Notice of Availability for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, New Mexico, 82622-82624 [2024-23428]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 198 (Friday, October 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82622-82624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23428]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_NM_FRN_MO4500183052]


Notice of Availability for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks 
National Monument Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument 
(Monument) and by this notice is announcing the start of the 30-day 
protest period for the Proposed RMP.

DATES: This notice announces a 30-day protest period to the BLM on the 
Proposed RMP beginning on the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Proposed RMP 
and Final EIS in the Federal Register. The EPA usually publishes its 
NOAs on Fridays. Protests must be postmarked or electronically 
submitted on the BLM's ePlanning website during the 30-day protest 
period.

ADDRESSES: The Proposed RMP, Final EIS, and associated documents are 
available on the BLM ePlanning project website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/510. Documents pertinent 
to this proposal may also be examined at the BLM Las Cruces District 
Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005.
    Instructions for filing a protest with the BLM for the Proposed RMP 
and Final EIS for the Monument can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/
programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/filing-a-plan-protest 
and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BLM RMP Project Manager Patrick Rich 
at 405-579-7154 or [email protected] or acting Monument Manager Lane Hauser 
at 575-525-4358 or [email protected]. Individuals in the United States 
who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability 
may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications 
relay services for contacting Patrick Rich. Individuals outside the 
United States should use the relay services offered within their 
country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the 
United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The decision area is located in Do[ntilde]a 
Ana County, New Mexico, and encompasses approximately 496,591 acres of 
BLM-managed public lands. Resources on Monument lands administered by 
the BLM within the decision area are currently managed under the 1993 
Mimbres RMP, as amended, and additional guidance directed in 
Presidential Proclamation 9131.
    The BLM identified, analyzed, and considered mitigation to address 
reasonably foreseeable impacts associated with land use allocations and 
resource management goals and

[[Page 82623]]

objectives employed to develop the alternatives, in accordance with 40 
CFR 1502.14(e).
    The BLM proactively coordinated the NEPA and land use planning 
processes early in the planning effort to ensure compliance with 
applicable procedural requirements under the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1536) and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(54 U.S.C. 306108), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), including public 
involvement requirements of section 106.
    On December 1, 2021, the BLM initiated government-to-government 
consultation with 13 federally recognized Tribes with historic or 
cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the Proposed 
RMP. In accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual section 1780, 
and other Departmental policies, the BLM considered Tribal concerns, 
including potential impacts to Indian trust assets and cultural 
resources, throughout the land use planning process.
    The BLM invited Tribal Nations; Federal, State, and local agencies; 
and stakeholders that demonstrated interest in or that could have been 
impacted by the RMP, to participate in the planning process and, if 
eligible, to participate as cooperating agencies. Ten eligible entities 
accepted the BLM's invitation to join the RMP planning effort as 
cooperating agencies.
    On June 22, 2023, the BLM published a Notice of Intent in the 
Federal Register (88 FR 40846), notifying the public of a formal 
scoping period and soliciting public participation. The BLM held six 
public scoping meetings in and around Las Cruces, New Mexico, during 
July 2023.
    On April 5, 2024, the BLM published an NOA in the Federal Register 
(89 FR 24030), announcing a 90-day public comment period (April 5, 
2024, through July 5, 2024) and the availability of the Draft EIS and 
Draft RMP for review and comment. The BLM held two in-person public 
meetings and two virtual public meetings in Las Cruces, New Mexico, 
during June 2024.

