Schedule of Proposed Action (SOPA)
10/01/2014 to 12/31/2014
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)
Mountainair and Sandia Ranger - Watershed management
Districts Road
Decommissioning
EA
In Progress:
Notice of Initiation 12/03/2013
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 12/2014
Project Contact
Expected:04/2015
06/2015
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:
USAF Training Area
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.
- Special use management
EA
In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice
07/21/2013
Est. Objection Period Legal
Notice 12/2014
Expected:02/2015
04/2015
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:
Cibola National Forest
10/01/2014 08:47 am MT
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.
Black Kettle National Grassland (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
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
Expected:12/2014
Project Contact
01/2015
CE
Curtis Youngman
580-497-2143
cyoungman@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:
Apache Unit 71 Triple Well
UNIT - Black Kettle National Grassland. STATE - Oklahoma. COUNTY - Roger Mills. LEGAL - Not Applicable.
T15N, R26W, section 15, IM.
- Minerals and Geology
CE
*NEW LISTING*
Expected:09/2014
10/2014
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 one mile-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)
In Progress:
Scoping Start 08/14/2014
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.
R3 - Southwestern Region
Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands (excluding Projects occurring in more than one
Carrizo Creek Mountain Plover
Prescribe Burn
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
Completed
CE
Actual: 01/28/2014
11/2014
Richard Hanson
575-374-9652
rahanson@fs.fed.us
Description: Prescibe burning approximately 300 acres to improve mountain plover nesting habitat. Burn needs to occur in the
months of Feb or March prior to mountain plover migration.
Location:
10/01/2014 08:47 am MT
UNIT - Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Union. LEGAL - T 24N
R35E Sec.15. Unit K-21 North.
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Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
District)
Project Purpose
EA
Kiowa K-85 Thin and Prescribe
Burn
Project Contact
R3 - Southwestern Region
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
03/2015
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
Developing Proposal
Expected:02/2015
575-347-9652
- Vegetation management
Est. Scoping Start 12/2014
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:
Baldy Allotment Grazing
Authorization
Expected
Implementation
Mike Atkinson
09/2015
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected:08/2015
575-374-9652
- Vegetation management
Notice of Initiation 09/16/2006
matkinson@fs.fed.us
(other than forest products)
Est. Comment Period Public
- Watershed management
Notice 03/2015
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
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 - New Mexico. COUNTY - Harding. LEGAL - T 21
N, R 25 E, Sections 22, 26, 27, & 35. 3 Miles south of Mills, NM.
R3 - Southwestern Region
Magdalena Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
- Grazing management
EA
In Progress:
Notice of Initiation 10/25/2011
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 03/2015
Expected:07/2015
08/2015
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:
10/01/2014 08:47 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:12/2014
Project Contact
01/2015
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
In Progress:
Scoping Start 05/10/2006
Expected:12/2014
01/2015
CE
Manuel Martinez
505-287-4924
mrmartinez@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to prescribe burn previously treated area using higher intensity fire treatments.
Location:
Durfee/Bolander Restoration
Project
EA
Dennis Aldridge
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected:06/2015
07/2015
505-854-2281
- Vegetation management
Notice of Initiation 10/27/2009
daldridge@fs.fed.us
(other than forest products)
Est. Comment Period Public
- Watershed management
Notice 02/2015
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:
East Red/North Canyon 2nd
Entry Prescribe Burn
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.
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Fuels management
In Progress:
Scoping Start 05/10/2006
Expected:12/2014
01/2015
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:
10/01/2014 08:47 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
Magdalena Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Magdalena Travel Management
Project
- Road management
EA
In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice
11/22/2013
Est. Objection Period Legal
Notice 11/2014
Expected:02/2015
Project Contact
03/2015
Clifford Nicoll
505-346-3833
cnicoll@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:
Notice of Initiation 01/10/2012
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 12/2014
Expected:04/2015
06/2015
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
In Progress:
Scoping Start 05/10/2006
Expected:12/2014
01/2015
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:
Cibola National Forest
10/01/2014 08:47 am MT
UNIT - Magdalena Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Catron, Socorro. LEGAL - Not
Applicable. .
Mount Taylor 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
Mount Taylor Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Black Mesa Thinning and
Prescribe Burning
CE
Consuelo Zamora
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Expected:11/2014
03/2015
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:
Eric #1 Project
Project Contact
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
CE
In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/09/2012
Expected:12/2014
01/2015
Matt Reidy
505-287-8833
mreidy@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
EIS
In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register
05/18/2012
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal
Register 04/2015
Expected:10/2015
11/2015
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:
10/01/2014 08:47 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 05/2015
Expected:10/2015
Project Contact
11/2015
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:
Uranium Exploration Drilling
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.
- Minerals and Geology
EIS
In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register
12/08/2011
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal
Register 02/2015
Expected:07/2015
08/2015
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
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.
- Recreation management
- Watershed management
- Road management
In Progress:
Notice of Initiation 12/12/2012
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 12/2014
Expected:03/2015
05/2015
Matt Reidy
505-287-8833
mreidy@fs.fed.us
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
10/01/2014 08:47 am MT
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)
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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)
Largo Trick Tank Replacement
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
CE
Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 01/2015
Expected:03/2015
Project Contact
04/2015
Zachary Parsons
505-281-3304
zparsons@fs.fed.us
Description: Improve habitat for wildlife by replacing fiberglass trick tank with steel umbrella type.
Location:
West Turkey Cone Wildlife
Habitat Improvement Project
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.
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/24/2013
Expected:10/2014
CE
11/2014
Zachary Parsons
505-281-3304
zparsons@fs.fed.us
Description: Improve habitat for wildlife through the replacement of water catchment structure and relocate to a more suitable
site for use by wildlife.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=39815
Location:
Cibola National Forest
Sandia Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Cedro Landscape Restoration
Project
EA
R3 - Southwestern Region
Aaron Johnson
- Vegetation management
In Progress:
Expected:04/2015
05/2015
505-281-3304 ext. 127
(other than forest products)
Notice of Initiation 04/09/2013
aaronjohnson@fs.fed.u
- Fuels management
Est. Comment Period Public
s
- Watershed management
Notice 10/2014
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:
10/01/2014 08:47 am MT
UNIT - Mountainair Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Lincoln. About 13 miles west of Corona,
New Mexico.
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.
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Cibola National Forest
Project Name
Cibola National Forest
Project Purpose
Decision
Expected
Implementation
- Recreation management
- Watershed management
In Progress:
Notice of Initiation 05/28/2013
Est. Comment Period Public
Notice 06/2015
Expected:11/2015
Project Contact
R3 - Southwestern Region
Sandia Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
Placitas Area Trails Project
EA
Planning Status
01/2016
Kerry Wood
505-281-3304 ext. 107
kwood@fs.fed.us
Description: Proposal to construct & reconstruct trails; rehabilitate some trails & roads; prohibit cross-country travel,
camping, and campfires; and amend the Forest Plan to allow fence installation in Bernalillo NRA.
Web Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=42175
Location:
UNIT - Sandia Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Sandoval. LEGAL - Not Applicable.
Approximately 3 miles east of I-25 and south of NM-165.
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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
(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.
10/01/2014 08:47 am MT
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Cibola National Forest