[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41283-41284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18409]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNM932000.L14400000.ET0000.17X; NMNM-85612]


Notice of Application for Extension of Public Land Order No. 
7296, and Opportunity for Public Meeting, Sacramento Peak Observatory; 
New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest 
Service (USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior extend 
the duration of the withdrawal created by Public Land Order (PLO) No. 
7296 for an additional 20-year term subject to valid existing rights. 
PLO No. 7296 withdrew approximately 2,489.40 acres of

[[Page 41284]]

National Forest System land from mining, but not from mineral leasing, 
to protect the scientific values of the Sacramento Peak Observatory 
located in the Lincoln National Forest. PLO No. 7296 will expire on 
November 28, 2017, unless extended. This notice gives the public an 
opportunity to comment on the application and to request a public 
meeting. This notice also amends the number of acres subject to PLO No. 
7296. The number of acres that are subject to the withdrawal has been 
increased due to previously unsurveyed sections being surveyed since 
the withdrawal was originally created.

DATES: Comments and public meeting requests must be received by 
November 28, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments and public meeting requests should be sent to State 
Director, BLM, New Mexico State Office, P.O. Box 27115, Santa Fe, New 
Mexico 87502.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Martinez, BLM New Mexico 
State Office, 505-954-2040, or via email at [email protected]. Persons 
who use telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Relay Services at 1-800-877-8339 to reach the BLM contact 
person. The Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to 
leave a message or question for the above individual. You will receive 
a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USFS has filed an application requesting 
that the Secretary of the Interior extend the withdrawal created by PLO 
7396 (62 FR 63380 (1997)) for an additional 20-year term. PLO 7296 
withdrew approximately 2,432.40 acres of National Forest System land 
from mining to protect the scientific values associated with the 
continued operation of the Sacramento Peak Observatory. Subsequent 
surveys of unsurveyed sections 28 and 33 revealed the area subject to 
the withdrawal contains 2,489.40 acres and is now described as follows:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

Lincoln National Forest

    T. 17 S., R. 11. E., sec. 26, SW\1/4\; sec.27, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\; sec. 34; PB 46 and PB 51, as depicted 
on Protraction Diagram approved June 18, 2003.
    The area described contains 2,489.40 acres in Otero County. This 
legal description is identical in size, shape, and location as the 
description in PLO No. 7296, as published in the Federal Register (62 
FR 63380 (1997)). Portions of the withdrawal originally described as 
sec. 28, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and S\1/2\, unsurveyed, and sec. 33, unsurveyed, 
are now identified as PB 46 and PB 51, respectively.
    The purpose of the proposed extension is to ensure the continued 
protection of the scientific value of the Sacramento Peak Observatory. 
This includes the protection of the area from pollution, dust, 
vibration, and light that would interfere with the operation of the 
highly sensitive components of the Observatory.
    No suitable alternative sites exist as the infrastructure 
investments of the SPO are in place at the optimal position for the 
type of activity ongoing at this site. The use of a right-of-way, 
interagency agreement, or cooperative agreement would not provide 
adequate protection.
    The USFS would not need to acquire additional water rights to 
fulfill the purpose of the requested extension.
    Records pertaining to the extension application can be examined by 
contacting Jeanette Martinez in the BLM New Mexico State Office at the 
address or phone number shown above.
    For a period until November 28, 2017, all persons who wish to 
submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the 
withdrawal extension application may present their views in writing to 
the BLM New Mexico State Director at the address indicated above. 
Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the address listed above during regular 
business hours. Be advised that your entire comment, including your 
personal identifying information, may be made publicly available. While 
you can ask us 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 
offered in connection with the withdrawal extension application. All 
interested parties who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being 
heard on the withdrawal extension application must submit a written 
request to the BLM New Mexico State Director at the address indicated 
above by November 28, 2017. Upon determination by the authorized 
officer that 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.
    The withdrawal extension application will be processed in 
accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2310.4.

Debby Lucero,
Acting Deputy State Director, Lands and Resources.
[FR Doc. 2017-18409 Filed 8-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P