Environmental statements; notice of intent: Farmington Field Office et al., NM; riparian habitat management plans,

[Federal Register: October 30, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 210)]

[Notices]

[Page 58414-58415]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr30oc98-109]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-010-1040-00]

Intent to prepare four Riparian Habitat Management Plans and Associated Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/EISs)

The HMPs/EISs will be prepared on the riparian areas in the following locations: (1) Farmington Field Office, (2) Mimbres planning area of the Las Cruces Field Office, (3) Rio Puerco area of the Albuquerque Field Office and (4) Taos Field Office.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare four Riparian Habitat Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/EISs) and invitation to participate in the developing the Habitat Management Plans and the Environmental Impact Statement process.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management is initiating the preparation of four Riparian Habitat Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/EISs). This action will be located in the following four areas in New Mexico: locations: (1) Farmington Field Office, (2) Mimbres planning area of the Las Cruces Field Office, (3) Rio Puerco area of the Albuquerque Field Office and (4) Taos Field Office. The proposed dates for public scoping meetings are included herein.

DATES: Written comments regarding proposed issues to be addressed in developing the draft HMPs/EISs must be submitted by December 9, 1998. In addition to the written comments seven public scoping meetings will be held. See below for locations, dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the following locations.

(1) Farmington Field Office, Farmington HMP/EIS Team Leader, 1235 La Plata Highway, Farmington, NM 87401-1808 (2) Las Cruces Field Office, Mimbres HMP/EIS Team Leader, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005-3371 (3) Albuquerque Field Office, Rio Puerco HMP/EIS Team Leader, 435 Montano Road, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935 (4) Taos Field Office, Taos HMP/EIS Team Leader, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571-5983

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

(1) Farmington Field Office-Bob Moore-505-599-6311.

(2) Las Cruces Field Office-Bill Merhege-505-525-4369.

(3) Albuquerque Field Office-Jim Silva-505-761-8901.

(4) Taos Field Office-Pam Herrera-505-751-4705.

Public Meetings: The public is invited to attend seven public scoping meetings to identify issues to be considered in the preparation of the four Riparian Habitat Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/EISs). The meetings will be held at the following locations:

Town

Date/Time

Location

Farmington...................... November 17, 1998 Civic Center, 200 at 7:00 pm.

West Arrington Farmington, NM. Las Cruces...................... November 17, 1998 Lordsburg Civic at 7:00 pm.

Center, 313 East 4th, Lordsburg, NM. November 18, 1998 Las Cruces Field at 7:00 pm.

Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, NM. Albuquerque..................... November 17, 1998 Albuquerque, Field at 7:00 pm.

Office, 435 Montano NM, Albuquerque, NM. November 18, 1998 Cuba High School at 7:00 pm.

Cafeteria, Cuba, NM. Taos............................ November 17, 1998 Taos Field Office, at 7:00 pm.

226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM. November 18, 1998 BLM-New Mexico at 7:00 pm.

State Office, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 1474 Rocteo Road, Santa Fe, NM.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The four Riparian Habitat Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/EISs) are being prepared to provide comprehensive riparian and aquatic management guidance for the four named areas and as a result of a United States District Judge Court ordered settlement agreement, signed September 10, 1998. This Federal Court Order stipulated preparation of the four named Riparian Habitat Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements (HMPs/ EISs), Civil No. 96-0693 JP/LCS.

Planning Issues: Prior to scoping the following preliminary issues have been determined. They are use of riparian and aquatic habitat found with each area, competing demands for that habitat, recreation demands for that habitat, livestock grazing on the habitat, and mineral development within the habitat. During the scoping period comments will also be accepted concerning planning criteria. At the conclusion of the scoping process final issues and planning criteria for each of the four different locations will be developed.

Public Participation: Public participation will include consultation with affected users and other agencies, meetings with interested groups and individuals, media notices, Federal Register Notices, public meetings and distribution of the draft and final HMPs and EISs. A complete record of each of the four HMPs/EISs will be available for

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public review at their respective Field Office locations.

Dated: October 27, 1998. Linda S.C. Rundell, Acting Deputy State Director, Division of Resources Planning, Use and Protection.

[FR Doc. 98-29099Filed10-30-98; 8:45 am]

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