Public Comment Letters

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.

Comment Title Description Search Terms Date Final Comment Letter
Continental A State #013 Exploratory Proposed Action 2025-08-07 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4796.pdf
farmers acequia repair Repair erosion protection around acequia pipeline. Remove and replace failing articulated concrete block matting. Photos provided in attached SHPO consultation letter. Erosion Control, Proposed Action, Water Diversions/Irrigation, Water Infrastructure 2025-08-07 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4914.pdf
SOlar.1 Solar Project BESS Proposed Action, Solar Energy 2025-08-06 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4866.pdf
Cattle Trail PV Solar Development - Looking for all possible environmental constraints in the given Project Area including but not limited to T&E species, SGCN, critical habitats, raptor nesting guidelines, and any given information regarding what consultation is required for Solar Development Proposed Action, Solar Energy 2025-08-06 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4869.pdf
New Mexico Wind Project Pattern Energy and its affiliates (Dahlia Wind LLC, El Corazon Wind LLC, Gallinas Mountain Wind LLC, Pastura Wind LLC, and Pattern SC Holdings LLC; collectively the "New Mexico Wind Companies," hereafter referred to as the "Joint Applicants") are proposing to construct and operate up to 3,450 megawatts (MW) of new wind energy facilities and associated 345 kilovolt (kV) high-voltage transmission lines, as part of the New Mexico Wind Project (the "Project"), located in Guadalupe, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Torrance Counties. Proposed Action, Threatened or Endangered Species 2025-08-06 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4871.pdf
Line 1004 Remediation Pipeline Remediation Proposed Action, Threatened or Endangered Species 2025-08-06 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4878.pdf
El Campeon Proposed pipeline project Proposed Action, Threatened or Endangered Species 2025-08-06 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4879.pdf
Water Security Planning Act Rule Making - public comment The Water Security Planning Act (WSPA) is New Mexico's guiding legislation for regional water planning and management. It was passed in 2023 to secure a resilient water future for our state, replacing the 1987 regional water planning statute. The WSPA fosters regional engagement, local leadership, and scientific rigor by laying the groundwork for sustainable water management and coordination across New Mexico. It prioritizes the unique needs of local communities, makes use of the best available science and data, and ensures compliance with federal and state laws. As of July 2025, NMISC has initiated the rulemaking process, and a hearing is anticipated later this fall. All comments logged through this process will become part of the supporting documentation in the official record. Once the WSPA rulemaking hearing is completed, the Commission will deliberate and may adopt, amend, or reject the proposed Rule. After adoption of the Rule, the WSPA Guidelines will be revisited by the NMISC Planning Program staff to see if any adjustments need to be made. The proposed Guidelines would then be presented to the Commission for input and ultimately adoption at one of their scheduled meetings. Once finalized in early 2026, the NMISC Planning Program will begin to convene Regional Water Security Planning Councils or support self-convening Councils. Proposed Rulemaking, Water Management 2025-08-05 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4868.pdf
3PD to Black Buck Meter Lay Flat Line - Oil & Gas Exploratory Exploratory 2025-08-05 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4856.pdf
Roswell + Chaves BESS projects Facilities to be built in conjunction with an existing solar facility. The exact locations within the footprint is unknown at this time. Construction will provide mitigation measures to prevent impacts to wildlife. Construction will take place within the next year. The area is vacant but disturbed with existing roadways. This evaluation is to aide with survey crews to help identify what is within the project area to help determine mitigation measures such as nesting bird surveys if necessary due to the time of year construction is to be taking place. 2025-08-05 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4865.pdf
Section 20 Recycle Pond Proposed pipeline and recycle pond project Proposed Action, Threatened or Endangered Species 2025-08-05 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4908.pdf