Proposed RMP

    The Final EIS documents analysis of environmental impacts 
associated with the five alternatives considered for management of 
Monument lands, to include the 10 congressionally designated wilderness 
areas located within the Monument's boundaries. The Proposed RMP 
provides five land use management alternatives. Each alternative 
consists of distinct land use allocations and resource management 
goals, objectives, and management direction focused on protecting 
Monument objects of scientific and historic interest, preserving 
wilderness character, and the conservation of natural resources, 
resource values, and wildlife habitat. The Proposed RMP (Alternative E) 
was developed in response to public comments received on the Draft EIS 
and RMP during the 90-day public comment period and is based, 
primarily, on land use allocations and resource management goals and 
objectives found in Alternative C (Draft EIS Preferred Alternative).
    The five alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS are as follows:
     Alternative A (No Action): Maintains the 1993 Mimbres RMP 
management direction. Incorporates Monument management direction from 
Presidential Proclamation 9131.
     Alternative B (Protection-focused): Protects objects of 
scientific and historic interest. Protects, preserves, and enhances 
habitat, natural resources, and resource values while providing limited 
recreation and travel opportunities. Most proactive in promoting land 
use management activities focused on preservation, restoration, and 
enhancement.
     Alternative C (Draft Preferred): Protects Monument objects 
of scientific and historic interest. Institutes preservation management 
principles for designated wilderness. Provides an objective approach to 
land use management, employing conservation management principles for 
wildlife habitat, natural resources, and resource values. Employs 
targeted preservation goals and objectives, while allowing recreation 
uses that promote sustained socioeconomic progression.
     Alternative D (Recreation-focused): Emphasizes 
opportunities for resource uses, such as recreation, off-highway 
vehicle and mechanized use, and livestock grazing, while maintaining 
ecological function to protect Monument resources, objects, and values. 
Institutes preservation management principles for designated 
wilderness.
     Alternative E (Proposed): Institutes similar land use 
allocations and resource management goals and objectives as Alternative 
C. Provides additional flexibility in the management of natural 
resources, while protecting Monument objects and preserving wilderness 
character. Emphasizes the importance of future implementation and 
activity-level planning efforts, such as integrated travel/
transportation and recreation area management planning, wilderness 
management plans, rangeland management plans, habitat management plans, 
and cultural resource and Monument object inventory and management.
    The BLM New Mexico State Director has selected Alternative E as the 
``Proposed RMP alternative.'' Alternative E was designed to protect 
Monument objects, preserve wilderness character, and conserve natural 
and cultural resources, resource values, and wildlife habitat, while 
allowing for compatible uses on Monument lands. The Proposed RMP 
alternative includes important conservation and preservation measures 
designed to protect Monument objects of scientific and historic 
interest, as well as other resources and resource values, including:
     Wilderness areas (239,596-acres): Emphasizes preservation 
of wilderness character, with allowance for compatible uses;
     Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC): Designates 
the Do[ntilde]a Ana Mountains ACEC (1,427 acres) and the Organ/Franklin 
Mountains ACEC (36,658 acres);
     Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA): Designates the 
Do[ntilde]a Ana Mountains SRMA (5,858 acres) and the Organ Mountains 
SRMA (36,658 acres);
     Soils: provides for protection and active management of 
soils, while limiting soil disturbing activities;
     Vegetative communities: provides for the conservation and 
restoration of reference vegetative communities;
     Wildlife: preserves and restores native habitat, while 
enhancing wildlife corridors and connectivity;
     Visual resources: preserves high value visual resources 
through protective management goals and objectives;
     Livestock grazing: establishes goals and objectives 
developed to ensure appropriate protection of Monument objects, 
preservation of wilderness character, and conservation of natural 
resources and resource values;
     Travel management (Monument): establishes use allocations 
and management goals and objectives limiting motorized vehicle use to 
designated roads and non-motorized mechanized vehicle use to designated 
roads and trails on the Monument, as directed in Presidential 
Proclamation 9131;
     Travel management (wilderness): establishes preservation 
goals and objectives, in accordance with the Wilderness Act, that 
prohibit motorized vehicle use or non-motorized mechanized vehicle use 
in designated wilderness areas; and
     Lands and realty: provides protection of Monument objects,

[[Page 82624]]

preservation of wilderness character, and conservation of natural 
resources, resource values, and wildlife habitat through establishment 
of right-of-way exclusion and avoidance areas across the Monument.

Protest of the Proposed RMP

    The BLM's planning regulations state that any person who 
participated in the preparation of the RMP and has an interest that 
will or might be adversely affected by approval of the Proposed RMP may 
protest its approval to the BLM Director. Protest of the Proposed RMP 
constitutes the final opportunity for administrative review of the 
proposed land use planning decisions prior to the BLM adopting an 
Approved RMP.
    All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate 
address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section earlier or submitted 
electronically through the BLM ePlanning project website, as previously 
described. Protests submitted electronically by any means other than 
the ePlanning project website will be invalid unless a protest is also 
submitted as a hard copy. The BLM Director will render a written 
decision on each protest. The Director's decision shall be the final 
decision of the Department of the Interior. Responses to valid protest 
issues will be compiled and documented in a Protest Resolution Report 
that will be made available following the protest resolution online at: 
https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports. Upon resolution of protests, the BLM will 
issue a Record of Decision and Approved RMP.
    Before including your phone number, email address, or other 
personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware 
that your entire protest--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask the BLM in your protest 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)

Melanie G. Barnes,
BLM New Mexico State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-23428 Filed 10-10-24; 8:45 am]
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