Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Draft Resource Management Plan for the Taos Field Office, New Mexico
Federal Register: June 10, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 111)
Notices
Page 32963-32968
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr10jn10-70
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
LLNMF02000 L16100000.DP0000 LXSS026G0000
Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Taos Field Office, New
Mexico
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Taos Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public participation activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Taos Draft RMP/EIS by any of the following methods:
Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Taos_Field_
Office/taos_rmpr.html.
E-mail: NM_TAFO_Comment@blm.gov.
Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Brad Higdon, 226 Cruz Alta, Taos, New Mexico 87571.
Copies of the Taos Draft RMP and EIS are available at the Taos
Field Office at the above address and at the New Mexico State Office at 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508.
Page 32964
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Brad
Higdon, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Taos Field Office, telephone (575) 751-4725; address 226 Cruz Alta, Taos, New Mexico 87571; e-mail NM_TAFO_Comment@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Taos Draft RMP/EIS analyzes the environmental consequences of four alternative land use plans under consideration by the BLM for managing approximately 595,100 acres of surface estate and 1.5 million acres of mineral estate administered by the Taos Field Office within Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Rio
Arriba, Santa Fe, Taos, and Union counties in northern New Mexico. This land use plan would replace the current Taos RMP approved in 1988 and is needed to provide updated management decisions including, but not limited to, land tenure adjustments, land use authorizations, mineral resources, recreation, renewable energy, special designations, transportation and access, and visiual resources. Upon approval, the
Taos RMP will apply only to BLM-administered public lands and Federal mineral estate.
The four alternatives analyzed in detail in the Draft RMP/EIS include the No Action Alternative, or a continuation of the existing management decisions; Alternative A, the BLM's preferred alternative, which provides for a balance of resource uses with protections;
Alternative B, which emphasizes resource conservation and protection; and Alternative C, which allows for a greater opportunity for resource use and development. Among the special designations under consideration within the range of alternatives, Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern (ACECs) are proposed to protect certain natural resource values. Pertinent information regarding these ACECs, including proposed designation acreages and resource use limitations per alternative, are sumarized in the table below.
Proposed ACEC Designation Summary
ACEC & values
Summary of proposed resource use limitations
Variance by alternative
Black Mesa
Rights-of-way would be excluded.
No Action: 1,430 acres.
Cultural
Livestock grazing would be excluded from Alternative A: ACEC
Vegetation
pueblo sites and areas where other conflicts with rescinded; area would cultural resources are apparent, as well as the
be incorporated into 325-acre Ojo Caliente Demonstration Area.
Ojo Caliente ACEC with
Closed to fluid mineral leasing.
the identified resource
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
use limitations.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Alternative B: Same as
Alternative A.
Alternative C: ACEC would be rescinded.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Portions would be closed to motorized travel, while the remaining area would be limited to designated roads.
A portion would be managed to protect its wilderness characteristics.
Chama Canyons
Rights-of-way would be excluded.
No Action: 6,140 acres
Riparian
Livestock grazing would not be available would continue to be
Scenic
along the Rio Cebolla. The availability of
managed as a Special
Water quality
grazing within the wilderness study area would be Management Area (SMA).
Wildlife
subject to the Interim Management Policy for
Alternative A: 7,680
Lands Under Wilderness Review (H-8550-1). Lands
acres. within the Chama Wild and Scenic River corridor
Alternative B: Same as and acquired lands would not be unavailable under Alternative A. the no action alternative.
Alternative C: ACEC
Closed to fluid mineral leasing.
would not be designated
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
and SMA would be rescinded.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Closed to motorized travel.
Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class I would apply.
A portion outside of the wilderness study area would be managed to protect its wilderness characteristics (Alternatives A and B only).
No surface disturbing activities would be permitted.
La Cienega
Livestock grazing would be excluded from No Action: 3,730 acres.
Cultural
pueblo ruins and other areas where substantial
Alternative A: 13,390
Riparian
conflicts with cultural resources are apparent to acres.
Scenic
protect these resources, as well as from Santa Fe Alternative B: Same as
Wildlife habitat
River canyon (Alternatives A and B only) to
Alternative A. protect riparian vegetation.
