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Note: Not all projects may appear on map. See list below for complete list of projects with more information or documentation.
SOPA Reports
The Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) contains a list of proposed
actions for Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands that will soon begin or are currently undergoing environmental
analysis and documentation. It provides information so that you can become
aware of and indicate your interest in specific proposals. We encourage your
early and ongoing involvement in any proposals of interest to you.
Received a proposal from a proponent who owns two inholdings on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District, Cibola National Forest and requesting two road easements to gain access to these properties.
PNM is requesting authorization to relocate electronic equipment and replace a pole near the Ellis Trailhead (off Hwy 536). PNM is requesting to replace 1,750 feet of three phase underground distribution line and replace (2) poles in the vicinity.
PNM is requesting authorization to drive overland replace pole M18B002 and use an off-highway vehicle on power line trail to repair the crossarm on pole M18B012.
The purpose of the project is to improve the ecosystem resilience of a priority landscape to future disturbances by restoring forest structure and composition and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
Proposal to develop an oil/gas well, including constructing a well pad, gas gathering pipeline corridor, an access road to the well pad, installation of a cattle guard in the road, and 5 strand barbed wire fence around the well pad.
Proposal to develop an oil and gas well, including construction of a well pad, 66-foot long road to the well, and installation of a 1,600-foot long gas pipeline.
Proposal to develop federal minerals lease, including construction of a well pad, 100-foot long road to the well pad, and installation of a 400-foot long gas pipeline.
Proposal to drill 3 wells from one well location pad, 435 feet by 350 feet in size. The proposal also includes construction of 370-foot long road and 1048-foot long gas pipeline.
This project will replant appropriate native timber species such as ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir in areas severely burned in the 2022 Bear Trap Fire. Planting 200 acres or more at 100 to 300 trees per acre over each of the next 5 years (2025-2030).
Project proposed to place fiber optic cable within the south right-of-way of NM 165. By plow, trench and bore method; project enters Forest Service right-of-way south of NM 165%u2019s Mile post 2.75 and exits the right-of-way at mile post 4.09.
Management and removal of the invasive species feral hogs (Sus scrofa) on Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands to improve wildlife habitat and prairie health.
Proposal to improve wildlife habitat within 40,000 acres of ponderosa pine, mountain meadow, and pinyon-juniper forest communities through thinning and prescribe burning.
The project objectives are to develop a low-water crossing which allows full passage of aquatic organisms and preserves vehicular access to the public land across the Canadian river as well as maintaining a pool habitat upstream.
The project will implement restoration treatments such as thinning to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire by reducing fuels on the remaining unburned forested watershed in the central Manzano Mountains.
Offer a Granger-Thye (GT) Special Use Permit for a private company to operate the Capulin Snow Play Area during the winter recreation season. A GT permit authorizes the permit holder to operate a Forest Service facility and charge a fee for use.
Proposal to improve forest health through thinning, mastication, prescribe burning, and treatment of non-native invasive plant species, well as trail relocation and limiting mountain biking and horse back riding to existing trails.
Proposal to convert existing aerial transmission line to sub-surface. Includes removal of 33 power poles and installation of approximately 4,224 feet of sub-surface line along the existing right-of-way adjacent to CR B067.
Revision of the 1985 Cibola National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan to develop specific direction for the Sandia, Mountainair, Mount Taylor, and Magdalena Ranger Districts.
Relocate existing segments of CDNST to protect watershed health and improve trail sustainability and experience. New trail construction will be 10.7 miles with 7.2 miles of corresponding segments to be closed and rehabilitated.
This project will restore the forest ecosystem and reduce fuel loadings on the Gallinas Unit of the Mountainair District. The treatments are needed to reduce the potential of uncharacteristic wildfires to protect the Community of Corona.
A total of 2,465 acres will be planted within the Dog Head Fire Burn Scar. Depending on soil suitability for planting, 100 to 200 trees per acre would be planted.