Tijeras RRPS - Phase I The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (Water Authority) plans to deliver reuse water from the Southside Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP) Reuse Pump Station to the Mesa Del Sol (MDS) Development for irrigation and industrial use. This project and facility name is the Tijeras Reuse Reservoir and Pump Station (Tijeras RRPS). The proposed project includes construction of reuse water pipelines and a reuse water storage reservoir in Mesa del Sol and piping improvements at the Water Authority's Puerto del Sol Reuse Reservoir located adjacent to the Puerto del Sol Golf Course. In Mesa del Sol, the project includes construction of pipelines in the drainage park south of the Fidelity Corporation Building and the undeveloped lot at the northeast corner of Watson Drive S and Crick Avenue SE. Proposed Action, Wastewater Infrastructure, Water Diversions/Irrigation, Water Infrastructure 2025-08-05 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4909.pdf
Paddock Unit #31 Exploratory Proposed Action 2025-08-04 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4782.pdf
Army Corps of Engineers Procedures for Implementing NEPA; Removal The Army Corps of Engineers, under the Department of Defense, issued a federal register interim final rule rescinding their regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, except the Categorical Exclusions. They plan to use the Department-wide NEPA procedures that the DOD is issuing. Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Statement, Proposed Rulemaking, Threatened or Endangered Species 2025-08-04 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4876.pdf
Chincoteague 823H Flowline A biological desktop review for flowline reclamation work Oil and Gas Pipeline, Proposed Action 2025-08-04 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4854.pdf
Paddock Unit #10 Exploratory Proposed Action 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4773.pdf
IPA Espanola to La Cienaga The Property also intersects an Important Plant Area (IPA), a designation recognizing locations that support rare, threatened, or endangered plant species listed by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The area is within the Espanola to La Cienega IPA, ranked as Outstanding biodiversity significance with two state listed plants. Public lands provide connectivity for resident and migratory species, including elk, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, among many other mammals and a variety of bird species. The Property provides suitable habitat for state endangered aplomado falcon and state-threatened peregrine falcon, gray vireo, and spotted bat and 28 other Species of Greatest Conservation Need for New Mexico. The Property provides suitable habitat for prairie dog colonies, including both black-tailed (Cynomys ludovicianus) and Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni), adds to the ecological significance of the area. Both species are recognized as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in New Mexico due to their important role in maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems. Additionally, the Property has suitable habitat for burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia), which are protected under both the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and New Mexico state law, may be present on site, see Appendix E "NM Department of Game and Fish NM Environmental Review Tool" and Appendix F "US Fish & Wildlife Service Information for Planning and Consulting Report." Conservation Easement, Proposed Action 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4777.pdf
Potential Project to for solar sites - Central NM This is a request for an analysis of species and environmental issues in this area for a series of solar sites. The sites have not been identified, but I am looking at what environmental issues there could be in the area. This project would provide energy for the local populations in the area. I am not sure what else I can provide at this time since this is just a preliminary assessment. The project will not impact the floodplain of the Rio Grande River and would utilize undeveloped or previously developed/disturbed areas. Proposed Action, Solar Energy 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4831.pdf
DNA for aerial treatment project on the Wiggins Place allotment The proposed action consists of an aerial treatment (0.11 lb. a.e. per acre aminopyralid, 0.5 lb. a.e. per acre Clopyralid, 0.5 lb. a.e. per acre Triclopyr, all rates are the maximum and are not to be exceeded) within the Wiggins Place Allotment 65072. The treatment consists of decreasing canopy cover within high densities of mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa or P. jugans) vegetation allowing native grasses and other vegetation to occur for wildlife and livestock purposes. The treatments will occur throughout the following allotment: 65072. Following the spray an ample rest period will occur (2 growing seasons) allowing the desired vegetation to recover. The Wiggins Place Allotment 65072 consists of 20,798 total acres which is approximately 9,666 acres of public land, approximately 2,200 acres of state land, and approximately 8,932 acres of deeded land Forest Restoration 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4874.pdf
