[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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