80 FR 79356 - Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument Resource Management Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 244 (December 21, 2015)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (Monument) located in southern New Mexico. The New Mexico Acting State Director signed the ROD on November 5, 2015, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79356-79357]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32038]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNML0000 L16100000.DR0000 15XL1109AF]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the 
Prehistoric Trackways National Monument Resource Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) for the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (Monument) 
located in southern New Mexico. The New Mexico Acting State Director 
signed the ROD on November 5, 2015, which constitutes the final 
decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request 
from the District Manager, Las Cruces District Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005 or via http://www.blm.gov/nm/trackwaysrmp. Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are 
available for public inspection at the Las Cruces District Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Montoya, Planning and 
Environmental Specialist, telephone 575-525-4316; address 1800 Marquess 
Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005; email [email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Approved RMP provides a comprehensive 
management plan for the long-term protection and management of the 
Monument, totaling 5,255 acres of surface estate in southern New 
Mexico. The RMP prescribes appropriate uses and management of the 
Monument, consistent with the provisions of its designating legislation 
(Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009), and replaces the 1993 
Mimbres RMP within the Monument boundaries. Major issues associated 
with the Monument include Paleontological Research and Protection, 
Interpretation and Education, Trails and Travel Management, Recreation 
and Visitor Services, Wildlife, Livestock, Vegetation, wilderness 
characteristics, recreational target shooting closures, Visual 
Resources, and Socioeconomics.
    The Approved RMP is very similar to the one set forth in the 
Preferred Alternative for the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument 
Proposed RMP/Final Environmental (EIS) published in December 2014. 
Modifications to the proposed plan corrected errors that were noted 
during review of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS and provide further 
clarification for decisions in travel management planning and visitor 
services.
    The RMP process began with a Notice of Intent (NOI) published in 
the Federal Register on January 5, 2010. This announced a 30-day public 
comment period. During that time, a public meeting was held in Las 
Cruces in order to introduce the planning process to the public and 
solicit comments. On September 22, 2010, a public workshop was held to 
re-engage the public for the RMP and to verify that the BLM had a 
sufficient range of alternatives. Availability of the Draft RMP/EIS was 
published July 20, 2012, in the Federal Register (77 FR 42758) to 
announce a 90-day public review and comment period of the draft 
document. During this period, the BLM held one public open-house 
meeting in Las Cruces for the purpose of assisting the public in their 
review and to solicit their comments. The Draft RMP/EIS was sent to 
multiple Federal, tribal, State, and local government agencies and 
interested parties and was made available for viewing at the Las Cruces 
District Office, the New Mexico State

[[Page 79357]]

Office, and on the internet. During the comment period, the Las Cruces 
District Office received about 45 comment letters, emails, or comment 
forms. Each submission was carefully reviewed to identify substantive 
comments in accordance with regulations on the implementation of 
National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1503.4). Comments on the 
Draft RMP/EIS received from the public and internal BLM reviews were 
considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Proposed RMP/Final 
EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of data and clarifying 
text, however, they did not significantly change the proposed land use 
plan decisions. Availabliity of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS was 
published on December 24, 2014, in the Federal Register (79 FR 78104), 
initiating a protest period and Governor's Consistency Review Period. 
Five protests were recived during the protest period, and all protests 
have been resolved. Minor editorial modifications were made to the RMP 
based on questions raised during the protest period. No inconsistencies 
with State and local plans, policies, or programs were identified 
during the Governor's Consistency Review process.
    Certain decisions in the Approved RMP are implementation decisions 
and are appealable to the Interior Board of Land Appeals. These 
implementation level decisions include the approval of the 
Comprehensive Trails and Travel Management Plan. The decisions are 
included within Chapter 2 of the Approved RMP and Appendix C of the 
Proposed RMP/Final EIS, and implementation decisions are denoted with 
asterisks where appropriate. Any party adversely affected by the 
proposed route designations may appeal within 30 days of publication of 
this Notice of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E. The 
appeal should state the specific route(s), as identified in Appendix C 
of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS, on which the decision is being appealed. 
The appeal must be filed with the Las Cruces District Manager at the 
above listed address. Please consult the appropriate regulations (43 
CFR, part 4, subpart E) for further appeal requirements.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6

Amy Lueders,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-32038 Filed 12-18-15; 8:45 am]
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