Establishment of the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, 35640-35641 [2013-14043]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
35640
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 114 / Thursday, June 13, 2013 / Notices
from the Thaw Charitable Trust, the
4,224-acre Wind River Ranch in Mora
County, New Mexico.
ADDRESSES: A map depicting the
approved boundary and other
information regarding the Rio Mora
National Wildlife Refuge and
Conservation Area are available on the
Internet at https://www.fws.gov/
southwest/refuges/Plan/planindex.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Kettler, Land Protection Planner,
by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Division of Planning, P.O. Box
1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103–1306, or
by email at steve_kettler@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Service has established the Rio Mora
National Wildlife Refuge in Mora
County, New Mexico, and the Rio Mora
Conservation Area, including portions
of Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel
Counties, New Mexico. The Service may
pursue protection and management of
wildlife resources in the conservation
area through purchase of perpetual
conservation easements or fee title
purchase from willing sellers, or
through cooperative management
agreements and partnerships. These
actions will contribute to maintaining
the biological integrity and sustainable
human uses of the area, maintaining
both rare and common species, and
supporting the ecological function and
resiliency within the larger landscape.
The goal for the project is to protect
and restore habitat in support of species
recovery plans, State and regional
conservation plans, and major bird
conservation plans, and to maintain
native species and sustainable
ecosystems. The maximum long-term
potential for fee and easement
acquisition would be 300,000 acres
within the approximately 952,000-acre
Mora River watershed, which forms the
boundary of the conservation area.
Within the conservation area, the
Service is authorized to accept
donations of land or may purchase
property using the acquisition authority
of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16
U.S.C. 742a–j); the Migratory Bird
Conservation Act of 1929 (16 U.S.C.
715–715d, 715e, 715f–r); the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); the Refuge
Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k–
460k–4); and the National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act of
1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(b)(3)). The
principal Federal funding sources to
acquire property are the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16
U.S.C. 460l–4–460l–11; funds received
from this act are derived primarily from
oil and gas leases on the outer
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Jun 12, 2013
Jkt 229001
continental shelf, motorboat fuel tax
revenues, and sale of surplus Federal
property) and the Migratory Bird
Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act of
1934 (16 U.S.C. 718–718h); funds for
this act are derived from the sale of
federal duck stamps. There could be
additional funds to acquire lands,
waters, or interest therein for fish and
wildlife conservation purposes through
other congressional appropriations,
donations, or grants from nonprofit
organizations and other sources.
The Service has involved the public,
agencies, partners, and legislators
throughout the planning process for the
refuge and conservation area. In July
2011, the Service initiated public
involvement and announced public
scoping meetings to be held to describe
the proposed project and solicit
feedback. Two public scoping meetings
were held in the local area: the first in
Mora, New Mexico, on July 25, 2011,
and the second in Las Vegas, New
Mexico, on July 26, 2011. Comments
were accepted during the public scoping
period from July 25, 2011, to September
19, 2011.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Service
prepared an environmental assessment
that evaluated three alternatives and
their potential impacts on the project
area. The draft environmental
assessment and a draft land protection
plan were made available for a public
review and comment period (March 30
through May 1, 2012). Two hearings
were held during this period to offer the
public additional opportunities to
provide input on the proposed actions
and the draft documents. The first
hearing was held in Mora, New Mexico,
on April 12th, and the second, in Las
Vegas, New Mexico, on April 13th,
2012. Over 84 landowners, citizens, and
elected officials (or their
representatives) attended the 2 hearings,
and 8 individuals gave public comment.
Afterwards the Service received an
additional eight comments in written
hardcopy, and via email or phone.
Comments received at the hearings and
by other means throughout the comment
period were reviewed, added to the
administrative record, and, if
substantial, addressed in the
environmental assessment or land
protection plan.
Based on the documentation
contained in the environmental
assessment, a Finding of No Significant
Impact was signed on June 13, 2012, for
the establishment of the Rio Mora
National Wildlife Refuge and
Conservation Area. The Service
established the Rio Mora National
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area
on September 27, 2012, by acquiring the
4,224-acre Wind River Ranch in Mora
County, New Mexico.
Dated: December 12, 2012.
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Editorial Note: This document was
received at the Office of the Federal Register
June 10, 2013.
[FR Doc. 2013–14039 Filed 6–12–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R2–R–2013–N264: FF02R06000–
FXRS1265022LPP–134]
Establishment of the Valle de Oro
National Wildlife Refuge, Bernalillo
County, New Mexico
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public
that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) has established the Valle de
Oro National Wildlife Refuge as a unit
of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The Service established the Valle de Oro
National Wildlife Refuge on September
21, 2012, with a purchase of 389 acres
in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. This
action completes the first of two
acquisition phases, which will
ultimately provide 570 acres of
protected lands for public access,
recreation, and environmental
education.
