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
NMDOT Rockfall study Rockfall transportation study for NMDOT to examine potential hazard areas and how they intersect with crucial habitats, t&e species Roads and Bridges 2024-12-19 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4082.pdf
Proposed Listing of the Monarch Butterfly and Designation of Critical Habitat The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), proposes to list the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), the iconic orange and black butterfly, as a threatened species and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We propose to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act (a "4(d) rule"). Finalizing this rule as proposed would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species. The Service also proposes to designate critical habitat for the monarch butterfly under the Act. In total, approximately 4,395 acres (1,778 hectares) in Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura Counties, California, fall within the boundaries of the proposed 2 critical habitat designation. The Service also announces the availability of an economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the monarch butterfly. The Service is also notifying the public that we have scheduled two informational meetings followed by public hearings on the proposed rule. Biological Survey, Proposed Critical Habitat, Proposed Rulemaking, Threatened or Endangered Species 2024-12-18 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4049.pdf
Silver Stallion Wind v2 Approximately 35,000 acre study area for planning a wind farm with approximately 90 turbines. Proposed Action, Wind Energy 2024-12-18 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4020.pdf
I-40/Horizon Phase A/B Study Phase A/B study for NMDOT to evaluate alternatives for the I-40 Horizon interchange. This project is online research only, no field efforts are to be performed with this phase. 2024-12-17 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4062.pdf
5.87-Acre Land Parcel The project is building a storage unit building. This will involve grading and construction of storage units. The project may take anywhere from 6 months to a year of construction. There will be the complete removal of vegetation, pavement placed, and the sue of large construction equipment and vehicles. It will be concrete and asphalt paved. They have not put any wildlife surveys yet and are just doing and initial environmental site assessment. Taking vacant land and developing it. Potential removal of habitats Proposed Action, Urban Development 2024-12-11 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4050.pdf
Taos Junction river wave River wave feasibility assessment. Proposed Action 2024-12-05 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3987.pdf
Los Lunas RM 163 Conveyance Capacity Project The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is submitting a request for channel maintenance activities to the USACE under Regional 404 CWA LOP Procedure. The purpose of this project is to restore the Rio Grande channel flow conveyance, in order to reduce flood risk, and mitigate operational risks along the Middle Rio Grande. The project center is located on the Rio Grande at latitude 34.818413°, longitude -106.712860°, in Los Lunas, Valencia County, New Mexico. The USBR is requesting authorization under Regional 404 CWA LOP Procedure. USBR proposes to remove approximately 96,504 cy of material across five bank lowering areas within the historic channel The project components will improve the channel conveyance by increasing the width (partial restoration to historical widths) of the river both on the west and east banks of the river. Excavated materials will be placed against the east and west levees above the OWHM. Other project components include associated access roads, staging areas for equipment, and spoils areas. Proposed Action, River/Stream Management 2024-11-27 public_comment_letter_NMERT-4014.pdf
Modification 24-1 Application for Brie 1, Expansion of Permit Area On September 3, 2024, the Mining and Minerals Division ("MMD") received a permit application from Miocene, LLC, to modify permit number MK039MN. The application requests the expansion of the Brie 1 permit area to include the NE ¼ of Section 3, Township 19N, Range 9W. This application is being processed as modification number 24-1 to permit MK039MN. Mine Permit 2024-11-21 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3888.pdf
