Public invited to comment on route designations for Taos Plateau
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TAOS, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management Taos Field Office seeks public comment for designating motorized and non-motorized routes on the Taos Plateau. On May 13, the agency will release a draft Travel Management Plan (TMP) and associated Environmental Assessment (EA) called, “Horsethief Mesa,” encompassing 2,060 acres of the Taos Plateau, north of Arroyo Hondo, N.M. on the Rio Grande's east rim.
The Horsethief Mesa draft plan identifies potential routes and trails for public use and establishes an organized travel network while minimizing impacts to natural resources. The TMP addresses non-motorized and motorized travel, recreation and traditional access, protection of cultural resources, wildlife, vegetative communities, soils, and visual resources. The Taos Field Office conducted public scoping for route designations from July 22 through August 22, 2020. Based on that input, the agency developed five management alternatives in the EA.
"Public comments for this plan are important so that the agency is able to meet current and future recreation needs on public lands. We want to know if we missed critical information now, so that we produce the best possible, long-lasting plan,” said Field Manager Pamela Mathis.
The public, local governments, tribal members, organizations, private property owners and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments on the draft TMP/EA during a 30-day public review, which begins May 13, 2021. The public can review the draft document by visiting the project's ePlanning website at https://go.usa.gov/xvQh9.
The public may provide written comments by mail or online:
By mail: BLM Taos Field Office, Attn: HORSETHIEF Outdoor Recreation Planner and Planner, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571.
Online: Comments can be submitted online via the project’s ePlanning site: https://go.usa.gov/xvQh9.
Please be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, it is not guaranteed. After the public review period has ended, comments will be analyzed and considered part of the administrative record.
All comments should be submitted or postmarked by June 14, 2021. Official comments are not accepted by email. Electronic comments should be submitted through the ePlanning website mentioned previously.
For more information about this TMP, please contact BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Tami Torres at 575-758-8851 or ttorres@blm.gov.
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.