[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55345-55346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22432]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNMA02000 L16100000.XH0000]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Socorro 
Field Office Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, 
New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
for the Socorro Field Office located in Socorro and Catron Counties, 
New Mexico. The State Director signed the ROD on August 20, 2010, which 
constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP 
effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request 
from the Field Manager, Socorro Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, New Mexico 87801 or via the 
Internet at http://www.blm.gov/nm. Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are 
also available for public inspection at the Socorro Public Library 
located at 401 Park Street, Socorro, New Mexico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Kevin 
Carson, Outdoor Recreation Planner, telephone 575-838-1280; address 
Socorro Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 901 S. Highway 85, 
Socorro, New Mexico 87801; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Approved RMP provides direction for the 
long-term management of 1.5 million surface acres of public land and 6 
million acres of Federal mineral estate public land within Socorro and 
Catron Counties and revises the 1989 Socorro RMP. Collaborative 
planning was used throughout the development of the RMP, which included 
public meetings, mailings, and other outreach activities. Catron County 
and the Pueblo of Zuni were cooperating agencies.
    Six issues are addressed in the Approved RMP. The issues include:
    (1) Special designations, such as Areas of Critical Environmental 
Concern;
    (2) Improving soil and vegetation conditions at the watershed 
level;
    (3) Fluid and solid mineral development;
    (4) Travel and transportation (e.g., off-highway vehicle use, 
mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding);
    (5) Land-use allocations and initiatives (e.g., land tenure, right-
of- way corridors, and areas where public and private lands abut one 
another); and
    (6) Regional heritage/tourism opportunities on the BLM-managed 
public land. Management actions in the Approved RMP consequently 
address those issues by program and resource area, including special 
designations, soil and water resources; vegetation and land health; 
wildlife, riparian and special status species; recreation,

[[Page 55346]]

cultural, visual, paleontological, and recreation resources; lands and 
realty; nonrenewable and renewable energy development; wilderness; and 
transportation and travel management.
    On April 16, 2007, the BLM New Mexico released the Draft RMP/EIS 
for a 90-day public comment period concurrent with a Notice of 
Availability, which was published in the Federal Register. The BLM New 
Mexico conducted public hearings on the Draft RMP/EIS and analyzed 
public comments received. Minor modifications and technical changes 
were made to the Preferred Alternative, which was carried forward as 
the Proposed Alternative (Alternative B) in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS.
    The BLM New Mexico released the Proposed RMP/Final EIS for a 60-day 
Governor's Consistency Review and 30-day protest period on December 5, 
2008. The BLM New Mexico modified one decision in the Approved RMP as a 
result of the Governor's Consistency Review. The Governor's letter 
stated that the BLM's land tenure and fluid mineral decisions regarding 
a state-designated conservation easement at Horse Springs Ranch were 
inconsistent with the purposes of the Conservation Easement (CE), which 
is to protect wildlife habitat. In light of the Governor's letter, the 
State Director modified Alternative B by selecting the lands and realty 
decision in the No Action Alternative, which will retain the BLM 
scattered parcels (3,856 acres) within the CE boundary. This decision 
meets the objectives of the State's CE. With regard to the Governor's 
concerns about the potential impacts that fluid mineral leasing 
decisions may have within the area of the State's Horse Springs 
Conservation Easement (``CE''), the State Director maintains the 
discretion to decline to issue leases on a case-by-case basis. In 
recognition of the particular resource concerns of this CE, the State 
Director will carefully exercise this discretion for any lease proposal 
in the surface area covered by the CE. After the issuance of this ROD, 
the BLM will undertake a plan amendment process to consider closing the 
area covered by the CE to fluid mineral leasing.
    The BLM received three protests on the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. The 
protests raised issues regarding rangeland resources, lands with 
wilderness characteristics, and the Continental Divide National Scenic 
Trail (Trail). As a result of the protests, minor editorial 
modifications and technical clarifications were made in the ROD and in 
the Approved RMP.
    The first modification concerns lands with wilderness 
characteristics. After review of the wilderness protest, an error in 
the original wilderness inventory was identified in one small area 
within a unit the protestor had proposed as having wilderness 
characteristics. Approximately 600 acres of BLM public land was found 
to contain wilderness characteristics because they adjoin the Chupadera 
Wilderness, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages. 
Therefore, the BLM will select Alternative C for this area, which has a 
higher level of protection through a Lands and Realty decision. The BLM 
will issue this ROD and subsequently initiate a Resource Management 
Plan Amendment (RMPA) and supporting NEPA analysis to further address 
this area's wilderness characteristics. The RMPA process will include 
opportunities for public participation. The second modification 
concerns the Trail and future opportunities for trail routing. The 
decision reflects a map revision in the final RMP by adopting portions 
of Alternative C and the No Action Alternative, lands suitable for 
disposal in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. This modified decision will 
provide more options for the future protection of the Trail.
    Following modification of the aforementioned decisions and review 
of the protests, it was determined that the Socorro Field Manager 
followed all applicable procedures, laws, regulations, and policies, 
and considered all relevant resource factors, as well as public input 
in developing the Socorro RMP. Therefore, the protests were dismissed.
    Decisions identifying routes of travel within designated areas for 
motorized vehicles are implementation decisions, and are appealable 
under 43 CFR part 4. These decisions are contained in Appendix J of the 
Approved RMP. Any party adversely affected by the proposed route 
identifications may appeal within 30 days of publication of this Notice 
of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E. The appeal 
should state the specific route(s), as identified in Appendix J of the 
Approved RMP, on which the decision is being appealed. The appeal must 
be filed with the Socorro Field Office Manager at the above listed 
address. Please consult the appropriate regulations (43 CFR, part 4, 
subpart E) for further appeal requirements.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6(b)(2).

Jesse Juen,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-22432 Filed 9-9-10; 8:45 am]
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