Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Revision (RMPR) for the Taos Field Office, New Mexico, and Associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), 30446-30447 [E6-8087]

Download as PDF 30446 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 102 / Friday, May 26, 2006 / Notices • Mail: Attn: RMPR Comments, BLMTaos, 226 Cruz Alta Rd., Taos, NM 87571. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Taos Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Ms. Sharon ‘‘Sher’’ Churchill, telephone (505) 751–4725; e-mail sharon_churchill@nm.blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM Field Office, Taos, New Mexico, intends to prepare a RMPR with associated EIS for the Taos Field Office and announces public scoping meetings. The planning area is located in Taos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, San Miguel and Union counties in the state of New Mexico. This planning activity Robert A. Bennett, encompasses approximately 593,659 State Director. surface acres of public land and [FR Doc. E6–8085 Filed 5–25–06; 8:45 am] 4,331,946 acres of Federal mineral BILLING CODE 4310–22–P estate. The plan revision will fulfill the obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management Bureau of Land Management policies. The BLM will work [NM–220–1610–DO–026G] collaboratively with interested parties to Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource identify the management decisions that Management Plan Revision (RMPR) for are best suited to local, regional, and the Taos Field Office, New Mexico, and national needs and concerns. The purpose of the public scoping Associated Environmental Impact process is to determine relevant issues Statement (EIS) that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and EIS AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, alternatives. These issues also guide the Interior. planning process. You may submit ACTION: Notice of intent. comments on issues and planning SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land criteria in writing to the BLM at any Management (BLM) Field Office, Taos, public scoping meeting or you may New Mexico, intends to prepare a submit them to the BLM using one of Resource Management Plan Revision the methods listed in the ADDRESSES with an associated Environmental section above. To be most helpful, you Impact Statement (EIS) for the Taos should submit formal scoping Field Office and by this notice is comments within 30 days after the last announcing public scoping meetings. public meeting. The minutes and list of The RMPR will revise the existing Taos attendees for each scoping meeting will Resource Management Plan. be available to the public and open for DATES: The BLM will announce public 30 days after the meeting to any scoping meetings to identify relevant participant who wishes to clarify the issues through local news media, views he or she expressed. Individual newsletters and the BLM Web site respondents may request https://www.nm.blm.gov/tafo/taos_rmpa/ confidentiality. If you wish to withhold taos_rmpa.htm at least 15 days prior to your name and/or address from public the first meeting. We will provide review or disclosure under the Freedom formal opportunities for public of Information Act, you must state this participation upon publication of the prominently at the beginning of your Draft RMPR/EIS. written comment. The BLM will honor such requests to the extent allowed by ADDRESSES: You may submit comments law. All submissions from organizations by any of the following methods: or businesses, and from individuals • Web site: https://www.nm.blm.gov/ identifying themselves as tafo/taos_rmpr/taos_rmpr.htm. representatives or officials of • Fax: (505) 758–1620. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the Casper Field Office at the address listed above during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. 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. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:12 May 25, 2006 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 organizations or businesses, are available for public inspection in their entirety. Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by BLM personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and user groups. They represent the BLM’s knowledge to date regarding the existing issues and concerns with current land management. The major issues that will be addressed in this planning effort include land tenure adjustment, land uses, special area designations, visual resource management, off-highway vehicle use, and minerals materials. After public comments as to what issues the plan revision should address are gathered, they will be placed in one of three categories: 1. Issues to be resolved in the plan revision; 2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; or 3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan revision. The BLM will provide an explanation in the plan revision as to why we placed an issue in category two or three. In addition to these major issues, a number of management questions and concerns will be addressed in the plan revision. The public is encouraged to help identify these questions and concerns during the scoping phase. Preliminary planning criteria are: 1. Actions must comply with laws, regulations, executive orders, and BLM Manual (i.e., supplemental program guidance). 2. Actions must be reasonable, achievable, allow for flexibility where appropriate, and support adaptive management principles. 3. The Taos RMP Revision will change Field Office management guidance in a number of program areas by either modifying existing direction or adding new direction. As appropriate, RMPR guidance will be developed within an adaptive management framework, providing context and identifying processes and tools for implementing adaptive management. 4. The planning process will include an environmental impact statement that complies with National Environmental Policy Act standards. 5. The planning process will follow guidance provided in the BLM Land Use Planning Handbook H–1610–1. 6. The planning process will be conducted using an interdisciplinary approach. 7. While ensuring conformance with BLM policies and Federal laws, the planning team and Taos Field Office manager will strive to make RMP Revision decisions consistent with E:\FR\FM\26MYN1.SGM 26MYN1 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 102 / Friday, May 26, 2006 / Notices existing plans and policies of adjacent local, state, and Federal agencies, to the extent possible. 8. A collaborative approach to public and agency participation will be used throughout the planning process. The Taos RMP Revision planning team will work collaboratively with county, municipal and Tribal governments; other Federal, state and local agencies; interested individuals and groups; and other BLM staff groups. 9. The Economic Profile System (EPS) will be used as one source of demographic and economic data for the planning process. EPS data will provide important baseline data and contribute to estimates of existing and future (projected) social and economic conditions. Socio-cultural and economic analysis will subsequently be performed to identify impacts of the potential management alternatives on the diverse populations within the planning area. 10. As required in the Land Use Planning Handbook H–1610–1, EPS workshops will be conducted with community participants from Santa Fe and Rio Arriba Counties. These workshops will be held to foster strong working relationships with county residents and to share information and perspectives about local economic conditions. 11. The RMP Revision process will foster participation of Native American tribal governments and will provide strategies for protection of cultural resources and traditional cultural practices on public lands. 12. The RMP Revision process will emphasize focused, collaborative work with communities to identify public lands and resources upon which they currently rely and/or will rely in the future. This work will center on identifying current and future land use and land ownership patterns that support communities while meeting BLM’s overarching mission and goals, and identifying areas with potential for a modified or new special designation status and associated benefits to local communities, the general public and BLM. 13. The RMP Revision will recognize valid existing rights related to the use of public lands. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan revision 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: sociology and economics; archaeology; paleontology; lands and realty; outdoor recreation; visual resource management; transportation management; minerals VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:12 May 25, 2006 Jkt 208001 30447 and geology; vegetation management (including forest and fire ecology); hydrology; soils; wildlife and Threatened and Endangered species management; and fisheries. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Dated: April 20, 2006. Linda S.C. Rundell, New Mexico State Director. [FR Doc. E6–8087 Filed 5–25–06; 8:45 am] Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [WY–920–1310–EI; WYW133962] Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Encana Energy Resources for noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW133962 for land in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Pamela J. Lewis, Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication, at (307) 775–6176. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessees have agreed to the amended lease terms for rentals and royalties at rates of $5.00 per acre or fraction thereof, per year and 162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessees have paid the required $500 administrative fee and $166 to reimburse the Department for the cost of this Federal Register notice. The lessees have met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease as set out in sections 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188), and the Bureau of Land Management is proposing to reinstate lease WYW133962 effective October 1, 2004, under the original terms and conditions of the lease and the increased rental and royalty rates cited above. BLM has not issued a valid lease affecting the lands. Bureau of Land Management [WY–920–1310–EI; WYW143159] Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Pennaco Energy Inc. for noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW143159 for land in Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Pamela J. Lewis, Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication, at (307) 775–6176. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessee has agreed to the amended lease terms for rentals and royalties at rates of $5.00 per acre or fraction thereof, per year and 162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee has paid the required $500 administrative fee and $166 to reimburse the Department for the cost of this Federal Register notice. The lessee has met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease as set out in sections 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188), and the Bureau of Land Management is proposing to reinstate lease WYW143159 effective February 1, 2005, under the original terms and conditions of the lease and the increased rental and royalty rates cited above. BLM has not issued a valid lease affecting the lands. Pamela J. Lewis, Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication. [FR Doc. E6–8108 Filed 5–25–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [WY–920–1310–9EI; WYW148949] Pamela J. Lewis, Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication. [FR Doc. E6–8107 Filed 5–25–06; 8:45 am] Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease BILLING CODE 4310–22–P Interior. PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\26MYN1.SGM Bureau of Land Management, 26MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30446-30447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8087]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-220-1610-DO-026G]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Revision 
(RMPR) for the Taos Field Office, New Mexico, and Associated 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office, Taos, New 
Mexico, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan Revision with an 
associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Taos Field 
Office and by this notice is announcing public scoping meetings. The 
RMPR will revise the existing Taos Resource Management Plan.

