[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76302-76303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30899]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNMP2000 L14300000.FQ0000 NMNM-127501/NMNM-83404]


Public Land Order No. 7844; Withdrawal of Public Lands and 
Reserved Federal Minerals To Protect Highly Significant Caves; New 
Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public Land Order.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This order withdraws approximately 2,924.65 acres of public 
lands and 440 acres of reserved Federal minerals underlying non-Federal 
lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws, 
subject to valid existing rights, for 20 years to protect and preserve 
highly significant caves and their associated resources located in Eddy 
County. The lands have been and will remain open to leasing under the 
mineral leasing laws.

DATES: Effective Date: December 8, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debby Lucero, Bureau of Land 
Management, New Mexico State Office, 505-954-2196. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to reach the BLM 
contact person. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to 
leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive 
a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau of Land Management will manage 
the lands to protect highly significant cave locations and their 
associated resources located within Eddy County. The caves contain 
highly significant archaeological, paleontological, biological, 
geological, mineralogical, hydrological, and scenic values. These caves 
represent the very best examples of the above-stated resources on 
Bureau of Land Management administered land in this region. There are 
over 300 known caves in the area and many more are suspected.

Order

    By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior 
by Section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 
43 U.S.C. 1714, it is ordered as follows:
    1. Subject to valid existing rights, the following described public 
lands and Federally reserved minerals are hereby withdrawn from 
location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from 
leasing under the mineral leasing laws, to protect highly significant 
caves and their associated resources:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

McKittrick Hill Caves

T. 22 S., R. 24 E.,
    Sec.14, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, S\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, W\1/2\, W\1/2\E\1/2\, and W\1/2\E\1/2\E\1/2\;
    Sec. 26, W\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and N\1/2\NW\1/
4\;
    Sec. 27, N\1/2\NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\.

    The area described contains 1,210 acres.

Mudgetts/Little Mudgetts Caves

T. 24 S., R. 24 E.,
    Sec. 21, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/
2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\.

    The area described contains 50 acres.

Big Manhole/Little Manhole Caves

T. 24 S., R. 24 E.,
    Sec. 22, W\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\.

    The area described contains 100 acres.

Honest Injun Cave

T. 22 S., R. 25 E.,
    Sec. 28, lot 6.

    The area described contains 42.70 acres.

Yellow Jacket and Lair Caves

T. 23 S., R. 25 E.,
    Sec. 14, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ and S\1/2\S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, NE\1/4\ and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\.

    The area described contains 260 acres.

KFF (Elliott's) Cave

T. 24 S., R. 25 E.,
    Sec. 23, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, W\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/
4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\.

    The area described contains 130 acres.

Chosa Draw Caves

T. 25 S., R. 25 E.,
    Sec. 20, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, S\1/2\ and S\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\ and W\1/2\W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, W\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\W\1/2\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and 
E\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\.

    The area described contains 750 acres.

Lost Cave

T. 22 S., R. 26 E.,
    Sec. 22, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, W\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/
4\NW\1/4\.

    The area described contains 22.50 acres.

Fence Canyon Cave Area

T. 24 S., R. 26 E.,
    Sec. 17, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;

[[Page 76303]]

    Sec. 18, lot 3, E\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and N\1/2\SE\1/4\.

    The area described contains 359.45 acres.

    The following described federally reserved minerals underlying non-
Federal surface:

Chosa Draw Caves

T. 25 S., R. 25 E.,
    Sec. 28, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\.
    The areas described aggregate 440 acres.

    The total areas described above aggregate 2,924.65 acres of public 
lands and 440 acres of Federal minerals underlying non-Federal lands in 
Eddy County.
    2. The withdrawal made by this order does not alter the 
applicability of the public land laws other than the mining laws.
    3. This withdrawal will expire 20 years from the effective date of 
this order unless, as a result of a review conducted before the 
expiration date pursuant to section 204(f) of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f), the Secretary determines 
that the withdrawal shall be extended.

    Dated: November 23, 2015.
Janice M. Schneider,
Assistant Secretary--Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-30899 Filed 12-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P