[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 160 (Monday, August 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46512-46513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16342]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-520-1430-FM; NMNM 106766]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Amendment and Associated 
Environmental Assessment to the Carlsbad Field Office Resource 
Management Plan, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carlsbad Field Office 
intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and 
associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the possible 
disposal, by either exchange and/or sale, of up to 3,566.88 acres of 
BLM-administered public land in Eddy and Lea Counties in southeastern 
New Mexico.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted for 30 days after the date 
this Notice is published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through any of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Field Manager, BLM, Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East 
Greene, Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220.
     Fax: (505) 885-9264.
     Personal delivery to the Carlsbad Field Office: see 
address above.
    Additional information on the project is also available at the 
Field Office's above address. The 1988 Carlsbad RMP is also available 
at the Carlsbad Field Office and posted on the following BLM Web site: 
http://www.nm.blm.gov/cfo/index.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Owen W. Lofton, Realty Specialist, 
BLM, Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East Greene, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 
(505) 234-5923.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM is currently considering a proposal 
from Intrepid Potash, Inc. (formerly Mississippi Potash Inc.), to 
complete a land exchange and/or sale. Intrepid Potash, Inc. proposes 
that BLM dispose of public lands around its mine sites in exchange for 
private lands around the Pecos River. In addition, Intrepid Potash, 
Inc. proposes to purchase additional BLM lands in order to continue its 
mining operations and hazardous material mitigation. The public lands 
proposed for disposal contain mine tailings and other industrial waste. 
The private lands offered for exchange consist of riparian habitat and 
native rangeland. The public land proposed for disposal is currently 
identified for retention in Federal ownership in the 1988 Carlsbad RMP. 
The RMP must therefore be amended to identify these public lands as 
suitable for exchange and/or sale. The lands proposed for disposal are 
described as follows:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 21 S., R. 29 E.,
    sec. 01, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\; 280.00 acres.
    sec. 12, E\1/2\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\; 560.00 acres.
    sec. 13, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\; 120.00 acres.
    sec. 14, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\; 40.00 acres.
T. 20 S., R. 30 E.,
    sec. 04, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\; 120.00 acres.
    sec. 05, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 200.00 
acres.
    sec. 09, N\1/2\N\1/2\; 160.00 acres.
T. 21 S., R. 31 E.,

[[Page 46513]]

    sec. 03, S\1/2\SW\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
    sec. 04, Lots 1-16, inclusive; 648.96 acres.
    sec. 05, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
    sec. 09, N\1/2\; 320.00 acres.
    sec. 10, NW\1/4\; 160.00 acres.
T., 20 S., R. 32 E.,
    sec. 07, Lot 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 159.43 acres.
    sec. 08, S\1/2\SW\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
    sec. 17, W\1/2\; 320.00 acres.
    sec. 18, Lots 1, 2, 4, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 238.49 
acres.
    Total: 3,566.88 acres

    A Notice of Intent (NOI) regarding a similar proposal was 
originally published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2002. The 
purpose of this earlier proposal was to provide notice of the BLM's 
intent to prepare a plan amendment to change the classification of 
lands previously identified for retention to suitable for disposal 
solely by exchange. However, a recent appraisal necessitated acreage 
adjustments to reach equal land values, and consequently, Intrepid 
Potash, Inc. had to eliminate lands that they would still like to 
acquire. Without any more lands to offer the BLM for exchange, Intrepid 
Potash, Inc. has proposed to purchase some BLM lands to continue mining 
operations and hazardous material mitigation. Therefore, the current 
proposed amendment is to consider land disposal by either exchange and/
or sale in the plan amendment process.
    Preliminary issues include, but are not limited to: Wildlife and 
riparian habitat, rangeland resources, recreation, hazardous materials, 
and cultural resources. In addition to the No Action Alternative 
(existing management situation), a range of alternatives will be 
considered that will address a combination of land sale and exchange, 
as well as mitigation.
    The preliminary land use planning criteria are:
    1. The amendment will be in compliance with FLPMA and applicable 
laws, regulations, and policies. The land use plan amendment process 
will be governed by the planning regulations at 43 CFR part 1610 and 
BLM Land Use Planning Handbook H-1601-1.
    2. The proposed action and alternatives will be analyzed in 
accordance with NEPA.
    3. Lands affected by the proposed plan amendment include public 
surface and mineral estate managed by BLM. No decisions will be made 
relative to non-BLM administered lands or non-federal minerals.
    4. Public participation will be an integral part of the planning 
process.
    5. The plan amendment will recognize all valid existing rights.
    6. The BLM will work with cooperating agencies and all other 
interested groups, agencies, and individuals. The amended RMP will be 
consistent with existing non-Federal plans and policies, provided the 
decisions in the existing plans are consistent with the purposes, 
policies, and programs of Federal law and regulations for public lands.
    The RMPA/EA will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team of BLM 
resource specialists including realty, recreation, cultural, minerals, 
and hazardous materials specialists. Additional technical support will 
be provided by other specialists as needed. Before including your 
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: July 20, 2007.
Jim Stovall,
Carlsbad Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E7-16342 Filed 8-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-OX-P