DNA for Huggins Draw Mesquite Treatment The proposed action consists of an aerial treatment (0.11 lb. a.e. per acre aminopyralid, 0.5 lb. a.e. per acre Clopyralid, 0.5 lb. a.e. per acre Triclopyr, all rates are the maximum and are not to be exceeded) within the Huggins Draw 64042. The treatment consists of decreasing canopy cover within high densities of mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa or P. jugans) vegetation allowing native grasses and other vegetation to occur for wildlife and livestock purposes. Forest Restoration 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4875.pdf
Seven Springs - Cuba SWCD Hazardous Fuels Removal The Entity will implement 115 acres of hazardous fuels reduction cost-share projects along the wildland-urban interface (WUI) of the Jemez Mountains in Sandoval County, New Mexico. This will include the Highway 485, Highway 4, Highway 126, Highway 550, and Highway 96 corridors. The Entity will assist private and non-federal public landowners by hiring local, qualified contractors to thin trees to densities consistent with United States Forest Service (USFS) and Forestry Division prescriptions. These densities are 40-60 sq. ft. of basal area (BA) in piñon-juniper woodlands and 60-80 sq. ft. of BA in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests.. This project will be available to private and non-federal public landowners located in forested areas within the Cuba Soil & Water Conservation District (CSWCD) boundary (see Map 1). This project area includes a variety of elevations supporting several vegetation types. These vegetation types are piñon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer. All forest types tend to be overstocked especially where thinning has not occurred recently. The project's intent is to hire local thinning contractors from throughout the CSWCD service area whenever possible. The objective of all project activities is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve overall forest health. This project will benefit surrounding communities by reducing fuels on the landscape which will lower the risk of catastrophic wildfire and create a safer forest. This will reduce the chance of large-scale erosion events caused by forest fire which will protect the Jemez River watershed. The Entity shall conduct thinning with the following considerations: The acres to be treated, and forest management practices employed on each parcel of land, shall be determined in conjunction with the Forestry Division and will be specified in a property specific Practice Plan. Proposed projects shall have pre-treatment data collected on all sites prior to thinning. Forest management practices shall be based on site specific conditions, landowner objectives, forest health, and fire prevention. Treatments shall mimic historical ponderosa, piñon/juniper, and mixed conifer stand conditions. Remaining trees shall be left in variable sized groups to create a heterogenous forest structure. Thinning shall meet forest density standards of 40-60 sq. ft. of basal area (BA) in piñon-juniper woodlands and 60-80 sq. ft. of BA in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests. These forest density standards can be exceeded if the project still meets fuels reduction objectives and there is an ecological reason for higher stand densities (ex. higher BA due to the retention of large diameter trees). If projects exceed the basal area standard, a justification must be provided in the practice plan or in the final inspection report. The prescriptions that shall be implemented include: 1) Special considerations for all forest types: A. Avoid cutting trees (live or dead) with nests in them. B. A=Avoid cutting down trees (live or dead) with signs of cavity nesting activity. C. Retain roost trees and trees with cavities when possible. D. Retain large diameter standing dead trees (≥ 14 inches DBH) when possible. E. For projects with high numbers of standing dead trees (snags), snags shall be removed to reduce fire risk and future surface fuel loading. Leave 2-5 snags per acre for habitat benefit. Prioritize leaving larger and older snags. F. Do not cut any oak unless necessary for personal safety. G. A group of trees must be at least three trees or more. H. Where masticating operations are used, 70% percent of the mulched material shall be less than three inches in diameter and no longer than three feet in length. Mulch depth shall not be over five inches deep in any circumstance. No masticated material shall be allowed around the boles of leave trees. The masticator shall make no vertical pass longer than 75 feet up or down a slope. I. Where chipping operations are used, all slash shall be chipped to an average of two inches or less with no single depth of chips greater than six inches. J. Lop and scatter shall only be used when topography and access prevent equipment access and dragging of slash. Slash shall be cut to 2-3-foot lengths and spread to a layer