[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34771-34772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16819]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NM-018-1610-00/G010-G7-0251]
Notice of Availability of a Draft Coordinated Resource Management
Plan (CRMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); Taos Resource
Area, New Mexico and San Luis Resource Area, Colorado
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Albuquerque District, Taos
Resource Area and Canon City District, San Luis Resource Area have
completed a Draft CRMP/EIS, and a Taos Resource Management Plan
Amendment. This document contains descriptions and analyses of future
options for managing the 94-mile Rio Grande corridor from La Sauses,
Colorado to Velarde, New Mexico, and addresses legislative requirements
for the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River extension and study areas.
The public is invited to participate in the review of the Draft
CRMP/EIS. Copies are available for review at public libraries in
Alamosa, Colorado, and in Taos, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Espanola, and
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Additional copies are available at the
following BLM offices: San Luis Resource Area, 1921 State Street,
Alamosa, Colorado; Taos Resource Area, 226 Cruz Alta, Taos, New Mexico;
New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and
Albuquerque District Office, 435 Montano Road NE, Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
DATES: Written comments must be postmarked no later than October 8,
1997, and should be addressed to the CRMP Team Leader at the address
below. Formal oral comments will be received at the following public
hearings, beginning at 7:00 p.m.:
August 19, 1997--Holiday Inn, E. Highway 160, Alamosa, Colorado;
August 20, 1997--Holiday Inn, 1005 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos, New
Mexico;
August 21, 1997--BLM New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe,
New Mexico.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CRMP Team Leader, Taos Resource Area,
226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571; phone (505) 758-8851.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Draft CRMP/EIS contains the analyses of
four management alternatives to resolve the
[[Page 34772]]
following public land issues: Wild and Scenic rivers, protection of
riparian areas, soils, vegetation, water quality, terrestrial and
aquatic habitat, historical and archaeological resources, scenic
quality, recreation, commercial uses, access, and resource
interpretation/education. The alternatives can be summarized as: (A) No
Action or Existing Management; (B) Biodiversity Protection; (C)
Resource Use; (D) Preferred, which is a balance between the other
three.
Under the Preferred Alternative, the BLM would implement the CRMP
in both the Taos and San Luis Resource Areas, along with the following
Taos Resource Management Plan amendments: designation of the identified
areas of the Lower Gorge and Copper Hill Units as Areas of Critical
Concern for wildlife habitat and scenic quality values; exclusion of
58,765 acres from grazing; withdrawal of 73,820 acres from mineral
entry; closure of 50,173 acres to mineral leasing; application of No
Surface Occupancy standards for oil and gas development on 25,615
acres; closure of 65,432 acres to mineral material disposal;
prohibition of land disposals, except for Color-of-Title sales (in the
Dixon area) and three parcels identified for community needs; exclusion
of rights of way from within the expanded Wild Rivers Recreation Area,
the Lower Gorge Unit (with exceptions), and portions of the Copper Hill
Unit. The BLM would also recommend the Rio Grande Bosque segment (as
identified in Pub. L. 103-242) for Wild and Scenic River designation,
with a Recreational classification, and the Rio Embudo for designation
with a Wild classification. Finally under the Preferred Alternative,
the agency would increase protection of riparian areas, vegetation,
soils, water quality, wildlife habitat, and scenic quality, while
placing limits on recreational uses in the corridor and restricting
vehicle access to some areas.
Public participation has occurred throughout the CRMP process. A
Notice of Intent was published on November 14, 1994, in the Federal
Register (Vol. 59, No. 218, 56528-29), and an amended notice was
published on February 20, 1996 (Vol. 61, No. 34, 6383-84).
Mike Ford,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-16819 Filed 6-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-AG-P
