Search for the Final Comment Letter for a project that technical guidance staff at New Mexico Department of Game and Fish have reviewed using the filters below. If you select multiple search terms in the "Search Terms" box, the filter will return all projects that are associated with at least one of the search terms you selected.
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Final Comment Letter
Heart of the Gila Property
The Heart of the Gila Property (the "Property") is an approximately 30.081-acre property located in a unique area of the Mogollon Mountains known as Gila Hot Springs, N.M about 40 miles north of Silver City. The Property is comprised of one parcel consisting of 30.081 that is located off NM-15 in Grant County, New Mexico (Map 1) about 30 miles north of the Chino and Cobre Mine complexes, and 35 miles from the Tyrone Mine. The Property is an inholding in the Gila National Forest and falls within the Arizona/New Mexico Mountain ecoregion, with a mixed composition of Madrean Lower Montane woodlands and upper Gila River riparian communities. Elevations range from about 5,500 feet at the southern property boundary to nearly 5,880 feet at the western border in the montane slopes. The property is bisected by a 0.25-mile reach of the West Fork of the Gila River, just before its confluence with the East Fork of the Gila River where it makes a south-westerly turn. There are approximately 3.76 acres of riverine and marsh wetlands with an additional 3.4 acres of riparian habitat within the floodplain and stream braids (National Wetlands Inventory Geodatabase).
At this time, I do not have a project description available. Details are currently unavailable, but I will provide information as soon as it becomes accessible. As of now, no specific project description exists, but updates will be shared when possible. Thank you for your patience.
Removal of National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations
Interim final rule removing the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) from the Code of Federal Regulations. Interim final rule requests comments on this action and related matters to inform CEQ's decision making. Being reviewed and commented on by NMISC, EMNRD, and NMDGF.
Planning, Proposed Rulemaking, River/Stream Management, Solar Energy, Threatened or Endangered Species, Wind Energy
Albuquerque Reach Habitat Restoration Project - BOR and NMISC programmatic EA
The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (NMISC) is proposing to do a multi-phased riparian and floodplain habitat restoration project in the Angostura/Albuquerque reach of the Rio Grande between River Miles 194 and 172.5. The project is located on land administered by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the Bureau of Reclamation, the lead federal agency. The project consists of 80 separate habitat restoration project areas on the banks of the Rio Grande and on select islands within the channel, as well as proposed spoils and access road plans, starting on the north side of the Alameda Bridge (State Road 528) and ending on the south side of the I-25 bridge in the South Valley. The project would also provide maintenance and adaptive management of existing and newly constructed habitat restoration areas. The purpose of the project is to benefit the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) and other federally listed species that occur in the project area. The Bureau of Reclamation has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) document to analyze potential impacts associated with the proposed project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508 process. This notice announces the availability of the EA for public review and a 30-day public comment period from February 24 to March 25, 2025. The EA can be found on the Bureau of Reclamation's website at https://www.usbr.gov/uc/DocLibrary/ea.html.
Minimal Impaction Exploration Permit Modification Application, Summa Silver Mogollon Project
On February 5, 2025, the Mining and Minerals Division ("MMD") received a revised permit modification application from Everett Ecological, on behalf of Summa Silver Corporation, for a modification to their minimal impact exploration Permit No. CA027EM in Catron County, New Mexico. The permit modification proposes the construction of a new access road and the clarification of staging area locations. Pursuant to 19.10.3.302.G NMAC, MMD is requesting comments from your agency regarding this application. The application from the operator can be downloaded from MMD's website at https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/mmd/mining-act-reclamation-program/pending-and-approved-explorationapplications/minimal-impact/ca027em-summa-silver-mogollon/
Site Wide Closure/Closeout Plan Update 2024, Chino Mine
On October 31, 2024, the Mining and Minerals Division ("MMD") received an application from Freeport-McMoRan Chino Mines Company ("FMI") to update their existing Closure/Closeout Plan ("CCP") for the Chino Mine ("Chino"), Permit No. GR009RE. The purpose of the 2024 CCP Update is to present a comprehensive reclamation plan for Chino that is consistent with all applicable federal and state regulatory requirements and permit conditions. The updated reclamation plan is used to calculate a financial assurance cost estimate for Chino that will meet the financial assurance requirements of 19.10.12 NMAC.
El Segundo Mine Permit Revision, Highwall Miner Application 2024
The mine requests to add the highwall miner technique to the potential methods used for coal extraction on the mine site. A copy of the revision application is available for public inspection at the following locations: McKinley County Courthouse, County Clerk's Office, 201 W. Hill, Gallup, New Mexico; the Grants Public Library, 1101 N First St., Grants, New Mexico; and on the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division Website at https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/mmd/public-notices/.