ADDRESSES: A map depicting the
approved boundary and other
information regarding the Valle de Oro
National Wildlife Refuge are available
on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/
southwest/refuges/Plan/planindex.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Kettler, Land Protection Planner,
by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Division of Planning, P.O. Box
1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103–1306, or
by email at steve_kettler@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
September 21, 2012, the Service
purchased 389 acres of former farm land
in Albuquerque’s South Valley.
Acquisition of these lands formally
established the Valle de Oro National
Wildlife Refuge in Bernalillo County,
New Mexico. As an urban National
Wildlife Refuge, a distinction shared by
only a handful of refuges nationwide
and the first for the southwestern
United States, this refuge will provide
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 114 / Thursday, June 13, 2013 / Notices
easy access and key outdoor recreation
opportunities to more than 150,000
students and nearly two-thirds of the
entire State population and will become
a new stop on the nationally recognized
Paseo del Bosque recreation trail. This
refuge strongly emphasizes recreation
and outdoor education for urban youth.
It also serves as a gateway to other
outdoor venues in the area, as well as
to other refuges within the State. The
project is the result of close cooperation
with Bernalillo County, the Trust for
Public Lands, and many other partners,
as well as extensive public involvement.
The Service acquired the property
using the acquisition authority of the
Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C.
742a–j) and the Refuge Recreation Act of
1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k–460k–4). The
federal funding source to acquire the
property is the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16
U.S.C. 460l–4–460l–11). Funds received
from this act are derived primarily from
oil and gas leases on the outer
continental shelf, motorboat fuel tax
revenues, and sale of surplus federal
property. There could be additional
funds to acquire lands, waters, or
interest therein for fish and wildlife
conservation purposes through other
congressional appropriations,
donations, or grants from non-profit
organizations and other sources.
The Service has involved the public,
agencies, partners, and legislators
throughout the planning process for the
refuge. In January of 2011, the Service
initiated public involvement and
announced public scoping meetings to
be held to describe the proposed project
and solicit feedback. Three public
meetings were held in the Albuquerque
metropolitan area (on February 7, 9, and
12, 2011) during the initial scoping
process to identify issues to be analyzed
for the proposed project.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Service
prepared an environmental assessment
that evaluated two alternatives and their
potential impacts on the project area.
The draft environmental assessment and
land protection plan documents were
made available for a 30-day public
comment period beginning on July 15,
2011. Two public meetings were held in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 27
and 28, 2011, where comments were
recorded by a court reporter. Over 70
people attended the meetings, and the
Service received a total of 80 comments
during the public comment period.
Comments received at the meetings and
by other means throughout the comment
period were reviewed, added to the
administrative record, and, if
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Jun 12, 2013
Jkt 229001
substantial, addressed in the
environmental assessment or land
protection plan.
Based on the documentation
contained in the environmental
assessment, a Finding of No Significant
Impact was signed on September 23,
2011, for the establishment the Middle
Rio Grande National Wildlife Refuge. In
September, 2012, that name was
officially changed to Valle de Oro
National Wildlife Refuge. The Service
established the Valle de Oro National
Wildlife Refuge on September 21, 2012,
with a purchase of 389 acres in
Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Dated: December 3, 2012.
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Editorial Note: This document was
received at the Office of the Federal Register
June 10, 2013.
[FR Doc. 2013–14043 Filed 6–12–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNML0000 L16100000.DP0000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Amendment to the Mimbres Resource
Management Plan and Associated
Environmental Assessment for
Possible Disposal of Public Land in
˜
Dona Ana County, Las Cruces, New
Mexico
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Las Cruces District
Office, New Mexico, intends to prepare
a Resource Management Plan (RMP)
Amendment with an associated
Environmental Assessment (EA) to
analyze the possible disposal by direct
sale at fair market value of 339.89 acres
of BLM-administered public land in
˜
Dona Ana County in southwestern New
Mexico.
DATES: This notice initiates the 30-day
public scoping period to identify
relevant issues. The scoping period will
also be announced through local news
media and on the BLM Web site
(https://www.blm.gov/nm/las cruces).
The BLM will accept scoping comments
for 30 days from the date of the
publication of this notice.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any of the following methods:
• Email:
blm_nm_lcdo_comments@blm.gov.
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
35641
• Fax: 575–525–4412, Attention:
Kendrah Penn.
