Notice2024-07106
Notice of Availability for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Resource Management Plan
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Published
April 5, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Director is announcing the availability of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (Monument) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Resource Management Plan (RMP). This notice begins a 90-day public comment period to solicit public comments associated with the Monument RMP land use allocations and resource management goals and objectives, and the environmental analysis developed using best available science to identify potential impacts to objects of scientific and historic interest, as well as natural resources, resource values, and wildlife habitat located on the Monument.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 67 (Friday, April 5, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 67 (Friday, April 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24030-24032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07106]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NM_FRN_MO4500177326]
Notice of Availability for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks
National Monument Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Resource
Management Plan
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, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New
Mexico State Director is announcing the availability of the Organ
Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (Monument) Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) and Resource Management Plan (RMP). This notice
begins a 90-day public comment period to solicit public comments
associated with the Monument RMP land use allocations and resource
management goals and objectives, and the environmental analysis
developed using best available science to identify potential impacts to
objects of scientific and historic interest, as well as natural
resources, resource values, and wildlife habitat located on the
Monument.
DATES: The BLM is encouraging public involvement and input via comment
submissions on the Monument Draft EIS/RMP. The BLM will accept comments
through June 4, 2024.
To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider and respond to public
comment submission for the Monument Draft EIS/RMP, please ensure your
comments are submitted and received prior to the close of the 90-day
comment period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is
later.
ADDRESSES: The public may submit comments on the Draft EIS/RMP to the
BLM by any of the following methods: website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/</a>; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#57353b3a08393a083b343338083a363e3b17353b3a79303821"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="51333d3c0e3f3c0e3d32353e0e3c30383d11333d3c7f363e27">[email protected]</span></a>; or mail: BLM Las Cruces District Office,
Attention: Monument Manager, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM
88005.
Documents and information relevant to the Monument planning effort
may be examined online at <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/510</a> or in-person at the BLM Las Cruces District Office
address mentioned above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick Rich, RMP Team Lead;
telephone: 405-579-7154; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dcacaeb5bfb49cbeb0b1f2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c3c3e252f240c2e2021622b233a">[email protected]</span></a>. Monument Manager,
telephone: 575-525-4358; address: 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, New
Mexico 88005.
Contact Mr. Patrick Rich to add your name to our mailing list.
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
Mr. 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: This document provides notice that the BLM
New Mexico State Director has prepared a Draft EIS/RMP for the Organ
Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, announces the beginning of
the 90-day public comment period for the Monument Draft EIS/RMP, and
seeks public input and comment on the Monument Draft RMP land use
[[Page 24031]]
allocations and resource management goals and objectives identified in
the four land use management alternatives, as well as the environmental
analysis developed in the Draft EIS to identify potential effects
associated with the four land use management alternatives developed for
the Monument Draft RMP. The Monument planning area is in Do[ntilde]a
Ana County, New Mexico, and encompasses approximately 496,591 acres of
BLM-managed public land. The Monument's current management is directed
by the existing 1993 Mimbres RMP, relevant amendments that apply to
this planning area, and interim Monument guidance.
Presidential Proclamation 9131 established the Monument through
identification of 496,591-acres of BLM-managed public lands in
Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico, surrounding the City of Las Cruces;
and directed the BLM to develop an RMP for the Monument. The Draft RMP
provides four management alternatives with associated land use
allocations and resource management goals and objectives for the
protection and preservation of objects of scientific and historic
interest, as well as the conservation of natural resources, resource
values, and wildlife habitat located on the Monument.
Purpose and Need
The BLM's purpose for developing the Monument EIS/RMP is to respond
to: (1) Presidential Proclamation 9131 (79 FR 30431), signed by
President Barack Obama on May 21, 2014, establishing approximately
496,591-acres of Federal lands and interest in lands owned or
controlled by the government of the United States as the Monument; and
(2) the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation
Act (Dingell Act; Pub. L. 116-9), enacted on March 12, 2019,
designating approximately 239,596-acres falling within the established
boundaries of the Monument as wilderness and components of the National
Wilderness Preservation System, in accordance with the Wilderness Act
of 1964 (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). The designated wilderness encompasses
10 BLM-managed public land areas within New Mexico: Aden Lava Flow
Wilderness, Broad Canyon Wilderness, Cinder Cone Wilderness, East
Potrillo Mountains Wilderness, Mount Riley Wilderness, Organ Mountains
Wilderness, Potrillo Mountains Wilderness, Robledo Mountains
Wilderness, Sierra De Las Uvas Wilderness, and Whitehorn Wilderness.
