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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 45679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22873]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-018-1430-01; NMNM 93823]

Public Land Order No. 7281; Withdrawal of Public Lands for the 
Embudo Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern; New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public Land Order.

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SUMMARY: This order withdraws 2,057.67 acres of public lands from 
surface entry and mining for a period of 50 years for the Bureau of 
Land Management to protect the riparian, scenic, and recreational 
values of the Embudo Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The 
lands have been and will remain open to mineral leasing. An additional 
880 acres of non-Federal lands, if acquired by the United States, would 
become subject to the withdrawal.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 28, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lora Yonemoto, BLM Taos Resource Area, 
226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, New Mexico 87571, 505-758-8851.
    By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior 
by Section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 
43 U.S.C. 1714 (1994), it is ordered as follows:
    1. Subject to valid existing rights, the following described public 
lands are hereby withdrawn from settlement, sale, location, or entry 
under the general land laws, including the United States mining laws 
(30 U.S.C. Ch. 2 (1994)), but not from leasing under the mineral 
leasing laws, to protect the Bureau of Land Management's Embudo Canyon 
Area of Critical Environmental Concern:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 22 N., R. 10 E.,
    Sec. 1, NE\1/4\.
T. 22 N., R. 11 E.,
    Sec. 5, lots 2 to 4, inclusive, NW\1/4\, and N\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 6, N\1/2\.
T. 23 N., R. 11 E.,
    Sec. 27, lots 7 and 8, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, S\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 29, S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 33, N\1/2\ and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, lot 5 and NW\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 2,057.67 acres in Taos and Rio 
Arriba Counties.

    2. The following described non-Federal lands are located within the 
boundary of the Embudo Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern. 
In the event these lands return to public ownership, they would be 
subject to the terms and conditions of this withdrawal:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 23 N., R. 10 E.,
    Sec. 36, S\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\.
T. 23 N., R. 11 E.,
    Sec. 32.

    The areas described aggregate 880 acres in Taos and Rio Arriba 
Counties.

    3. The withdrawal made by this order does not alter the 
applicability of those public land laws governing the use of the lands 
under lease, license, or permit, or governing the disposal of their 
mineral or vegetative resources other than under the mining laws.
    4. This withdrawal will expire 50 years from the effective date of 
this order unless, as a result of a review conducted before the 
expiration date pursuant to Section 204(f) of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f) (1994), the Secretary 
determines that the withdrawal shall be extended.

    Dated: August 12, 1997.
Bob Armstrong,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 97-22873 Filed 8-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
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