Project on approximately 16,700 acres to restore more natural vegetative conditions and reintroduce fire into fire adapted ecosystem. Thin dense stands with hand and mechanical tools, construct small watershed structures, and prescribe burn.
ENMR Telephone Cooperative is seeking to enhance their existing network infrastructure by increasing resiliency and bandwidth through infrastructure upgrades and new fiber routes in New Mexico and Texas.
ENMR has requested an amendment to their current special use permit to occupy approximately 0.05 acres of right-of-way for installation and maintenance of buried fiber optic cable to service a tower at the Gallinas Peak Communications Site.
Thinning and prescribed burning to reduce tree density and re-establish pinyon-juniper and mixed pinyon-juniper/Ponderosa pine savannas and woodlands. Cut material will be available for forest products, primarily fuelwood.
Mineral exploration consisting of drilling up to 2 drill holes from 2 drill pads (75 ft. X 150 ft.); accessing sites by existing roads and overland travel.
Improve habitat diversity, reduce fuels and provide forest products through the use of prescribed burning and thinning. About 1000 acres of thinning along Forest Roads 205, 275, and 422 and about 2,500 acres of prescribed burning.
Hazardous fuels reduction project, including mechanical thinning, hand piling, broadcast and pile burning on about 400 acres between Sandia Mountain Wilderness and private land.
Proposal to remove trees by individual and group selection, masticate slash and understory vegetation, and prescribe burn to improve wildlife habitat, forest health, and reduce fuel loads.
New permit to UNM researcher to take over an existing weather station operated by USGS and replace some of the equipment for the purpose of monitoring meteorological conditions including snow depth for hydrological and groundwater recharge.
Reduce hazardous fuels and restore ecosystem structure, composition, and function using thinning and prescribed burning on about 12,600 acres across multiple ownerships (national forest, Chilili land grant, Dept of Defense, and Pueblo of Isleta).
A project to analyze changes to the transportation system. The selected alternative will result in a system of roads and trails designated for motorized use and a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) displaying the roads and trails open to motorized use.
We propose to manage vegetation to improve wildlife habitat, reduce fuels, and restore shortgrass prairie, pinyon-juniper, and sand sage vegetation habitats using different vegetation management activities including Rx burning, thinning, and more.
Revision of the 1985 Cibola National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan to develop specific direction for the Kiowa, Rita Blanca, Black Kettle, and McClellan Creek National Grasslands.
Laramide Resources (USA) Inc. is proposing underground mine development, operation, and reclamation over a 20-year time span for uranium. The Cibola NF will be reviewing the 2012 DEIS and release an updated DEIS for public review and comment.
Proposal to issue a special use permit to the La Puerta Homeowners Association for use of an existing 2 inch diameter water transmission pipeline across National Forest System land.
Proposal for private easement to personal property in Tajique Land Grant. Easement would be 0.91 miles in length and 20-feet wide. There is an existing 2-track that runs from FR32IH (decommissioned) to the property.
Hiking, Mountain Biking, and Equestrian Trail planning for an externally proposed project on Grants Ridge. Cibola Trail Alliance in collaboration with the Zuni Mountain Collaborative is the proponent proposing trail development.
The Forest Service has received a Plan of Operations from Tierra Rara LLC exploration mining company to conduct an exploration drill project for Rare Earth Element (REE) minerals (Cerium, Lanthanum and Neodymium) in Lincoln County.
This project purpose is to enhance wildlife habitat by reintroducing fire as a natural process, to reduce fuels in areas at high risk of catastrophic wildfire and to build fuel breaks in strategic locations for fire fighter safety.
Proposal to designate the motorized transportation system on the district to comply with the Travel Management Rule. End product will be a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) that shows roads and trails open to motorized use.
Designation & repair of 9 miles of unauthorized trails and construction of 2 miles of trail in the Manzanita Mountains Trail System. Perform minor upgrades to Pine Flat Trailhead including closure of 0.10 miles of FS RD 54A.
