Environment

Notice of Cancellation of Withdrawal Application for the Upper Pecos River Watershed Protection Area, New Mexico

🇺🇸United States··Notice·Medium Impact·View source ↗

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.

🇬🇧 English

The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service have canceled their joint application to withdraw 163,483 acres of National Forest System lands and 1,327.16 acres of public lands in northern New Mexico from mining claims and mineral/geothermal leasing for 20 years. The original withdrawal proposal was published on December 16, 2024. This cancellation follows a review under Secretary's Order 3418 and Executive Order 14154 Unleashing American Energy. The temporary segregation of these lands will end at 8 a.m. local time on May 6, 2026, reopening them to location and entry under the U.S. mining laws and to leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.

Key Changes

  • Cancellation of joint withdrawal application for 164,810.16 acres originally proposed
  • Segregation of 163,483 acres National Forest System lands and 1,327.16 acres public lands ends
  • Lands reopen to mining location and entry and mineral/geothermal leasing at 8 a.m. local time on May 6, 2026

+ 3 more changes with Pro

Obligations

What this law requires

high

Terminate the temporary segregation of 163,483 acres of National Forest System lands and 1,327.16 acres of public lands in the Upper Pecos River Watershed Area by 8 a.m. local time on May 6, 2026

Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service
operational
high

Reopen the segregated lands to location and entry under U.S. mining laws effective May 6, 2026 at 8 a.m. local time

Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service
operational
high

Reopen the segregated lands to leasing under mineral and geothermal leasing laws effective May 6, 2026 at 8 a.m. local time

Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service
operational
high

Ensure reopened lands remain subject to valid existing rights, existing withdrawals, other segregations of record, and applicable law requirements

Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service
operational
medium

Provide contact information and accessibility accommodations for inquiries regarding this notice, with Jillian Aragon identified as Project Manager at jgaragon@blm.gov

Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office
disclosure

Affected Parties

Mining industry and claim holdersMineral and geothermal leasing companies+3 more…

Tags

land withdrawal,mining laws,mineral leasing