Alternative C: Same as
A no surface occupancy stipulation would the no action be applied to fluid mineral leasing under the no alternative. action alternative and Alternative C. Most of the area would be subject no surface occupancy under
Alternatives A and B, while control surface use would be applied within the remainder of the area.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind energy development
(Alternatives A and B only).
VRM Class I would apply to a portion of the area (Alternatives A and B only).
Page 32965
Portions would be closed to motorized travel, while the remaining area would be limited to designated roads (Alternatives A and B only).
No tree removal in a portion of the area.
Santa Fe River canyon would be closed to target shooting (Alternatives A, B, and C only).
No tree removal in T. 16 N., R. & E.,
Sec. 7 to protect Gray Vireo habitat.
Copper Hill
Livestock grazing would be excluded from All alternatives:
Cultural
lands within allotments 518, 519, and 520, while 177,200 acres.
Fish habitat
grazing would become excluded on allotment 521
Riparian
when the permit is no longer used.
Scenic
Rights-of-way would be excluded from Agua
Watershed
Caliente, Rio Embudo, and Lower Embudo zones.
Wildlife habitat
Closed to fluid mineral leasing under
Alternative B, while only certain zones would be closed and/or subject to no surface occupancy under the other alternatives.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Closed to mineral material sales except at Piedra Lumbre and Hilltop.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Visual Resource Management Class I would apply to a portion of the area under the no action alternative and Alternatives A and B.
Fire suppression methods causing surface disturbance would not be allowed in the Lower
Embudo zone.
Soil and vegetation disturbing activities would be prohibited within 100-year floodplains.
Vehicle access to pueblo ruins in Lower
Embudo zone by permit only.
Galisteo Basin
450 acres of public lands would be
No Action: 80 acres
Cultural
managed according to the provisions of the
would continue to be
Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection
managed as an SMA.
Act of 2004 under all alternatives.
Alternative A: 450
Livestock grazing would be excluded from acres. cultural sites (i.e., pueblo ruins).
Alternative B: 450
Rights-of-way would be excluded.
acres.
Closed to fluid mineral leasing.
Alternative C: ACEC would not be designated.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Closed to target shooting.
Lower Gorge
Withdrawn from public land laws.
No Action: 16,510 acres
Cultural
Rights-of-way would be excluded except
(includes designated
Riparian
for road upgrades to improve safety or to provide Wild and Scenic River
Special Status Species
access or utility service to non-federal lands
corridor).
Wildlife habitat
where no practicable alternative exists.
Alternative A: 21,150
Livestock grazing would be excluded from acres. riparian and wetland areas.
Alternative B: Same as
Closed to fluid mineral leasing.
Alternative A.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Alternative C: 14,490 acres (does not include designated Wild and
Scenic River corridor).
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
A portion of the area would be managed as
VRM Class I (Alternatives A and B only).
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing activities would be prohibited within 100-year floodplains to prevent the degradation of aquatic habitat.
Southwestern willow flycatcher habitat would be protected.
Ojo Caliente
Rights-of-way would be excluded from the No Action: 13,370 acres.
Cultural
Rincon del Cuervo area under Alternatives A and
Alternative A: 66,150
Ecological Processes
B, as well as the Cerro Colorado area under
acres.
Riparian
Alternative B.
Alternative B: 66,150
Scenic
Livestock grazing would be excluded from acres.
Special Status Species
pueblo ruins and other areas where substantial
Alternative C: 13,370
Wildlife habitat
conflicts with cultural resources are apparent,
acres. as well as from the 325-acre Ojo Caliente
Demonstration Area.
Closed to fluid mineral leasing under
Alternatives A and B, while nearly a third of the area would be closed under the no action alternative and Alternative C.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry
(Alternatives A and B only).
Page 32966
Mostly closed to mineral material sales
(Alternative A and B only).
Closed to wind and solar energy.
A portion would be closed to motorized travel, while the remaining area would be limited to designated roads (Alternatives A, B, and C only).
VRM Class I would apply to the Rincon del
Cuervo under Alternatives A and B, as well as
Cerro Colorado under Alternative B.
Rincon del Cuervo would be managed to protect its wilderness characteristics under
Alternatives A and B, as well as the Cerro
Colorado area under Alternative B.
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing activities would be prohibited within 100-year floodplains to prevent the degradation of aquatic habitat.
