[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15785-15786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7383]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NM-060-06-1220-00-P (604)]
Notice of Roads and Campground Closures at Fort Stanton
Reservation, NM
agency: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Roswell District.
action: Road and campground closures at Fort Stanton Reservation New
Mexico.
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summary: Pursuant to 43 CFR part 8364 and the Fort Stanton Management
Framework Plan (MFP) of May 28, 1980, the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) will close a portion of the access road to the Rio Bonito
Campground starting at the west boundary of Camp Sierra Blanca (Fort
Stanton, NM) and extending about \9/10\9/10 of a mile west into
public lands administered by the Roswell District, BLM. The BLM will
close the Rio Bonito Campground to camping and motorized vehicle use.
The road leading from the campground to the north mesa of Fort Stanton
Reservation will also be closed to motor vehicle use.
dates: The closure will become effective at the date of publication of
this notice.
addresses: Information and maps showing the location of the above
closures will be available at the Bureau of Land Management, Roswell
District Office, 1717 West 2nd Street, Roswell, NM 88201-2019,
telephone (505) 627-0272; Roswell Resource Area Office, Federal
Building, 5th and Richardson, P.O. Drawer 1857, Roswell, NM 88202-1857,
telephone (505) 627-1790; and the U.S. Forest Service, Lincoln National
Forest, Smokey Bear Ranger District, 901 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM
88345.
for further information contact: Timothy R. Kreager, Area Manager,
Roswell Resource Area, P.O. Drawer 1857, Roswell, NM 88202-1857;
telephone (505) 624-1790.
supplementary information: A three-acre campground will be closed to
camping and motor vehicle access. Approximately three miles of roads
will also be closed to motor vehicles. The following describes the
areas:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
Fort Stanton Reservation
One section of the road closure is located in unsurveyed and
protracted portions of T.9S., R.14E., Sec. 34, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Sec.
35, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\.
Another section of road closure is located in unsurveyed and
protracted portions of T.9S., R.14E., Sec. 32, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\; Sec.
33, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\; T. 10S., R.14E., Sec. 4, W\1/2\.
The campground is located in unsurveyed and protracted portions
of T.10S., R.14E., Sec. 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\.
Camp Sierra Blanca (CSB) a minimum security prison for the State
of New Mexico, Fort Stanton, NM, has requested the BLM discourage
public use of a traditional access route through the prison to
public lands. Traditionally, the road was used for access through
CSB to the west side of the Fort Stanton Reservation and the Rio
Bonito Campground. The closure of the road has become necessary for
prison security and safety of visitors using public lands within
this portion of the Fort Stanton reservation.
The campground will be closed due to its loss of access and need
of a prolonged rest to renew the environment. The campground area
has received severe damage to soils, mature trees and riparian
vegetation through use by the visiting public during the past ten
years. Damage includes soil compaction from vehicles, soil
sterilization from uncontained fire pits, vegetation trampling and
tree cutting. An access road leading from the north side of the Rio
Bonito Campground to the north mesa of Fort Stanton will also be
closed. The road is poorly constructed and causes severe soil
erosion. The road is also a safety hazard to the public, due to
steep grades and slippery conditions when wet.
Current alternatives in the Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)
for the Roswell Resource Area include proposals for additional
campgrounds within the Fort Stanton Reservation Area. The
alternatives for campgrounds in the RMP will be environmentally
suitable, have better access and will serve the public to a greater
extent. After the final RMP and Record of Decision are issued, a
Special Management Area (SMA) Plan will be developed to analyze and
select future campground locations within the Fort Stanton
Reservation Area.
Due to the closure of traditional access routes to the
campground from CSB for [[Page 15786]] security and public safety
concerns, damage caused by camping pressure and closure of the north
mesa access road due to environmental damage, the Rio Bonito
Campground will be closed to camping and vehicle use.
Dated: March 15, 1995.
Leslie M. Cone,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-7383 Filed 3-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M
