[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16158-16159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7645]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-010-1610-00]
Intent To Prepare a Rio Puerco Resource Area Resource Management
Plan (RMP) Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for El
Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) and Chain of Craters
Wilderness Study Unit (WSU); Albuquerque District, NM
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a RMP amendment/EIS and invitation
to participate in developing a management plan for the El Malpais NCA
including recommendation on the wilderness suitability of the Chain of
Craters WSU.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management, Albuquerque District is
initiating the preparation of the El Malpais NCA management plan and
EIS. This action will amend the Rio Puerco RMP. It will include a
recommendation on the wilderness suitability of the Chain of Craters
WSU and may consider establishment of Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern. Proposed planning criteria and dates of public scoping
meetings are also included herein.
DATES: Written comments regarding issues to be addressed in developing
the draft El Malpais Plan must be submitted on or before May 19, 1995.
In addition to written comments, two public scoping meetings will be
held in April (see below.)
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the El Malpais Planning Team,
BLM, Albuquerque District, 435 Montano NE., Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kent Hamilton at 505-761-8746 or Patty McLean at 505-761-8728, at 435
Montano NE., Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935.
PUBLIC MEETINGS: The public is invited to attend two public meetings to
identify issues to be considered in the draft El Malpais Plan and Chain
of Craters wilderness suitability analysis. The meetings will be held
at the following times and locations:
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Date/time Location
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April 25, 1995..................... National Guard Armory.
7 p.m.-10 p.m...................... 2001 East Santa Fe Avenue, Grants,
NM.
April 27, 1995..................... Amberley Suite Hotel.
7 p.m.-10 p.m...................... 7620 Pan American Freeway NE.,
Albuquerque, NM.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The El Malpais NCA, near Grants, New Mexico
was established by Public Law 100-225 on December 31, 1987. The NCA
encompasses 262,600 acres. The Chain of Craters WSU, established
through the same legislation, totals 18,300 acres and is included
within the NCA. Between 1988 and 1991, BLM developed a General
Management Plan (GMP) for the El Malpais NCA. BLM considered the GMP an
``activity plan'' and completed an environmental assessment, rather
than a formal RMP amendment and EIS. The GMP was appealed to the
Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) by the New Mexico Wilderness
Coalition on the grounds that the plan required an EIS and in 1994 IBLA
decided in favor of the appellants and directed BLM to prepare an RMP
amendment. The proposed El Malpais Plan and EIS will direct the
management of the NCA for the next ten to twenty years and will address
all requirements of PL 100-225 and the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act, including a suitability analysis and recommendation for
the Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area. The planning area will
include all lands within or contiguous to the NCA boundary, including
lands acquired since the NCA was established.
The El Malpais plan will be developed by an interdisciplinary team
representing Archeology, Range, Outdoor Recreation, Interpretation and
Wildlife Biology. Additional technical support will be provided by
other Technical Specialists as needed.
Anticipated Planning Issues
Suggested issues to be addressed in the plan include the following:
American Indian Issues; Boundary Adjustments; Cultural Resources;
Desired Plant Communities; Facility Development; Interpretation and
Public Education; Natural Resources; Range Management; Recreation;
Transportation (including ORV designation); Wilderness (WSA and
designated wilderness areas); and Wildlife Habitat.
Planning Criteria
Proposed planning criteria for development of the El Malpais Plan
are listed below. Public comment is invited. Planning criteria may be
changed as planning proceeds based on public suggestions and the
findings of various studies and assessments.
1. Actions must comply with laws, executive orders, and
regulations.
2. In each planned action, resource outputs must be reasonable and
achievable.
3. Planned actions will sustain the productivity and diversity of
natural systems in the NCA.
4. The plan will be developed using the best available scientific
information as the cornerstone for resource allocations and other land
management decisions in the NCA. The plan will incorporate the work
done for the GMP published in 1991 as well as new information attained
since establishment of the NCA.
5. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to land
management.
6. The BLM will base planning and management on long-term horizons
and goals.
7. To the extent possible, this plan will be consistent with the
lands and policies of tribes, other federal agencies, and state and
local governments.
8. Consideration will be given to designating special
administrative management areas within the planning area, such as Areas
of Critical Environmental Concern and Research Natural Areas.
9. Planned actions will contribute to or sustain the health of the
land. Monitoring and inventory information will be used to assess the
effect of management actions.
Public Participation
Public participation activities during the planning process will
include consultation with affected users and [[Page 16159]] other
agencies, meetings with interested groups and individuals, mail outs,
media notices, Federal Register notices, public meetings, and
distribution of the Plan and EIS for comments.
Complete records of the planning process will be available for
public review at the Albuquerque District at the address above.
Dated: March 20, 1995.
Michael R. Ford,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-7645 Filed 3-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M
