Bureau of Land Management December 19, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable approximately 80.24 acres of public land in Dona Ana County, New Mexico for classification for lease or subsequent conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended (44 Stat. 741, as amended; 43 U.S. C. 869 et seq.) and Section 212 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA of 1976, as amended). Las Cruces Public Schools propose to use the land for a K-5 elementary school and a 6-8 grade middle school and playgrounds.

This order revokes a Public Land Order, as modified, insofar as it affects approximately 63 acres of land withdrawn from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining laws for the protection of the Gilmore Satellite Tracking Station at Gilmore Creek northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The land is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was withdrawn.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Little Snake Field Office, Colorado, announces its intent to prepare additional air quality information. On February 9, 2007, the BLM published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register (Vol. 72, No. 27, pages 6284-6285) announcing the release of the Draft EIS for public review and comment. The 90-day comment period closed May 16, 2007. During the public comment period, the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with BLM, identified areas where additional air quality information would improve the existing analysis in the Draft EIS. As a result, the BLM is preparing an additional air quality analysis. When the additional air quality analysis has been completed, the BLM will present the information for public review and comment. At that time, BLM will only accept comments from the public pertaining to the new air quality information.

The Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approximately 944,343 acres of public lands from settlement, sale, location, entry, or patent under the United States mining laws for a period of 20 years for the protection of desert tortoise habitat, archaeological and cultural resources, and special wildlife and riparian values on 24 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in accordance with Sec. 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of October 21, 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714 (2000). In accordance with 43 CFR 2310.3-1(b), (2)(v), this notice announces public meetings on the proposed withdrawal.