[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 173 (Friday, September 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51463-51464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17492]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-110-1610-DR]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Kasha-Katuwe 
Tent Rocks National Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM) management policies and Presidential 
Proclamation 7394 signed on January 17, 2001, the BLM announces the 
availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) for the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument 
located in Sandoval County, New Mexico. The New Mexico State Director 
will sign the ROD approving the RMP which becomes effective 
immediately. The RMP provides for recreational use and facility 
development. The public has been provided opportunities to observe, 
study and experience the geologic processes that shape natural 
landscapes, as well as other cultural and biological objects of 
interest. The BLM has considered American Indian Uses and Traditional 
Cultural Practices, siting access and transportation to minimize 
intrusion on American Indian Use.

[[Page 51464]]

Ecological and biological resource protection and enhancement have been 
provided.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request 
from the Field Manager, Rio Puerco Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 435 Montano NE., Albuquerque, NM 87107 or via the internet 
at (http://www.nm.blm.gov). Reference copies are available for review 
during regular business hours at BLM's Rio Puerco Field Office at the 
address above or at BLM's New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Road, 
Santa Fe, NM.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information visit the Web 
site at http://www.nm.blm.gov or contact: Danny Randall [email protected] or 505-761-8953), Manager, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks 
National Monument, BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, 435 Montano NE., 
Albuquerque NM 87107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RMP ROD was developed with broad public 
and stakeholder participation through a 3-year collaborative planning 
process. The RMP ROD addresses management on approximately 15,635 
acres. BLM currently manages 5,089 of these acres and has identified 
the other 10,546 acres as being desirable for acquisition, to be 
managed in conjunction with the Monument. The RMP ROD contains both 
land use planning decisions and implementation decisions to provide 
planning structure to facilitate the management of the Monument. Major 
resources and activities addressed in the RMP ROD include: American 
Indian Use and Traditional Cultural Practices; recreation; cultural 
resources; interpretation; facilities; lands and realty; access and 
transportation; vegetation management; and wildlife management.
    The ROD selected Alternative B as the approved RMP. Except for 
editorial clarification and format, Alternative B was approved as it 
appeared when published as Alternative B (The Preferred Alternative) in 
the Proposed RMP/Final EIS in October 2006, with the NOA published in 
the Federal Register on November 24, 2006. BLM received one letter 
during the protest period on the Proposed RMP/FEIS; however, after 
careful consideration of all points raised in this letter, it was 
concluded that the letter did not constitute a valid protest. The BLM 
Director concluded that the responsible planning team and decision-
makers followed all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and 
pertinent resource considerations in developing the proposed plan. No 
inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies or programs were 
identified during the Governor's consistency review of the Proposed 
RMP/Final EIS.
    RMP implementation decisions are identified in Chapter 4 of the ROD 
RMP. As listed here: Access and Transportation pg. 2-5; American Indian 
Uses and Traditional Cultural Practices pg. 2-9; Cultural Resources pg. 
2-11; Fire Management pg. 22-15; Lands and Realty pg. 2-18; Livestock 
Grazing pg. 2-21; Noxious Weed Management pg. 2-23; Public Land Health 
pg. 2-26; Recreational Use pg. 2-30; Riparian Areas pg. 2-33; Social 
and Economic Conditions pg. 2-35; Soil and Water Resources pg. 2-37; 
Special Geologic Features pg. 2-38; Special Status Species pg. 2-39; 
Vegetation and Woodlands Management pg. 2-42; Visual Resources pg. 2-
43. Pursuant to 43 CFR 4.400 et seq., any party adversely affected by 
these decisions may appeal within 30 days of publication of this notice 
of availability per 43 CFR Part 4, Subpart E. The appeal should state 
the specific decisions as identified by resource or activity under the 
subheading `Implementation Decisions' in Chapter 4 of the approved RMP.
    The appeal must be filed with the Rio Puerco Field Manager at the 
above listed address.

Linda S.C. Rundell,
State Director, New Mexico.
 [FR Doc. E7-17492 Filed 9-6-07; 8:45 am]
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