[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67402-67405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33540]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-070-1050-00]
Cultural Resources Areas Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs)
for the Farmington District, NM
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability and 60-day comment period.
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SUMMARY: The BLM, Farmington District announces the availability of a
draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/preliminary Finding of
No Significant Impact and Supporting Environmental Assessment (EA).
This document discusses the designation of 44 new ACESs including the
expansion of three existing Special Management Area and their
designation as ACESs. Approximately 10,592.76 federal acres are
identified for designation. In addition to designation, the plan
amendment, when approved, will guide the BLM programs and management
practices within the ACECs.
DATES: Written comments relating to the designation of ACECs,
management activities within the ACECs, and the EA will be taken for
the next 60 days. Comments must be postmarked on or before March 11,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to District Manager, BLM Farmington
District, 1235 La Plata Highway, Suite A, Farmington, New Mexico 87401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Otteni, District Manager, BLM
Farmington District at (505) 599-6300 or Peggy Gaudy, Project Leader,
Farmington District at (505) 599-6337.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ACECs are land designations unique to the
BLM. The purpose of ACECs is to recognize, protect, and manage unique
or sensitive resources of potential hazards to the public. Each area
receives management or protection based on its unique needs, in
consultation and coordination with the public. The Farmington District
has completed inventories of areas containing unique or sensitive
cultural resources and has designated a sample as ACECs. In addition
the District has reviewed nominations both internally and from the
public to consider several areas as ACECs based on cultural values.
The draft document discusses two alternatives, the No Action
Alternative and the Proposed Action. The BLM's preferred alternative is
to implement the Proposed Action by designating and managing 44 new
ACECs, including the expansion of three existing Special Management
Areas and their designation as ACECs. These management prescription
proposals represent the highest level of resource protection and
continued public use.
The proposed ACECs represent seven site types: Chacoan Outliers,
Chacoan Roads, Navajo Refugee (Pueblito) Sites, Navajo Habitation Sites
(Non-pueblito), Pictograph and Petroglyph Sites, Historic Sites, and
Native American Traditional Use and Sacred Areas. Management
prescriptions are site specific depending on both the site type and the
current development in each proposed ACEC.
Eight Chacoan Outliers have been identified and proposed for ACEC
designation. They are:
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Name Legal description
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Toh-la-kai.............................. T16N R18W Sec. 33 SW/4SE/4SE/4.
Bee Burrow.............................. T19N R11W Sec. 27 W/2SW/4, S/2NW/4.
Sec. 28 SE/4, S/2NE/4.
Sec. 29 SW/4SE/4.
Sec. 33 N/2N/2NE/4.
Indian Creek............................ T20N R13W Sec. 7 S/2NW/4, W/2SW/4NE/4.
Upper Kin Klizhin....................... T20N R11W Sec. 22 NE/4NE/4.
Sec. 23 W/2NW/4NW/4.
Bis sa' ani............................. T21N R9W Sec. 3 portions of N/2NW/4.
Sec. 4 portions of N/2N/2.
Morris 41............................... T32N R13W Sec. 15 SE/4SW/4, portions of NE/4SW/4,
portions of W/2SW/4SE/4.
Andrews Ranch........................... T14N R11W Sec. 32 NE/4NE/4SE/4, S/2SE/4NE/4.
Sec. 33 all.
Sec. 34 SW/4, NE/4SE/4, S/2SW/4NE/4, W/
2NE/4SE/4, SW/4SE/4NE/4.
Church Rock Outlier..................... T16N R16W Sec. 20 SE/4.
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Management prescriptions for Chacoan Outliers vary slightly with
the needs of each site, but in general they include preparation of
Cultural Resources Management Plans at sites without existing plans,
designation as ``closed'' or ``limited'' Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV)
areas, if possible acquisition of non-federal minerals, withdrawal from
mineral leasing or sale, coordination with lease holders to minimize
resource damage and withdrawal from land or resource modification or
sale. No new rights-of-way will be issued. The only exception is where
a new right-of-way will be issued in existing disturbance at Church
Rock Outlier. The BLM will coordinate with existing right-of-way and
easement holders, and continue monitoring and patrol programs. Also
proposed is complete Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)
documentation on sites which have not been documented, stabilize
structures as needed, conduct cultural inventories, complete cadastral
survey and fences as needed, nominate to the National Register of
Historic Places and World Heritage List, consolidate previous research
data, and designate as Class I Visual Resource Management areas. Church
Rock Outlier will be proposed for inclusion as a Chaco Culture
Archaeological Protection Site. Private and state lands have been
identified for acquisition at Andrews Ranch if there are willing
participants.