Pueblos
Rights-of-way would be excluded.
No Action: Six pueblos
Cultural
Livestock grazing would be excluded from on 315 acres would pueblo ruin sites.
continue to be managed
Closed to fluid mineral leasing.
as an SMA.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Alternative A: 240 aces
Mostly closed to mineral material sales.
(two sites included in
Closed to wind and solar energy
the SMA under the no
(Alternatives A and B).
action alternative are
Other resource uses, except for site
incorporated into other recordation or research, would not be allowed at
ACECs). the pueblo ruin sites.
Alternative B: Same as
Alternative A.
Alternative C: 335 acres
(includes six sites included in the SMA under the no action alternative plus two additional sites).
Riparian/Aquatic
Rights-of-way would be excluded unless
No Action: 2,250 acres.
Riparian
impacts can be mitigated, based on site-specific Alternative A: ACEC
Aquatic
analysis.
would be rescinded.
Livestock grazing would be excluded from Alternative B: 1,275 select riparian areas or where livestock grazing acres (limited to is determined to degrade the resource and cannot riparian areas not be mitigated otherwise.
within other ACECs or
Portions would be closed to fluid mineral along designated Wild leasing, while others would have no surface
and Scenic Rivers). occupancy or controlled surface use stipulations Alternative C: ACEC attached to leases.
would be rescinded.
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
Mostly closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy under
Alternative B.
Much of the area would be closed to motorized travel under the no action alternative.
Sabinoso
Rights-of-way would be excluded.
No Action: 19,570 acres
Riparian
Livestock grazing would be excluded in
would continue to be
Scenic
riparian areas.
managed as an SMA.
Wildlife habitat
Closed to fluid mineral leasing (within
Alternative A: 19,780 designated wilderness only under the no action
acres. alternative).
Alternative B: Same as
Withdrawn from locatable mineral entry
Alternative A.
(within designated wilderness only under the no
Alternative C: ACEC action alternative).
would be rescinded.
Closed to mineral material sales (within designated wilderness only under the no action alternative).
Closed to wind and solar energy (within designated wilderness only under the no action alternative).
The designated wilderness would be closed to motorized travel.
VRM Class I would apply.
A portion of the area adjacent to
Sabinoso Wilderness would be managed to protect its wilderness characteristics (Alternatives A and B only).
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing activities would be restricted in order to reduce soil loss and degradation to water quality.
Page 32967
San Antonio (includes the San
Livestock grazing would be unavailable
No Action: 57,750 acres
Antonio Gorge and Winter Range
within the Rio San Antonio corridor.
would continue to be
ACEC units)
The San Antonio Wilderness Study Area
managed as an SMA and
Ecological Processes
(WSA), Rio San Antonio corridor, and Warm Springs include smaller ACEC
Riparian
area would be closed to fluid mineral leasing,
units.
Scenic
while the remaining area would be subject to
Alternative A: ACEC
Wildlife habitat
controlled surface use, including timing
rescinded, but area limitations.
would be incorporate
Withdraw the San Antonio Gorge and Los
into Taos Plateau ACEC.
Cerritos de la Cruz areas from locatable mineral Alternative B: ACEC entry.
rescinded, but area
Close the San Antonio WSA, San Antonio
would be incorporate
Gorge, and Los Cerritos de Taos to mineral
into Taos Plateau ACEC. material sales.
Alternative C: The SMA
The San Antonio WSA and Rio San Antonio
and its ACEC units corridor would be closed to motorized travel
would be rescinded, but
(Alternative C only).
the whole area would be
Visual Resource Management Class I would designated a single apply to San Antonio WSA and the Rio San Antonio
ACEC. corridor (Alternative C only).
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing activities would be prohibited within 100-year floodplains to prevent the degradation of aquatic habitat.
Santa Fe Ranch
Rights-of-way would be excluded with
No Action: No existing
Cultural
certain exceptions.
ACEC.
Geological Scenic
A portion would be closed to fluid
Alternative A: 21,032
Special Status Species
mineral leasing while the majority would have
acres.
Wildlife habitat
controlled surface use stipulations attached to
Alternative B: 21,032 leases.
acres.
