Contact: Mark Matthews 575.835.0412 Hans Stuart 505.438.7510

BLM Issues Proposed Resource Management Plan for Public Lands in Socorro and Catron Counties  

Socorro, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management issued a Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) today that will guide the BLM’s management of public lands in Socorro and Catron Counties.  The two counties in west-central New Mexico include almost 1.5 million acres of federal public lands and over 6 million acres of federal mineral estate managed by the BLM. 

Since the last RMP was completed almost 20 years ago, circumstances have changed within the planning area.   Some of the original goals and supporting management decisions required updating to address changing demographics, land use, resource conditions, and BLM policies. 

Key decisions in the updated RMP address land tenure, travel management, recreation, and special designations.  The most significant change is that public lands designated as ‘Open’ to off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in the previous RMP were changed to ‘Limited’ in the updated RMP, meaning that OHVs will be restricted to designated trails and routes in these areas.  The change in designation applies to 868,943 acres of public lands in the two counties. 

The BLM analyzed public comments on a Draft RMP, released in May 2007, and incorporated the information into the final document.  Copies of the Proposed RMP are available at the BLM’s Socorro Field Office at 901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, NM  87801, or can be downloaded from the BLM’s website at www.blm.gov/nm  (click on Socorro Field Office).

Release of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS initiates a formal 30-day protest period.  For information on filing a protest, refer to the ‘Dear Reader’ letter in the Proposed RMP.  For additional information about the Proposed RMP, contact Mark Matthews, acting manager of the BLM’s Socorro Field Office at 575-835-0412.

“The BLM worked closely with land users, recreational and environmental interests, and Cooperating Agencies (Zuni Pueblo and Catron County) to craft this plan,” said Matthews.  “The plan retains the flexibility needed to ensure that current uses and activities on public lands will continue, while the area’s natural resources will be protected.”