Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; New Mexico, 48714-48715 [2013-19345]
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pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
48714
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2013 / Notices
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:
Intercontinental Potash Corporation
(ICP) is proposing to develop a new
underground mine in southern Lea
County, New Mexico, to extract
polyhalite ore for the production of the
sulfate of potash, a component of
agricultural fertilizer. ICP holds BLM
prospecting permits and has applied for
preference right leases. These
prospecting permits are located about 40
miles southeast of Carlsbad and 20
miles west of Jal, in Lea County, New
Mexico. ICP has proposed a Mine Plan
of Operations that includes an
underground mine accessed by a shaft
and a ramp, and processing facilities,
including the ore process plant, dry
stack tailings pile, evaporation ponds,
water wells, pipelines, power lines, and
a railroad load out facility. The
polyhalite will be continuously mined
using the conventional room and pillar
retreat method. In order to mine in
proximity to active oil and gas wells,
ICP has elected to follow the rules and
regulations of a Category IV gassy mine.
The Project area includes Federal,
State, and private lands totaling 31,137
acres, of which 2,400 acres would be
disturbed. The surface landownership
consists of about 22 percent public
lands managed by the BLM, 53 percent
owned by the State of New Mexico, and
25 percent privately owned. About 55
percent of the minerals within the
proposed mine area is owned by the
Federal Government.
Processing would require pumping a
maximum of 4,000 gallons per minute of
groundwater from the Capitan Reef
Aquifer.
The BLM initiated the NEPA process
for the Project Draft EIS by publication
of a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS
on January 3, 2012 (77 FR 130). The EIS
will inform the BLM’s decision whether
to approve ICP’s Ochoa Mine Plan of
Operations and Closure Plan, requested
rights-of-way, and preference right
leases, and if so, under what terms and
conditions. Public scoping meetings
were conducted on January 23–24, 2012.
Major issues identified for this project
include oil and gas, water resources,
land use, socioeconomic impacts, air
quality, wildlife, livestock grazing, and
health and safety.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:54 Aug 08, 2013
Jkt 229001
Alternatives developed include the
proposed action (Alternative A), which
would include approval of ICP’s Mine
Plan of Operations, granting new rightsof-way, and approval of preference right
leases to allow the mining and
processing of polyhalite ore. In addition,
three action alternatives were analyzed
in the Draft EIS. Alternative B is
identical to Alternative A except that
the visual impacts of the tailing
stockpile would be reduced. Alternative
C is identical to Alternative A except
that standards and guidance would be
established for managing concurrent
development of fluid minerals.
Alternative D is similar to Alternative A,
except that the location of the
evaporation ponds and tailings stockpile
would be at a different location. A no
action alternative was also analyzed, in
which the proposed mine plan of
operations, rights-of-way, and
preference right leases would be denied.
The Draft EIS addresses the issues and
concerns raised during internal and
external (public) scoping last year and
analyzes the environmental effects of
the Proposed Action, three action
alternatives, and the No Action
Alternative. Alternate tailings
management, processing facilities siting,
and co-development options are
included in the analysis. The BLM has
not yet chosen a preferred alternative for
this Project and is seeking public
comment. The final preferred alternative
may combine aspects of the existing
alternatives.
Please note that public comments and
information submitted including names,
street addresses, and email addresses of
persons who submit comments will be
available for public review and
disclosure at the above address during
regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.),
Monday through Friday, except
holidays.
Before including your address, phone
number, email 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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10,
43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5.
Aden L. Seidlitz,
Associate State Director.
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
Frm 00073
Fmt 4703
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNMP02000 L14300000 ET0000 NMNM–
127501/NMNM–83404]
Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and
Opportunity for Public Meeting; New
Mexico
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Assistant Secretary of the
Interior for Policy, Management and
Budget proposes to withdraw on behalf
of the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), 2,924.65 acres of public lands
and 440 acres of federally reserved
mineral interests underlying nonFederal lands in Eddy County, New
Mexico, to protect highly significant
caves and their associated resources.
This notice segregates the public lands
and reserved mineral interests for up to
2 years from location and entry under
the United States mining laws and gives
the public an opportunity to comment
on the application and to request a
public meeting.
DATES: Comments and public meeting
requests must be received on or before
November 7, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting
requests should be sent to the BLM
Carlsbad Field Office, 620 E. Greene
Street, Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim
Goodbar, Cave/Karst Resource
Specialist, at the address above, by
telephone at (575) 234–5972 or by email
at jgoodbar@blm.gov. Persons who use a
telecommunication device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Rely Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
to contact the above individual. 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 BLM
filed an application requesting the
Assistant Secretary for Policy,
Management and Budget to withdraw,
subject to valid existing rights, the
following described public lands and
federally reserved minerals underlying
non-Federal lands from location and
entry under the United States mining
laws, for a period of 20 years, to protect
highly significant caves and their
associated resources:
SUMMARY:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
[FR Doc. 2013–19172 Filed 8–8–13; 8:45 am]
PO 00000
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Sfmt 4703
McKittrick Hill Caves
T. 22 S., R. 24 E.,
E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM
09AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2013 / Notices
Sec.14, S1⁄2SW1⁄4, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and
W1⁄2SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 22, S1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4,
SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, E1⁄2E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 23, W1⁄2E1⁄2E1⁄2, W1⁄2E1⁄2, and W1⁄2;
Sec. 26, W1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, and
N1⁄2NW1⁄4;
Sec. 27, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, and E1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4.
