From: Subject: FR Doc E7-16342 Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:07:15 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-16342.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-16342 
[Federal Register: August 20, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 160)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 46512-46513]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au07-94]                        =20

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-520-1430-FM; NMNM 106766]

=20
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Amendment and Associated=20
Environmental Assessment to the Carlsbad Field Office Resource=20
Management Plan, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carlsbad Field Office=20
intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and=20
associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the possible=20
disposal, by either exchange and/or sale, of up to 3,566.88 acres of=20
BLM-administered public land in Eddy and Lea Counties in southeastern=20
New Mexico.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted for 30 days after the date=20
this Notice is published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through any of the=20
following methods:
     Mail: Field Manager, BLM, Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East=20
Greene, Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220.
     Fax: (505) 885-9264.
     Personal delivery to the Carlsbad Field Office: see=20
address above.
    Additional information on the project is also available at the=20
Field Office's above address. The 1988 Carlsbad RMP is also available=20
at the Carlsbad Field Office and posted on the following BLM Web site:=20
=
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html=
&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.nm.blm.gov/cfo/index.htm.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Owen W. Lofton, Realty Specialist,=20
BLM, Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East Greene, Carlsbad, New Mexico,=20
(505) 234-5923.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM is currently considering a proposal=20
from Intrepid Potash, Inc. (formerly Mississippi Potash Inc.), to=20
complete a land exchange and/or sale. Intrepid Potash, Inc. proposes=20
that BLM dispose of public lands around its mine sites in exchange for=20
private lands around the Pecos River. In addition, Intrepid Potash,=20
Inc. proposes to purchase additional BLM lands in order to continue its=20
mining operations and hazardous material mitigation. The public lands=20
proposed for disposal contain mine tailings and other industrial waste.=20
The private lands offered for exchange consist of riparian habitat and=20
native rangeland. The public land proposed for disposal is currently=20
identified for retention in Federal ownership in the 1988 Carlsbad RMP.=20
The RMP must therefore be amended to identify these public lands as=20
suitable for exchange and/or sale. The lands proposed for disposal are=20
described as follows:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 21 S., R. 29 E.,
    sec. 01, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\; 280.00 acres.
    sec. 12, E\1/2\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\; 560.00 acres.
    sec. 13, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\; 120.00 acres.
    sec. 14, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\; 40.00 acres.
T. 20 S., R. 30 E.,
    sec. 04, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\; 120.00 acres.
    sec. 05, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 200.00=20
acres.
    sec. 09, N\1/2\N\1/2\; 160.00 acres.
T. 21 S., R. 31 E.,

[[Page 46513]]

    sec. 03, S\1/2\SW\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
    sec. 04, Lots 1-16, inclusive; 648.96 acres.
    sec. 05, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
    sec. 09, N\1/2\; 320.00 acres.
    sec. 10, NW\1/4\; 160.00 acres.
T., 20 S., R. 32 E.,
    sec. 07, Lot 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 159.43 acres.
    sec. 08, S\1/2\SW\1/4\; 80.00 acres.
    sec. 17, W\1/2\; 320.00 acres.
    sec. 18, Lots 1, 2, 4, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; 238.49=20
acres.
    Total: 3,566.88 acres

    A Notice of Intent (NOI) regarding a similar proposal was=20
originally published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2002. The=20
purpose of this earlier proposal was to provide notice of the BLM's=20
intent to prepare a plan amendment to change the classification of=20
lands previously identified for retention to suitable for disposal=20
solely by exchange. However, a recent appraisal necessitated acreage=20
adjustments to reach equal land values, and consequently, Intrepid=20
Potash, Inc. had to eliminate lands that they would still like to=20
acquire. Without any more lands to offer the BLM for exchange, Intrepid=20
Potash, Inc. has proposed to purchase some BLM lands to continue mining=20
operations and hazardous material mitigation. Therefore, the current=20
proposed amendment is to consider land disposal by either exchange and/
or sale in the plan amendment process.
    Preliminary issues include, but are not limited to: Wildlife and=20
riparian habitat, rangeland resources, recreation, hazardous materials,=20
and cultural resources. In addition to the No Action Alternative=20
(existing management situation), a range of alternatives will be=20
considered that will address a combination of land sale and exchange,=20
as well as mitigation.
    The preliminary land use planning criteria are:
    1. The amendment will be in compliance with FLPMA and applicable=20
laws, regulations, and policies. The land use plan amendment process=20
will be governed by the planning regulations at 43 CFR part 1610 and=20
BLM Land Use Planning Handbook H-1601-1.
    2. The proposed action and alternatives will be analyzed in=20
accordance with NEPA.
    3. Lands affected by the proposed plan amendment include public=20
surface and mineral estate managed by BLM. No decisions will be made=20
relative to non-BLM administered lands or non-federal minerals.
    4. Public participation will be an integral part of the planning=20
process.
    5. The plan amendment will recognize all valid existing rights.
    6. The BLM will work with cooperating agencies and all other=20
interested groups, agencies, and individuals. The amended RMP will be=20
consistent with existing non-Federal plans and policies, provided the=20
decisions in the existing plans are consistent with the purposes,=20
policies, and programs of Federal law and regulations for public lands.
    The RMPA/EA will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team of BLM=20
resource specialists including realty, recreation, cultural, minerals,=20
and hazardous materials specialists. Additional technical support will=20
be provided by other specialists as needed. Before including your=20
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying=20
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire=20
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made=20
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to=20
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we=20
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: July 20, 2007.
Jim Stovall,
Carlsbad Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E7-16342 Filed 8-17-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-OX-P