The Lincoln National Forest is proposing that the Secretary of Interior to withdraw approximately 28,513 acres of National Forest System lands south of Queen, NM from mineral exploration and development for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights.

Opportunity to Object to the Guadalupe Cave Resource Protection Area Mineral Withdrawal

The Lincoln National Forest has prepared an environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI), and draft decision notice (DN) for Guadalupe Cave Resource Protection Area Mineral Withdrawal located in the Guadalupe Ranger District. The Lincoln National Forest has submitted an application requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw approximately 28,513 acres of National Forest System lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws and from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights, for a period of 20 years. This administrative action is proposed to be implemented in Eddy County, New Mexico to protect sensitive cave resources along the Guadalupe escarpment between the Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. If approved by the Secretary of the Interior, no new prospecting permit or mineral lease applications would be authorized within the withdrawal application area on federal lands for a 20-year term.

The EA, FONSI, and draft DN are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/lincoln/?project=64160. Additional information can be obtained from Jennifer Thomas, District Ranger, at 575-630-3010 or email at jennifer.r.thomas@usda.gov. The Guadalupe Cave Resource Protection Area Mineral Withdrawal is an activity implementing a land management plan not authorized under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act and is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR Part 218, Subparts A and B.

How to file an Objection and Timeframe

Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.

Objections, including attachments, must be addressed to the Reviewing Official, Southwestern Regional Forester, filed via mail, email, express delivery, or messenger service to 333 Broadway Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, or by email to objections-southwestern-regional-office@usda.gov. Electronically filed objections may be submitted by email in word (.doc), portable document format (.pdf), rich text format (.rtf), text (.txt), and hypertext markup language (.html).

Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Alamogordo Daily News. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection. 

At a minimum, an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)):

1. The objector’s name and address, with a telephone number, if available;
2. A signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for email may be filed with the objection);
3. When multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector (verification of the identity of the lead objector shall be provided upon request);
4. The name of the proposed project, the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the name of the National Forest and/or Ranger District on which the proposed project will be implemented;
5. A description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and
6. A statement that demonstrates connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection.

Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.

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