Mudgetts/Little Mudgetts Caves
T. 24 S., R. 24 E.,
Sec. 21, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4,
SW1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and
NE1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4.
Big Manhole/Little Manhole Caves
T. 24 S., R. 24 E.,
Sec. 22, W1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4,
SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SW1⁄4SE1⁄4.
Honest Injun Cave
T. 22 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 28, lot 6.
Yellow Jacket and Lair Caves
T. 23 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 14, S1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 and S1⁄2S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 23, NE1⁄4 and NE1⁄4NW1⁄4.
KFF (Elliott’s) Cave
T. 24 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 23, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 and E1⁄2SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 24, W1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4,
N1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, and
NW1⁄4SE1⁄4SW1⁄4.
Chosa Draw Caves
T. 25 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 20, E1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 21, S1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 and S1⁄2;
Sec. 22, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4 and
W1⁄2W1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 27, W1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4;
Sec. 28, E1⁄2NE1⁄4;
Sec. 29, E1⁄2NE1⁄4, E1⁄2W1⁄2NE1⁄4,
NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, and E1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.
Lost Cave
T. 22 S., R.26 E.,
Sec. 22, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4 and
N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4;
Sec. 23, W1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4 and
NW1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4.
Fence Canyon Cave Area
T. 24 S., R. 26 E.,
Sec. 17, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4;
Sec. 18, lot 3, E1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4,
SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4,
and N1⁄2SE1⁄4.
The following describe non-Federal surface
and Federal minerals:
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
New Mexico Principal Meridian
Chosa Draw Caves
T. 25 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 28, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4.
The total areas described aggregate 2,924.64
acres of public lands and 440 acres of Federal
minerals underlying non-Federal lands in
Eddy County.
The Assistant Secretary for Policy,
Management and Budget approved the
BLM’s petition/application; therefore,
the petition constitutes a withdrawal
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:54 Aug 08, 2013
Jkt 229001
proposal of the Secretary of the Interior
(43 CFR 2310.1–3(e)).
The purpose of the proposed
withdrawal is to protect highly
significant caves and their associated
resources.
The use of a right-of-way, interagency
agreement, or cooperative agreement
would not adequately constrain nondiscretionary uses that could
irrevocably destroy the area’s cave
resources.
There are no suitable alternative sites
as the described lands contain the
significant caves and their associated
natural resource values.
No water rights would be needed to
fulfill the purpose of the requested
withdrawal.
Records relating to the application
including maps may be examined by
contacting Jim Goodbar of the BLM
Carlsbad Field Office at the above
address and phone number. Cave
locations are confidential information,
therefore not subject to the Freedom of
Information Act in accordance with the
Federal Cave Resources Protection Act
of 1988.
For the period until November 7,
2013, all persons who wish to submit
comments, suggestions, or objections in
connection with the proposed
withdrawal application may present
their views in writing to the BLM
Carlsbad Field Office at the address
noted above. Comments, including
names and street addresses of
respondents, will be available for public
review at the BLM Carlsbad Field
Office, at the address above, during
regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
Before including address, phone
number, email address, or any other
personal identifying information in your
comments, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including
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 view, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Notice is hereby given that an
opportunity for a public meeting is
afforded in connection with the
proposed withdrawal. All interested
persons who desire a public meeting for
the purpose of being heard on the
proposed withdrawal must submit a
written request to the BLM Carlsbad
Field Office no later than November 7,
2013. If the authorized officer
determines that a public meeting will be
held, a notice of the time and place will
be published in the Federal Register
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
48715
and through local media, newspapers,
and the BLM Web site at: https://
www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/
Carlsbad_Field_Office.html, at least 30
days before the scheduled date of the
meeting.
For a period until August 10, 2015 the
public lands and federally reserved
minerals described in this notice will be
segregated from location and entry
under the United States mining laws
unless the application is denied or
cancelled or the withdrawal is approved
prior to that date. Licenses, permits,
cooperative agreements, or discretionary
land use authorizations of a temporary
nature which will not significantly
impact the values to be protected by the
withdrawal may be allowed with the
approval of the authorized officer of the
BLM during the segregative period.
This application will be processed in
accordance with the regulations set
forth in 43 CFR 2310.3.
William Merhege,
Deputy State Director, Division of Lands and
Resources.
