[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 6383-6384] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-3682] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [NM-018-06-1610-00/G010-D6-0101] Amendment to Notice of Intent To Prepare a Coordinated Resource Management Plan and Amend the Taos Resource Management Plan; Taos Resource Area, New Mexico and San Luis Resource Area, Colorado AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Amended Notice of Intent; request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In the Federal Register on Monday, November 14, 1994 (Vol. 59, No. 218, pp. 56528-29), the following ``Summary'' appeared: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Albuquerque District, Taos Resource Area and Canon City District, San Luis Resource Area are initiating preparation of a Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP) in combination with a Taos Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA). This document will enable coordinated management activities throughout the 94-mile Rio Grande corridor from La Sauses, Colorado to Velarde, New Mexico; address inadequacies of the Taos Resource Management Plan (RMP) relating to the BLM's Supplemental Program Guidance for wildlife and fire; and include an Environmental Impact Statement to meet legislative requirements for the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River extension and study areas. The plan's management strategy will center around conserving, restoring and maintaining the public lands' ecological integrity, productivity and biological diversity, while considering social, economic, cultural and ecological factors. The public is invited to participate in each stage of the planning process, and public meetings will be held. (Note: A schedule of meeting times and places was included in the notice. The meetings have been held as announced.) The aforementioned Notice is amended to state that the Plan will analyze possible changes in the Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) in the Taos Resource Area portion of the planning area. These ACEC modifications may include boundary changes that would increase or decrease acreage, consolidate ACECs, designate new ACECs or eliminate ACECs. The primary areas that may be modified from the decisions in the current Taos RMP are: (1) Guadalupe Mountain, where the ACEC designation may be dropped in favor of managing the area as part of the Wild Rivers Recreation Area; and (2) the portion of the planning area downstream from the community of Pilar, where several ACECs and Special Management Areas (SMAs) exist. Consolidation and/or boundary realignment may provide for more efficient and effective management of identified resources and values. [[Page 6384]] As described at 43 CFR 1610.7-2a, ACECs are areas containing resources, values, systems, processes or hazards that meet ``relevance'' and ``importance'' criteria. Some of the values for which ACEC designation is being considered include scenic, cultural, riparian, aquatic, and rare and endemic plants. The public is invited to nominate or recommend areas for ACEC consideration as well as to comment on possible changes. DATES: The second modification intended by this amendment notice is that the public is invited to submit written comments on possible ACEC nominations or changes through March 21, 1996. Comments should be delivered or mailed to Terry Humphrey at the address below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Humphrey, Taos Resource Area, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571; phone (505) 758-8851. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amended notice does not change any other provision of the original Notice of Intent. Dated: February 7, 1996. Sue E. Richardson, Acting District Manager, Albuquerque District. [FR Doc. 96-3682 Filed 2-16-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P