89 FR 241 pgs. 101621-101624 - Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Public Meeting, Upper Pecos River Watershed Protection Area Withdrawal, New Mexico

Type: NOTICEVolume: 89Number: 241Pages: 101621 - 101624
Docket number: [NM-106385733]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2024-29674 Filed 12-12-24; 4:15 pm]
Agency: Interior Department
Sub Agency: Land Management Bureau
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version
Pages: 101621, 101622, 101623, 101624

[top] page 101621

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-106385733]

Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Public Meeting, Upper Pecos River Watershed Protection Area Withdrawal, New Mexico

AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed withdrawal.

SUMMARY:

On behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS), the Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 163,483 acres of National Forest System lands and 1,327.16 acres of public lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws, and leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights. The lands would remain open to disposals under the mineral materials laws.

DATES:

Comments must be received by the BLM by March 17, 2025. A public meeting on the proposed withdrawal will be held February 26, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Village of Pecos Conference Room, 92 South Main St., Pecos, NM 87552.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be sent to State Director, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508. Information regarding the proposed withdrawal will be available at the BLM New Mexico State Office and at the Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor's Office, 11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:


[top] Jillian Aragon, Project Manager, BLM New Mexico State Office by email at jgaragon@blm.gov or Julian Madrid, Santa Fe National Forest by email at julian.madrid@usda.gov. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access page 101622 telecommunications relay services for contacting Ms. Aragon. 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:

The withdrawal is proposed for a 20-year term to protect the Upper Pecos River watershed area for its water and air quality, cultural resources, scenic integrity, critical fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational values. This notice segregates the land for 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws, and leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights, and initiates a 90-day public comment period on the proposed withdrawal. The USFS and the BLM will host public meetings to provide information on the withdrawal application, as specified previously (see DATES ).

The BLM and the USFS are jointly seeking this withdrawal. Their petition/application requests the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw the following Federal lands and interests in lands, and all non-Federal lands within the boundaries of the withdrawal application area that are subsequently acquired by the Federal Government, from location and entry under the United States mining laws, and leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights.

National Forest System Lands:

New Mexico Principal Meridian, New Mexico

T. 16 N., R. 11 E.,

Secs. 1 and 2;

Sec. 3;

Sec. 4 lots 3 thru 12 and lot 14, SW 14 NW 14 , NW 14 SW 14 , NE 14 SE 14 , and SW 14 SE 14 ;

Sec. 5 lots 5 thru 7 and lots 10 thru 20;

Sec. 6 lot 23;

Sec. 7 lots 5 and 12;

Sec. 8 lots 1 thru 4, lots 6 thru 10, and lots 15 and 16;

Sec. 9, lots 2 thru 8, W 12 NE 14 , S 12 NW 14 , SW 14 , and E 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 10, lots 3 thru 6, E 12 , E 12 NW 14 , and S 12 SW 14 ;

Secs. 11 thru 13;

Sec. 14, lots 1 and 2, N 12 , W 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Secs. 15 and 16;

Sec. 21, lots 1 thru 3 and lots 6 thru 9;

Sec. 24 N 12 and E 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 25 lots 3 thru 6;

Sec. 26 lot 4;

Sec. 35 lots 1 thru 5, W 12 NE 14 , E 12 NW 14 , NE 14 NE 14 SW 14 , W 12 SE 14 , and Parcel A.

T. 17 N., R. 11 E.,

Secs. 1 thru 3;

Sec. 4, E 12 NE 14 , E 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 8, SE 14 NE 14 and E 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 9, E 12 , NE 14 NW 14 , S 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Secs. 10 thru 16;

Sec. 17, E 12 and SE 14 SW 14 ;

Sec. 20, E 12 and NE 14 SW 14 ;

Secs. 21 thru 24;

Sec. 25, excepting HES 293A and HES 293B;

Secs. 26 thru 28;

Sec. 29, E 12 , NE 14 NW 14 , S 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 30, NE 14 SE 14 ;

Sec. 32, E 12 , E 12 NW 14 , and E 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 33, lots 1 and 2, N 12 , SW 14 , and N 12 SE 14 ;

Secs. 34 thru 36.

