[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15785-15786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7383]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-060-06-1220-00-P (604)]


Notice of Roads and Campground Closures at Fort Stanton 
Reservation, NM

agency: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Roswell District.

action: Road and campground closures at Fort Stanton Reservation New 
Mexico.

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summary: Pursuant to 43 CFR part 8364 and the Fort Stanton Management 
Framework Plan (MFP) of May 28, 1980, the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) will close a portion of the access road to the Rio Bonito 
Campground starting at the west boundary of Camp Sierra Blanca (Fort 
Stanton, NM) and extending about \9/10\<SUP>9/10 of a mile west into 
public lands administered by the Roswell District, BLM. The BLM will 
close the Rio Bonito Campground to camping and motorized vehicle use. 
The road leading from the campground to the north mesa of Fort Stanton 
Reservation will also be closed to motor vehicle use.

dates: The closure will become effective at the date of publication of 
this notice.

addresses: Information and maps showing the location of the above 
closures will be available at the Bureau of Land Management, Roswell 
District Office, 1717 West 2nd Street, Roswell, NM 88201-2019, 
telephone (505) 627-0272; Roswell Resource Area Office, Federal 
Building, 5th and Richardson, P.O. Drawer 1857, Roswell, NM 88202-1857, 
telephone (505) 627-1790; and the U.S. Forest Service, Lincoln National 
Forest, Smokey Bear Ranger District, 901 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, NM 
88345.

for further information contact: Timothy R. Kreager, Area Manager, 
Roswell Resource Area, P.O. Drawer 1857, Roswell, NM 88202-1857; 
telephone (505) 624-1790.

supplementary information: A three-acre campground will be closed to 
camping and motor vehicle access. Approximately three miles of roads 
will also be closed to motor vehicles. The following describes the 
areas:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

Fort Stanton Reservation

    One section of the road closure is located in unsurveyed and 
protracted portions of T.9S., R.14E., Sec. 34, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Sec. 
35, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\.
    Another section of road closure is located in unsurveyed and 
protracted portions of T.9S., R.14E., Sec. 32, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\; Sec. 
33, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\; T. 10S., R.14E., Sec. 4, W\1/2\.
    The campground is located in unsurveyed and protracted portions 
of T.10S., R.14E., Sec. 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\.
    Camp Sierra Blanca (CSB) a minimum security prison for the State 
of New Mexico, Fort Stanton, NM, has requested the BLM discourage 
public use of a traditional access route through the prison to 
public lands. Traditionally, the road was used for access through 
CSB to the west side of the Fort Stanton Reservation and the Rio 
Bonito Campground. The closure of the road has become necessary for 
prison security and safety of visitors using public lands within 
this portion of the Fort Stanton reservation.
    The campground will be closed due to its loss of access and need 
of a prolonged rest to renew the environment. The campground area 
has received severe damage to soils, mature trees and riparian 
vegetation through use by the visiting public during the past ten 
years. Damage includes soil compaction from vehicles, soil 
sterilization from uncontained fire pits, vegetation trampling and 
tree cutting. An access road leading from the north side of the Rio 
Bonito Campground to the north mesa of Fort Stanton will also be 
closed. The road is poorly constructed and causes severe soil 
erosion. The road is also a safety hazard to the public, due to 
steep grades and slippery conditions when wet.
    Current alternatives in the Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
for the Roswell Resource Area include proposals for additional 
campgrounds within the Fort Stanton Reservation Area. The 
alternatives for campgrounds in the RMP will be environmentally 
suitable, have better access and will serve the public to a greater 
extent. After the final RMP and Record of Decision are issued, a 
Special Management Area (SMA) Plan will be developed to analyze and 
select future campground locations within the Fort Stanton 
Reservation Area.
    Due to the closure of traditional access routes to the 
campground from CSB for [[Page 15786]] security and public safety 
concerns, damage caused by camping pressure and closure of the north 
mesa access road due to environmental damage, the Rio Bonito 
Campground will be closed to camping and vehicle use.

    Dated: March 15, 1995.
Leslie M. Cone,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-7383 Filed 3-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M