Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA)
04/01/2016 to 06/30/2016
Cibola National Forest
This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Project Name
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Cibola National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
Cibola National Forest
Mountain Ranger Districts
Revised Land and Resource
Management Plan
- Land management planning
EIS
*UPDATED*
In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register
07/17/2015
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal
Register 04/2017
Project Contact
Expected:06/2018
07/2018
Champe Green
505-346-3889
champegreen@fs.fed.u
s
Description: Revision of the 1985 Cibola National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan to develop specific direction for
the Sandia, Mountainair, Mount Taylor, and Magdalena Ranger Districts.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=46268
Location:
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District, Magdalena Ranger District, Sandia Ranger District, Mountainair Ranger
District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Lincoln, McKinley, Sandoval, Sierra,
Socorro, Torrance, Valencia. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Sandia Ranger District is located directly east of
Albuquerque; Mountainair RD is located 40-60 miles SE of Abq; Mt Taylor RD is 70 miles west of Abq; Magdalena
is 80 miles SW of Abq.
Richard Graves
Mountainair and Sandia Ranger - Watershed management
Cancelled
N/A
N/A
Districts Road
505-346-3846
Decommissioning
rlgraves@fs.fed.us
Description: A proposal to decommission 90 miles of roads/routes to reduce erosion, soil compaction and sedimentation, which
EA
would result in enhancing water quality and wildlife habitat.
*UPDATED*
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38071
Location:
USAF Training Area
- Special use management
EA
*UPDATED*
In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice
07/21/2013
Expected:12/2016
01/2017
Cheryl Prewitt
505-346-3820
cprewitt@fs.fed.us
Description: Military training area permit on Mountainair, Mount Taylor, Magdalena, and Sandia Ranger Districts
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=5375
Location:
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District, Mountainair Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo,
Torrance. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Upper Tijeras watershed on Sandia RD and Tajique watershed on
Mountainair RD.
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District, Magdalena Ranger District, Sandia Ranger District, Mountainair Ranger
District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo, Cibola, Socorro, Torrance. LEGAL - Specific areas on
each district. Mountainair, Magdalena, and Sandia Ranger Districts.
Page
1 of 9
Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
District)
Project Purpose
EA
*UPDATED*
Mills Restoration & Fuelwood
Project
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2016
Expected:06/2016
07/2016
Michael Smith
575-374-9652
michaelssmith@fs.fed.u
s
UNIT - Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Harding. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. Mills Rim Campground, 11 miles northwest of Roy, NM.
- Watershed management
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 05/2016
Expected:06/2016
07/2016
Benjamin Coble
575-374-9652
blcoble@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to restore 1 playa basin by filling in pits which were dug in the 1970%u2019s. The spoil piles which
remain from the original pitting will be placed back in the original borrow pits.
Location:
Cibola National Forest
R3 - Southwestern Region
Description: Proposal to cut pinyon and juniper trees, followed by prescribe burning on about 530 acres near the Mills Rim
Campground.
CE
*NEW LISTING*
Project Contact
UNIT - Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Harding. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. Kiowa National Grassland, Unit K-84, K-87, and K-91 East about 8 miles northwest of Roy, NM.
- Forest products
- Vegetation management
(other than forest products)
Location:
RB-38 Playa Restoration
Expected
Implementation
Michael Smith
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
Cancelled
N/A
N/A
928-443-8014
- Vegetation management
michaelasmith@fs.fed.u
(other than forest products)
s
- Watershed management
Description: Mechanically cut juniper and conduct a prescribed burn to treat encroaching juniper and pinyon pine in the
woodland ecosystem adjacent to the Canadian River canyon.
Location:
*NEW LISTING*
Decision
Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands (excluding Projects occurring in more than one
K-84, K-87, K-91E Woodland
Prescribed Burn and Thinning
Projects
CE
Planning Status
UNIT - Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. STATE - Texas. COUNTY - Dallam. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. The playa is located about 22 miles southeast of Texline, Tx.
