| Contacts: | Howard Parman | , 575-627-0212 |
BLM Begins Development of a Management Plan for Ft. Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area
-Agency Seeks Public Input-
Roswell, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management has begun a public scoping process to solicit comments and identify issues to be considered as it prepares a Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Fort Stanton - Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA). The NCA, located in Lincoln County, New Mexico, was created to protect, conserve, and enhance the unique and nationally important historic, cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural and educational subterranean cave resources of the Fort Stanton-Snowy River cave system.
The NCA was established on March 30, 2009, when the President signed into law the Omnibus Land Management Act (Act). The Act directs the BLM to develop a management plan for the NCA within 2 years of the enactment. The plan will be comprehensive in nature and will incorporate both cave and surface resource management goals and objectives.
The Roswell Field Office initiated this planning process with a formal announcement opening the 30-day public comment period published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2010.
Public participation is an important part of the planning process. Two scoping meetings have been scheduled where information about the NCA will be available, questions will be answered, and issues and concerns can be identified:
• April 5, 2010 - Ruidoso Convention Center, 5 - 7 p.m.
• April 8, 2010 - Capitan Public Library, 5 - 7 p.m.
Documents related to this proposal may be examined at the Roswell Field Office or on the web at www.blm.gov/nm.
Comments on issues and planning criteria related to the RMPA/EA for the Fort Stanton - Snowy River Cave NCA can be submitted to the BLM by email at nmrfo_comments@blm.gov; fax 575-627-0276; or by mail to Roswell Field Office, 2909 W. 2nd St., Roswell, NM 8820.
For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Howard Parman, Planning Team Leader; Roswell Field Office, 2909 W. 2nd St., Roswell, NM 88201; telephone - 575-627-0212; or by email at howard_parman@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.