DATES: The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify 
relevant issues through local news media, newsletters and the BLM Web 
site https://www.nm.blm.gov/tafo/taos_rmpa/taos_rmpa.htm at least 15 
days prior to the first meeting. We will provide formal opportunities 
for public participation upon publication of the Draft RMPR/EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.nm.blm.gov/tafo/taos_rmpr/taos_
rmpr.htm.
     Fax: (505) 758-1620.
     Mail: Attn: RMPR Comments, BLM-Taos, 226 Cruz Alta Rd., 
Taos, NM 87571.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Taos 
Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Ms. Sharon ``Sher'' 
Churchill, telephone (505) 751-4725; e-mail sharon_
churchill@nm.blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Field Office, Taos, New Mexico, intends to prepare a RMPR with 
associated EIS for the Taos Field Office and announces public scoping 
meetings.
    The planning area is located in Taos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Colfax, 
Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, San Miguel and Union counties in the state 
of New Mexico. This planning activity encompasses approximately 593,659 
surface acres of public land and 4,331,946 acres of Federal mineral 
estate. The plan revision will fulfill the obligations set forth by the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. 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 purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and 
EIS alternatives. These issues also guide the planning process. 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 formal scoping comments within 30 days after 
the last public meeting. The minutes and list of attendees for each 
scoping meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days 
after the meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he 
or she expressed. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. 
If you wish to withhold your name and/or address from public review or 
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your written comment. The BLM will 
honor such requests 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, are available for public inspection in their entirety.
    Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by 
BLM personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and 
user groups. They represent the BLM's knowledge to date regarding the 
existing issues and concerns with current land management. The major 
issues that will be addressed in this planning effort include land 
tenure adjustment, land uses, special area designations, visual 
resource management, off-highway vehicle use, and minerals materials. 
After public comments as to what issues the plan revision should 
address are gathered, they will be placed in one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan revision;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan revision.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the plan revision as to why 
we placed an issue in category two or three. In addition to these major 
issues, a number of management questions and concerns will be addressed 
in the plan revision. The public is encouraged to help identify these 
questions and concerns during the scoping phase.
    Preliminary planning criteria are:
    1. Actions must comply with laws, regulations, executive orders, 
and BLM Manual (i.e., supplemental program guidance).
    2. Actions must be reasonable, achievable, allow for flexibility 
where appropriate, and support adaptive management principles.
    3. The Taos RMP Revision will change Field Office management 
guidance in a number of program areas by either modifying existing 
direction or adding new direction. As appropriate, RMPR guidance will 
be developed within an adaptive management framework, providing context 
and identifying processes and tools for implementing adaptive 
management.
    4. The planning process will include an environmental impact 
statement that complies with National Environmental Policy Act 
standards.
    5. The planning process will follow guidance provided in the BLM 
Land Use Planning Handbook H-1610-1.
    6. The planning process will be conducted using an 
interdisciplinary approach.
    7. While ensuring conformance with BLM policies and Federal laws, 
the planning team and Taos Field Office manager will strive to make RMP 
Revision decisions consistent with

