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[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16158-16159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7645]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-010-1610-00]

Intent To Prepare a Rio Puerco Resource Area Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for El 
Malpais National Conservation Area (NCA) and Chain of Craters 
Wilderness Study Unit (WSU); Albuquerque District, NM

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a RMP amendment/EIS and invitation 
to participate in developing a management plan for the El Malpais NCA 
including recommendation on the wilderness suitability of the Chain of 
Craters WSU.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management, Albuquerque District is 
initiating the preparation of the El Malpais NCA management plan and 
EIS. This action will amend the Rio Puerco RMP. It will include a 
recommendation on the wilderness suitability of the Chain of Craters 
WSU and may consider establishment of Areas of Critical Environmental 
Concern. Proposed planning criteria and dates of public scoping 
meetings are also included herein.

DATES: Written comments regarding issues to be addressed in developing 
the draft El Malpais Plan must be submitted on or before May 19, 1995. 
In addition to written comments, two public scoping meetings will be 
held in April (see below.)

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the El Malpais Planning Team, 
BLM, Albuquerque District, 435 Montano NE., Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kent Hamilton at 505-761-8746 or Patty McLean at 505-761-8728, at 435 
Montano NE., Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935.

PUBLIC MEETINGS: The public is invited to attend two public meetings to 
identify issues to be considered in the draft El Malpais Plan and Chain 
of Craters wilderness suitability analysis. The meetings will be held 
at the following times and locations:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date/time                             Location             
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April 25, 1995.....................  National Guard Armory.             
7 p.m.-10 p.m......................  2001 East Santa Fe Avenue, Grants, 
                                      NM.                               
April 27, 1995.....................  Amberley Suite Hotel.              
7 p.m.-10 p.m......................  7620 Pan American Freeway NE.,     
                                      Albuquerque, NM.                  
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The El Malpais NCA, near Grants, New Mexico 
was established by Public Law 100-225 on December 31, 1987. The NCA 
encompasses 262,600 acres. The Chain of Craters WSU, established 
through the same legislation, totals 18,300 acres and is included 
within the NCA. Between 1988 and 1991, BLM developed a General 
Management Plan (GMP) for the El Malpais NCA. BLM considered the GMP an 
``activity plan'' and completed an environmental assessment, rather 
than a formal RMP amendment and EIS. The GMP was appealed to the 
Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) by the New Mexico Wilderness 
Coalition on the grounds that the plan required an EIS and in 1994 IBLA 
decided in favor of the appellants and directed BLM to prepare an RMP 
amendment. The proposed El Malpais Plan and EIS will direct the 
management of the NCA for the next ten to twenty years and will address 
all requirements of PL 100-225 and the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act, including a suitability analysis and recommendation for 
the Chain of Craters Wilderness Study Area. The planning area will 
include all lands within or contiguous to the NCA boundary, including 
lands acquired since the NCA was established.
    The El Malpais plan will be developed by an interdisciplinary team 
representing Archeology, Range, Outdoor Recreation, Interpretation and 
Wildlife Biology. Additional technical support will be provided by 
other Technical Specialists as needed.

Anticipated Planning Issues

    Suggested issues to be addressed in the plan include the following: 
American Indian Issues; Boundary Adjustments; Cultural Resources; 
Desired Plant Communities; Facility Development; Interpretation and 
Public Education; Natural Resources; Range Management; Recreation; 
Transportation (including ORV designation); Wilderness (WSA and 
designated wilderness areas); and Wildlife Habitat.

Planning Criteria

    Proposed planning criteria for development of the El Malpais Plan 
are listed below. Public comment is invited. Planning criteria may be 
changed as planning proceeds based on public suggestions and the 
findings of various studies and assessments.
    1. Actions must comply with laws, executive orders, and 
regulations.
    2. In each planned action, resource outputs must be reasonable and 
achievable.
    3. Planned actions will sustain the productivity and diversity of 
natural systems in the NCA.
    4. The plan will be developed using the best available scientific 
information as the cornerstone for resource allocations and other land 
management decisions in the NCA. The plan will incorporate the work 
done for the GMP published in 1991 as well as new information attained 
since establishment of the NCA.
    5. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to land 
management.
    6. The BLM will base planning and management on long-term horizons 
and goals.
    7. To the extent possible, this plan will be consistent with the 
lands and policies of tribes, other federal agencies, and state and 
local governments.
    8. Consideration will be given to designating special 
administrative management areas within the planning area, such as Areas 
of Critical Environmental Concern and Research Natural Areas.
    9. Planned actions will contribute to or sustain the health of the 
land. Monitoring and inventory information will be used to assess the 
effect of management actions.

Public Participation

    Public participation activities during the planning process will 
include consultation with affected users and [[Page 16159]] other 
agencies, meetings with interested groups and individuals, mail outs, 
media notices, Federal Register notices, public meetings, and 
distribution of the Plan and EIS for comments.
    Complete records of the planning process will be available for 
public review at the Albuquerque District at the address above.

    Dated: March 20, 1995.
Michael R. Ford,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-7645 Filed 3-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M
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