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Roswell, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management has issued the draft environmental assessment for the proposed Rio Bonito Falls acquisition and Management Plan in Lincoln County. The BLM will host a virtual public meeting on June 25 from 6 to 8 p.m., which will provide the public the opportunity to learn more about the EA, discuss it with specialists, ask questions and submit comments on the document. 

A landowner would like to sell approximately 100 acres to the BLM Roswell Field Office. Rio Bonito Falls is located west of the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA) near Capitan, N.M. The land parcel includes about 0.35 miles of the Rio Bonito, and is situated between two developing subdivisions and the NCA. Locally known as “The Falls”, it has become popular to recreationists over the years and is mostly accessed from the NCA along a trespass trail that has become established.

The proposed action for the land acquisition supports the BLM strategic goals by providing opportunities for environmentally responsible recreation and preservation of our natural and cultural heritage. With the acquisition, the BLM would be able to more effectively manage natural and cultural resources both within and adjacent to Congressionally and administratively designated areas. 

“This is a great opportunity to acquire land that holds tremendous resources, and carefully manage it for future generations,” said BLM Roswell Field Manager Chuck Schmidt. “We are looking forward to holding this virtual public meeting and getting feedback from the community.”

The virtual public meeting will be held using Zoom video conferencing technology. Prior to the meeting, the public can log onto the project website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/search?searchText=DOI-BLM-NM-P010-2020-0057-EA to view the PowerPoint presentation. There will also be a link on the website for the public to review the EA. (Note: To view materials in ePlanning, use Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. Internet explorer will not work).

To register for Virtual Meeting: 

• Online: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_DuQFn5QaRUGOE_eICErxIA. Once you have registered for the virtual meeting, you will receive an email containing instructions on how to join the meeting.
• By phone:  Call 575-627-0216. An operator will register you and provide you with details on how to join the conference by phone.

For those interested in watching the meeting without participating or providing comments, the meeting will be livestreamed on BLM New Mexico’s Facebook page (@BLMNewMexico), which can be viewed by anyone who has access to Facebook.

The BLM will be available to assist with any additional questions participants have regarding the EA process and with information on how to be involved with this process.

Public Comments:

Public comments on the EA will be accepted until July 25, 2020. Comments can be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Mail:  BLM Roswell Field Office, ATTN:  Rio Bonito Falls Acquisition and Management Plan Draft EA, 2902 West Second Street, Roswell, NM  88201
• Public Meeting:  BLM will accept oral comments during the virtual meetings. If you plan on making comments during the meeting, please indicate that when you register. If you are using the phone-only option, you will be able to listen to the public meeting, but you will not see the presentation or be able to comment during the meeting. However, if you would like to make a comment, a phone number will be provided during the meeting where you can call and leave a comment via voicemail.
• Online: Written comments can be submitted through the ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/search?searchText=DOI-BLM-NM-P010-2020-0057-EA.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised your entire comment may be made publicly available at any time. While you can request for your comment to be withheld from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.

For more information on the project and draft EA, how to comment, or to request to be added or removed from the mailing list, contact BLM project lead Glen Garnand at 575-627-0209 or via email at ggarnand@blm.gov.