[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 9 (Monday, January 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2272-2273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6282]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-030-1430-DN; NMNM117880]


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Amendment to the Mimbres Resource 
Management Plan (RMPA), and Associated Environmental Assessment (EA), 
Las Cruces District, New Mexico

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The BLM Las Cruces District Office, New Mexico, intends to 
prepare an amendment to the Mimbres RMPA and associated EA to analyze 
the possible disposal, by either exchange or sale, of up to 6,002 acres 
of BLM-administered public land in Dona Ana County in southwestern New 
Mexico.

DATES: The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify 
relevant issues through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web 
site (http://www.blm.gov/nm) at least 15 days prior to the first 
meeting. We will provide formal opportunities for public participation 
upon publication of the Draft RMPA/EA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nm.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: District Manager, BLM, Las Cruces District Office, 
1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005.
     Fax: (575) 525-4412.
     Personal delivery to the Las Cruces District Office: see 
address above.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Las 
Cruces District Office at the above address. The 1993 Mimbres RMP is 
also posted on the following BLM Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nm

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: To have your name added to our mailing list, 
contact Lorraine J. Salas, Realty Specialist, at the Las Cruces 
District Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico; 
telephone number (575) 525-4388; or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico, intends to prepare a RMPA/EA 
for the Mimbres Planning Area and announces public scoping meetings.
    The BLM is currently considering disposing of 6,002 acres. The 
public land proposed for disposal is currently identified for retention 
in Federal ownership in the 1993 Membres RMP. The RMP must, therefore, 
be amended to identify the public land as suitable for exchange and/or 
sale. The land proposed for disposal is described as follows:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 24 S., R. 1 E.
    Section 6.
T. 24 S., R. 1 W.
    Section 1, Section 11, Section 12.
T. 27 S. R. 1 E.
    Section 13, W\1/2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/
4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, W\1/
2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Section 14, W\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/
4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/
2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/
4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Section 24, W\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/
4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/
2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/
4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/
4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\.
T. 27 S., R. 2 E.
    Section 19, Lots 3 and 4, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Section 29, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SW\1/4\;
    Section 30, Lot 1, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/
4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/
4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Section 33, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/
4\SW\1/4\.
T. 28 S., R. 2 E.
    Section 3, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Section 4, Lots 2, 3, and 4, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, 
S\1/2\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\;
    Section 5, Lots 1 and 2, N\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/
4\;
    Section 9, All;
    Section 10, Lots 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, SW\1/
4\SE\1/4\;
    Section 14, Lots 3 and 4, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SW\1/
4\SW\1/4\;
    Section 15, All.

    The planning area is located in Dona Ana County, New Mexico. This 
planning activity encompasses approximately 6,002 acres of public land. 
The Plan will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. The BLM will work 
collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management 
decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and National needs 
and concerns.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and 
EA alternatives. These issues also guide the planning process. You may 
submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing to the BLM 
at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using 
one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be most 
helpful, you should submit formal scoping comments within 30 days after 
the last

[[Page 2273]]

public meeting. 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. All submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, are 
available for public inspection in their entirety. The minutes and list 
of attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the public 
and open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to 
clarify the views he or she expressed.
    Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by 
BLM personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and 
user groups. They represent the BLM's knowledge to date regarding the 
existing issues and concerns with current land management. The major 
issues that will be addressed in this planning effort include: wildlife 
and riparian habitat, rangeland resources, recreation, hazardous 
materials, and cultural resources.
    After public comments, as to what issues the Plan should address 
are gathered, they will be placed in one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the Plan;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this Plan.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Plan as to why an issue 
was placed in category two or three. In addition to these major issues, 
a number of management questions and concerns will be addressed in the 
Plan. The public is encouraged to help identify these questions and 
concerns during the scoping phase.
    Preliminary planning criteria are:
    1. The RMPA/EA process will be in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, and 
applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The land use plan amendment 
process will be governed by the planning regulations at 43 CFR 1610 and 
BLM Land Use Planning Handbook H-1601-1.
    2. Lands affected by the proposed plan amendment only apply to 
public surface and mineral estate managed by the BLM. No decisions will 
be made relative to non-BLM administered lands or non-Federal minerals.
    3. Public participation will be an integral part of the planning 
process.
    4. The plan amendment will recognize all valid existing rights.
    5. The BLM will work with cooperating agencies, tribal governments, 
and other interested groups, agencies, and individuals during the RMPA/
EA process.
    6. The RMPA/EA will strive to 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 BLM public land.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the Plan 
in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines 
will be involved in the planning process: realty, recreation, cultural, 
minerals, range, wildlife, and hazardous materials.

    Dated: December 21, 2007.
Linda S.C. Rundell,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 07-6282 Filed 1-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-M