Magdalena Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Page
2 of 9
R3 - Southwestern Region
Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Magdalena Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Baldy Allotment Grazing
Authorization
- Grazing management
EA
*UPDATED*
In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/25/2011
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 07/2016
Expected:11/2016
Project Contact
12/2016
Dennis Aldridge
505-854-2281
daldridge@fs.fed.us
Description: Livestock grazing authorization and related management activities.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37209
Location:
Chavez/Whitecap 2nd Entry
Prescribe Burn
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Socorro. LEGAL - T3S, R3W, S. 14-17,
19-36 and T4S, R3W, S.1-23, 25-35. 10 miles southeast of Magdalena, NM.
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Fuels management
Cancelled
N/A
N/A
CE
*UPDATED*
Description: Proposal to prescribe burn previously treated area using higher intensity fire treatments.
Location:
Durfee/Bolander Restoration
Project
EA
*UPDATED*
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron, Socorro. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. .
Dennis Aldridge
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected:09/2016
10/2016
505-854-2281
- Vegetation management
Scoping Start 10/27/2009
daldridge@fs.fed.us
(other than forest products)
Est. Comment Period Public
- Watershed management
Notice 06/2016
Description: Project on approximately 14,000 acres to restore more natural vegetative conditions and reintroduce fire into fire
adapted ecosystem. Thin dense stands with hand and mechanical tools, construct small watershed structures, and
prescribe burn.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=29486
Location:
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
Manuel Martinez
505-287-4924
mrmartinez@fs.fed.us
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Socorro. LEGAL - T4S, R6W, Secs.
18,19, T4S, R7W, Secs. 8-11, 13-30, 32-36, T5S, R7W, Secs. 1-4, 10-12, T4S, R8W, Secs. 23-26.
Approximately 20 miles southwest of Magdalena in northwest portion of San Mateo Mountains.
Page
3 of 9
Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Magdalena Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Mineral Withdrawal of Zuni
Fleabane Habitat
- Minerals and Geology
EA
*UPDATED*
In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/10/2012
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 05/2016
Expected:10/2016
Project Contact
11/2016
Zachary Parsons
505-346-3818
zparsons@fs.fed.us
Description: Withdraw from mineral entry about 1,000 acres of habitat in 4 areas to facilitate recovery of the federally
threatened Zuni fleabane (Erigeron rhizomatous).
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37526
Location:
Cibola National Forest
Black Mesa Thinning and
Prescribe Burning
CE
*UPDATED*
Consuelo Zamora
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected:05/2016
06/2016
505-287-8833
- Vegetation management
Scoping Start 03/13/2013
czamora@fs.fed.us
(other than forest products)
Description: Proposal to improve wildlife habitat within 40,000 acres of ponderosa pine, mountain meadow, and pinyon-juniper
forest communities through thinning and prescribe burning.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=40796
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - McKinley, Sandoval. LEGAL - T15N,
R5W, sects. 20-36; T15N, R4W, sects. 19, 20, 31, & 32; T14N, R4W, sect. 6. About 35 miles northeast of Grants,
NM.
- Minerals and Geology
Cancelled
CE
*UPDATED*
N/A
N/A
Alvin Whitehair
505-287-8833
awhitehair@fs.fed.us
Description: Mineral exploration consisting of drilling up to 2 drill holes from 2 drill pads (75 ft. X 150 ft.); accessing sites by
existing roads and overland travel.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37787
Location:
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
R3 - Southwestern Region
Mount Taylor Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Location:
Eric #1 Project
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron. LEGAL - T1N, R11W, portions
of sections 4, 9 and 10; T2N, R11W, portion of section 36; T1N, R10W, portions of sections 3 and 4. 4 areas in the
Datil Mountains and Sawtooth Mountains.