less than 18" in height. Lopped material shall be spread in openings whenever possible. Leave gaps between scattered material to create breaks in fuel continuity. K. Lop and scatter of wood can attract bark beetle and green slash can serve as a breeding ground for them. When implementing lop and scatter forests affected by bark beetle, take care to lop material to 2-foot lengths and spread material in openings and in a thin layer (< 12"). Material needs to be spread in a way that allows it to dry out as quickly as possible. Lop and scatter shall not occur between April 15th and October 15th if bark beetles are active. L. Chipped, masticated, or lopped material shall not be banked against or touch the boles of leave trees. M. Trees for removal shall be selected by choosing dead trees first followed by mistletoe-infested trees, insect infested trees, and trees that are lacking vigor. A variety of size classes by species must always be left to promote stand diversity. N. Thin to emulate natural disturbance regimes (wildfire, drought, windthrow, etc.) which create a heterogenous forest structure characterized by individual trees, groups, and openings. Emulate naturally occurring variations in stand density based on topography (ex. higher tree densities in drainages and lower tree densities on south facing slopes). This method shall create the desired basal area without creating a uniform stand. Do not thin to any crown spacing guidelines. O. All stumps that are left shall be half the diameter of the tree or six inches, whichever is less. P. In piñon/juniper and ponderosa pine forest types, do not cut any Douglas fir, white fir, or spruce that may be present. Leave these species for stand diversity. Q. Douglas fir, white fir and spruce shall only be cut in mixed-conifer forest types. The post-treatment species composition in mixed-conifer stands should contain an equal proportion of species as were present prior to treatments. There should be a diversity of size classes by species. R. Do not cut any invasive trees species, such as Tree of Heaven, unless stumps can be sprayed with herbicide within 15-minutes of cutting. S. In areas showing signs of erosion, spread chipped material to hold soil in place. T. Do not cut trees or spread slash in arroyo bottoms. U. On slopes of 10% or greater or in areas showing signs of erosion, the boles of trees can be contour felled for erosion control. The boles shall be placed in a way to prevent their movement by using stumps, rocks, or other obstructions. V. Do not cut trees that are growing within the large rocks or boulders. Leave these areas as a group. W. After thinning work has been completed, masticated material or chips shall be used to cover resulting access paths made by equipment during the project. Mulch depths in any road or travel path shall not exceed six inches. Repair of travel paths and roads must pass final inspection. 2) Piñon/juniper stands with the occasional (one to five trees per acre) ponderosa pine: A. Thin piñon/juniper leaving variable sized groups of trees. Post-thinning stand structure shall have openings, groups of trees, and individual trees. Retained piñon/juniper groups shall have a variety of species and size classes. Avoid overcutting just one size class. Instead, leave a diversity of size classes for each species. Leave the same mix of piñon/juniper that was present prior to cutting. Do not remove any one species more heavily. B. Groups shall fill a circle of at least 20-80 feet across. The groups shall be a variety of shapes and sizes and must always be separated with clearings. C. Remove piñon and juniper from within 25-feet of the drip line of ponderosa pines greater than 25-feet in height. Remove piñon and juniper from within 25-feet of the drip lines of any large diameter or tall piñon or juniper standing well above the average canopy. D. Remove all piñon and juniper trees within large oak motts. An oak mott is a stand of oak with multiple stems larger than six inches in diameter and eight feet or more in height. E. If piñon ips (Ips confusus) begins to cause significant damage, limit thinning or slash treatments in piñon/juniper forest types between April 15th and October 15th . 3) Ponderosa pine stands with an understory of piñon/juniper: A. Cut the ponderosa pine to create a heterogenous forest structure. Leave trees in variable sized groups. The groups shall have a variety of size classes. Avoid overcutting just one size class. Instead, leave a diversity of size classes for each species. B. Groups shall fill a circle of at least 20-80 feet across. The groups shall be a variety of shapes and sizes and must always be separated with clearings. Small trees that create ladder fuels within the groups shall be removed. If tree canopies are touching, or nearly touching, those trees are considered as a group. Spacing can exist between the trunks of the trees in a group. C. Remove piñon/juniper from within 15-feet of the drip line of ponderosa pine and large diameter or very tall piñon or juniper standing within or above the average canopy of ponderosa pine. D. Retain piñon and juniper trees that do not create vertical and horizontal fuel continuity. Large diameter or tall piñon and juniper trees shall be retained. E. Remove all piñon and juniper trees within large oak motts in the unit. An oak mott is a stand of oak with multiple stems larger than six inches in diameter and at least eight feet in height. 