[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30956-30957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11442]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM 050-02-1610-DO]


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan Revision/
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
revision and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Socorro 
Field Office, New Mexico.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and section 102 (2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), Socorro Field Office will prepare an RMP Revision and complete 
an EIS on the Revision for approximately 1.5 million acres of public 
lands managed by the Socorro Field Office in west-central New Mexico, 
located within Socorro and Catron Counties. The revised land use plan 
will guide resource management in these areas into the foreseeable 
future. The RMP Revision will be prepared under guidance provided 
through 43 CFR part 1600 (BLM Planning Regulations). The BLM will work 
closely with interested parties to identify issues, resolve disputes, 
and develop management actions that are best suited to the management 
of the resources and the needs of the public. This collaborative 
process will take into account local, regional, and national concerns. 
This Notice formally initiates the public Scoping process to identify 
planning issues and to review preliminary planning criteria.

DATES: The Scoping comment period will commence with the publication of 
this Notice and Scoping comments would be most effective if received 
not later than 30 days after the last public meeting. Meetings and 
comment closing dates will be announced through local news media, 
newsletters, and the BLM Web site: http://www.nm.blm.gov.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to ``RMP COMMENTS'', BLM, 
Socorro Field Office, 198 Neel Ave., NW, Socorro, NM, 87801, Fax: 505-
835-0223. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Socorro Field Office. Comments, including names and street addresses of 
respondents, will be available for public review at the Socorro Field 
Office during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of the 
RMP/EIS. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you 
wish to withhold your name or 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 and businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Charles Carroll, Planning 
and Environmental Coordinator, BLM, Socorro Field Office, 198 Neel 
Ave., NW, Socorro, NM, 87801, phone: 505-838-1278.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Opportunities to participate will occur 
throughout the planning process. To ensure local community 
participation and input, public scoping meetings will be held, at a 
minimum, in three towns strategically located in or near the planning 
area. Early participation by all interested parties is encouraged and 
will help guide the planning process and determine the future 
management of public lands. At least 15 days public notice in local 
news media will be given for activities where the public is invited to 
attend. The minutes and list of attendees for each meeting will be 
available to the public and open for 30 days to any participant who 
wishes to clarify their views. Written comments will be accepted 
throughout the planning process at the address shown above. Additional 
formal opportunities for public participation and comment will be 
provided upon publication of the draft RMP Revision and draft EIS.
    Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by 
BLM personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and 
user groups. The preliminary issues are: Management of public land 
resources at the watershed level; off-highway vehicle management; fluid 
and solid mineral development; effects of urban interface; land tenure 
adjustments; status of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern; 
identification of resource values on recently acquired public lands; 
and public interest/benefits with regard to recent cultural/recreation 
initiatives--e.g., El Camino Real International Heritage Center, Fort 
Craig, El Camino Real National Historic Trail, etc.
    Preliminary Management Concerns include: Management of current/
future special status species; maintaining government-to-government 
relationships with tribal governments; effect on disproportionate 
impacts to disadvantaged communities resulting from execution of land 
management decisions (Environmental Justice Executive Order 12898); the 
potential for the spread of noxious weeds; and the management of 
designated streams (Clean Water Act, Section 303-d). Public comments on 
the issues will be placed in one of three categories: (1) Issues to be 
resolved in the plan; (2) issues resolved through policy or 
administrative action; or (3) issues beyond the scope of this plan. The 
public is encouraged to help identify issues, questions, and concerns 
during the scoping phase.
    Planning Criteria will be developed during public scoping to help 
guide the planning effort. Preliminary Planning Criteria being 
considered for the Socorro planning effort include: Recognize valid 
existing rights; comply with existing law, executive orders, 
regulation, and BLM policy and program guidance; seek public input; 
consider adjoining non-public lands when making management

[[Page 30957]]

decisions to minimize land use conflicts; consider planning 
jurisdictions of other federal agencies, and state, local and tribal 
governments; develop reasonable and sound alternatives; use current 
scientific data to evaluate appropriate management strategies; analyze 
socioeconomic effects of alternatives along with the environmental 
effects; carry forward valid analysis from existing documents; and 
consider public welfare and safety.
    The Socorro Field Office borders the Cibola, Apache, and Gila 
National Forests, the Alamo Navajo Reservation, the White Sands Missile 
Range, and the Sevilleta and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife 
Refuge. Elevations in the area range approximately 4,600 feet along the 
Rio Grande to over 8,500 feet on Pelona Mountain.
    The Socorro Field Office is presently managed under the Socorro RMP 
(1989, as amended). Information and decisions from the existing Socorro 
RMP will be reviewed and incorporated in this plan revision to the 
extent possible.
    Management will continue under the Socorro RMP until the revised 
RMP is approved.

    Dated: March 27, 2002.
Richard A. Whitley,
New Mexico Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 02-11442 Filed 5-7-02; 8:45 am]
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