Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
01/01/2022 to 03/31/2022
Santa Fe National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Santa Fe National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Santa Fe National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Santa Fe National Forest,  Coyote Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Santa Fe National Forest,  Cuba Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Santa Fe National Forest,  Espanola Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Santa Fe National Forest,  Jemez Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Santa Fe National Forest,  Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Locatable Mining Rule - 36 CFR 228, subpart A.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  On Hold  N/A  N/A Sarah Shoemaker
907-586-7886
sarahshoemaker@fs.fed.us 
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes revisions to its regulations at 36 CFR 228, Subpart A governing locatable minerals operations on National Forest System lands.A draft EIS & proposed rule should be available for review/comment in late 2020
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57214
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. These regulations apply to all NFS lands open to mineral entry under the US mining laws. More Information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/minerals/locatable-minerals/current-revisions.
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Santa Fe National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Santa Fe National Forest Land Management Plan Revision
EIS
 - Land management planning  In Progress:
Objection Period Legal Notice 09/02/2021  		Expected:03/2022
  		04/2022 Jennifer Cramer
505-438-5449
jennifer.cramer@usda.gov 
Description: Land Management Plan (Forest Plan) Revision
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/santafe/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprd3791442
Location: UNIT - Santa Fe National Forest All Units. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Santa Fe National Forest; Counties of Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Taos, New Mexico.
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Santa Fe National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
New Mexico Gas Company Pipeline Maintenance Project
EA
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Sandra Imler-Jacquez
505-438-5443
comments-southwestern-santafe@fs.fed.us 
Description: We are proposing to allow the implementation of pipeline inspections, maintenance, and repairs on the Department of Energy (DOE) natural gas pipeline on Santa Fe National Forest System lands.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53854
Location: UNIT - Cuba Ranger District, Jemez Ranger District, Espanola Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval. LEGAL - Not Applicable. 25 miles of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) and approximately 13 miles of the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) lands in the Jemez Mountains, within Sandoval, Rio Arriba, and Los Alamos counties.
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Santa Fe National Forest,   Coyote Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Encino Vista Landscape Restoration Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 11/19/2019
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 02/2022  		Expected:06/2022
  		06/2022 Sandra Imler-Jacquez
505.438.5443
sandraimlerjacquez@fs.fed.us 
Description: To restore the frequent-fire forests by modifying the arrangement of forest stands, openings, and interspaces in order to improve the potential for stand regeneration and offset the risk of forest type loss due to natural success an wildfire.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54965
Location: UNIT - Coyote Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Rio Arriba. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project analysis area is located on the Coyote and Espanola Ranger Districts in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.
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Santa Fe National Forest,   Cuba Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Cuba Mesa Communications Site Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 11/17/2021  11/2021 Leah Hurley
541-592-4021
leah.hurley@usda.gov 
Description: Issuance of two Special Use Permits. Permit #1 would be issued to Crown Atlantic Company LLC for permit renewal and extension of their current tower. Permit #2 would be issued to New Cingular Wireless CPS,LLC for cabinet installation.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61123
Location: UNIT - Cuba Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Sandoval. LEGAL - Township 21N, Range 2W, Section 24. Approximately 3 air miles northwest of the Village of Cuba along Forest Service Road 88.
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Santa Fe National Forest,   Espanola Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Army National Guard Helicopter Landing Zones on the Santa Fe National Forest.
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Lynn Bjorklund
505-753-7331
lbjorklund@fs.fed.us 
Description: Army National Guard requests a 10 year authorization permit to use specific 30 meter radius locations on the Santa Fe National Forest as Helicopter landing Zones. Air Medical out of Los Alamos also requests to permit select locations west of Santa Fe
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52927
Location: UNIT - Espanola Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Various areas of National Forest System lands in the vicinity of Santa Fe New Mexico.
Camp May Water Pipeline Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Objection Period Legal Notice 12/02/2021  		Expected:12/2021
  		01/2022 Lynn Bjorklund
505-753-7331
lbjorklund@fs.fed.us 
Description: Installation of an underground water pipeline and pump stations from West Road to Pajarito Ski Area along the ski hill road for snow making and fire response. Includes a new water tank adjacent to the existing Tank along West Road on DOE land
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53328
Location: UNIT - Espanola Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Los Alamos. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Water Pipeline up Ski Hill Road to the Pajarito Ski Area.
Cerro Pelon Timber Stand and Wildlife Habitat Improvement Project
CE
 - Forest products  On Hold  N/A  N/A David Gilmore
(505) 753-7331
davidgilmore@fs.fed.us 
Description: Thin pinyon-juniper approximately 315 ac. to improve the health and fire resilence of the stand. Espected results of increased pinyon nut production for birds and wildlife. Some additional herbaceous forage should also result with reduced soil loss.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=31395
Location: UNIT - Espanola Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Rio Arriba. LEGAL - T.22N., R.5E., Section 15. Northwest side of Cerro Pelon west of Abiquiu, NM.
Los Alamos Master Trails Plan
EA
 - Recreation management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Lynn Bjorklund
505-753-7331
lbjorklund@fs.fed.us 
Description: This proposal will create--to the extent possible--a collective vision of what a trail system should be in the National Forest system lands located in Los Alamos County. This collective vision would then form a proposed action for NEPA review.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53165
Location: UNIT - Espanola Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Los Alamos. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Trails within the Santa Fe National Forest in Los Alamos County.
