96-1761. Notice of Intent To Develop Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management in New Mexico, Modify Land Use Plans, and Prepare National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Analysis Pursuant to the Planning Regulations (43 ...

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 3457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1761]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NM-930-06-1020-00]


Notice of Intent To Develop Standards for Rangeland Health and 
Guidelines for Grazing Management in New Mexico, Modify Land Use Plans, 
and Prepare National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Analysis Pursuant 
to the Planning Regulations (43 CFR Part 1600)

agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

action: Notice of intent.

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summary: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in New Mexico intends to 
develop statewide Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for 
Grazing Management as provided in the BLM's new grazing regulations (43 
CFR Part 4100) and modify all existing Land Use Plans (LUP) in the 
State. The appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
analysis will be prepared in accordance with the Planning Regulations 
(43 CFR Part 1600) for the adoption of statewide Standards for 
Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management. This notice 
invites public input on the development of Standards and Guidelines for 
New Mexico, on issues to be addressed and on alternatives to be 
considered in the NEPA analysis.

dates: Comments will be accepted throughout the process or until 
further notice. Public comment periods specifically for the plan 
modification and NEPA process will be provided later.

addresses: Any comments or requests to be placed on the mailing list 
should be sent to Rangeland Health Project (93100), Bureau of Land 
Management, P.O. Box 27155, Santa Fe, NM, 87502.

for further information contact: J.W. Whitney at [phone].

supplementary information: The BLM's new grazing administration 
regulations (43 CFR Part 4100), which became effective August 21, 1995, 
provide for the development of state Standards for Rangeland Health and 
Guidelines for Grazing Management. These Standards and Guidelines are 
to be approved through BLM planning and NEPA processes. Incorporating 
Standards and Guidelines into existing plans will require some form of 
plan modification, ranging from plan maintenance to plan amendment. All 
LUPs for public lands in the State of New Mexico may be affected. At 
this point in time, it is undecided what level of plan modification 
(maintenance or amendment) and NEPA analysis (Environmental Assessment 
or Environmental Impact Statement) will be needed.
    The NEPA analysis will be conducted using an interdisciplinary team 
of specialists.

Description of Possible Alternatives

    At this time three preliminary alternatives have been identified: 
the continuation of current management as provided for in existing LUPs 
(no action alternative); the application of fall-back Standards and 
Guidelines contained in the Grazing Regulations (43 CFR Part 4100); and 
the adoption of Standards and Guidelines developed locally and in 
consultation with New Mexico's Resource Advisory Council.

Anticipated Issues

    Anticipated issues to be addressed during the NEPA analysis 
include, but may not be limited to, the following: the effect that 
adoption of Standards will have on resource conditions, uses, and users 
of public land, and the effect that adoption of Guidelines will have on 
livestock operations.


    Dated: January 23, 1996.
Bill Calkins,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 96-1761 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am]
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