[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 212 (Thursday, November 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 55200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27484]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-010-1430-EU/1430-HM; NM 101522]


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) for the Land Exchange With the Pueblo of San Felipe; Albuquerque 
Field Office, NM

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Albuquerque Field Office 
has completed the FEIS for the land exchange with the Pueblo of San 
Felipe. This FEIS documents the BLM's analysis of three alternative 
courses of action for exchanging public lands administered by the BLM 
in Sandoval and Santa Fe Counties, New Mexico for private lands in Taos 
County, New Mexico. The lands in Taos County lie along the Rio Grande 
National Wild and Scenic River and within the Orilla Verde Recreation 
Area, identified as two of the BLM's high-priority acquisition areas.
    The goals of this exchange are to enable the BLM to more 
effectively meet multiple use management objectives; to consolidate 
BLM-managed lands for more effective and efficient resource protection, 
enhancement and use; to give San Felipe Pueblo direct control over 
those lands having traditional, historical and cultural values and 
uses; and to greatly enhance the privacy often required for the 
pueblo's uses. When the lands are held in trust by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, these uses would be supported through the tribal government's 
direct supervision.
    The BLM will retain restrictive covenants on the lands being 
received by the pueblo. The purposes of the restrictive covenants are 
to conserve important habitat for wildlife and open space, to conserve 
the diverse vegetative communities and the wildlife inhabiting these 
communities, and to preserve the lands in their present condition, 
without interfering with any uses of the property by the San Felipe 
Pueblo that are consistent with protecting these conservation values.
    This FEIS includes changes to the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement based on public comments, staff review, and the availability 
of updated information. Alternative A, the Proposed Action, is the 
BLM's preferred alternative.

DATES: The document is available for review for 30 days from the date 
of publication of the Notice of Availability by Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) in the Federal Register. To be considered, all 
comments must be postmarked within this 30-day timeframe.
    After reviewing the comments, the BLM will publish a Record of 
Decision. Interested parties will have 45 days to protest the decision 
(under 43 CFR 1610.5-2). After this period, the decision can be 
implemented.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Edwin Singleton, Field 
Manager, BLM Albuquerque Field Office, 435 Montano Road NE, 
Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935. Copies are available for review at this 
address. The document is also available on the Internet at 
www.nm.blm.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Debby Lucero, Albuquerque Field 
Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107-4935; phone 
(505) 761-8787.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Description of Proposed Action--Alternative A, the Proposed Action, 
involves an equal-value exchange of approximately 9,460 acres of BLM 
lands that have high traditional and cultural pueblo values for about 
268.7 acres of privately owned, high-value recreation lands. The 
private lands are located along the Rio Grande National Wild and Scenic 
River and within the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. They would be 
incorporated into the Orilla Verde Recreation Area and managed under 
the principles of multiple use, consistent with the Taos Resource 
Management Plan (1988), as amended.
    Other Alternatives Analyzed--Under Alternative B, an additional 
1,447 acres of federal land would be exchanged for an equal value of 
private lands identified in the BLM's high-priority acquisition areas.
    Under Alternative C, the No Action Alternative, the proposed land 
exchange would not occur. The BLM would not benefit from consolidating 
the public lands along the Rio Grande National Wild and Scenic River 
and within the Orilla Verde Recreation Area. The federal land would 
continue to be managed under the principles of multiple use and 
sustained yield.

    Dated: September 14, 2001.
Steven W. Anderson,
Assistant Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-27484 Filed 10-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-AG-P