Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA)
07/01/2015 to 09/30/2015
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
In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register
02/09/2015
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal
Register 12/2015
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.
Mountainair and Sandia Ranger - Watershed management
Districts Road
Decommissioning
EA
In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/03/2013
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 09/2015
Expected:01/2016
02/2016
Richard Graves
505-346-3846
rlgraves@fs.fed.us
Description: A proposal to decommission 90 miles of roads/routes to reduce erosion, soil compaction and sedimentation, which
would result in enhancing water quality and wildlife habitat.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=38071
Location:
07/01/2015 04:31 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.
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Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Project Purpose
Planning Status
Decision
Expected
Implementation
R3 - Southwestern Region
Cibola National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
USAF Training Area
- Special use management
EA
In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice
07/21/2013
Project Contact
Expected:01/2016
02/2016
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:
Weather Stations Project
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.
- Special use management
CE
*NEW LISTING*
Expected:08/2015
09/2015
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to operate and maintain 2 existing weather stations on Magdalena and Mountainair Ranger Districts.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=47220
Location:
Cibola National Forest
In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/18/2015
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District, Mountainair Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Socorro,
Torrance. LEGAL - T4S, R6W, section 7 (Magdalena )and T4N, R6E, section 1 (Mountainair) NMPM. The
weather stations are located about 6 miles southeast of Magdalena, NM and one mile west of Mountainair, NM.
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
In Progress:
Scoping Start 07/10/2014
CE
Expected:08/2015
09/2015
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
Location:
07/01/2015 04:31 am MT
UNIT - Black Kettle National Grassland. STATE - Oklahoma. COUNTY - Roger Mills. LEGAL - Not Applicable.
T15N, R26W, section 15, IM.
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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 Unit 71 Triple Well
- Minerals and Geology
Completed
Actual: 03/06/2015
CE
Project Contact
04/2015
Tom Smeltzer
580-497-2143
tsmeltzer@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to drill 3 wells from one well location pad, 435 feet by 350 feet in size. The proposal also includes
construction of 370-foot long road and 1048-foot long gas pipeline.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=45113
Location:
Cibola National Forest
District)
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
Kiowa K-85 Thin and Prescribe
Burn
07/01/2015 04:31 am MT
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.
Mike Atkinson
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
Cancelled
N/A
N/A
575-347-9652
- Vegetation management
matkinson@fs.fed.us
(other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
Description: Mechanically thin and utilize prescribed fire to improve wildlife habitat and watershed and to reduce fuel loadings.
Location:
Cibola National Forest
R3 - Southwestern Region
Mike Atkinson
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
On Hold
N/A
N/A
575-374-9652
- Vegetation management
matkinson@fs.fed.us
(other than forest products)
- 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:
CE
UNIT - Black Kettle National Grassland. STATE - Oklahoma. COUNTY - Roger Mills. LEGAL - T13N,
R25W,section 14, NW 1/4. Grassland management unit 71, about 9 miles southwest of Cheyenne, OK.
UNIT - Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Harding. LEGAL - T 21
N, R 25 E, Sections 22, 26, 27, & 35. 3 Miles south of Mills, NM.
Magdalena Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
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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
Magdalena Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Baldy Allotment Grazing
Authorization
- Grazing management
EA
In Progress:
Notice of Initiation 10/25/2011
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 07/2015
Expected:11/2015
Project Contact
12/2015
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
In Progress:
Scoping Start 05/10/2006
Expected:09/2015
10/2015
CE
Manuel Martinez
505-287-4924
mrmartinez@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to prescribe burn previously treated area using higher intensity fire treatments.
Location:
Corn Canyon 2nd Entry
Prescribe Burn
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron, Socorro. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. .
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Fuels management
Cancelled
N/A
N/A
CE
Manuel Martinez
505-287-4924
mrmartinez@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to prescribe burn previously treated area using higher intensity fire treatments.
Location:
Durfee/Bolander Restoration
Project
EA
Dennis Aldridge
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected:01/2016
02/2016
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 10/2015
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:
07/01/2015 04:31 am MT
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.
