Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area Resource Management Plan Amendment Approved
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roswell Field Office is announcing that the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA) Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment has been approved by the BLM New Mexico State Director. The decision has been made to approve the Proposed RMP Amendment and to select Alternative A (Preferred) as presented in the Proposed Environmental Assessment (EA).
The NCA was designated in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, in order to conserve, protect, and enhance the area’s “historic, cultural, scientific, archaeological, natural, and educational subterranean cave resources.” Congress mandated that the BLM develop a comprehensive plan to manage the NCA. Therefore, the BLM prepared an RMP Amendment to the 1997 Roswell RMP, and prepared an EA for the plan in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
The Proposed RMP Amendment was circulated for a 30-day protest period, which began August 23, 2013, and ended September 22, 2013. No protest letters were received.
The Decision Record, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Final (Approved) EA are available for review on the Roswell Field Office website at: http://www.blm.gov/nm/roswell. Hard copies are available at the Roswell Field Office, 2909 West Second Street, Roswell, NM 88201.
For questions about the NCA, please contact Glen Garnand, at (575) 627-0209.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.