[FR Doc. 2013–19345 Filed 8–8–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NRSS–EQD–13710;
PPWONRADN1, PPMRSNR1N.NS0000]
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request: NPS Study of
Value of Natural Sounds: A Pilot Study
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
We (National Park Service)
will ask the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) to approve the
information collection request (ICR)
described below. This collection will
consist of a pretest of a survey of the
general public concerning the value of
natural quiet in national parks. To
comply with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 and as a part of our
continuing efforts to reduce paperwork
and respondent burden, we invite the
general public and other federal
agencies to comment on this ICR. A
Federal agency may not conduct or
sponsor and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
DATES: To ensure that your comments
on this ICR are considered, OMB must
receive them on or before September 9,
2013.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM
09AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48714-48715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19345]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNMP02000 L14300000 ET0000 NMNM-127501/NMNM-83404]
Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting;
New Mexico
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management
and Budget proposes to withdraw on behalf of the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), 2,924.65 acres of public lands and 440 acres of
federally reserved mineral interests underlying non-Federal lands in
Eddy County, New Mexico, to protect highly significant caves and their
associated resources. This notice segregates the public lands and
reserved mineral interests for up to 2 years from location and entry
under the United States mining laws and gives the public an opportunity
to comment on the application and to request a public meeting.
DATES: Comments and public meeting requests must be received on or
before November 7, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the BLM
Carlsbad Field Office, 620 E. Greene Street, Carlsbad, New Mexico
88220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Goodbar, Cave/Karst Resource
Specialist, at the address above, by telephone at (575) 234-5972 or by
email at jgoodbar@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunication device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Rely Service (FIRS)
at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual. 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 BLM filed an application requesting the
Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget to withdraw,
subject to valid existing rights, the following described public lands
and federally reserved minerals underlying non-Federal lands from
location and entry under the United States mining laws, for a period of
20 years, to protect highly significant caves and their associated
resources:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
McKittrick Hill Caves
T. 22 S., R. 24 E.,
[[Page 48715]]
Sec.14, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 22, S\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Sec. 23, W\1/2\E\1/2\E\1/2\, W\1/2\E\1/2\, and W\1/2\;
Sec. 26, W\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and N\1/2\NW\1/
4\;
Sec. 27, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, and E\1/2\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\.
Mudgetts/Little Mudgetts Caves
T. 24 S., R. 24 E.,
Sec. 21, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/
2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\.
Big Manhole/Little Manhole Caves
T. 24 S., R. 24 E.,
Sec. 22, W\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\.
Honest Injun Cave
T. 22 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 28, lot 6.
Yellow Jacket and Lair Caves
T. 23 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 14, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ and S\1/2\S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 23, NE\1/4\ and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\.
KFF (Elliott's) Cave
T. 24 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 23, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 24, W\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/
4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\.
Chosa Draw Caves
T. 25 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 20, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 21, S\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and S\1/2\;
Sec. 22, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\ and W\1/2\W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
Sec. 27, W\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
Sec. 28, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
Sec. 29, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\W\1/2\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and
E\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\.
Lost Cave
T. 22 S., R.26 E.,
Sec. 22, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
Sec. 23, W\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/
4\NW\1/4\.
Fence Canyon Cave Area
T. 24 S., R. 26 E.,
Sec. 17, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
Sec. 18, lot 3, E\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and N\1/2\SE\1/4\.
The following describe non-Federal surface and Federal minerals:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
Chosa Draw Caves
T. 25 S., R. 25 E.,
Sec. 28, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\.
The total areas described aggregate 2,924.64 acres of public lands
and 440 acres of Federal minerals underlying non-Federal lands in
Eddy County.
The Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget approved
the BLM's petition/application; therefore, the petition constitutes a
withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of the Interior (43 CFR 2310.1-
3(e)).
The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect highly
significant caves and their associated resources.
The use of a right-of-way, interagency agreement, or cooperative
agreement would not adequately constrain non-discretionary uses that
could irrevocably destroy the area's cave resources.
There are no suitable alternative sites as the described lands
contain the significant caves and their associated natural resource
values.
No water rights would be needed to fulfill the purpose of the
requested withdrawal.
Records relating to the application including maps may be examined
by contacting Jim Goodbar of the BLM Carlsbad Field Office at the above
address and phone number. Cave locations are confidential information,
therefore not subject to the Freedom of Information Act in accordance
with the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988.
For the period until November 7, 2013, all persons who wish to
submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the
proposed withdrawal application may present their views in writing to
the BLM Carlsbad Field Office at the address noted above. Comments,
including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available
for public review at the BLM Carlsbad Field Office, at the address
above, during regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Before including address, phone number, email address, or any other
personal identifying information in your comments, you should be aware
that your entire comment--including 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 view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested
persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on
the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to the BLM
Carlsbad Field Office no later than November 7, 2013. If the authorized
officer determines that a public meeting will be held, a notice of the
time and place will be published in the Federal Register and through
local media, newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Carlsbad_Field_Office.html, at least 30 days before the
scheduled date of the meeting.
For a period until August 10, 2015 the public lands and federally
reserved minerals described in this notice will be segregated from
location and entry under the United States mining laws unless the
application is denied or cancelled or the withdrawal is approved prior
to that date. Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements, or
discretionary land use authorizations of a temporary nature which will
not significantly impact the values to be protected by the withdrawal
may be allowed with the approval of the authorized officer of the BLM
during the segregative period.
This application will be processed in accordance with the
regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2310.3.
William Merhege,
Deputy State Director, Division of Lands and Resources.
[FR Doc. 2013-19345 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