4) Ponderosa pine stands (mature or immature): A. Cut the mature ponderosa pine to leave groups and create openings. In even-aged Ponderosa pine stands, increase spacing between trees and introduce openings into the canopy. Leave a variety of size classes whenever possible. Avoid overcutting one size class. Instead, leave a diversity of size classes for each species. Always retain the oldest and largest size classes of ponderosa pine. B. Cut immature ponderosa into groups. Leave all seedling and sapling ponderosa that are already in groups of less than five feet in diameter. Protect the youngest age classes of ponderosa pine seedlings from damage caused by machinery. C. Ponderosa pine groups shall fill a circle of at least 20-80 feet across. The groups shall be a variety of shapes and sizes but must always be separated with clearings. 5) Meadow Restoration Areas: A. Cut all piñon and juniper within the identified meadow perimeter. B. Cut all ponderosa pine except majestic ponderosa pine greater than 16 inches in diameter and greater than 25-feet in height. C. Avoid creating new roads of any kind in restored meadows. 6) If masticated material or chips are not used to cover roads, then hand constructed water bars shall be required on access roads where the grade is from 0 to 5% at intervals of 150 feet, where the grade is from 5% to 10% at intervals of 130 feet, where the grade is from 10% to 15% at intervals of 75 feet, and where the grade is from 15% to 40% at intervals of 50 feet. Forest Thinning, Proposed Action 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4857.pdf
Sierra De Los Pinos - Cuba SWCD Hazardous Fuel Removal The Entity will implement 115 acres of hazardous fuels reduction cost-share projects along the wildland-urban interface (WUI) of the Jemez Mountains in Sandoval County, New Mexico. This will include the Highway 485, Highway 4, Highway 126, Highway 550, and Highway 96 corridors. The Entity will assist private and non-federal public landowners by hiring local, qualified contractors to thin trees to densities consistent with United States Forest Service (USFS) and Forestry Division prescriptions. These densities are 40-60 sq. ft. of basal area (BA) in piñon-juniper woodlands and 60-80 sq. ft. of BA in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests.. This project will be available to private and non-federal public landowners located in forested areas within the Cuba Soil & Water Conservation District (CSWCD) boundary (see Map 1). This project area includes a variety of elevations supporting several vegetation types. These vegetation types are piñon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer. All forest types tend to be overstocked especially where thinning has not occurred recently. The project's intent is to hire local thinning contractors from throughout the CSWCD service area whenever possible. The objective of all project activities is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve overall forest health. This project will benefit surrounding communities by reducing fuels on the landscape which will lower the risk of catastrophic wildfire and create a safer forest. This will reduce the chance of large-scale erosion events caused by forest fire which will protect the Jemez River watershed. The Entity shall conduct thinning with the following considerations: The acres to be treated, and forest management practices employed on each parcel of land, shall be determined in conjunction with the Forestry Division and will be specified in a property specific Practice Plan. Proposed projects shall have pre-treatment data collected on all sites prior to thinning. Forest management practices shall be based on site specific conditions, landowner objectives, forest health, and fire prevention. Treatments shall mimic historical ponderosa, piñon/juniper, and mixed conifer stand conditions. Remaining trees shall be left in variable sized groups to create a heterogenous forest structure. Thinning shall meet forest density standards of 40-60 sq. ft. of basal area (BA) in piñon-juniper woodlands and 60-80 sq. ft. of BA in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests. These forest density standards can be exceeded if the project still meets fuels reduction objectives and there is an ecological reason for higher stand densities (ex. higher BA due to the retention of large diameter trees). If projects exceed the basal area standard, a justification must be provided in the practice plan or in the final inspection report. The prescriptions that shall be implemented include: 