Three Chacoan Roads have been identified and proposed for ACEC
designation. They are:
[[Page 67403]]
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Name Legal description
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North Road:.............................
Segment 1........................... T23N R10W Sec. 17 W/2W/2SW/4.
Sec. 18 W/2W/2W/2.
........................... Sec. 19 W/2W/2W2.
Sec. 30 W/2W/2W2.
T23N R11W Sec. 12 SE/4.
Sec. 13 E/2.
Sec. 24 E/4.
Sec. 25 SE/4.
Segment 2........................... T23N R10W Sec. 6 W/2W/2.
T23N R11W Sec. 1 N/2SE/4, SW/4SE/4, N/2SE/4SE/4.
T24N 410W Sec. 31 W/2W/2.
T24N R11W Sec. 36 E/2.
Segment 3........................... T24N R10W Sec. 7 W/2W/2.
Sec. 18 W/2W/2.
Sec. 19 W/2W/2.
Sec. 30 NW/4NW/4.
T24N R11W Sec. 12 E/2SE/4.
Segment 4........................... T24N R11W Sec. 1 E/2SE/4.
Segment 5........................... T25N R10W Sec. 30 SW/4.
Sec. 31 NW/4.
Segment 6........................... T25N R10W Sec. 19 E/2NW/4, E/2NW/4NW/4, E/2SW/4NW/
4, W/2W/2NE/4.
Segment 7........................... T25N R10W Sec. 6 E/2NW/4, E/2SW/4, W/2SE/4.
Sec. 7 E/2W/2W/2.
T26N R10W Sec. 6 E/2.
Sec. 18 E/2.
Sec. 19 W/2E/2, W/2E/2E/2, E/2E/2W/2.
Sec. 30 W/2E/2, W/2E/2E/2, E/2E/2W/2.
Sec. 31 W/2E/2, E/2W/2.
T27N R10W Sec. 31 E/2.
Ah-shi-sle-pah Road..................... T22N R11W Sec. 6 all.
Crownpoint Steps and Herradura.......... T16N R12W Sec. 6 all.
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Management prescriptions for Chacoan Roads vary slightly with the
needs of each site, but in general they include preparation of Cultural
Resource Management Plans, designation as ``closed'' or ``limited''
Off-Highway Vehicle areas, if possible acquisition of minerals which
are not under federal ownership, withdrawal from oil and gas leasing or
sale under 160 acres, with other ``no surface occupancy'' lease
stipulation on other parcels, withdrawal from other mineral entry,
withdrawal from land or resource modification or sale, coordination
with existing lease holders to minimize resource damage, and
acquisition of identified private lands. No new rights-of-way will be
issued in the 160 acres containing Halfway House or the Crownpoint
Steps and Herradura parcel, or across parallel roads and the ``Quads.''
In other areas, rights-of-way will only be authorized with intensive
roads inventory. The BLM will coordinate with existing right-of-way
holders. Also proposed is to conduct roads inventories, nominate to
National Register of Historic Places, consolidate previous research
date, and designate as Class II Visual Resource Management areas (the
40 acres containing Halfway House in Segment 6 have already been
designated and will remain a Class I area).
Nine Navajo Refugee (Pueblito) Sites have been identified and
proposed for ACEC designation. They are:
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Name Legal description
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Deer House............................... T24N R7W Sec. 15 NW/4NW/4.
NM 01-39344.............................. T27N R7W Sec. 33 NE/4SW/4, NW/4SE/4.
Kachina Mask............................. T28N R8W Sec. 11 SW/4SE/4SW/4.
Hummingbird.............................. T24N R6W Sec. 29 NW/4SW/4.
Blanco Mesa.............................. T26N R8W Sec. 12 S/2NW/4SE/4, N/2SW/4SE/4, S/2NE/
4SW/4, SE/4NW/4SW/4, E/2SW/4SW/4, NE/4SE/
4SW/4, W/2SE/4SW/4.
Ye'is-in-Row............................. T28N R6W Sec. 20 NW/4NE/4.
Kiva..................................... T26N R7W Sec. 14 W/2NE/4NE/4, E/2NW/4NE/4.
Pretty Woman............................. T25N R8W Sec. 21 E/2E/2NE/4.
Sec. 22 W/2W/NW/4.
Gomez Point.............................. T27N R7W Sec. 1 S/2SW/4NW/4, N/2SW/4SW/4, SW/4SE/
4NW/4, NW/4NE/4SE/4.
