81 FR 36321 - Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Taos Field Office, New Mexico, and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Acceptance of the Rimrock Rose Ranch Donation

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 108 (June 6, 2016)

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office, Taos, New Mexico intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Taos Field Office and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 108 (Monday, June 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36321-36322]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13273]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNMF02000.L16100000.DP0000.16x]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the 
Taos Field Office, New Mexico, and Prepare an Associated Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed Acceptance of the Rimrock Rose Ranch 
Donation

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field 
Office, Taos, New Mexico intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for 
the Taos Field Office and by this notice is announcing the beginning of 
the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
amendment with an associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in 
writing until July 6, 2016 In order to be included in the analysis, all 
comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping 
period. The date(s) and locations(s) of any scoping meetings will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local news media, 
newspapers and BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/nm/taos. In order to 
be included in the analysis, all comments must be received prior to the 
close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public 
meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Rimrock Rose Ranch Donation Acceptance EA and RMP 
amendment by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Taos_Field_Office.html.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 575-758-1620.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Brad Higdon, 
226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos NM 87571.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Taos Field 
Office at 226 Cruz Alta Road in Taos, New Mexico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Higdon, Planning and 
Environmental Specialist, telephone 575-751-4725; address 226 Cruz Alta 
Road, Taos, New Mexico 87571; email [email protected]. Contact Mr. Higdon 
to have your name added to our mailing list. 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: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Taos Field Office, New Mexico, intends to prepare an RMP amendment with 
an associated EA for the Taos Field Office planning area, announces the 
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and 
planning criteria. The planning area is located within San Miguel 
County, New Mexico, and encompasses approximately 19,780 acres of 
public land. This RMP amendment proposes to make two allotments 
unavailable for livestock grazing. This action is part of a larger 
proposal by the BLM to accept a donation of approximately 3,576 acres

[[Page 36322]]

to be added to the Sabinoso Wilderness under the provisions of Section 
6 (a) of the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Act), which will provide for 
public access to the wilderness for the first time. The Rimrock Rose 
Ranch previously served as base property for the two livestock grazing 
allotments (00735 and 00736) within or near Sabinoso Wilderness, and as 
part of the conditions of the donation, provided for under Section 6 
(a) of the Act, the property cannot be used for purposes of livestock 
grazing. Furthermore, the ranch property offered for donation contains 
important riparian resources critical for supporting a diverse 
population of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species in this arid 
environment where riparian resources are scarce. The long history of 
grazing practices on the ranch property has substantially compromised 
the riparian resources and their function. To protect and restore 
riparian resources, as well as to conform to current BLM management 
prescriptions for the area, livestock grazing is proposed to be 
eliminated from the two livestock grazing allotments because of their 
dependence on these riparian areas as a supplemental water source and 
for purposes of trailing. The proposal also includes the purchase of 
the remaining approximate 600 acres of the Rimrock Rose Ranch not 
offered as part of the donation. The purpose of the public scoping 
process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope 
of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the 
planning process. Preliminary issues for the plan amendment area have 
been identified by BLM personnel and include potential impacts to 
wilderness quality; riparian resources; cultural resources; livestock 
grazing; and opportunities for recreation. You may submit comments on 
issues and planning criteria in writing to the BLM at any public 
scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using one of the 
methods listed in the ``ADDRESSES'' section above. To be most helpful, 
you should submit comments by the close of the 30-day scoping period.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The information about historic and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by 
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis 
as a cooperating agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so. The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed 
in the plan, and will place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the draft RMP amendment/
draft EA as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The 
public is also encouraged to help identify any management questions and 
concerns that should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work 
collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management 
decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs 
and concerns. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop 
the plan amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues 
and concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland 
management, riparian resources, wilderness, outdoor recreation, 
archaeology, visual resources, and realty.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2

Jim Stovall,
Acting Associate State Director, BLM New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2016-13273 Filed 6-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P