Southwestern Region, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas and Oklahoma: Proposed Forest Plan Amendment to the Land and Resource Management Plan for Natural Gas Resource Development and Leasing Decision on Jicarilla Ranger District, Carson National Forest, Rio Arriba County, NM; Additional Filings

Résumé

The USDA Forest Service initially published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (67 FR 52706-52709, August 13, 2002) for the Proposed Surface Management of Natural Gas Resource Development Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) project on the Jicarilla Ranger District, Carson National Forest. The Draft EIS (DEIS) for this project was released in October 2003. Based on public comments received on the DEIS, the Carson Forest Supervisor determined there was a need to clarify the Purpose and Need for Action and to modify the Proposed Action. This EIS prepared under this Notice of Intent will replace the DEIS that was previously prepared. The USDA Forest Service will prepare an EIS on a proposal to amend the Forest's Land and Resource Management Plan (hereafter called Forest Plan) to incorporate standards and guidelines for surface management of natural gas resource development on the Jicarilla Ranger District. Additionally, the amendment would include the designation of five geographical areas as "Areas of Resource Concerns" that recognize the unique characteristics of each area and would provide area direction on how to manage these areas. The amendment would incorporate a decisi