May 2025 Oil and Gas Lease Sale in New Mexico SANTA FE, N.M - The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office today opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on three oil and gas parcels totaling 1,261 acres that may be included in an upcoming lease sale in New Mexico. The comment period ends Nov. 25, 2024. The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in August 2024 and is now seeking public comment on the parcels, potential deferrals, and the related environmental analysis. BLM will use input from the public to help complete its review of each parcel and determine if leasing of these parcels conforms with all applicable laws, policies, and land use plans. The parcels the BLM is analyzing, as well as maps and instructions on how to comment are available on the BLM's ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2033311/570. Oil and Gas 2024-11-21 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3979.pdf
LEPC HCP LEPC HCP - exploratory assessment. No project information available at this time. Threatened or Endangered Species 2024-11-19 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3914.pdf
Camino del Llano (Both Phases) The scope of this project is a general A/B survey that is a continuation of a previous project for a Traffic Study and Drainage Study for the corridor from the Highline Canal to Main St in Belen, New Mexico. This survey will be used to identify the need for road improvements including potential lane widening. This report will be used to adjust and determine priority planning and associated programmatic costs for the desired project.Further the report will be used to describe the existing conditions such as geometric deficiencies, ADA deficiencies, sight distance deficiencies, the existing right-of-way, and develop the primary need for the future retrofit project. Proposed Action, Roads and Bridges 2024-11-13 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3994.pdf
Brazfield Ranch A landowner and land trust are in the process of due diligence to investigate the feasibility of a conservation easement. This includes determining the conservation values for tax purposes and alignment with the mission of the land trust. The Property consists of significant/relatively natural habitat, the protection of which will add to the larger body of relatively unfragmented natural habitat that is being protected as part of large buffer area surrounding the nearby White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), part of the largest contiguous analyzed "Large Natural Area" in the state of New Mexico spanning 133 miles from near the Rio Grande almost to Roswell. The property and surrounding area are comprised primarily of native grasslands that are interspersed with a mix of piñon and juniper trees, which collectively provide habitat for a variety of wildlife including mule deer, pronghorn, mountain lion, bobcat, fox, oryx, coyote, and golden eagles. Conservation Easement 2024-11-07 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3892.pdf
Southwest Lampbright Waste-Rock Stockpile Buttress, Modification 24-1, Chino Mine On June 26, 2024, the Mining and Minerals Division ("MMD") of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department received the document Modification Request to Permit No. GR009RE - Southwest Lampbright Waste Rock Stockpile Buttress ("Application"). This Application was submitted to MMD to modify the Closure / Closeout Plan to include the construction of the Southwest Lampbright Waste-Rock Stockpile Buttress. This change to Permit No. GR009RE is considered a modification and has been designated Modification 24-1. Mine Permit 2024-11-05 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3723.pdf
Rio Chama Channel Restoration The purpose of this project is to restore the Rio Chama channel flow conveyance to pre-flood event dimensions prior to June 20, 2024, in order to facilitate San Juan Chama releases, reduce flood risk, and mitigate operational risks to the Abiquiú Reservoir. The proposed project will dredge within the river channel to restore the channel capacity to a capacity of approximately 1700 CFS. Reach 1 will start at NM233 and have continuous channel restoration for a length of 4.5 miles, 60' wide, and 4.75 deep. Percentage of sediment blocking channel is 35%, therefore the project will excavate approximately 169,472 cubic yards of sediment. Sediment will be removed from the channel and placed above the ordinary high water mark. Reach 2 will start below the Chili Diversion and have continuous channel restoration for a length of 2.5 miles, 60' wide, and 4.75 deep. Percentage of sediment blocking channel is 25%, therefore the project will excavate approximately 108,636 cubic yards of sediment. Sediment will be removed from the channel and placed above the ordinary high water mark. Proposed Action, River/Stream Management 2024-11-04 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3964.pdf
029214 ABQ QUESO - A The proposed installation will consist of the collocation of antenna at a centerline height of 55 feet on an existing 84-foot monopole telecommunications tower. New equipment will be installed within the existing facility enclosure in an 18-foot by 12-foot lease area, with an underground utility route including a new fiber vault extending 40 feet by 3 feet within the existing facility. Utilities will be routed underground east from the enclosure approximately 30 feet to connect with an existing vault. Access to the site will be gained from Yale Boulevard via existing routes. Cell Tower, Proposed Action 2024-11-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3967.pdf
