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Mineral Claim Stakes in BLM
To Placitas Residents:
We recently learned about something that is significant and needs YOUR immediate attention. This has to do with the BLM Rio Puerco (Albuquerque) Resource Management Plan (RMP) Revision and Environmental Impact Statement.
As you probably know, the vacant area immediately to the north of Placitas, as well as other nearby parcels, are owned and controlled by the BLM Rio Puerco Field Office, which is developing a revision to the RMP. Although the original comment period has closed, apparently there is still time to influence their final RMP decisions. Their web site, http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Rio_Puerco_Field_Office/rpfo_rmp_revision.html
says:
Comments Yes, it's still true. If you didn't get your comments into to us by the deadline of May 31, don't worry. Although it was best that you sent in your information by our deadline, (think early bird and worms) you will have another chance to make general comments that will be taken in consideration for the analysis of alternatives until September 30, 2008. You can still comment by email at nm_rpfo_comment@blm.gov and mail your comments to 435 Montaño NE, Albuquerque, NM87107. At our last La Mesa HOA Board meeting, Lew Fisher reported that he has learned, on good authority, that several companies have placed mineral (oil, gas and uranium drilling/mining) claim stakes on the BLM Placitas property. (This the open land immediately north of Sundance Mesa, La Mesa, the Placitas Open Space and Mustang Mesa.) Such a claim does not permit them to begin drilling or mining, but establishes priority when or if the area is opened for such use. Several Placitas communities , including La Mesa and Sundance Mesa, among others, used to be owned by BLM. When this land was sold for private development, the mineral rights were not included (check your title history) and we as homeowners do not necessarily own the mineral rights beneath our homes. Current technology enables drilling/mining to be carried out on numerous angles from the initial point of entry. We can readily envision how such activities, if allowed, could affect our individual residential properties, especially with regard to value. Lew has been provided with text that people can use in submitting a comment to the BLM asking to preclude drilling or mining. He has been told that BLM will count numbers of comments on a topic, from the full number of submitters, if they are each individual residents. Each of us can submit as many comments as we want, presumably on different topics. So if you have an opinion on allowing drilling or mining in the BLM property north of Placita s and elsewhere on BLM land around our community, we strongly urge you to voice that opinion to the BLM. Even if you have already sent in comments, you may still comment on this topic. If by chance your opinion is not in favor of such drilling/mining activity, here is text you can use in a comment. Feel free to modify it, but please be sure to keep your desired meaning clear.
I respectfully request that the BLM land adjacent to Placitas be withdrawn from mineral entry, to include both solid minerals and liquid minerals. The land areas encompassed within this request include the Placitas Block, the 240 acre tract to the south, and the Crest of Montezuma land, which spans an additional 1,000 acres. Placitas is a growing community of over 5,500 residents, and mineral extraction activities are incompatible with this residential area.
The BLM comment form is at: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/nm/field_offices/rio_puerco/rio_puerco_plan ning/rpfo_rmpr_planning/rpfo_rmpr_docs.Par.74837.File.dat/eCommentForm.pdf You may submit comments several ways.
- Send an email to: nm_rpfo_comment@blm.gov
- Fill out and submit that attached PDF comment form electronically by clicking the "Submit by email" on the upper right of the form
- Fill out and submit that attached PDF comment form by printing and mailing to:
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Attn: Joe Blackmon
Rio Puerco Resource Area
435 Montano N..E
Albuquerque, NMÂ 87107 My understanding is that Mr. Blackmon is both counting comments received on each particular topic, and extracting significant quotes for his report. So if you can provide him with a memorable quote, that would be useful. —TOP OF PAGE— |