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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)
East Red/North Canyon 2nd
Entry Prescribe Burn
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Fuels management
Cancelled
N/A
Project Contact
N/A
CE
Manuel Martinez
505-287-4924
mrmartinez@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to prescribe burn a previously treated area using higher intensity fire treatments.
Location:
Magdalena Travel Management
Project
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron, Socorro. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. .
- Road management
In Progress:
Expected:08/2015
09/2015
EA
Cheryl Prewitt
505-346-3820
cprewitt@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to designate the motorized transportation system on the district to comply with the Travel Management
Rule. End product will be a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) that shows roads and trails open to motorized use.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=34153
Location:
Mineral Withdrawal of Zuni
Fleabane Habitat
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron, Socorro. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. District-wide where existing motorized use is not consistent with the Travel Management Rule.
- Minerals and Geology
EA
In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/10/2012
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 10/2015
Expected:02/2016
03/2016
Cheryl Prewitt
505-346-3820
cprewitt@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:
San Juan/Long Spring 2nd
Entry Prescribe Burn
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.
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Fuels management
Cancelled
N/A
N/A
CE
Manuel Martinez
505-287-4924
mrmartinez@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to prescribe burn a previously treated area using higher intensity fire treatments.
Location:
07/01/2015 04:31 am MT
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron, Socorro. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. .
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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)
Black Mesa Thinning and
Prescribe Burning
CE
Consuelo Zamora
09/2015
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected:08/2015
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
CE
*NEW LISTING*
In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/25/2015
Expected:07/2015
08/2015
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
Anthony Pacheco
505-287-8833
apacheco@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:
07/01/2015 04:31 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
In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register
03/15/2013
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal
Register 12/2015
Expected:03/2016
Project Contact
04/2016
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:08/2015
09/2015
Orlando Cortez
505-287-8833
ocortez02@fs.fed.us
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:
Telecommunications Site
Renewals
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.
- Special use management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/11/2014
CE
*NEW LISTING*
09/2015
Robin Price
505-346-3822
rmprice@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to renew three existing authorizations for telecommunications sites on the Mount Taylor Ranger District.
Location:
07/01/2015 04:31 am MT
Expected:08/2015
UNIT - Mount Taylor Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Cibola. LEGAL - Not Applicable.
T12N, R7W, S20 (La Mosca Peak) & T11N, R7W, S8 (Microwave Ridge).
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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)
Uranium Exploration Drilling
- Minerals and Geology
EIS
In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register
12/08/2011
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal
Register 11/2015
Expected:03/2016
Project Contact
04/2016
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:
Zuni Mountain Trails Project
EA
Anthony Pacheco
- Recreation management
In Progress:
Expected:12/2015
01/2016
505-287-8833
- Watershed management
Comment Period Public Notice
apacheco@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
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.
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
Mountainair Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Largo Trick Tank Replacement
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
Cancelled
N/A
N/A
CE
Zachary Parsons
505-281-3304
zparsons@fs.fed.us
Description: Improve habitat for wildlife by replacing fiberglass trick tank with steel umbrella type.
Location:
Cibola National Forest
07/01/2015 04:31 am MT
UNIT - Mountainair Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Torrance. LEGAL - T7N, R6E, section
8. New Mexico , Torrance County New Mexico, about 6 miles west of Chilili New Mexico.
Sandia Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
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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
Sandia Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Cedro Landscape Restoration
Project
EA
Aaron Johnson
- Vegetation management
In Progress:
Expected:11/2015
12/2015
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 09/2015
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:
Placitas & Piedra Lisa Trail
Project
Project Contact
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.
- Recreation management
- Watershed management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/17/2015
CE
Expected:08/2015
09/2015
Kerry Wood
505-281-3304 ext. 107
kwood@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to designate, construct, rehabilitate and close undesignated non-motorized trails near and within the
Bernalillo Watershed Research Natural Area and Sandia Mountain Wilderness.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=46650
Location:
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Sandoval. LEGAL - Not Applicable. 2 miles
southwest of Placitas, NM.
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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
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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.
07/01/2015 04:31 am MT
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Cibola National Forest