T. 18 N., R. 11 E., partially unsurveyed,

All those lands lying southeasterly of the Pecos Wilderness, being the westerly boundary of the Upper Pecos Watershed Withdrawal Application Area, comprised of approximately 4,693 acres.

T. 15 N., R. 12 E.,

Secs. 1 and 2;

Secs. 11 thru 13;

Secs. 23 thru 26;

Secs. 35 and 36.

T. 16 N., R. 12 E.,

Sec. 1, lot 4, SW 14 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 2, lots 1 thru 4, S 12 NE 14 , S 12 NW 14 , SW 14 , and N 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 3, lots 1 and 2, S 12 NE 14 , SE 14 NW 14 , and S 12 ;

Sec. 4, lots 1thru 3, S 12 NE 14 , SE 14 NW 14 , E 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 5, lots 2 thru 4 and lots 6 and 7, S 12 NE 14 , SE 14 NW 14 , S 12 , and NM 3492;

Sec. 6, lots 3 thru 5, E 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 7, lots 1 thru 4, E 12 NE 14 , E 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 8;

Sec. 9, lots 1 thru 3, lots 5 thru 7, lots 8 thru 10, and lots 12 thru 14;

Sec. 10;

Sec. 11, SE 14 NE 14 , N 12 NW 14 , SW 14 NW 14 , NW 14 SW 14 , S 12 SW 14 , NE 14 SE 14 , and S 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 12, W 12 NE 14 , NW 14 , and S 12 ;

Sec. 13, N 12 and SW 14 ;

Sec. 14;

Sec. 15, lots 1 thru 13;

Sec. 16, lots 4 thru 7;

Sec. 17, lots 3 thru 17;

Sec. 18, lot 1, W 12 NE 14 , and NE 14 NW 14 ;

Sec. 19, lot 1, E 12 NE 14 , NE 14 SE 14 , and excepting M.S. 1959;

Sec. 20, lots 5 thru 16;

Sec. 21, lot 5;

Secs. 22 and 23;

Sec. 24, E 12 NE 14 and W 12 ;

Sec. 25, W 12 NW 14 NE 14 , W 12 SW 14 NE 14 , and W 12 ;

Secs. 26 thru 36;

T. 17 N., R. 12 E.,

Sec. 1, lots 9 thru 17, SE 14 NW 14 , and W 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 2, lots 5 thru 9, lots 12 thru 15, and lot 17;

Sec. 3;

Sec. 4, lots 5 thru 8;

Secs. 5 and 6;

Sec. 7, lots 5 thru 10, lot 12, lots 15 thru 18, and Tract 38;

Sec. 8, lots 1 thru 4, SW 14 NE 14 , NW 14 , and NW 14 SW 14 ;

Sec. 9, lots 1 thru 3, lots 5 thru 11, and lot 13;

Sec. 10, lots 1 thru 11;

Sec. 11, lots 1 thru 4;

Sec. 12, lots 1 thru 14;

Sec. 13, lots 1 thru 10;

Sec. 14, lots 1 thru 6;

Sec. 15, lots 1 and 2;

Sec. 16;

Sec. 17 lots 1 thru 12;

Sec. 18, lots 5, 9, 13 and 14, W 12 SW 14 , SE 14 SW 14 , and N 12 SE 14 :

Sec. 19, lots 5 thru 15;

Sec. 20, lots 1 and 4 and Patent No. 058030;

Sec. 21, lots 1 thru 3;

Sec. 22, lots 1 thru 3;

Sec. 23, lots 1 thru 5;

Sec. 24, lots 1 thru 6, E 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 25, NE 14 , NE 14 NW 14 , S 12 NW 14 , and S 12 ;

Sec. 26, lots 1 thru 4, S 12 NE 14 , S 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Secs. 27 and 28;

Sec. 29, lots 1 and 2 and Ser Patent No. 103230;

Secs. 30, lots 5 thru 11;

Sec. 31;

Sec. 32, lots 1 thru 11;

Sec. 33, lots 1 thru 8;

Sec. 34, lots 1 thru 4 and SE 14 ;

Sec. 35, lots 1 thru 3, NE 14 , W 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 36, lots 1 thru 15.