A formal public meeting will be hosted by the Director and PNRC on Wednesday, February 19, 2024 at 1PM at the Grants Public Library, 1101 N First St., Grants, New Mexico to address any public concerns.
We would appreciate receiving your comments no later than COB Friday, March 21, 2025. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (505) 670-9997 (cell), or Erik.Munroe@emnrd.nm.gov.
Management Plan for Navajo Lake State Park. Design Office (DO) is assisting New Mexico State Parks (NMSP)with the
development of the Navajo Lake State Park Management Plan. The project area is shown
below and includes a 4,566-acre portion of the Navajo Lake State Park along the San Juan
River Corridor, downstream of Navajo Dam. The corridor is popular for fishing and recreation
and includes 4.3 miles of Special Trout Waters (known as Red Chili Waters).
In November 2022, the Design Office (DO) team (which included Otak and MASS Design)
prepared a Draft Existing Conditions and Issues report. Other early consulting support was
provided by WestLand Resources (from Tucson, AZ) and reportedly included habitat and
cultural surveys (not yet reviewed by Biohabitats). Since that time, DO has been involved in
designing improvements in two locations -Texas Hole Day Use Area and Crusher Hole Day
Use and Campground Area. The Crusher Hole area has identified invasive species issues
(Tamarisk) and the Texas Hole area includes a sediment retention basin which was identified
in 2022 as needing long-term planning to address sediment management and a potential
strategy for upstream restoration.
At this time, Design Office would like assistance integrating ecological considerations into the
Management Plan process. Specifically, DO would like Biohabitats to provide ecological
planning guidance and nature-based design strategies that will help support the health of
Project
Cain Ranch is being assessed for a potential conservation easement project. As part of this process, the New mexico land conservancy as the land trust conducts due diligence to investigate the conservation values of the property. The project is in partial property rights only and does not contain any physical alteration or ground disturbing activities.
Connell Ranch conservation easement is a project being developed for associated conservation values and title to subdivision rights. The project is in the process of due diligence on the part of the land trust to determine eligibility and to create baseline data for evaluation. The timing of the project will be within the 2025 calendar year. No ground disturbing activities will be done. One site visit will be conducted that will consist only of photos and GPS locations. The Connell Ranch is comprised of approximately 4,976 acres of land and is located north of White Sands Missile Range along NM Highway 55 (Scenic Highway 14), and roughly 20 miles southeast of the small town of Mountainair, Socorro County, N.M. The property buffers Gran Quivira, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument along the monument's north boundary, preserving vistas from the monument overlooking the north. The Property is comprised primarily of grasslands with portions of the ranch dominated by shrubs, especially in the two western non-contiguous parcels at elevations approaching 7,000 ft.
A remediation project for a spill that took place in May 2019. There was a total of 4 bbls or produced water and 4 bbls of oil released. Remediation efforts are still ongoing.
On January 2, 2025, the Mining and Minerals Division (MMD) of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), received an application for Mine Expansion. The proposal includes the expansion of Menefee's existing Black Spring Humate Mine (a shallow surface mine) located on BLM-managed surface and mineral estate near the community of Ojo Encino in McKinley County, New Mexico (NM). Menefee is proposing to expand their existing Black Spring Humate Mine by approximately 117 acres. Additionally, they are requesting to increase the mine's current design limit from 10 to 12 acres. The Black Spring Mine is located 30 miles southwest of Cuba, NM, and four miles south of the community of Ojo Encino, in Section 4, Township 15N, Range 5W, NM Principal Meridian (NMPM), McKinley County, NM.
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Conchas Lake Vegetation Management Plan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District (USACE), has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the Conchas Lake Project Vegetation Management Plan in San Miguel County, New Mexico. The DEA evaluates alternatives that would ensure that the conservation and management of the land, water, and recreational resources on Conchas Lake follow applicable environmental laws and regulations.
The proposed action would implement the Conchas Vegetation Management Plan, that would identify and execute effective strategies that promote the health of upland, wetland, and riparian ecosystems, over the course of each growing season. Strategies include: (1) preserve native habitat mosaics, (2) identify and restore disturbed and degraded areas, (3) manage invasive and non-native flora, (4) reduce standing dead woody vegetation and (5) preserve the aesthetic and historic character of the surround landscape.
Search for the Final Comment Letter for a project that technical guidance staff at New Mexico Department of Game and Fish have reviewed using the filters below. If you select multiple search terms in the "Search Terms" box, the filter will return all projects that are associated with at least one of the search terms you selected.
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