The need to develop the Monument EIS/RMP is found in FLPMA, which
states the BLM shall ``develop, maintain, and, when appropriate, revise
land use plans'' (43 U.S.C. 1712(a)); NEPA of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190);
and the BLM's planning regulations (43 CFR 1610.4-6). The BLM is
preparing an EIS to identify and analyze reasonably foreseeable direct,
indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with the
Monument RMP proposed land use allocations and the resource management
goals and objectives.
Alternatives
The BLM developed and analyzed the potential effects of four
distinct alternatives, demonstrating a reasonable range of
alternatives. These were developed and analyzed by the BLM, as mandated
by NEPA. Alternative A is the No Action alternative, which is required
by Federal law and utilizes existing land use management allocations
and resource management goals and objectives. The No Action alternative
serves as a base point of reference from which the three action
alternatives may be compared and measured for potential effects, both
beneficial and adverse. Three action alternatives (Alternatives B, C,
and D) were developed and analyzed for potential effects. Each
alternative demonstrates a unique means of achieving the purpose and
need through varying land use allocations and resource management goals
and objectives. The following is a brief synopsis of the themes used to
develop each alternative:
<bullet> Alternative A (No Action): Maintains the 1993 Mimbres RMP
land use allocations and resource management goals and objectives.
Incorporates Monument management direction and guidance from
Presidential Proclamation 9131 and the 2019 Dingell Act.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Alternative C (Agency Preferred Alternative): Preserves
objects of scientific and historic interest within the Monument.
Provides an objective approach to land use management, employing
preservation and conservation principles for habitat management,
natural resource management, and resource values. Alternative C employs
targeted preservation goals and objectives, while allowing uses that
promote sustained socioeconomic progression.
<bullet> Alternative D (Recreation and Use-focused): Preserves
objects of scientific and historic interest within the Monument.
Institutes foundational conservation management principles for the
management of habitat, natural resources, and resource values, while
simultaneously providing an enhanced visitor experience that emphasizes
a more diverse array of recreational opportunities. Includes targeted
preservation goals and objectives where appropriate and necessary.
The BLM New Mexico State Director has identified Alternative C as
the agency preferred alternative. Alternative C was determined to be
effective at protecting and preserving Monument objects while balancing
resource uses and meeting the purpose and need. The preferred
alternative includes important conservation and preservation measures
that will protect Monument objects of scientific and historic interest,
as well as other resources and resource values, including:
<bullet> Wilderness areas: Emphasizes preservation of wilderness
character, with allowance for compatible uses;
<bullet> Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC): Designates
two ACECs comprised of 38,085 acres within the Do[ntilde]a Ana
Mountains (1,427 acres) and the Organ Mountains (36,658 acres);
<bullet> Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA): Designates
SRMAs comprised of 45,871 acres within the Do[ntilde]a Ana Mountains
(5,858 acres) and Organ Mountains (36,658 acres). Recreational focus on
camping, equestrian, and pedestrian use;
<bullet> Soils: provides for protection and active management of
soils, while limiting soil disturbing activities;
<bullet> Vegetative communities: provides for the protection,
preservation, and restoration of reference vegetative communities;
<bullet> Wildlife: preserves and restores native habitat, while
enhancing wildlife corridors and connectivity;
<bullet> Visual resources: preserves high value visual resources
through protective management goals and objectives;
<bullet> Livestock grazing: establishes goals and objectives
developed to ensure appropriate preservation and conservation of
Monument objects, natural resources, and resource values, and defers to
a subsequent site-specific evaluation of compatibility of grazing with
the Presidential Proclamation and land health evaluations to make
further adjustments to grazing management guidance and decisions;
[[Page 24032]]
<bullet> Travel management: establishes protective goals and
objectives by limiting off-highway vehicles to designated roads and
mechanized vehicles to designated roads and trails; and
<bullet> Lands and realty: provides resource preservation and
conservation through establishment of right-of-way exclusion and
avoidance areas across the Monument.