T. 18 N., R. 12 E.,

Sec. 1;

Sec. 2, lots 5 thru 8;

Sec. 3, lots 5 and 6;

Sec. 10, lots 3 and 4, SW 14 NE 14 , W 12 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 11, lots 1 thru 7, E 12 NE 14 , SW 14 SW 14 , E 12 SE 14 , and SW 14 SE 14 ;

Secs. 12 thru 14;

Sec. 15, lots 1 thru 5, E 12 NE 14 , NW 14 NE 14 , and W 12 ;

Sec. 19;

Sec. 20, lot 1, N 12 , SW 14 , N 12 SE 14 , and SE1/SE 14 ;

Sec. 21, lot 1, N 12 , SW 14 , NE 14 SE 14 , and W 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 22, lots 3 thru 12, NW 14 , and SE 14 SE 14 ;

Sec. 23, excepting Tract 42;

Secs. 24 and 25;

Sec. 26, excepting M.S. 1984;

Sec. 27, lots 11 thru 17, E 12 NE 14 excepting M.S. 1984, and E 12 SE 14 excepting M.S.1984;

Sec. 28, lots 4 thru 7, NW 14 NE 14 , and W 12 ;

Sec. 29, lots 1 thru 7, W 12 SE 14 , and W 12 ;

Secs. 30 thru 32;

Sec. 33, lots 1 thru 11, NW 14 , and NW 14 SW 14 ;

Sec. 34, excepting Tract 47;

Sec. 35, excepting Tract 48;

Sec. 36, excepting Tract 48.

T. 19 N., R. 12 E.,

Sec. 25, excepting HES 297A, HES 297B, and Patent No. 910127;


[top] Sec. 26, E 12 , E 12 NW 14 , E 12 NE 14 NW 14 NW 14 , E 12 SE 14 NW 14 NW 14 , E 12 NE 14 SW 14 NW 14 , page 101623 S 12 SW 14 SW 14 NW 14 , NE 14 SE 14 SW 14 NW 14 , S 12 SE 14 SW 14 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 27, W 12 NE 14 , W 12 , and W 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 33;

Sec. 34, NE 14 NW 14 NE 14 , W 12 NW 14 NE 14 , W 12 SW 14 NE 14 , N 12 SE 14 NW 14 NE 14 , W 12 NW 14 SE 14 , and W 12 ;

Sec. 35, lots 1 thru 11 and SE 14 ;

Sec. 36.

T. 15 N., R. 13 E.,

Secs. 1 thru 4;

Sec. 5, lots 1, 8, 9, and lots 13 thru 16 and E 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 6, lots 4 thru 7 and lots 12 thru 14;

Sec. 8, lots 1 and 2, lots 4 thru 7, lots 10 and 13, NW 14 NE 14 , NE 14 NW 14 , and S 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 9, lots 1 thru 4, E 12 , and E 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 10, E 12 , W 12 NW 14 , and W 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 11;

Sec. 12, excepting HES No. 300;

Secs. 13 and 14;

Sec. 15, E 12 NE 14 , W 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 16, E 12 , E 12 NW 14 , and E 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 17, lot 2, SW 14 NE 14 , W 12 , and E 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 18, lots 1 thru 4, S 12 NE 14 , E 12 NW 14 , E 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 19;

Sec. 20, W 12 NE 14 and W 12 ;

Sec. 21, E 12 , E 12 NW 14 , NE 14 SW 14 , and SW 14 SW 14 ;

Sec. 22, W 12 NE 14 , W 12 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 23, E 12 , E 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 24, lots 1 thru 4, NE 14 , W 12 , and NW 14 SE 14 ;

Secs. 25 thru 27;

Sec. 28, E 12 ;

Secs. 29 thru 31;

Sec. 33, lots 1, 4 and 5 and E 12 NE 14 ;

Sec. 34, lot 1, E 12 , NW 14 , E 12 SW 14 , and NW 14 SW 14 ;

Secs. 35 and 36.