1) Special considerations for all forest types: A. Avoid cutting trees (live or dead) with nests in them. B. A=Avoid cutting down trees (live or dead) with signs of cavity nesting activity. C. Retain roost trees and trees with cavities when possible. D. Retain large diameter standing dead trees (≥ 14 inches DBH) when possible. E. For projects with high numbers of standing dead trees (snags), snags shall be removed to reduce fire risk and future surface fuel loading. Leave 2-5 snags per acre for habitat benefit. Prioritize leaving larger and older snags. F. Do not cut any oak unless necessary for personal safety. G. A group of trees must be at least three trees or more. H. Where masticating operations are used, 70% percent of the mulched material shall be less than three inches in diameter and no longer than three feet in length. Mulch depth shall not be over five inches deep in any circumstance. No masticated material shall be allowed around the boles of leave trees. The masticator shall make no vertical pass longer than 75 feet up or down a slope. I. Where chipping operations are used, all slash shall be chipped to an average of two inches or less with no single depth of chips greater than six inches. J. Lop and scatter shall only be used when topography and access prevent equipment access and dragging of slash. Slash shall be cut to 2-3-foot lengths and spread to a layer less than 18" in height. Lopped material shall be spread in openings whenever possible. Leave gaps between scattered material to create breaks in fuel continuity. K. Lop and scatter of wood can attract bark beetle and green slash can serve as a breeding ground for them. When implementing lop and scatter forests affected by bark beetle, take care to lop material to 2-foot lengths and spread material in openings and in a thin layer (< 12"). Material needs to be spread in a way that allows it to dry out as quickly as possible. Lop and scatter shall not occur between April 15th and October 15th if bark beetles are active. L. Chipped, masticated, or lopped material shall not be banked against or touch the boles of leave trees. M. Trees for removal shall be selected by choosing dead trees first followed by mistletoe-infested trees, insect infested trees, and trees that are lacking vigor. A variety of size classes by species must always be left to promote stand diversity. N. Thin to emulate natural disturbance regimes (wildfire, drought, windthrow, etc.) which create a heterogenous forest structure characterized by individual trees, groups, and openings. Emulate naturally occurring variations in stand density based on topography (ex. higher tree densities in drainages and lower tree densities on south facing slopes). This method shall create the desired basal area without creating a uniform stand. Do not thin to any crown spacing guidelines. O. All stumps that are left shall be half the diameter of the tree or six inches, whichever is less. P. In piñon/juniper and ponderosa pine forest types, do not cut any Douglas fir, white fir, or spruce that may be present. Leave these species for stand diversity. Q. Douglas fir, white fir and spruce shall only be cut in mixed-conifer forest types. The post-treatment species composition in mixed-conifer stands should contain an equal proportion of species as were present prior to treatments. There should be a diversity of size classes by species. R. Do not cut any invasive trees species, such as Tree of Heaven, unless stumps can be sprayed with herbicide within 15-minutes of cutting. S. In areas showing signs of erosion, spread chipped material to hold soil in place. T. Do not cut trees or spread slash in arroyo bottoms. U. On slopes of 10% or greater or in areas showing signs of erosion, the boles of trees can be contour felled for erosion control. The boles shall be placed in a way to prevent their movement by using stumps, rocks, or other obstructions. V. Do not cut trees that are growing within the large rocks or boulders. Leave these areas as a group. W. After thinning work has been completed, masticated material or chips shall be used to cover resulting access paths made by equipment during the project. Mulch depths in any road or travel path shall not exceed six inches. Repair of travel paths and roads must pass final inspection. 2) Piñon/juniper stands with the occasional (one to five trees per acre) ponderosa pine: A. Thin piñon/juniper leaving variable sized groups of trees. Post-thinning stand structure shall have openings, groups of trees, and individual trees. Retained piñon/juniper groups shall have a variety of species and size classes. Avoid overcutting just one size class. Instead, leave a diversity of size classes for each species. Leave the same mix of piñon/juniper that was present prior to cutting. Do not remove any one species more heavily. B. Groups shall fill a circle of at least 20-80 feet across. The groups shall be a variety of shapes and sizes and must always be separated with clearings. C. Remove piñon and juniper from within 25-feet of the drip line of ponderosa pines greater than 25-feet in height. Remove piñon and juniper from within 25-feet of the drip lines of any large diameter or tall piñon or juniper standing well above the average canopy. D. Remove all piñon and juniper trees within large oak motts. An oak mott is a stand of oak with multiple stems larger than six inches in diameter and eight feet or more in height. E. If piñon ips (Ips confusus) begins to cause significant damage, limit thinning or slash treatments in piñon/juniper forest types between April 15th and October 15th . 