BLM, BIA hosting virtual public meetings for Farmington Resource Management Plan
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Farmington, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) hosted the first of five virtual meetings regarding the recently published Farmington Mancos-Gallup Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and associated Environmental Impact Statement (RMPA/EIS) on Thursday, May 14. More than 100 people participated in the meeting, which was designed to provide the public with the opportunity to learn more about the Draft RMPA/EIS, discuss it with specialists, ask questions, and submit comments on the document. Four additional meetings will be held over the next few days.
"We were pleased with the participation on this first meeting and we hope to see strong participation for the remaining meetings," said District Manager Al Elser, Farmington District Office. The meeting was also livestreamed on Facebook. “We understand that these conversations are often preferred to be done in person, but under the current circumstances, it is critical that we do our part to keep New Mexicans healthy and safe.”
The Draft RMPA/EIS, which was released for a 90-day public comment period on February 28, is analyzing resource management issues for lands in San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley, and Sandoval counties, including lands surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The Draft RMPA/EIS provides a unified document that resource managers can use for land use management purposes. This planning effort will update management decisions such as oil and gas development, lands and realty, lands with wilderness characteristics, and vegetation. The document will facilitate the BLM and BIA environmental analysis and permitting of Indian and Tribal mineral development. It encompasses approximately 4,189,460 acres of land, including roughly 675,400 acres of Navajo Trust surface, 1,316,200 acres of BLM-managed land, and 210,100 acres of individual Indian allotments across 17 Navajo Nation Chapters.
The BLM and BIA are currently considering several separate alternatives to resolve land use issues and resource management challenges. The decisions made will determine how to manage the public, Navajo Tribal Trust land, and Navajo Indian allotments and resources within the planning area for the next 10 to 15 years. For these reasons, an RMPA/EIS is required at this time. The BIA does not have an existing RMP. The development of this RMPA/EIS will support the BIA’s future land management decisions.
The virtual public meetings will be held using Zoom video conferencing technology. Prior to the meeting, the public can log onto the project website (https://go.usa.gov/xvy3r) to view the Powerpoint presentation. There will also be a link on this website for the public to review the document.
The remaining meetings are scheduled for the following dates and times:
- Friday, May 15, 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
- Saturday, May 16, 9-11 a.m.
- Monday, May 18, 9-11 a.m.
To register:
Online: Visit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/new-mexico/farmington-rmp-mancos-gallup-amendment. Once you have registered for one of the virtual meetings, you will receive an email containing instructions on how to join the meeting.
By phone: call 505-635-9701. An operator will register you and provide you with details on how to join the conference by phone.
For those who are interested in watching the meetings without participating or providing comments, all five meetings will be livestreamed on BLM New Mexico’s Facebook page (@BLMNewMexico), which can be viewed by anyone who has access to Facebook.
During the meetings, the public can expect to see an overview of the Farmington Mancos-Gallup RMPA/EIS project and planning area, the EIS process, how to review the document, and how to provide comments. The BLM and BIA will be available to assist the public with any additional questions participants have regarding the EIS process and how to have involvement in this process.
The Draft RMPA/EIS and supporting information are available online at: https://go.usa.gov/xdrjD. Comments can be submitted via the web address, or by mail to:
- BLM Farmington Field Office, Attn.: Sarah Scott, Project Manager, 6251 College Blvd, Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402
- BIA Navajo Regional Office, Attn.: Robert Begay, Project Manager, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup, NM 87301
The public comment period closes on May 28, 2020.
For more information on the planning process, please contact Sarah Scott, Project Manager, Farmington Field Office at 505-564-7689.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.