[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 122 (Friday, June 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 34267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14966]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-010-1220-00/G-010-G9-0255]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Rio Puerco Resource Management 
Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (RMP Amendment/EIS) for 
El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) and Chain of Craters 
Wilderness Study Area (WSA)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Albuquerque Field Office 
has completed a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). If approved, the RMP Amendment 
would alter some decisions in the Rio Puerco RMP for the NCA and add 
decisions for lands recently acquired. The document establishes 
planning to the activity level for many of the issues addressed.
    The EIS provides environmental analysis of the impacts of four 
alternative ways of managing the NCA and adjoining lands. Alternative A 
is the Existing Management (No Action) Alternative. It would be a 
continuation of current management and establishes the baseline for 
impact analysis. Management under Alternative B, the Resource Use 
Alternative, would support direct human action. Under Alternative C 
(Natural Processes), management would minimize human activity. 
Alternative D (Balanced Management) is the BLM's Preferred Alternative, 
which proposes to balance use and conservation. The document also 
addresses a legislative requirement to recommend for or against the 
designation of the Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area as 
wilderness.

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked no later than September 24, 
1999.
    Formal verbal comments will be received at the following public 
hearings, which will begin at 7:00 p.m. and continue until those signed 
up to speak have had an opportunity to do so:
    (1) Monday, July 26.
    (2) Tuesday, July 27.
    (3) Wednesday, July 28.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: El Malpais Plan Team 
Leader, BLM Albuquerque Field Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque, 
NM 87107-4935. The public hearings will be held at the following 
locations:
    (1) Grants High School, 500 Mountain Road, Grants, NM.
    (2) Quemado High School, Highway 60, Quemado, NM.
    (3) Del Norte High School, 5323 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, 
NM.
    Copies are available for review at public libraries in Albuquerque 
and Grants, New Mexico and at the following address on the Internet: 
www.nm.blm.gov. Additional copies are available at the following BLM 
New Mexico offices: New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe; 
Albuquerque Field Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque; Grants 
Field Station, 2001 Santa Fe Ave., Grants; and Socorro Field Office, 
198 Neel Ave. NW, Socorro.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Hamilton, El Malpais Plan Team 
Leader, BLM Albuquerque Field Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque, 
NM 87107-4935; phone (505) 761-8746.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft RMP Amendment includes revised 
planning for the following four issues: (1) Recreation (including 
Visual Resource Management), (2) Access and Transportation, (3) 
Wilderness Suitability, and (4) Boundary and Land Ownership 
Adjustments. If approved, these amendments would only affect the NCA 
and adjoining areas as specified. Decisions for other issues and 
geographic areas addressed in the Rio Puerco RMP would not be changed.
    The following issues have been addressed in the environmental 
analysis: (1) Recreation, (2) Facility Development, (3) Access and 
Transportation, (4) Wilderness Management, (5) Wilderness Suitability, 
(6) American Indian Uses and Traditional Cultural Practices, (7) 
Cultural Resources, (8) Wildlife Habitat, (9) Vegetation, and (10) 
Boundary and Land Ownership Adjustments.
    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the above address 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 Proposed Resource 
Management Plan Amendment/Final Environmental Impact Statement. 
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.
Mike O'Neill,
Acting Albuquerque Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-14966 Filed 6-24-99; 8:45 am]
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