United States Department of the Interior 
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

Carlsbad Field Of?ce a
620 E. Greene St. TAKE PRIDE.

Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6292 


 

February 6, 2017
Dear Judy, Nada, and David,

We are in receipt of your letter dated February 3, 2017, requesting clari?cation and
con?rmation regarding the Bureau of Land Management?s Carlsbad Field Of?ce?s
preparation and implementation of master development plans (MDP), applications for
permits to drill (APD), and deveIOpment of oil and gas resources.

The BLM values your input and it is our, intent, barring any unforeseen legal, regulatory,
or policy changes, to continue to impose conditions of approval (COA) and design
features when approving permits to drill to protect important resources in Southeastern
New Mexico, including pr0posed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC)
managed by the Carlsbad Field Of?ce and resources managed by our sister
agency, the National Park Service (NP S). We will continue to contact relevant NPS
units through the proper chain of command, inCluding nearby Carlsbad Caverns National
Park, for ?lture projects that may impact resources in an effort to seek their cooperation
and input regarding any potential impacts to those resources managed by the NPS.

In accordance with current BLM policy, as set out in BLM Manual Section 1613, the
BLM will continue to protect important and relevant values in proposed that
meet the appropriate criteria. In doing so, the BLM will analyze potential impacts, and
any associated mitigation measures, for future proposed actions that may impact such
values. The BLM acknowledges the importance of public involvement in preposed
and interested parties will continue to be noti?ed of proposed actions that could
impact relevant and important values described in Manual Section 1613. We value your
input regarding our Resource Management Plan (RMP) revision, and we intend to
evaluate mitigation measures and potential impacts on the range of alternatives under
consideration in the revision process. Although we did not identify any lands with
wilderness characteristics in the Hayhurst MDP approved on October 7, 2016, any new
information will be considered in any or other decision areas of the Carlsbad
Field Of?ce. Similarly, any identi?ed lands with wilderness characteristics will be
evaluated for mitigation measures and potential impacts on the range of alternatives that
we are considering in the Carlsbad RMP revision.

The BLM is also committed to keeping the public informed and noti?ed of preposed
actions in accordance with BLM policy, as well as applicable legal and regulatory
requirements. This includes posting on our website relevant documents concerning
MDPs in the Carlsbad Field Of?ce, including the Hayhurst MDP. The BLM will
continue to strive to make interested parties aware of proposed actions prior to their
approval and we will make a reasonable effort to identify and notify interested parties of
such projects in the future. The BLM intends to contact any organizations that have

submitted formal proposals to the BLM when such proposals may be affected by a
preposed action.

Thank you for sharing your concerns with the Carlsbad Field Of?ce and we hope
that this response clari?es the BLM Carlsbad Field Of?ce?s actions regarding the lands
we manage for the bene?t of the public. The BLM greatly appreciates your insight and
believes our continued cooperation and communication enhances and improves the
management of public lands in Southeastern New Mexico.

Sincerely,



James Stovall
Pecos District Manager