99-14966. Notice of Availability of a Draft Rio Puerco Resource Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (RMP Amendment/EIS) for El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) and Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area (WSA)  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 122 (Friday, June 25, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 34267]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-14966]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    
    Bureau of Land Management
    [NM-010-1220-00/G-010-G9-0255]
    
    
    Notice of Availability of a Draft Rio Puerco Resource Management 
    Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (RMP Amendment/EIS) for 
    El Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) and Chain of Craters 
    Wilderness Study Area (WSA)
    
    AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Albuquerque Field Office 
    has completed a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/
    Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). If approved, the RMP Amendment 
    would alter some decisions in the Rio Puerco RMP for the NCA and add 
    decisions for lands recently acquired. The document establishes 
    planning to the activity level for many of the issues addressed.
        The EIS provides environmental analysis of the impacts of four 
    alternative ways of managing the NCA and adjoining lands. Alternative A 
    is the Existing Management (No Action) Alternative. It would be a 
    continuation of current management and establishes the baseline for 
    impact analysis. Management under Alternative B, the Resource Use 
    Alternative, would support direct human action. Under Alternative C 
    (Natural Processes), management would minimize human activity. 
    Alternative D (Balanced Management) is the BLM's Preferred Alternative, 
    which proposes to balance use and conservation. The document also 
    addresses a legislative requirement to recommend for or against the 
    designation of the Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area as 
    wilderness.
    
    DATES: Written comments must be postmarked no later than September 24, 
    1999.
        Formal verbal comments will be received at the following public 
    hearings, which will begin at 7:00 p.m. and continue until those signed 
    up to speak have had an opportunity to do so:
        (1) Monday, July 26.
        (2) Tuesday, July 27.
        (3) Wednesday, July 28.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: El Malpais Plan Team 
    Leader, BLM Albuquerque Field Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque, 
    NM 87107-4935. The public hearings will be held at the following 
    locations:
        (1) Grants High School, 500 Mountain Road, Grants, NM.
        (2) Quemado High School, Highway 60, Quemado, NM.
        (3) Del Norte High School, 5323 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, 
    NM.
        Copies are available for review at public libraries in Albuquerque 
    and Grants, New Mexico and at the following address on the Internet: 
    www.nm.blm.gov. Additional copies are available at the following BLM 
    New Mexico offices: New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe; 
    Albuquerque Field Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque; Grants 
    Field Station, 2001 Santa Fe Ave., Grants; and Socorro Field Office, 
    198 Neel Ave. NW, Socorro.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Hamilton, El Malpais Plan Team 
    Leader, BLM Albuquerque Field Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque, 
    NM 87107-4935; phone (505) 761-8746.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft RMP Amendment includes revised 
    planning for the following four issues: (1) Recreation (including 
    Visual Resource Management), (2) Access and Transportation, (3) 
    Wilderness Suitability, and (4) Boundary and Land Ownership 
    Adjustments. If approved, these amendments would only affect the NCA 
    and adjoining areas as specified. Decisions for other issues and 
    geographic areas addressed in the Rio Puerco RMP would not be changed.
        The following issues have been addressed in the environmental 
    analysis: (1) Recreation, (2) Facility Development, (3) Access and 
    Transportation, (4) Wilderness Management, (5) Wilderness Suitability, 
    (6) American Indian Uses and Traditional Cultural Practices, (7) 
    Cultural Resources, (8) Wildlife Habitat, (9) Vegetation, and (10) 
    Boundary and Land Ownership Adjustments.
        Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
    available for public review at the above address during regular 
    business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday (except 
    holidays), and may be published as part of the Proposed Resource 
    Management Plan Amendment/Final Environmental Impact Statement. 
    Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to 
    withhold your name or street address from public review or from 
    disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this 
    prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests 
    will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
    organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
    themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
    businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their 
    entirety.
    Mike O'Neill,
    Acting Albuquerque Field Office Manager.
    [FR Doc. 99-14966 Filed 6-24-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-AG-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/25/1999
Department:
Land Management Bureau
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
99-14966
Dates:
Written comments must be postmarked no later than September 24, 1999.
Pages:
34267-34267 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
NM-010-1220-00/G-010-G9-0255
PDF File:
99-14966.pdf