[Federal Register: August 20, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 160)]
[Notices]
[Page 46512-46513]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au07-94]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NM-520-1430-FM; NMNM 106766]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Amendment and Associated
Environmental Assessment to the Carlsbad Field Office Resource
Management Plan, New Mexico
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carlsbad Field Office
intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and
associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the possible
disposal, by either exchange and/or sale, of up to 3,566.88 acres of
BLM-administered public land in Eddy and Lea Counties in southeastern
New Mexico.
DATES: Written comments will be accepted for 30 days after the date
this Notice is published in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through any of the
following methods:
Mail: Field Manager, BLM, Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East
Greene, Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220.
Fax: (505) 885-9264.
Personal delivery to the Carlsbad Field Office: see
address above.
Additional information on the project is also available at the
Field Office's above address. The 1988 Carlsbad RMP is also available
at the Carlsbad Field Office and posted on the following BLM Web site:
http://www.nm.blm.gov/cfo/index.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Owen W. Lofton, Realty Specialist,
BLM, Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East Greene, Carlsbad, New Mexico,
(505) 234-5923.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM is currently considering a proposal
from Intrepid Potash, Inc. (formerly Mississippi Potash Inc.), to
complete a land exchange and/or sale. Intrepid Potash, Inc. proposes
that BLM dispose of public lands around its mine sites in exchange for
private lands around the Pecos River. In addition, Intrepid Potash,
Inc. proposes to purchase additional BLM lands in order to continue its
mining operations and hazardous material mitigation. The public lands
proposed for disposal contain mine tailings and other industrial waste.
The private lands offered for exchange consist of riparian habitat and
native rangeland. The public land proposed for disposal is currently
identified for retention in Federal ownership in the 1988 Carlsbad RMP.
The RMP must therefore be amended to identify these public lands as
suitable for exchange and/or sale. The lands proposed for disposal are
described as follows:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
T. 21 S., R. 29 E.,
sec. 01, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\; 280.00 acres.
sec. 12, E\1/2\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\; 560.00 acres.
sec. 13, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\; 120.00 acres.
sec. 14, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\; 40.00 acres.
T. 20 S., R. 30 E.,
sec. 04, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\; 120.00 acres.
sec. 05, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 200.00
acres.
sec. 09, N\1/2\N\1/2\; 160.00 acres.
T. 21 S., R. 31 E.,
[[Page 46513]]
sec. 03, S\1/2\SW\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
sec. 04, Lots 1-16, inclusive; 648.96 acres.
sec. 05, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
sec. 09, N\1/2\; 320.00 acres.
sec. 10, NW\1/4\; 160.00 acres.
T., 20 S., R. 32 E.,
sec. 07, Lot 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 159.43 acres.
sec. 08, S\1/2\SW\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
sec. 17, W\1/2\; 320.00 acres.
sec. 18, Lots 1, 2, 4, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 238.49
acres.
Total: 3,566.88 acres
A Notice of Intent (NOI) regarding a similar proposal was
originally published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2002. The
purpose of this earlier proposal was to provide notice of the BLM's
intent to prepare a plan amendment to change the classification of
lands previously identified for retention to suitable for disposal
solely by exchange. However, a recent appraisal necessitated acreage
adjustments to reach equal land values, and consequently, Intrepid
Potash, Inc. had to eliminate lands that they would still like to
acquire. Without any more lands to offer the BLM for exchange, Intrepid
Potash, Inc. has proposed to purchase some BLM lands to continue mining
operations and hazardous material mitigation. Therefore, the current
proposed amendment is to consider land disposal by either exchange and/
or sale in the plan amendment process.
Preliminary issues include, but are not limited to: Wildlife and
riparian habitat, rangeland resources, recreation, hazardous materials,
and cultural resources. In addition to the No Action Alternative
(existing management situation), a range of alternatives will be
considered that will address a combination of land sale and exchange,
as well as mitigation.
The preliminary land use planning criteria are:
1. The amendment will be in compliance with FLPMA and applicable
laws, regulations, and policies. The land use plan amendment process
will be governed by the planning regulations at 43 CFR part 1610 and
BLM Land Use Planning Handbook H-1601-1.
2. The proposed action and alternatives will be analyzed in
accordance with NEPA.
3. Lands affected by the proposed plan amendment include public
surface and mineral estate managed by BLM. No decisions will be made
relative to non-BLM administered lands or non-federal minerals.
4. Public participation will be an integral part of the planning
process.
5. The plan amendment will recognize all valid existing rights.
6. The BLM will work with cooperating agencies and all other
interested groups, agencies, and individuals. The amended RMP will be
consistent with existing non-Federal plans and policies, provided the
decisions in the existing plans are consistent with the purposes,
policies, and programs of Federal law and regulations for public lands.
The RMPA/EA will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team of BLM
resource specialists including realty, recreation, cultural, minerals,
and hazardous materials specialists. Additional technical support will
be provided by other specialists as needed. Before including your
address, phone number, e-mail 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.
Dated: July 20, 2007.
Jim Stovall,
Carlsbad Field Manager.
[FR Doc. E7-16342 Filed 8-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-OX-P