Public Involvement Process
The date(s) and location(s) of public meeting(s), in-person or
virtual, will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local
media, social media, and the ePlanning website (<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/510</a>).
The ePlanning website <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/92170/510</a> includes information about the Monument, a BLM
planning process overview, issues identified for planning, and interim
management guidance. The BLM encourages broad public involvement and
the submission of substantive comments on: (1) the issues identified
for analysis; (2) the land use allocations and resource management
goals and objectives associated with the four alternatives; (3) other
relevant information; and (4) the environmental analysis conducted in
the Monument Draft EIS. However, the public may comment on any aspect
of the Monument Draft EIS/RMP.
A substantive comment is one that is based on or uses a rational
and/or science-based approach to critique the information, data, or
methodology employed to develop the Monument Draft EIS/RMP; the
construct of the alternative(s); or the methodology and projected
effects derived from the environmental analysis and utilized to develop
the Monument Draft EIS. All public comments received during the 90-day
public comment period will be accepted, reviewed, and logged into the
administrative record. However, substantive comments submitted to the
BLM during the 90-day public comment period will be accepted, reviewed,
responded to by the BLM, and potentially used for document amendment
through incorporation of comment substance.
Responsible Official
The New Mexico State Director is the deciding official for the
Monument EIS/RMP and the Record of Decision.
Decision To Be Made
The BLM New Mexico State Director will select from the four
alternatives developed and analyzed in the Monument Draft EIS/RMP or a
combination of those alternatives, and the specific land use
allocations and resource management goals and objectives to be employed
for the protection, preservation, restoration, enhancement,
conservation, administration, and management of the objects of
scientific and historic interest, natural resources, resource values,
and wildlife habitat located on Monument lands.
BLM Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM used an interdisciplinary approach to develop the Monument
Draft EIS/RMP through careful consideration of the issues and concerns
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines
were involved in the development and analysis of the Monument Draft
EIS/RMP: botany/vegetation; lands and realty; renewable energy; fire
ecology and management; wilderness characteristics; wildlife and
special status species; public health and safety; geology and minerals;
paleontology; air resources; climate change; water resources;
recreation; transportation; visual resources; rangeland management;
cultural resources; Tribal resources; soils; sociology; and economics.
Additional Information: The BLM interdisciplinary team identified,
analyzed, and considered mitigation to address reasonably foreseeable
impacts associated with land use allocations and resource management
goals and objectives employed to develop the alternatives, in
accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14(e). The BLM interdisciplinary team
included appropriate mitigation measures in the proposed alternatives.
Mitigation includes avoidance, minimization, rectification, reduction,
or elimination over time, and compensation and was considered at
multiple planning scales, including the landscape level.
The BLM interdisciplinary team 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. Information
concerning historic and cultural resources and threatened and
endangered species within the area potentially affected by the draft
plan assisted the BLM interdisciplinary team in identifying and
evaluating potential impacts to those resources.
The BLM engaged in consultation with thirteen federally recognized
Tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive
Order 13175, BLM Manual section 1780, and other Departmental policies.
Tribal concerns, including potential impacts to Indian trust assets and
cultural resources, were given due consideration. Federal, State, and
local agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations and other stakeholders
that demonstrated interest in or could have been impacted by the
Monument RMP, were invited to participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, were invited to participate as a cooperating agency. The
BLM intends to continue government-to-government consultation meetings
and will continue to solicit input and develop opportunities for
meaningful consultation with potentially affected Tribal Nations
throughout the land use planning process.
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 1501.9 and 43 CFR 1610.2)
Melanie G. Barnes,
BLM New Mexico State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-07106 Filed 4-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-23-P
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