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Cibola. LEGAL - T12N, R9W, section
10. North of Grants, NM off of Forest Road 450F.
Page
4 of 9
Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Mount Taylor Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Laramide Resources Mine
Development - La Jara Mesa
- Minerals and Geology
Cancelled
N/A
N/A
EIS
*UPDATED*
Diane Tafoya
505-346-3809
dtafoya@fs.fed.us
Description: Laramide Resourcess proposes to tunnel two inclined adits from under the west edge of La Jara Mesa to remove
40,000 tons of uranium ore for testing and to begin development of a production mine.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=25654
Location:
Roca Honda LLC Project Exploration and Mine
Development
Project Contact
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Cibola. LEGAL - T12N, R9W,
Sections 11, 12, 14, and 15. La Jara Mesa north of Grants, NM.
- Minerals and Geology
EIS
*UPDATED*
In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register
03/15/2013
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal
Register 01/2017
Expected:06/2017
07/2017
Diane Tafoya
505-346-3809
dtafoya@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to develop and conduct underground uranium mining operations on Roca Honda Resources LLC mining
claims on and near Jesus Mesa with a surface disturbance area of 183 acres.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=18431
Location:
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - McKinley. LEGAL - T. 13N., R 8W.,
Sections 9 and 10. Approximately 3 miles northwest of San Mateo, New Mexico.
Stinking Springs Allotment Well - Grazing management
CE
In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/17/2015
*UPDATED*
Expected:04/2016
09/2016
Virginia Yazzie Ashley
505-287-8833
vyazzieashley@fs.fed.u
s
Description: Proposal to drill new well, which would include the construction of a well pad, and installation of a storage tank,
drinker, and pipelines to tie the new well to 3 existing drinkers.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=46420
Location:
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - McKinley. LEGAL - T13N, R17W,
section 13. The Stinking Springs Grazing Allotment is located about 20 miles southeast of Gallup, New Mexico.
Page
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Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Mount Taylor Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Telecommunications Site
Improvements
- Special use management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/03/2016
Expected:05/2016
06/2016
CE
Location:
Uranium Exploration Drilling
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Cibola. LEGAL - Not Applicable. 14 &
12 miles northeast of Grants, NM.
- Minerals and Geology
Cancelled
N/A
EIS
*UPDATED*
Zuni Mountain Trails Project
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
Diane Tafoya
505-346-3809
dtafoya@fs.fed.us
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Cibola, McKinley. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. Several locations including San Mateo Mesa and La Jara Mesa northeast of Grants, NM.
Alvin Whitehair
- Recreation management
In Progress:
Expected:11/2016
12/2016
505-287-8833
- Watershed management
Comment Period Public Notice
awhitehair@fs.fed.us
- Road management
06/30/2015
Description: Closure and decomissioning of eoads within the Zuni Mountains using various methods. Designation of mountain
bike and hiking trails in the Zuni Mountains.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=40355
Location:
Cibola National Forest
N/A
Description: Proposal to approve multiple Plans of Operations for exploratory drilling to determine the extent of uranium
deposits in several areas on the mesas surrounding Mt. Taylor.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=33948
Location:
*UPDATED*
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. proposes to install a concrete slab and replace their communication
building on La Mosca Peak. El Paso Natural Gas Co. proposes to install a concrete slab and replace their
generator on Microwave Ridge.
*NEW LISTING*
EA
Project Contact
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Cibola, McKinley. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. Several locations within the Zuni Mountains portion of the Mt. Taylor Ranger District.
Mountainair Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Page
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R3 - Southwestern Region
Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Mountainair Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
BNSF Telecommunication Site
Renewal
- Special use management
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2016
Expected:05/2016
06/2016
CE
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to issue a new authorization to BNSF for their telecommunication site on Capilla Peak.
*NEW LISTING*
Location:
Cibola National Forest
Project Contact
UNIT - Mountainair Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Valencia. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The
project is located about 5 miles northwest of Manzano, NM.
R3 - Southwestern Region
Sandia Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Elke Schuster
505-281-3304 Ext. 110
eschuster@fs.fed.us
Amendment to Three Existing
Priority Use Climbing Outfitter
Guide Special Use Permits.
- Recreation management
- Special use management
CE
Description: Proposal to amend three existing priority use climbing outfitter guide special use permits to include additional
locations on the Magdalena and Mountainair Ranger Districts.
