[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 47 (Monday, March 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12757-12758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4602]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NMNM 117830]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; 
New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has filed an 
application requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw 20 
acres of public land from the mining laws for a period of 20 years to 
protect a Border Patrol Forward Operating Base in Luna County, New 
Mexico, and to convey jurisdiction of the land to the DHS. This notice 
temporarily segregates the land for up to 2 years from location and 
entry under the mining laws while the 20-year withdrawal application is 
being processed.

DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received by 
June 9, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM) Las Cruces District Manager, Las Cruces 
District Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Allen, BLM Las Cruces District 
Office, 575-525-4454 or at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant for the above withdrawal is 
the DHS. The application asks the Secretary of the Interior to 
withdraw, for a period of 20 years, the following described public land 
from location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to 
valid existing rights:

Deming Forward Operating Base

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 29 S, R. 12 W.,
    Section 3: E\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\.

    The area described aggregates 20 acres in Luna County.

    The application is a withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of the 
DHS (43 CFR 2310.1-2). The purpose of the withdrawal is to provide the 
agents at the Deming Station facilities that would improve response 
times, increase shift time, expedite illegal alien processing, and 
provide increased safety and protection of the agents and detainees. 
The withdrawal is needed to convey jurisdiction of the land to the DHS 
and to protect the Federal investment in the facilities.
    A right-of-way or cooperative agreement would not adequately 
constrain nondiscretionary uses and would not provide sufficient 
protection of the Federal investment in the improvements.
    The site proposed for withdrawal is strategically located and 
provides for the most direct access, via existing ranch roads, to the 
border in areas of high smuggling and illegal alien activity. The site 
is adjacent to a major roadway; and electric utilities are nearby. 
There are no better locations for the forward operating base.
    Records relating to the proposed withdrawal can be examined by 
contacting Lori Allen at the above address or phone number.

[[Page 12758]]

    All persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or objections 
in connection with the proposed withdrawal may present their views in 
writing to the BLM Las Cruces District Manager at the address listed 
above by June 9, 2008. Comments, including names and street addresses 
of respondents, will be available for public review at the BLM Las 
Cruces District Office at the address listed during regular business 
hours, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. 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.
    Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested 
persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on 
the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to the BLM Las 
Cruces District Manager at the address listed above by June 9, 2008. If 
the authorized officer determines a public meeting will be held, a 
notice of the time and place will be published in the Federal Register 
and a local newspaper at least 30 days before the scheduled date of the 
meeting.
    Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements, and other discretionary 
land use authorizations may be allowed during the segregative period, 
but only with the approval of a BLM official and with the concurrence 
of an authorized officer of the DHS, Border Patrol.
    This withdrawal proposal will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300.
    For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated as specified above 
unless the application is denied or cancelled or the withdrawal is 
approved prior to that date.

(Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1)

Bill Childress,
District Manager, Las Cruces.
 [FR Doc. E8-4602 Filed 3-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P