[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 104 (Friday, May 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30718-30719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11500]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-030-04-1610-DR]


Notice of Change to Proposed Resource Managment Plan Amendment; 
Notice of Public Comment Period

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

ACTIONS: Notice of Change to the Proposed Resource Management Plan 
Amendment (RMPA) for Federal Fluid Minerals Leasing and Development in 
Sierra and Otero Counties, New Mexico, and opening of a 30-day public 
comment period.

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    Notice of availability of a Supplement to the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed RMPA for Federal Fluid Minerals 
Leasing and Development in Sierra and Otero Counties, New Mexico, and 
opening of a 30-day public comment period.

SUMMARY: In response to recommendations offered by the Governor of New 
Mexico, made pursuant to 40 CFR 1610.3-2, and concerns raised in 
protests to the Proposed RMPA, the BLM announces a change to the 
Proposed RMPA for Federal Fluid Minerals Leasing and Development in 
Sierra and Otero Counties, New Mexico. The BLM is now proposing to 
discretionarily close to fluid mineral leasing approximately 35,790 
acres located in the Nutt and Otero Mesa desert grasslands habitat 
areas. The Proposed RMPA described these areas as being withheld from 
leasing for 5 years and then subject to reevaluation. A 30-day period 
is being provided to allow the public an opportunity to comment on this 
proposed closure. See 43 CFR 1610.5-1(b). A supplement to the Final EIS 
for the Proposed RMPA for Federal Fluid Minerals Leasing and 
Development in Sierra and Otero Counties is now available. See 40 CFR 
1502.9(c)(2). The Final EIS Supplement analyzes the impacts of the 
proposed closure described above. It also provides additional analysis 
regarding the proposed action alternative (Alternative A Modified) 
identified in the Proposed RMPA. Alternative A Modified reflected 
changes made in response to public comments offered on the Draft RMPA 
and EIS. See 40 CFR 1503.4(a). A 30-day period is being provided to 
allow the public an opportunity to comment on both the analysis 
contained in the Final EIS Supplement and the analysis of Alternative A 
Modified as presented in the Proposed RMPA and Final EIS. See 40 CFR 
1503.1(b).
    The comment periods will run concurrently. At this time, no final 
decision has been made regarding either the proposed closure or any 
other aspect of Alternative A Modified. All comments submitted during 
this period will be considered by the BLM as part of its decision-
making process in this matter.

ADDRESSES: A single document describing the proposed closure and 
containing the Final EIS Supplement is available upon request from the 
Las Cruces BLM Field Office and the BLM State Office in Santa Fe, New 
Mexico. In addition, the document is available on the BLM Web site at 
www.nm.blm.gov. Comments must be sent to: State Director Linda Rundell, 
Supplement Comments, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 27115, Santa 
Fe, NM 87502-0115. If sent by an overnight delivery service or hand 
carried, the address is as follows: State Director Linda Rundell, 
Supplement Comments, Bureau of Land Management, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa 
Fe, NM 87505. The comment periods will begin on the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency notice of availability of the Final EIS 
Supplement appears in the Federal Register and will end 30 days after 
that date. The ending date for the comment period will be on the BLM 
Web site listed above and in news releases provided to the local media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Phillips, Las Cruces Field Office, 
1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005-3371. The phone number is 
(505) 525-4377.

[[Page 30719]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Both the Draft RMPA/EIS and Proposed RMPA/
Final EIS were developed with broad public participation during a 6-
year collaborative planning process. These documents can be found at 
the BLM's Web site: www.nm.blm.gov.

    Dated: April 30, 2004.
Linda S.C. Rundell,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 04-11500 Filed 5-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P