Diverse Stakeholders urge Bureau of Land Management to protect public lands in Southeast New Mexico

Calls come as Carlsbad BLM Field Office holds public meetings on Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for public comment

The Carlsbad Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office has released a draft management plan for more than 2 million acres of public land in southeast New Mexico, including Eddy, Lea, and a part of Chavez counties. Once finalized, the plan will guide how and where development, conservation and other land uses are managed for the next 20 years or more.

Already, more than 70% of your public lands in the Carlsbad region are leased for oil and gas drilling, with more industry lease sales planned for this winter. Despite this development, numerous natural areas still exist, particularly near the Guadalupe National Forest and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. As a one of the best places in the U.S. to view a diverse array of hawks and eagles, along with sensitive salt playas that support rare native plants, our voices can make a difference for wildlife and wildlands in the BLM’s final plan. See our maps, photos and more in this beautiful storymap of the region.

“Although in its infancy, the oil and gas boom is so intense and pervasive that cattle ranch operations are becoming extremely challenging across our BLM grazing allotments,” said Wayne Smith, a local rancher. “Cut fences, open gates, toxic water spills, lack of enforcement of existing public land use policies, and the devastating loss of available forage are forcing some ranchers to sell out. We need the BLM to conserve more land and forage for traditional uses like ranching, while improving their enforcement of rules that govern energy development on our public lands, as published in the Code of Federal Regulations.”

While few intact natural areas remain in the region, those that do are significant in their array of wildlife, plants, cave, and cultural resources. In the preferred alternative in the draft plan — the management proposal the agency is likely to adopt — less than one-half of one percent of the lands (5,000 acres) are proposed to be protected for their wilderness characteristics. Additionally, about five percent of the area is proposed to be designated as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), but none of these are areas that were proposed for protection by citizen groups. This includes sensitive salt playas and red sand dunes, threatened nesting sites for herons, riparian habitat along desert waterways, and grasslands for birds of prey.

To see the places that could be lost should the BLM choose its preferred alternative, please see this new Story Map that includes photos and videos of the areas; overviews about the wildlife, cultural, and natural resources that would be impacted; economic data; and a planning process overview.

Judy Calman, staff attorney with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, added, “BLM is the trustee for America’s public lands. Its responsibility is to manage the land for multiple uses, and to preserve not just opportunities for mineral extraction, but also to preserve the remaining special places near parks, rivers, and intact grasslands. Tourism around Carlsbad Caverns provides huge economic benefits to their community, and New Mexicans treasure their ability to hunt, hike, and birdwatch on local public lands. The BLM should create a balanced plan which protects all these activities for future generations.”

A 90-day public comment period on the draft plan is open until November 5, 2018, and public meetings will be held by the BLM throughout the region:

· Monday September 17, 12:30–3 PM; 5:30–8 PM, Pecos River Village Conference Center, 711 Muscatel Avenue, CARLSBAD, NM.

· Tuesday September 18, 12:30–3 PM, Central Valley Electric Cooperative, 1403 N. 13th Street ARTESIA, NM.

· Tuesday September 18, 5:30–8 PM, Holiday Inn Roswell, 3620 North Main Street ROSWELL, NM.

· Wednesday September 19, 5:30–8 PM, Village of Hope, 408 South 2nd Avenue, HOPE, NM.

· Thursday September 20, 12:30–3 PM, Holiday Inn Albuquerque, North I-25, 5050 Jefferson Street NE ALBUQUERQUE, NM.

· Tuesday September 25, 12:30–3 PM, Jal Community Center, 109 W. Panther Ave JAL, NM.

· Tuesday September 25, 5:30–8 PM, New Mexico Junior College, 5317 N Lovington Hwy, HOBBS, NM.

· Thursday September 27, 12:30–3PM, Midland County Centennial Library, 2503 Loop 250 Frontage Rd, MIDLAND, TX.

Please add your voice to protect Southeast New Mexico’s Wild Chihuahuan Desert today!