*UPDATED*
Location:
American Tower Fiber Optic
Line
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 05/2016
- Special use management
Completed
Actual: 01/08/2016
01/2016
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to amend American Tower Corp. special use authorization to allow the installation of 90 feet of
underground fiber optics cable at communications site on Cedro Peak to provide better communications to the
surrounding area.
Location:
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
07/2016
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron, Valencia. LEGAL - Not Applicable.
Enchanted Tower in the Datil Mountains of the Magdalena Ranger District; Trigo Canyon and JFK Campground
areas in the Manzano Mountains of the Mountainair Ranger District.
CE
*UPDATED*
Expected:06/2016
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo. LEGAL - T10N, R5E, section 36,
NE 1/4. 2 miles southeast of Tijeras, NM.
Page
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Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Sandia Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Cedro Landscape Restoration
Project
EA
*UPDATED*
Aaron Johnson
- Vegetation management
In Progress:
Expected:07/2016
08/2016
505-281-3304 ext. 127
(other than forest products)
Comment Period Public Notice
aaronjohnson@fs.fed.u
- Fuels management
03/12/2016
s
- Watershed management
Description: Proposal to improve forest health through thinning, mastication, prescribe burning, and treatment of non-native
invasive plant species, well as trail relocation and limiting mountain biking and horse back riding to existing trails.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=41910
Location:
Davis Telecommunication Site
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo. LEGAL - T9N, R5 & 6E, sections
6, 19, 24, 25, 36; T10N, R5 & 6E, sections 2,5-8, 11-13, 18-20, 23-26,29-32, 35 & 36 NMPM. 2 miles south and
east of Tijeras, NM.
- Special use management
CE
*NEW LISTING*
Project Contact
In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/10/2016
Expected:04/2016
05/2016
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to authorize use of an existing communication site on the Sandia Crest.
Location:
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo. LEGAL - Not Applicable. About 9
miles northwest of Tijeras, NM.
Elke Schuster
505-281-3304 Ext. 110
eschuster@fs.fed.us
Issuance of Seven Priority Use
Outfitter Guide Special Use
Permits.
- Recreation management
- Special area management
CE
Description: Proposal to issue seven 10-year priority use outfitter guide special use permits for a variety of activities, including
hiking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, land navigation, snowshoeing, xc-skiing, and
outdoor photography.
*UPDATED*
Location:
La Puerta Homeowners
Association Pipelin
Cancelled
- Special use management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 07/29/2015
Expected:04/2016
05/2016
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to issue a special use permit to the La Puerta Homeowners Association for use of an existing 2 inch
diameter water transmission pipeline across National Forest System land.
Location:
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
N/A
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo, Sandoval. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. Various locations on the Sandia Ranger District.
CE
*NEW LISTING*
N/A
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Sandoval. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Near
Tunnel Springs, about one mile southwest of Placitas, NM.
Page
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Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
Project Contact
R3 - Southwestern Region
Sandia Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Elke Schuster
Outfitter Guide Special Use
- Recreation management
Developing Proposal
Expected:05/2016
06/2016
Permit Renewal for Cedar Crest - Special use management
505-281-3304 Ext. 110
Est. Scoping Start 04/2016
Country Cottage & Stables.
eschuster@fs.fed.us
Description:
CE
Proposal to replace an expired permit and issue a 10-year priority special use permit to Cedar Crest Country
Cottage & Stables for guided horseback riding.
*UPDATED*
Location:
Sandia Peak Tram Company
Restaurant Reconstruction
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Armijo
area trails on the Sandia Ranger District.
- Special use management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 08/28/2015
Expected:06/2016
07/2016
CE
*UPDATED*
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to remove the existing Sandia Peak Tram Restaurant with a new larger facility.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=47603
Location:
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo. LEGAL - T11N, R5E, Section 8.
This project is located about 2 miles east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, atop Sandia Peak.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial
status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA
is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
04/01/2016 04:08 am MT
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Cibola National Forest