| Contacts: | Brad Higdon | , 575.758.8851 |
The BLM Considers a Proposal to Expand the Rocky Mountain Pumice Mine
Taos, NM–The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office invites the public to comment on the Rocky Mountain Mine Pumice Extraction Environmental Assessment (EA), which evaluates a proposal by CR Minerals Company, LLC (CR Minerals) to mine pumice on public lands adjacent to their current operation in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. The draft document is available for public review and comment for 30 days beginning on October 26, 2011.
The proposed project is located about 5.5 miles west of Española along Forest Road 144 and would involve development of pumice on about 380 more acres than are presently being mined on lands owned by CR Minerals. The existing mine has been in operation since the early 1960’s and was purchased by CR Minerals in 1998.
While the project involves the phased migration of mining onto adjacent public lands, the current levels of operation and productivity are not expected to change, except for typical, market-driven fluctuations. The project also includes interim reclamation of mined-out areas not needed for stockpiling. If approved, operation of the mine could potentially be extended for over 30 years.
The EA is available for review online at http://www.blm.gov/nm/taos. Copies are also available for viewing at the Taos Field Office on 226 Cruz Alta Road.
Mail comments to Brad Higdon, BLM Taos Field Office, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571 or by e-mail to bhigdon@blm.gov. For more information, call (575) 758-8851.
(10/25/11)
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. 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.