3) Ponderosa pine stands with an understory of piñon/juniper: A. Cut the ponderosa pine to create a heterogenous forest structure. Leave trees in variable sized groups. The groups shall have a variety of size classes. Avoid overcutting just one size class. Instead, leave a diversity of size classes for each species. B. Groups shall fill a circle of at least 20-80 feet across. The groups shall be a variety of shapes and sizes and must always be separated with clearings. Small trees that create ladder fuels within the groups shall be removed. If tree canopies are touching, or nearly touching, those trees are considered as a group. Spacing can exist between the trunks of the trees in a group. C. Remove piñon/juniper from within 15-feet of the drip line of ponderosa pine and large diameter or very tall piñon or juniper standing within or above the average canopy of ponderosa pine. D. Retain piñon and juniper trees that do not create vertical and horizontal fuel continuity. Large diameter or tall piñon and juniper trees shall be retained. E. Remove all piñon and juniper trees within large oak motts in the unit. An oak mott is a stand of oak with multiple stems larger than six inches in diameter and at least eight feet in height. 4) Ponderosa pine stands (mature or immature): A. Cut the mature ponderosa pine to leave groups and create openings. In even-aged Ponderosa pine stands, increase spacing between trees and introduce openings into the canopy. Leave a variety of size classes whenever possible. Avoid overcutting one size class. Instead, leave a diversity of size classes for each species. Always retain the oldest and largest size classes of ponderosa pine. B. Cut immature ponderosa into groups. Leave all seedling and sapling ponderosa that are already in groups of less than five feet in diameter. Protect the youngest age classes of ponderosa pine seedlings from damage caused by machinery. C. Ponderosa pine groups shall fill a circle of at least 20-80 feet across. The groups shall be a variety of shapes and sizes but must always be separated with clearings. 5) Meadow Restoration Areas: A. Cut all piñon and juniper within the identified meadow perimeter. B. Cut all ponderosa pine except majestic ponderosa pine greater than 16 inches in diameter and greater than 25-feet in height. C. Avoid creating new roads of any kind in restored meadows. 6) If masticated material or chips are not used to cover roads, then hand constructed water bars shall be required on access roads where the grade is from 0 to 5% at intervals of 150 feet, where the grade is from 5% to 10% at intervals of 130 feet, where the grade is from 10% to 15% at intervals of 75 feet, and where the grade is from 15% to 40% at intervals of 50 feet. Forest Thinning, Proposed Action 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4858.pdf
Carlsbad Site This is a request for an analysis of species and environmental issues in this area for a series of solar sites. The sites have not been identified, but I am looking at what environmental issues there could be in the area. This project would provide energy for the local populations in the area. I am not sure what else I can provide at this time since this is just a preliminary assessment. The project will not impact the floodplain of the Rio Grande River and would utilize undeveloped or previously developed/disturbed areas. Proposed Action, Solar Energy 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4833.pdf
Jal Site This is a request for an analysis of species and environmental issues in this area for a series of solar sites. The sites have not been identified, but I am looking at what environmental issues there could be in the area. This project would provide energy for the local populations in the area. I am not sure what else I can provide at this time since this is just a preliminary assessment. The project will not impact the floodplain of the Rio Grande River and would utilize undeveloped or previously developed/disturbed areas. Proposed Action, Solar Energy 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4834.pdf
FMI Tyrone Mine Exploration FMI proposed expansion area at Tyrone Mine. WSP will be conducting surveys of proposed expansion area for rare plants. Survey is needed for permit from NMDF Biological Assessment 2025-08-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4844.pdf

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