[[Page 30447]]

existing plans and policies of adjacent local, state, and Federal 
agencies, to the extent possible.
    8. A collaborative approach to public and agency participation will 
be used throughout the planning process. The Taos RMP Revision planning 
team will work collaboratively with county, municipal and Tribal 
governments; other Federal, state and local agencies; interested 
individuals and groups; and other BLM staff groups.
    9. The Economic Profile System (EPS) will be used as one source of 
demographic and economic data for the planning process. EPS data will 
provide important baseline data and contribute to estimates of existing 
and future (projected) social and economic conditions. Socio-cultural 
and economic analysis will subsequently be performed to identify 
impacts of the potential management alternatives on the diverse 
populations within the planning area.
    10. As required in the Land Use Planning Handbook H-1610-1, EPS 
workshops will be conducted with community participants from Santa Fe 
and Rio Arriba Counties. These workshops will be held to foster strong 
working relationships with county residents and to share information 
and perspectives about local economic conditions.
    11. The RMP Revision process will foster participation of Native 
American tribal governments and will provide strategies for protection 
of cultural resources and traditional cultural practices on public 
lands.
    12. The RMP Revision process will emphasize focused, collaborative 
work with communities to identify public lands and resources upon which 
they currently rely and/or will rely in the future. This work will 
center on identifying current and future land use and land ownership 
patterns that support communities while meeting BLM's overarching 
mission and goals, and identifying areas with potential for a modified 
or new special designation status and associated benefits to local 
communities, the general public and BLM.
    13. The RMP Revision will recognize valid existing rights related 
to the use of public lands.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
revision 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: sociology and 
economics; archaeology; paleontology; lands and realty; outdoor 
recreation; visual resource management; transportation management; 
minerals and geology; vegetation management (including forest and fire 
ecology); hydrology; soils; wildlife and Threatened and Endangered 
species management; and fisheries.

    Dated: April 20, 2006.
Linda S.C. Rundell,
New Mexico State Director.
[FR Doc. E6-8087 Filed 5-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P

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