[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4257-4258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1763]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-030-2810-AF]


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
Amendment; Las Cruces Field Office, New Mexico

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

ACTION:  Notice of intent to prepare an RMP amendment and invitation to 
participate in identification of issues and planning criteria.

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SUMMARY:  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Las Cruces Field Office, 
New Mexico, is initiating the preparation of an RMP Amendment which 
will include an environmental assessment (EA). The Amendment would 
allow the implementation of the Fire Management Plan, Phase I. The Plan 
would guide Fire Management Policy and Practices on public land 
administered by the Las Cruces Field Office. These lands include 
approximately 5.9 million acres in Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra, Dona 
Ana, and Otero Counties in southwestern New Mexico. A map of this area 
is available at the Las Cruces Field Office. The public is invited to 
participate in the planning process, beginning with the identification 
of issues and planning criteria.

DATES:  Comments relating to the identification of issues and planning 
criteria will be accepted until February 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Comments should be sent to: Helen Graham, Team Leader, 
Bureau of Land Management, Las Cruces Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las 
Cruces, New Mexico 88005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jim McCormick, Assistant Field 
Manager, Renewable Resources or Helen Graham, Team Leader, Las Cruces 
Field Office at (505) 525-4300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The Fire Management Plan would amend the 
White Sands RMP and the Mimbres RMP.
    Anticipated issues to be addressed in the development of the 
amendment include, but are not limited to, the following:
    (1) The impact of smoke from wildfire and prescribed fire;
    (2) The impact of wildfire, prescribed fire, and suppression 
activity on soil erosion and surface water quality;
    (3) The impact of fire suppression activity on resource values;
    (4) The impact of wildfire, prescribed fire, and suppression 
activity on wildlife, and special status species;
    (5) The impact of wildfire, prescribed fire, and suppression 
activity on vegetation;
    (6) The impact of wildfire, prescribed fire, and suppression 
activity on cultural resources;
    (7) The proliferation of undesirable, non-native species due to 
fire and/or fire exclusion;
    (8) The risks associated with hazardous fuel (grass, brush, etc.) 
accumulation in the vicinity of urban interface, sensitive features, 
and other improvements; These issues are not final and may be refined 
or expanded through active public input.
    The RMP Amendment will be developed by an interdisciplinary team 
using representation from the Team Leader, Fire Management Specialist, 
Range Management Specialist, Wildlife Biologist(s), Archeologist, Soil 
Scientist, Hydrologist, Outdoor Recreation/Wilderness Planner, and 
Writer-Editor. Additional technical support will be provided by other 
specialists as needed.
    Public participation activities during the planning process will 
include consultation with cooperating agencies, mail outs, media 
notices, Federal Register notices, and public meetings.
    Three public scoping meetings will be held to obtain public input 
regarding the RMP Amendment. The public scoping meeting will be held at 
the following times and locations:

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                  Date                                  Time                                                  Location
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February 15, 2000.......................  7:00-9:00 p.m..................  BLM, Las Cruces Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, NM.
February 16, 2000.......................  7:00-9:00 p.m..................  Lordsburg Civic Center, 313 East Fourth St., Lordsburg, NM.
February 17, 2000.......................  7:00-9:00 p.m..................  Otero County Courthouse, Commission Chambers, Room 253, 1000 New York Ave.,
                                                                            Alamogordo, NM.
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[[Page 4258]]

    Complete records of the planning process will be available for 
public review at the BLM, Las Cruces Field Office at the address above.

Joseph B. Peterson,
Acting Field Manager, Las Cruces.
[FR Doc. 00-1763 Filed 1-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P