T. 16 N., R.13 E.,

Sec. 1;

Sec. 2, lots 5 thru 12, SE 14 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 3, lots 1 and 2, S 12 NE 14 , SE 14 NW 14 , E 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 4, lots 1 thru 4;

Sec. 5, lots 1 and 4, SW 14 NW 14 , and NW 14 SW 14 ;

Sec. 6, lots 1 thru 5, S 12 NE 14 , SE 14 NW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 10, lots 1 thru 4, NE 14 , and E 12 NW 14 ;

Secs. 11 and 12;

Sec. 13, N 12 and SW 14 ;

Sec. 14;

Sec. 15, E 12 ;

Sec. 16, S 12 ;

Sec. 17, SW 14 ;

Sec. 18, lots 1 and 2, W 12 NE 14 NW 14 , W 12 SE 14 NW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 19, excepting Patent No. 1078570;

Sec. 20, NE 14 , W 12 , N 12 SE 14 , and SW 14 SE 14 ;

Sec. 21, W 12 and SE 14 ;

Secs. 22 thru 25;

Sec. 26, lots 1 and 2, N 12 NE 14 , SE 14 NE 14 , N 12 NW 14 , SW 14 NW 14 , W 12 SW 14 , and N 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 27;

Sec. 28, NW 14 NE 14 , E 12 NW 14 , E 12 SW 14 , and E 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 29, W 12 NE 14 , W 12 , and NW 14 SE 14 ;

Sec. 30, lots 1 and 4, E 12 , NE 14 NW 14 , and SE 14 SW 14 ;

Sec. 31, lots 3 and 7;

Sec. 32, lots 3 thru 8, NW 14 , and N 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 33;

Sec. 34, excepting Patent No. 479146;

Secs. 35 and 36.

T. 17 N., R. 13 E.,

Sec. 3, lots 2 thru 4, SW 14 NE 14 , S 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Secs. 4 thru 6;

Sec. 7, lots 5 thru 20 and NE 14 ;

Sec. 8, lots 1 and 2, N 12 , E 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 9;

Sec. 10, S 12 NE 14 , NW 14 NE 14 , W 12 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 11, S 12 NW 14 and SW 14 ;

Sec. 13, W 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 14, W 12 NE 14 , SE 14 NE 14 , W 12 excepting HES 327, and SE 14 ;

Sec. 15, excepting HES 327;

Secs. 16 and 17;

Sec. 18, lots 5 thru 17, NE 14 NE 14 , S 12 NE 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 19, lots 5 thru 19, W 12 NE 14 , W 12 SE 14 , and SE 14 SE 14 ;

Sec. 20, lots 1 thru 7, E 12 NE 14 , NE 14 SW 14 , S 12 SW 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 21;

Sec. 22, NE 14 excepting HES 327, W 12 , and SE 14 excepting Tract 42;

Sec. 23, lots 1 thru 6, N 12 NE 14 , SE 14 NE 14 , N 12 NW 14 , SW 14 NW 14 , NE 14 SE 14 , and S 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 24, NW 14 NW 14 , S 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 25, W 12 NE 14 , W 12 , W 12 SE 14 , and W 12 SE 14 SE 14 ;

Sec. 26, lots 1 thru 4, E 12 , SE 14 NW 14 , and E 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 27, lots 1 thru 7, W 12 NW 14 , SW 14 , and W 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 28;

Sec. 29, N 12 , E 12 NW 14 SW 14 , E 12 SE 14 , E 12 NW 14 SW 14 SE 14 , NW 14 NW 14 SE 14 ,

E 12 SW 14 NW 14 SE 14 , NW 14 SW 14 NW 14 SE 14 , and E 12 SW 14 SE 14 ;

Secs. 30 and 31;

Sec. 32, E 12 NE 14 , E 12 NW 14 NE 14 , NE 14 NW 14 SW 14 NE 14 , S 12 NW 14 SW 14 NE 14 , SW 14 SW 14 NE 14 , E 12 SE 14 NE 14 , and S 12 ;

Sec. 33;

Sec. 34, excepting Tract 46;

Sec. 35, lots 1 thru 6, N 12 , NE 14 SW 14 , and S 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 36.

T. 18 N., R. 13 E., partially unsurveyed,

Sec. 17;

PB 43, all those lands lying south of Pecos Wilderness;

PB 44;

Sec. 20;

Sec. 21, E 12 , NE 14 NW 14 , S 12 NW 14 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Sec. 22, W 12 ;

Sec. 27, NW 14 and S 12 ;

Secs. 28 and 29

PB 44 thru 52.