The purpose of the McGaffey Project is to reestablish and restore forest structure and pattern, forest health, and vegetation composition and diversity in forest ecosystems to conditions within the natural range of variability
We propose to construct 1.5 miles of roads by extending the K-87 and K-87A road in the Mills Management Area. The purpose of the project is to provide public access for visitor recreational activities and the enjoyment of Mesteno Canyon.
Proposal to allow the US Geological Survey to install & maintain a micrometeorological station on the east slope of the Sandia Mountain, including an 8 foot tower with sensors, 12 square foot concrete pad, & fence to protect the site.
Withdraw from mineral entry about 1,000 acres of habitat in 4 areas to facilitate recovery of the federally threatened Zuni fleabane (Erigeron rhizomatous).
A proposal to decommission 90 miles of roads/routes to reduce erosion, soil compaction and sedimentation, which would result in enhancing water quality and wildlife habitat.
Proposal to construct and install atmospheric sensing equipment to include (1) 14'x14' concrete pad which will support a 7' observatory dome, a telescope mount, plastic deck, (2) solar battery boxes, and (4) solar panels.
This project is to improve ecosystem resilience to future disturbances by restoring forest structure and composition and reducing the risk of catastrophic fire using hand and mechanical treatments and prescribed fire.
The proposal provides for treating invasive plants using an integrated management approach incorporating adaptive management, which will allow for treatment of newly discovered plant infestations that are likely to occur over time
Proposal to replace an expired permit and issue a 10-year priority special use permit to Cedar Crest Country Cottage & Stables for guided horseback riding.
Proposal to designate, construct, rehabilitate and close undesignated non-motorized trails near and within the Bernalillo Watershed Research Natural Area and Sandia Mountain Wilderness.
Proposal to repair seven playa basins by filling in pits which were dug in the 1970%u2019s. The piles of soil which remain from the original pitting will be placed back in each borrow pit using a bulldozer.
Decrease fuel loading while improving livestock distribution on the Pueblo Colorado Allotment in the Gallinas Unit of the Mountainair RD in cooperation with NRCS through a Coordinated Resource Management Plan (CRMP). Rescoping initiated 9/3/24.
Increase watershed resiliency by reestablishing and restoring forest structure and pattern, health, fire regime, vegetation composition and diversity of forest ecosystems to conditions within the natural range of variability and desired conditions.
Authorize installation of fiber optic cable along existing telephone poles on aerial fiber optic line along Highway 337 to the Cedro Peak Communication Site
Proposal to restore 1 playa basin by filling in pits which were dug in the 1970%u2019s. The spoil piles which remain from the original pitting will be placed back in the original borrow pits.
The Mt Taylor Ranger District proposes to decommission several developed recreation infrastructures that are no longer needed and/or exhibit safety hazard. Decommissioning projects include structures near McGaffey CG and Sawyer in the Zuni Mtns.
Timber stand and wildlife habitat improvement, including mechanical thinning, hand piling, broadcast and pile burning on about 360 acres adjacent to the Manzano Land Grant community.
Proposal to develop and conduct underground uranium mining operations on Roca Honda Resources LLC mining claims on and near Jesus Mesa with a surface disturbance area of 183 acres.
To install approximately 8 miles of fiber optic line along the powerline corridor on the Mt. Taylor side of the District, along the PNM and Continental Divide Electric Power line road.
Sandia Cave NHL Improvements Project has been designed to help the Sandia Ranger District manage the site at a level commensurate with the current visitation demands that are increasingly impacting the safety, environment, and visitor experience.
The Sandia Crest House is under a current special use permit and is being transferred to a new owner. With the transfer, a new permit will be issued with a 20-year term.
The Sandia Crest House is under a current special use permit and is being transferred to a new owner. With the transfer, a new permit will be issued with a 20 year term.
Conduct broad renovations to the existing site and associated features that will bring the site up to current standards, decrease short- and long-term maintenance needs, and provide a more sustainable recreation site into the future.
Proposal to entirely replace lift 1 with a new modern lift. This will include the removal of the existing towers, and the installation of new towers, rope & chairs, and drive house.
