secs. 34 to 36, inclusive.
T. 39 N., R. 18 W.,
    Secs. 6, 7, secs. 17 to 20, inclusive, and secs. 29 and 30.
T. 39 N., R. 19 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 3, inclusive, secs. 5, 7, 8, secs. 10 to 15, 
inclusive, secs. 18, 19, and secs. 21 to 28, inclusive, sec. 30, and 
secs. 32 to 34, inclusive.
T. 39 N., R. 20 W.,
    Secs. 13, 14, secs. 23 to 27, inclusive, and secs. 34 to 36, 
inclusive.

    The areas described aggregate approximately 165,000 acres of 
Federal lands and 6,400 acres of reserved Federal mineral estate 
underlying privately held surface in Montezuma and Dolores Counties.

    For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, the Federal lands and minerals will be 
segregated from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the general 
land laws, including the mining and mineral material sales law, subject 
to valid existing rights, unless the proposal is canceled or unless the 
withdrawal is finalized prior to the end of the segregation. Further, 
the segregation does not preclude issuance of land use permits, rights-
of-way or other authorizations that are needed to accommodate valid 
existing rights and previously authorized actions under the Mineral 
Leasing Act and other public land laws. All previously authorized 
activities and permitted uses of the segregated lands may be continued 
in accordance with the terms of the authorization.

    Dated: June 8, 1999.
Ray Brady,
Manager, Lands and Realty Group.
[FR Doc. 99-14917 Filed 6-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P