• Mail or personal delivery: Kendrah
Penn, RMPA/EA Team Leader, BLM Las
Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess
Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Las Cruces
District Office at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kendrah Penn, Realty Specialist, at the
above address, by telephone at 575–
525–4382, or by email at
kpenn@blm.gov. 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: The
Village of Hatch, New Mexico, has
proposed to acquire 339.89 acres of
BLM-administered land located adjacent
to its industrial park. The land would be
used as part of the industrial park and
would give the Village of Hatch the
ability to enhance its economic
opportunities and provide for
community expansion.
This document provides notice that
the BLM Las Cruces District Office, Las
Cruces, New Mexico, intends to prepare
an RMP Amendment with an associated
EA for the Mimbres Planning Area and
announces the beginning of the scoping
process and seeks public input on issues
and planning criteria.
The BLM is currently considering
˜
disposal of public land in Dona Ana
County, New Mexico. The public land
proposed for disposal is currently
identified for retention in Federal
ownership in the 1993 Mimbres RMP.
Therefore, the RMP must be amended to
identify the public land as suitable for
exchange and/or sale. The RMP
Amendment will allow for direct sale of
the land if all the criteria outlined by
FLPMA is met and that is the alternative
chosen by the BLM New Mexico State
Director. The public land is a portion of
and within the following area:
New Mexico Principal Meridian, New
Mexico
T. 19 S., R. 4 W.,
Sec. 28, lots 1 to 3, lots 6 to 8,
NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4,
N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2NE1⁄4,
W1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2E1⁄2W1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4,
W1⁄2W1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4,
W1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and
NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4.
The area described contains 339.89
acres. Any area described as a half (1⁄2)
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35640-35641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14043]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2013-N264: FF02R06000-FXRS1265022LPP-134]
Establishment of the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge,
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) has established the Valle de Oro National Wildlife
Refuge as a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Service
established the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge on September 21,
2012, with a purchase of 389 acres in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
This action completes the first of two acquisition phases, which will
ultimately provide 570 acres of protected lands for public access,
recreation, and environmental education.
ADDRESSES: A map depicting the approved boundary and other information
regarding the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge are available on
the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/planindex.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Kettler, Land Protection
Planner, by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of
Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103-1306, or by email at
steve_kettler@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 21, 2012, the Service purchased
389 acres of former farm land in Albuquerque's South Valley.
Acquisition of these lands formally established the Valle de Oro
National Wildlife Refuge in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. As an urban
National Wildlife Refuge, a distinction shared by only a handful of
refuges nationwide and the first for the southwestern United States,
this refuge will provide
[[Page 35641]]
easy access and key outdoor recreation opportunities to more than
150,000 students and nearly two-thirds of the entire State population
and will become a new stop on the nationally recognized Paseo del
Bosque recreation trail. This refuge strongly emphasizes recreation and
outdoor education for urban youth. It also serves as a gateway to other
outdoor venues in the area, as well as to other refuges within the
State. The project is the result of close cooperation with Bernalillo
County, the Trust for Public Lands, and many other partners, as well as
extensive public involvement.
The Service acquired the property using the acquisition authority
of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-j) and the Refuge
Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4). The federal funding
source to acquire the property is the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-4-460l-11). Funds received from this act
are derived primarily from oil and gas leases on the outer continental
shelf, motorboat fuel tax revenues, and sale of surplus federal
property. There could be additional funds to acquire lands, waters, or
interest therein for fish and wildlife conservation purposes through
other congressional appropriations, donations, or grants from non-
profit organizations and other sources.
The Service has involved the public, agencies, partners, and
legislators throughout the planning process for the refuge. In January
of 2011, the Service initiated public involvement and announced public
scoping meetings to be held to describe the proposed project and
solicit feedback. Three public meetings were held in the Albuquerque
metropolitan area (on February 7, 9, and 12, 2011) during the initial
scoping process to identify issues to be analyzed for the proposed
project.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Service prepared an environmental
assessment that evaluated two alternatives and their potential impacts
on the project area. The draft environmental assessment and land
protection plan documents were made available for a 30-day public
comment period beginning on July 15, 2011. Two public meetings were
held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 27 and 28, 2011, where
comments were recorded by a court reporter. Over 70 people attended the
meetings, and the Service received a total of 80 comments during the
public comment period. Comments received at the meetings and by other
means throughout the comment period were reviewed, added to the
administrative record, and, if substantial, addressed in the
environmental assessment or land protection plan.
Based on the documentation contained in the environmental
assessment, a Finding of No Significant Impact was signed on September
23, 2011, for the establishment the Middle Rio Grande National Wildlife
Refuge. In September, 2012, that name was officially changed to Valle
de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. The Service established the Valle de
Oro National Wildlife Refuge on September 21, 2012, with a purchase of
389 acres in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Dated: December 3, 2012.
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the
Federal Register June 10, 2013.
[FR Doc. 2013-14043 Filed 6-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