Construction of a mountain coaster by Sandia Peak Ski Area(SPSA). In 2017 SPSA modified their master plan with conceptual long term operations including year-round recreational uses outlined in 2011 Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act.
The Sandia Peak Tram is proposing to install 2 anchor points (north and south) located in line with the Tram Super Structure. The installation is needed to slip each track rope pair as a unit and is required maintenance set forth by ANSI.IB77.1.
Re-issue a special use permit for the Sandia Soaring Association for a maximum term of 10 years to provide for continued use of two launches for hang- and paragliding.
Improve & expand non-motorized dispersed recreation opportunities (trails) w/construction,designation,relocation,decommissioning of trails.Install barriers,rehabilitation/closure activities to limit degradation from vehicles at informal parking areas
Allow for and promote recovery of the Shush Ken Histosol Fen, the improvement of riparian characteristics in the headwaters of Bluewater creek, improvement of habitat for Rio Grande sucker (Catostomus plebeius) and the Rio Grande chub (Gila pandora).
Proposal to drill new well, which would include the construction of a well pad, and installation of a storage tank, drinker, and pipelines to tie the new well to 3 existing drinkers.
Restoration of vegetation and wildlife habitat condition. Also hazardous fuels reduction including mechanical thinning, hand piling, and prescribed burning that will reduce the potential for crown fires
Project is composed of two planned 500kV transmission lines across 520mi in NM and AZ. The selected alternative does not cross through NFS lands and the Cibola NFNG will not be issuing a ROD. The BLM signed the ROD on May 16, 2023.
Restore pinyon/juniper (P/J) woodland where high tree density, severe competition causing tree mortality, reduced structural diversity, and lack of forage production compromise overall forest health and resilience to insects and diseases.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. proposes to install a concrete slab and replace their communication building on La Mosca Peak. El Paso Natural Gas Co. proposes to install a concrete slab and replace their generator on Microwave Ridge.
The purpose of the Terrero Forest Restoration and Fuels Reduction Project is to improve the ecosystem resilience of a priority landscape to future disturbances by restoring forest structure and composition and reducing the risk of wildfire.
To restore the ecosystem to desired conditions through timber harvest and prescribed burning while creating a fuel break around the Timber Lake Ranch community and providing access to firewood for neighboring communities.
Proposal to issue a special use permit to the Town of Clayton for the construction and maintenance of a water transmission line to connect the town water system with potable water wells outside the town limits.
Proposal for new aerial distribution line to include (10) 40' class 3 wooden poles & 1/0 ACSR wire for the purpose of connecting services between our Felt Substation & Three Corners Substation for local electric services.
KNME-TV is requesting permission to amend existing permit to remove their current tower and replace with a new 140%u2019 self-supporting tower south of their building on Sandia Crest Communication Site. No additional uses, no change to tower height.
Proposal to approve multiple Plans of Operations for exploratory drilling to determine the extent of uranium deposits in several areas on the mesas surrounding Mt. Taylor.
Proposal to install (1) 4' x 10' concrete pad with 500-gallon propane tank, (1) 5' x 9' concrete pad with propane generator, 15' of sub-surface gas line, and 90' of sub-surface electrical conduit within the existing Datil Communication Site boundary.
Closure and decomissioning of eoads within the Zuni Mountains using various methods. Designation of mountain bike and hiking trails in the Zuni Mountains.
Project Archive
Some of our older projects can be accessed in our Project Archive.
Climate Change Adaptation
Carbon Stewardship
Environmental Justice
Facility Management
Research
Fuels Management
Heritage Resource Management
Land Ownership Management
Land Acquisition
Minerals And Geology
Unknown
Land Management Planning
Projects That May Affect Wilderness (For Mailing List Contacts)
Road Management
Grazing Management
Regulations, Directives, Orders
Special Area Management
Recreation Management
Special Use Management
Forest Products
Vegetation Management (Other Than Forest Products)
