BLM seeks public comment on direct sale of land for expansion of San Jose Cemetery
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SOCORRO, N.M. - The Bureau of Land Management Socorro Field Office is seeking public comment on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMP) and subsequent Non-Competitive Direct Sale of a 2.72-acre parcel of public land. The parcel is located in the unincorporated town of Luis Lopez, 5 miles south of Socorro, in Socorro County, New Mexico. The San Jose Catholic Cemetery is surrounded on three sides by the parcel. Given the location, the ownership of the surrounding lands, and the public need to expand the existing cemetery, the BLM has determined that the parcel will be offered non-competitively to the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe San Miguel Parish, at not less than the appraised market value.
An RMP Amendment is required to identify the criteria for lands that are to be disposed. The BLM has determined that this parcel is appropriate for sale because the small isolated tract is difficult to manage and would serve an important public need. The EA can be viewed on the BLM’s ePlanning website listed below. Comments may be submitted using the BLM’s ePlanning website at: https://go.usa.gov/xdVGX from March 16 until April 14, 2020. Comments which contain only opinions or preferences will not receive a formal response; however, they will be considered in the BLM decision-making process. The most useful comments are those that contain new technical or scientific information, identify issues relevant to the proposal, identify alternatives, or provide technical or scientific rationale for opinions or preferences.
Before including an address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment—including personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
For further project-specific information, please contact BLM Realty Specialist Virginia Alguire at (575) 838-1290 or BLM Planning and Environmental Coordinator Kristen Long at (575) 838-1263.
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.