The Buckman-Diablo Canyon area would be
Alternative C: ACEC withdrawn from locatable mineral entry.
would not be
Closed to mineral material sales.
designated.
Closed to wind energy.
A portion would be closed to motorized travel. Vehicular use of the arroyo in Diablo
Canyon would be allowed by permit only.
Visual Resource Management Class I would apply to a portion on the area, but to a larger portion under Alternative B.
Ephemeral stream channels would be protected to maintain stable hydrological processes and appropriate vegetative communities as measured by diversity and cover density.
Sombrillo
A 115-acre Off-Highway Vehicle staging
No Action: 8,600 acres.
Cultural
area would be unavailable to livestock grazing
Alternative A: 17,440
Paleontological
(Alternative A only).
acres.
Scenic
Controlled surface use stipulations would Alternative B: 17,440 be applied to fluid mineral leases under the no
acres. action alternative and Alternative C, while no
Alternative C: 8,600 surface occupancy would be applied under
acres.
Alternatives A and B.
The 60-acre traditional cultural property would be withdrawn from locatable mineral entry
(Alternatives A and B only).
Closed to mineral material sales
(Alternatives A and B only).
Ephemeral stream channels would be protected to maintain stable hydrological processes and appropriate vegetative communities as measured by diversity and cover density.
Soil- and vegetation-disturbing activities would be restricted in order to reduce soil loss and degradation to water quality.
Taos Plateau
Rights-of-way would be excluded from the No Action: No existing
Scenic
Wild Rivers, Ute Mountain, and San Antonio areas. ACEC.
Special Status Species
Livestock grazing would be limited and
Alternative A: 222,500
Water quality and quantity
managed to ensure enhancement of critical elk and acres.
Wetlands
pronghorn winter range. No increase in grazing
Alternative B: 222,500
Wildlife habitat
preference would be permitted.
acres.
The Ute Mountain, San Antonio, and Wild
Alternative C: ACEC not
Rivers areas would be closed to fluid mineral
designated. leasing under Alternative A, while the entire
ACEC would be closed under Alternative B.
The North Unit, Ute Mountain, and Wild
Rivers areas would be withdrawn from locatable mineral entry under Alternatives A and B, while the San Antonio area would also be withdrawn under Alternative B.
Closed to mineral material sales.
Closed to wind and solar energy.
Cerro de la Olla, the San Antonio area, and Ute Mountain would be closed to motorized travel.
Visual Resource Management Class I would apply to the Ute Mountain and San Antonio areas.
Cerro de la Olla, the San Antonio area, and Ute Mountain would be managed to protect their wilderness characteristics.
Page 32968
Modification of playa surface and adjacent uplands would be prohibited.
Coordinate with U.S. Forest Service to close Forest Road 1016 on a seasonal basis.
The land use planning process was initiated on May 26, 2006, through a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register (Volume 71, Number 102, Page 30446), notifying the public of a formal scoping period and soliciting public participation in the planning process.
Four scoping meetings were held in June 2006 in Taos, Las Vegas,
Espanola, and Santa Fe. A scoping presentation was also made at an
Eight Northern Pueblos Council meeting to engage the Governors of the eight Northern Pueblos. In addition, two Economic Profile System workshops were held in July 2006 to work with local citizens and community leaders to develop a common understanding of the local economies and the ways in which land use planning decisions might affect them. During the scoping period, which ended August 31, 2006, the public provided the Taos Field Office with input on relevant issues to consider in the planning process. Based on this public input and the
BLM's goals and objectives, the Taos Field Office was able to formulate the four alternatives for consideration and analysis in the Draft RMP/
EIS. Following the close of the public review and comment period, public comments will be used to revise the Draft RMP/EIS in preparation for its release to the public as the Taos Proposed Resource Management
Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement. The BLM will respond to each substantive comment by making appropriate revisions to the document or by explaining why a comment did not warrant a change.
Notice of the availability of the Proposed RMP and Final EIS will be posted in the Federal Register.
Please note that public comments and information submitted, including names, street addresses, and email addresses of respondents, will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through
Friday, except 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.
Jesse Juen,
Acting State Director.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 40 CFR 1506.10; 43 CFR 1610.2.
FR Doc. 2010-13959 Filed 6-9-10; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 4310-OW-P
