[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 145 (Thursday, July 31, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 36067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14493]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2025-0308; FXRS12610900000-256-FF09R20000]


National Wildlife Refuge System; Muleshoe National Wildlife 
Refuge Land Protection Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), withdraw the 
final Land Protection Plan (LPP) for the Muleshoe National Wildlife 
Refuge (NWR) approved on June 15, 2023. Hereafter, the Service will 
take no actions to acquire lands within the acquisition boundary 
created by the now withdrawn Muleshoe NWR LPP. The Service has 
determined that withdrawing the proposal is justified to support 
President Trump's Executive Order (E.O.) 14154 of January 20, 2025, 
``Unleashing American Energy.'' The withdrawal of the LPP will ensure 
America's lands continue to support energy development, agriculture 
production, and our local economies.

DATES: The final Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge Land Protection Plan 
that was signed on June 15, 2023, is withdrawn on July 31, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Henning (703) 358-3584, 
[email protected]. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, 
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. 
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services 
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Service's land protection planning policy (602 FW 2) outlines 
the land protection planning process, which we undertake when 
considering expanding an existing refuge or establishing a new refuge. 
This process starts with the development of a land protection strategy 
(LPS) that identifies the area's long-term management, biological, and 
ecological needs. If the strategy is approved by the Service's 
Director, we develop a land protection plan (LPP). The LPP identifies 
the acquisition boundary, which is an administrative process to 
identify the geographic extent and where landowners may be eligible to 
voluntarily sell their land to the Service. The Muleshoe National 
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) began the land protection planning process in 
March 2022 by soliciting input through a mailed pamphlet to local 
stakeholders, a news release to the local media, and announcements on 
the Service's website. In January 2023, the Service announced a 30-day 
public comment period on the draft LPP. The final plan was approved in 
June 2023 by the Service Director.

Reasons for Withdrawal of the Proposal

    The Muleshoe NWR LPP contemplated a huge land acquisition program 
potentially adding up to 700,000 acres of lands and interests in land 
to the existing Muleshoe NWR, within a vast 7-million-acre landscape in 
western Texas and eastern New Mexico. This LPP was developed in 
accordance with E.O.14008, ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and 
Abroad,'' and as part of the America the Beautiful initiative. On 
January 20, 2025, President Trump signed E.O. 14154, ``Unleashing 
American Energy,'' which specifically repealed E.O. 14008, upon which 
in part the Muleshoe NWR LPP was based. To implement provisions of 
President Trump's E.O. 14154, the Secretary of the Interior 
subsequently issued Secretary's Order (S.O.) 3418 of February 3, 2025, 
which among other things directs the Assistant Secretaries to take all 
necessary steps to ensure any actions taken to implement the revoked 
E.O.s (including 14008) be terminated. By withdrawing the LPP, this 
action supports the Trump Administration's priorities.
    For the reasons provided above, we are withdrawing the Muleshoe NWR 
LPP that was approved on June 15, 2023. The Service will take no 
actions to acquire lands within the acquisition boundary created by the 
now withdrawn Muleshoe NWR LPP.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended 
by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 
105-57).

Justin J. Shirley,
Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-14493 Filed 7-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P