Fite Ranch Conservation Easement The Property consists of relatively natural habitat, the protection of which will add to the larger body of protected lands and the large unfragmented area surrounding the adjacent 3,200 mi ² White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), as well as allowing for species movement through direct connectivity with the 57,331-acre Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge productive riparian area. The Property and surrounding area are comprised primarily of native Chihuahuan Desert grasslands and scrub that are interspersed with a sparse mix of piñon and juniper trees. This large expanse of relatively undeveloped grasslands provide habitat for a variety of wildlife including elk, mule deer, pronghorn, oryx, mountain lion, bobcat, fox, and coyote. Conservation Easement, Proposed Action 2024-11-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3875.pdf
Ute Lake Ranch Amendment III The land trust, New Mexico Land Conservancy, is completing the due diligence phase of a conservation easement project to add and encumber approximately six hundred ninety-four (694) additional acres of the Ranch under the terms of a Deed and combine them with the four thousand eight hundred forty-eight (4,848) acres that were previously encumbered under the Ute Lake Ranch Deed - Amendment II into a single conservation easement of approximately five thousand five hundred forty-two (5,542) acres, henceforth to be called the Ute Lake Ranch Conservation Easement - Amendment III, which the Landowner further agrees cannot be subdivided and must be sold as a single unit. Conservation Easement, Proposed Action 2024-11-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3871.pdf
Woodall Property Exploratory Forest Stewardship Plan 2024-11-01 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3867.pdf
Regular (Part 4) Exploration Application, Tyrone Peak Exploration Project On August 29, 2024 the Mining and Minerals Division ("MMD") received an amended application from Freeport-McMoRan Tyrone Mining, LLC ("Tyrone") for a minimal impact exploration permit called Tyrone Peak. The application proposes to drill up to thirty-six (36) drill holes up to 2,500 feet deep on nineteen (17) drill pads, creating 40 acres of total disturbance. MMD is tracking this permit as Permit No. GR093EM. The proposed drilling sites are located near the Tyrone Mine (Permit No. GR010RE) main gate entrance. Mine Drilling, Mine Permit 2024-10-28 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3803.pdf
Galehead White Springs Wind (Eastern Ridge) Proposed wind facility in Luna County, NM. BLM coordination is ongoing. Early phases of the planning process. Construction date not yet determined. Proposed Action, Wind Energy 2024-10-28 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3880.pdf
Riley Permian - Phase I Exploratory 2024-10-25 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3853.pdf
AML Capitol Dome Abandoned Mines Safeguarding Project Public Meeting: February 7, 2024, 6:00pm-8:00pm at Mimbres Valley Special Events Center. 2300 E. Pine St, Deming, NM (Presentation and Feedback). Public Scoping Comment Period: February 7 through March 6, 2024 Environmental Assessment 2024-10-18 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3189.pdf
Thoreau I-40 interchange modification project We are currently in the predesign phase for the construction of a modification to the existing I-40 interchange at Thoreau NM. Currently a study area is being assessed to determine areas which should be avoided to better inform design decisions. the project would involve the construction of a new off ramp and road leading north from I-40. McKinley County and NWNMCOG would like to study providing a direct connection to the Prewitt Industrial Park north of 1-40. Prewitt Industrial Park is anticipated to bring industry and economic growth to the region. Providing direct connectivity to the park will require a Detailed Evaluation of Alternatives in the immediate area of 1-40 (Exit 63) to understand viable roadway alignments and their environmental and socio-economic impacts to the community. Our scope of work includes preparation of Phase IA/8, Phase IC and Phase ID services per the NM DOT Location Studies Procedures. Proposed Action, Roads and Bridges 2024-10-18 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3898.pdf
Ciudad Dodd Private Property Thinning Thinning to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Forest Restoration, Proposed Action 2024-10-16 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3912.pdf
Ciudad Welch Private Property Thinning Thinning to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Forest Restoration, Proposed Action 2024-10-16 public_comment_letter_NMERT-3910.pdf

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