T. 14 N., R. 14 E.,

Sec. 1, lot 2, SW 14 NE 14 , S 12 SE 14 NE 14 , W 12 , and SE 14 ;

Secs. 2 thru 4;

Sec. 5, lots 1 thru 4, SE 14 NE 14 , SE 14 NW 14 , SE 14 SW 14 , and NE 14 SE 14 ;

Sec. 12, NE 14 , W 12 , W 12 NE 14 SE 14 , W 12 SE 14 , and W 12 SE 14 SE 14 .

T. 15 N., R. 14 E.,

Sec. 6, lots 1 thru 15 and SE 14 ;

Sec. 7, lots 1 thru 9, NE 14 , SE 14 SW 14 , and N 12 SE 14 ;

Sec. 18;

Sec. 19, lots 1 thru 4, E 12 , E 12 NW 14 , and E 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 22;

Sec. 23, SW 14 NW 14 and SW 14 ;

Sec. 36, S 12 NW 14 SW 14 , SW 14 SW 14 , W 12 SE 14 SW 14 , and W 12 SE 14 SE 14 SW 14 .

T. 15 N., R. 14 E., partially unsurveyed,

All those lands lying west of El Barro Peak ridge, being the easterly boundary of the Upper Pecos Watershed Withdrawal Application Area, comprising approximately 11,529 acres.

T. 16 N., R. 14 E.,

Sec. 6, lots 4 thru 6 and SE 14 NW 14 ;

Sec. 7, lots 2 thru 4;

Sec. 18, lots 1 thru 4 and E 12 SW 14 ;

Sec. 19;

Sec. 20, W 12 ;

Sec. 29, lots 2 thru 4, lots 7 and 8, N 12 NW 14 , and SW 14 ;

Secs. 30 and 31;

Sec. 32, W 12 and SE 14 ;

Sec. 33, S 12 .

T. 14 N., R. 15 E.,

Sec. 6, W 12 NW 14 SW 14 and SW 14 SW 14 ;

Sec. 7, W 12 NE 14 NW 14 , NW 14 NW 14 , and W 12 SW 14 NW 14 .

The areas described aggregate 163,483 acres.

Bureau of Land Management:

New Mexico Principal Meridian, New Mexico

T. 14 N., R. 13 E.,

Sec. 1, lots 1 and 2, S 12 NE 14 , and SE 14 ;

Sec. 3, lots 1 thru 10 and SE 14 NE 14 ;

Sec. 4, lots 1, 6, and 7;

Sec. 12, lots 1, 2, and 4 and SE 14 NE 14 ;

Sec. 13, lots 1 and 2;

Sec. 23, S 12 NW 14 .

T. 14 N., R. 14 E.,

Sec. 7, lots 1 thru 4, E 12 NW 14 , and E 12 SW 14 .

The areas described aggregate 1,327.16 acres, according to the official plats of the surveys of the said lands, on file with the BLM.

The total acreage for the proposed withdrawal is 164,810.16 acres.

A Secretarial Officer has approved the BLM's petition to file the withdrawal application. This approval constitutes the Department's proposal to withdraw the subject lands. The USFS has consented to proposing the withdrawal of lands under its administrative jurisdiction (43 CFR 2310.1-3(e)) and has joined the BLM as withdrawal applicant.


[top] The use of a right-of-way, interagency agreement, or cooperative agreement, or surface management under 43 CFR part 3800, subpart 3809 regulations would not adequately constrain non-discretionary uses and would not provide adequate protection of cultural, recreational, and biological resources, page 101624 nor the financial investments in public campgrounds and other improvements on these lands.

There are no suitable alternative sites, as the described lands contain resource values that need protection.

Water rights will not be needed to fulfill the purpose of the proposed withdrawal.

For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal may present their views in writing to the BLM New Mexico State Director at the address listed above (see ADDRESSES ).

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. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives of officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their entirety.

For a period until December 16, 2026, subject to valid existing rights, the lands and mineral interests in this notice will be segregated from location and entry under the United States mining laws, and leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights unless the proposal is canceled, or the withdrawal is approved prior to that date.

Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements, or discretionary land use authorizations of a temporary nature may be allowed with the approval of the authorized officers of the USDA Forest Service or the BLM during the segregation period.

This proposed withdrawal will be processed in accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300.

(Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1714).

Melanie G. Barnes,

BLM New Mexico State Director.

[FR Doc. 2024-29674 Filed 12-12-24; 4:15 pm]

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