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Management prescriptions for Navajo Refugee (Pueblito) Sites vary
slightly with the needs of each site, but in general they include
preparation of Cultural Resource Management Plans, designation as
``closed'' or ``limited'' Off-Highway Vehicle areas, no surface
occupancy oil and gas lease stipulation withdrawal from non-oil and gas
mineral leasing or sale, coordination with lease holders to minimize
resource damage, and withdrawal from land or resource modification or
sale. New rights-of-way will only be authorized in existing right-of-
way disturbance and the BLM will coordinate with existing right-of-way
and easement holders. Also proposed is complete Historic America
Building Survey documentation, nominate to National Register of
Historic Places, and stabilize structure as needed. The proposed ACECs
will be designated as Class II Visual Resource Management areas.
Two Navajo Habitation Sites (Non-pueblito) have been identified and
proposed for ACEC designation. They are:
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Name Legal description
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Gould Pass Camp.......................... T27N R7W Sec. 6 W/2SW/4NW/4.
[[Page 67404]]
T27N R8W Sec. 1 E/2SE/4NE/4.
Superior Mesa Community.................. T26N R7W Sec. 26 W/2W/2, W/2NE/4NW/4, W/2SE/4NW/4,
W/2SNE/4SW/4, W/2SE/4SW/4.
Sec. 27 E/2E/2
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Management prescriptions for the Navajo Habitation Sites (Non-
pueblito) include preparation of Cultural Resource Management Plans,
designation as ``closed'' OHV area at Gould Pass Camp and ``limited''
OHV area at Superior Mesa Community, no surface occupancy oil and gas
lease stipulation, withdrawal from non-oil and gas mineral leasing or
sale, coordination with lease holders to minimize resource damage, and
withdrawal from land or resource modification or sale. Also proposed is
that new rights-of-way will only be authized in existing right-of-way
disturbance, coordinate with exiting right-of-way holders, and
designate as Class II Visual Resource Management areas. The ACECs will
be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.
Fifteen Petroglyph and Pictograph Sites have been identified and
proposed for ACEC designation. They are:
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Name Legal description
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Pregnant Basketmaker..................... T30N R8W Sec. 35 S/2SW/4NE/4SW/4, N/2NW/4SE/4SW/4.
Encierro Canyon.......................... T28N R6W Sec. 29 S/2NE/4.
NM 01-39236.............................. T27N R6W Sec. 6 NW/4NW/4SW/4.
Delgadita/Pueblo Canyons................. T28N R7W Sec. 16 W/2NE/4, N/2N/2SW/4, S/2S/2NW/4, N/
2N/2SE/4.
Cibola Canyon............................ T26N R7W Sec. 36 S/2SE/4SW/4.
T25N R7W Sec. 1 N/2NE/4NW/4.
Bi Yaazh................................. T24N R7W Sec. 23 E/2NW/4NW/4, W/2NE/4NW/4.
Four Ye'i................................ T24N R6W Sec. 10 SE/4NW/4SE/4,SW/4NE/4SE/4, NE/4SW/
4SE/4, NW/4SE/4SE/4.
Largo Canyon Star Ceiling................ T27N R8W Sec. 3 N/2SE/4SE/4.
Star Spring.............................. T29N R8W Sec. 35 E/2SE/4NE/4.
Sec. 36 W/2W/2SW/4NW/4.
Blanco Star Panel........................ T28N R9W Sec. 26 S/2SE/4SW/4.
Shield Bearer............................ T30N R8W Sec. 34 SE/4NE/4NE/4, NE/4SE/4NE/4.
Sec. 35 SW/4NW/4NW/4, NW/4SW/4NW/4.
Big Star................................. T27N R7W Sec. 3 SE/4SE/4.
Rabbit Tracks............................ T27N R6W Sec. 6 S/2NE/4NW/4NW/4, N/2SE/4NW/4NW/4.
Carrizo Cranes........................... T27N R6W Sec. 6 NE/4NE/4SW/4, N/2SE/4NE/4SW/4.
Martinez Canyon.......................... T27N R6W Sec. 10 W/2SW/4SE/4, E/2SE/4SW/4.
