[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27532-27533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12411]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-030-1310-DB]


Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for Federal Fluid Minerals Leasing and 
Development in Sierra and Otero Counties, NM

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

ACTION: Notice of extended public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The BLM announces additional time for public comment on the 
Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for Federal Fluid Minerals Leasing and 
Development in Sierra and Otero Counties. Pursuant to 102(2)(c) of the 
National Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), 
and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, the BLM 
Las Cruces Field Office has prepared a Draft RMPA/EIS. The RMPA/EIS 
addresses Federal fluid minerals (Oils, gas, and geothermal) leasing 
and subsequent activities (e.g., exploration, development, or 
production) in Sierra and Otero Counties, New Mexico. The new deadline 
for public comment ends June 22, 2001.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft RMPA/EIS must be postmarked on or 
before June 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Tom Phillips, RMPA/EIS 
Team Leader, BLM, Las Cruces Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, 
NM 88005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Phillips, RMPA/EIS Team Leader, 
(505) 525-4377.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments may be submitted to the 
BLM, Las Cruces Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, NM 88005 on or 
before June 22, 2001. Copies of the Draft RMPA/EIS have been 
distributed to a mailing list of identified interested parties. Single 
copies of the Draft RMPA/EIS are available from the BLM Las Cruces 
Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces Field Office, New Mexico. 
Public reading copies are available for review at public and university 
libraries in Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Truth or Consequences, Roswell, 
and Santa Fe, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. The RMPA amends the 1986 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the White Sands Resource Area. The 
objective of

[[Page 27533]]

the RMPA is to determine (1) which lands overlying Federal fluid 
minerals are suitable and available for leasing and subsequent 
development and (2) how those leased lands will be managed. The EIS 
identifies the potential impacts that alternative plans for fluid 
minerals leasing and subsequent activities could have on the 
environment and identifies appropriate measures to mitigate those 
impacts.

    Dated: May 1, 2001.
Tim L. Sanders,
Acting Field Manager, Las Cruces.
[FR Doc. 01-12411 Filed 5-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-M