Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA)
01/01/2016 to 03/31/2016
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:06/2017
07/2017
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
On Hold
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.
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:07/2016
08/2016
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:
01/01/2016 05:43 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.
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Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Black Kettle National Grassland (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Apache Corp Unit 7 Washita 2H
Oil and Gas Well
- Minerals and Geology
Completed
Actual: 10/08/2015
01/2016
CE
Location:
Baldy Allotment Grazing
Authorization
R3 - Southwestern Region
Michael Smith
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
On Hold
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:
Cibola National Forest
UNIT - Black Kettle National Grassland. STATE - Oklahoma. COUNTY - Roger Mills. LEGAL - Not Applicable.
T15N, R26W, section 15, IM.
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
EA
Tom Smeltzer
580-497-2143
tsmeltzer@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to develop an oil and gas well, including construction of a well pad, 66-foot long road to the well, and
installation of a 1,600-foot long gas pipeline.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=44945
*UPDATED*
Cibola National Forest
District)
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.
R3 - Southwestern Region
Magdalena Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
- Grazing management
EA
*UPDATED*
In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/25/2011
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 04/2016
Expected:08/2016
09/2016
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:
01/01/2016 05:43 am MT
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.
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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)
Chavez/Whitecap 2nd Entry
Prescribe Burn
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Fuels management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 05/10/2006
Expected:03/2016
Project Contact
04/2016
CE
Manuel Martinez
505-287-4924
mrmartinez@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to prescribe burn previously treated area using higher intensity fire treatments.
*UPDATED*
Location:
Durfee/Bolander Restoration
Project
EA
*UPDATED*
Dennis Aldridge
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected:07/2016
08/2016
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 03/2016
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:
Mineral Withdrawal of Zuni
Fleabane Habitat
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron, Socorro. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. .
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.
- Minerals and Geology
EA
*UPDATED*
In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/10/2012
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 03/2016
Expected:08/2016
09/2016
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
01/01/2016 05:43 am MT
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.
Mount Taylor Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
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3 of 8
R3 - Southwestern Region
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)
Black Mesa Thinning and
Prescribe Burning
CE
*UPDATED*
Consuelo Zamora
07/2016
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected: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
Location:
Boe Road Use
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.
- Special use management
Completed
Actual: 10/07/2015
12/2015
CE
*UPDATED*
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to authorize use of an existing road across National Forest System land to allow private citizen to access
his land.
Location:
Eric #1 Project
Project Contact
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Cibola. LEGAL - T11N, R15W, NW
1/4 of section 6, NMPM. The project is located about 6 miles northeast of Ramah, NM.
- Minerals and Geology
On Hold
N/A
N/A
CE
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:
Laramide Resources Mine
Development - La Jara Mesa
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Cibola. LEGAL - T12N, R9W, section
10. North of Grants, NM off of Forest Road 450F.
- Minerals and Geology
On Hold
EIS
N/A
N/A
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:
01/01/2016 05:43 am MT
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.
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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)
Roca Honda LLC Project Exploration and Mine
Development
- Minerals and Geology
EIS
*UPDATED*
In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register
03/15/2013
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal
Register 03/2016
Expected:06/2016
Project Contact
07/2016
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
Expected:02/2016
03/2016
*UPDATED*
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:
Uranium Exploration Drilling
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.
- Minerals and Geology
On Hold
EIS
*UPDATED*
N/A
Diane Tafoya
505-346-3809
dtafoya@fs.fed.us
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:
01/01/2016 05:43 am MT
N/A
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.
Page
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Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Decision
Expected
Implementation
EA
*UPDATED*
Project Contact
R3 - Southwestern Region
Mount Taylor Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Zuni Mountain Trails Project
Alvin Whitehair
- Recreation management
In Progress:
Expected:05/2016
06/2016
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
Planning Status
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.
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.
*NEW LISTING*
Location:
American Tower Fiber Optic
Line
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 01/2016
- Special use management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/03/2015
Expected:12/2015
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:
01/01/2016 05:43 am MT
04/2016
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
*NEW LISTING*
Expected:03/2016
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*
Project Contact
Aaron Johnson
- Vegetation management
In Progress:
Expected:04/2016
05/2016
505-281-3304 ext. 127
(other than forest products)
Scoping Start 04/09/2013
aaronjohnson@fs.fed.u
- Fuels management
Est. Comment Period Public
s
- Watershed management
Notice 01/2016
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:
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.
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.
*NEW LISTING*
Location:
Outfitter Guide Special Use
Permit Issuance to Eric Mora
dba Sandia Mountain Survival
School.
CE
*NEW LISTING*
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 01/2016
Expected:03/2016
04/2016
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo, Sandoval. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. Various locations on the Sandia Ranger District.
- Recreation management
- Special use management
Completed
Actual: 10/16/2015
01/2016
Elke Schuster
505-281-3304 Ext. 110
eschuster@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to issue a 10-year priority use outfitter guide special use permit for hiking and wilderness survival skills to
Eric Mora.
Location:
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo, Sandoval. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. Various locations on the Sandia Ranger District.
Elke Schuster
Outfitter Guide Special Use
- Recreation management
Developing Proposal
Expected:03/2016
04/2016
Permit Renewal for Cedar Crest - Special use management
505-281-3304 Ext. 110
Est. Scoping Start 01/2016
Country Cottage & Stables.
eschuster@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to replace an expired permit and issue a 10-year priority special use permit to Cedar Crest Country
CE
Cottage & Stables for guided horseback riding.
*NEW LISTING*
Location:
01/01/2016 05:43 am MT
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Bernalillo. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Armijo
area trails on the Sandia Ranger District.
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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)
Sandia Peak Tram Company
Restaurant Reconstruction
- Special use management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 08/28/2015
Expected:03/2016
04/2016
CE
*UPDATED*
Project Contact
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.
01/01/2016 05:43 am MT
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Cibola National Forest