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Management prescriptions for Petroglyph and Piectograh Sites vary
slightly with the needs of each site, but in general they include
preparation of Cultural Resource Management Plans, designation as
``closed'' or ``limited'' Off-Highway Vehicle areas, no surface
occupancy oil and gas lease stipulation, withdrawal from non-oil and
gas mineral leasing or sale, coordination with lease holders to
minimize resource damage, and withdrawal from land or resource
modification or sale. State land and minerals at two sites and private
surface at one site have been identified for acquisition if there are
willing participants. New rights-of-way will only be authorized in
existing right-of-way disturbance and the BLM will coordinate with
existing right-of-way holders. Also proposed is nomination to the
National Register of Historic Places, Class III cultural inventories
including detail documentation of images, withdrawal of 55 acres from
grazing, and designation as Class II Visual Resource Management areas.
Six Historic Sites have been identified and are proposed for ACEC
designation. They are:
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Name Legal description
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Dogie Canyon School..................... T26N R6W Sec. 19 NW/4NE/4SW/4.
Rock House--Nestor Martin Homestead..... T25N R6W Sec. 27 W/2SW/4SW/4.
Sec. 28 E/2E/2SE/4SE/4.
Gonzales Canyon--Senon S................ T25N R6W Sec. 23 E/2SE/4NE/4.
Sec. 24 W/2SW/4NW/4.
Martin Apodaco Homestead................ T25N R6W Sec. 35 NW/4NE/4SW/4, N/2NW/4SW/4, SE/4NW/
4, S/2SW/4NW/4.
Margarita Martinez Homestead............ T24N R6W Sec. 10 SE/4NW/4NW/4.
Santos Peak............................. T27N R5W Sec. 6 SE/4SE/4, S/2NE/4SE/4, SE/4NW/4SE/
4, E/2,SW/4NE/4.
Sec. 7 N/2NE/4NE/4, NE/4NW/4NE/4.
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Management prescriptions for Historic Sites vary slightly with the
needs of each site, but in general they include preparation of Cultural
Resource Management Plans, designation as ``closed'' or ``limited''
Off-Highway Vehicle areas, no surface occupancy oil and gas lease
stipulation, withdrawal from non-oil and gas mineral leasing or sale,
coordination with lease holders to minimize resource damage, and
withdrawal from land or resource modification or sale. New rights-of-
way will only be authorized in existing rights-of-way disturbance and
the BLM will coordinate with existing right-of-way and easement
holders. Also proposed is nomination to the National Register of
Historic Places, conduct stabilization of structures as needed,
withdrawal of 35 acres from grazing and designation as Class II Visual
Resource Management area. Private minerals have been identified for
acquisition at three sites.
One Native American Traditional Use and Sacred Area has been
identified and is proposed for ACEC designation. It is:
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Name Legal description
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Cho'li'i [Gobernador Knob].............. T28N R5W Sec. 22 SE/4SE/4.
[[Page 67405]]
Sec. 23 S/2SW/4.
Sec. 26 NW/4.
Sec. 27 E/2NE/4.
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Management prescriptions for the Native American Traditional use
and Sacred Area include preparation of a Cultural Resource Management
Plan, designation as a ``limited'' Off-Highway Vehicle area, no surface
occupancy oil and gas lease stipulation, withdrawal from non-oil and
gas mineral leasing or sale, coordination with lease holders to
minimize resource damage, and withdrawal from land or resource
modification or sale. New rights-of-way will only be authorized in
existing right-of-way disturbance and the BLM will coordinate with
existing right-of-way holders. Also proposes is nomination to the
National Register of Historic Places, conduct Class III cultural and
ethnographic inventories, and designation as Class II Visual Resource
Management area. The area will remain open for Native American
religious practices.
Additional data on management prescriptions for individual ACECs
can be found in this RMP amendment.
Public participation has occurred throughout the RMP Amendment
process. A Notice of Intent was filed in the Federal Register (Vol. 61,
No. 39 Pages 7273-7274) on February 27, 1996. An article was published
in the Farmington Daily Times on March 6, 1996, notifying the public
that the BLM was requesting public input on proposed ACECs. Comments
received during this 60-day comment period will be considered in
preparation of the Farmington RMP Amendment and supporting EA. Copies
have been sent to identified concerned and affected publics. A public
meeting on this document is scheduled for February 10, 1998. Single
copies of the draft Farmington RMP Amendment/Preliminary Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) and supporting EA for the 44 ACECs may be
obtained from the BLM Farmington District, 1235 La Plata Highway, Suite
A, Farmington, NM 87401. A public reading copy is available for review
at the BLM New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, New
Mexico.
Dated: December 22, 1997.
Lee Otteni,
District Manager, Farmington.
[FR Doc. 97-33540 Filed 12-23-97; 8:45 am]
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