Pajarito Mountain Nordic Trails
CE
 - Fuels management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Lynn Bjorklund
505-753-7331
lbjorklund@fs.fed.us 
Description: Hazard tree felling along Nordic ski trails and removal of top layer of stacked fuel along side of trail, except in Canada Bonita RNA. Also trail stabilization on eroded sections near Canada Bonita meadow.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53435
Location: UNIT - Espanola Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Los Alamos. LEGAL - T19N, R5E, Sections 2, 3, 10, 11 and T 20 N, R 5E, sec 34. . Nordic Ski Trails north of Pajarito Mountain Ski Area.
Rio Chama Aquatic and Wetland Habitat Restoration Project
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 10/2019  		Expected:03/2020  04/2020 Sandra Imler-Jacquez
505-438-5443
sandraimlerjacquez@fs.fed.us 
Description: To increase the diversity and quality of aquatic habitat for fish and invertebrates in the Rio Chama downstream from Abiquiu Dam to the vicinity of Highway 84 (near Abiquiu, NM).
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54724
Location: UNIT - Espanola Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Rio Arriba. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The analysis area is the Rio Chama from Abiquiu Dam downstream approximately 6.5 miles, between the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, to the a point 1.35 miles upstream of the Highway 84 bridge.
Santa Fe Mountains Landscape Resiliency Project
EA
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/10/2019
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 09/2021  		Expected:03/2022
  		03/2022 Sandra Imler-Jacquez
575-581-4554
sandra.imler-jacquez@usda.gov 
Description: The purpose of this project is to improve the resilience of a priority landscape to future disturbances by restoring forest and watershed health and reducing the risk for catastrophic wildfire.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55088
Location: UNIT - Espanola Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Santa Fe. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project area is located to the east of Santa Fe on the Espanola and Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger Districts.
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Santa Fe National Forest,   Jemez Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Cebolla/San Antonio Riparian Upland Restoration Wells
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Grazing management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/19/2018  		Expected:09/2019
  		10/2019 William Eaton
505-289-3264
weaton01@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal is to drill 2 wells in the Cebolla/San Antonio allotment to provide reliable water sources and move livestock away from critical habitat for the New Mexico jumping mouse.
Location: UNIT - Jemez Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Sandoval. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Cebolla/San Antonio allotment.
Cebolla/San Antonio and San Diego Grazing Allotments Environmental Assessment
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Grazing management  Completed  Actual: 10/08/2021  11/2021 William Eaton
505-289-3264
comments-southwestern-santafe-jemez@fs.fed.us 
Description: The purpose and need for this project is to ensure that the forest authorizes livestock grazing in a manner that balances permitted use with capacity and maintains and/or improves range, wildlife habitat and watershed conditions across the allotments
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53401
Location: UNIT - Jemez Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Sandoval. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Jemez Ranger District, Sandoval County, New Mexico.
Mushroom and Pony Water Wells
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Grazing management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 05/17/2019  		Expected:06/2019
  		07/2019 William Eaton
505-289-3264
weaton01@fs.fed.us 
Description: Drill two wells within the Cebolla/San Antonio Allotment to provide a more reliable water source and allow the exclusion of livestock from the Rio Cebolla and San Antonio Creek riparian areas during critical times for the NM meadow jumping mouse.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56190
Location: UNIT - Jemez Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Sandoval. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Cebolla/San Antonio Allotment.
Ponderosa Water Association Amendment
CE
 - Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/19/2018  		Expected:03/2019
  		03/2019 Leah Hurley
541-592-4021
leahhurley@fs.fed.us 
Description: Install a new above ground water storage tank and establishing a 100 foot right-of-way to access the tank.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55452
Location: UNIT - Jemez Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Sandoval. LEGAL - Not Applicable. T17N/R3E/Section 30 in Sandoval County, New Mexico.
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Santa Fe National Forest,   Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Capulin/Walker Flats CFRP Project
CE
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 08/14/2019  		Expected:09/2021
  		10/2021 Michael Lujan
505-425-3534
mihael.lujan@usda.gov 
Description:  This project will engage the public and prepare the necessary requirements for vegetative treatments that will reduce overgrown and overstocked conditions and thereby promoting better forest health, watershed conditions and wildlife habitat.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56452
Location: UNIT - Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - Mora. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Capulin and Walker Flat areas of Mora County, New Mexico.
Comexico Jones Hill Exploration
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/02/2019
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 01/2022  		Expected:05/2022
  		05/2022 Larry Gore
575-289-3264
larry.gore@usda.gov 
Description: Core drilling for mineral exploration on Jones Hill.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56733
Location: UNIT - Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - San Miguel, Santa Fe. LEGAL - T.17 N., R.11 E., sec. 1 T.17 N., R.12 E., sec. 5,6,8 NMPM. Jones Hill in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe and San Miguel Counties, New Mexico.
El Pueblo/Anton Chico Small Products
CE
 - Forest products
- Fuels management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Alberta Maez
505-425-3534
amaez@fs.fed.us 
Description: The project area is overgrown and overstocked with woody vegetation consisting primarily of dense juniper and pinon. The majority of the trees are small averaging less than 12 inches DRC. The district proposes thinning and prescribed burning.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55443
Location: UNIT - Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - San Miguel. LEGAL - Not Applicable. El Pueblo/Anton Chico area on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District.
Rowe Mesa II
CE
 - Fuels management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/19/2018  		Expected:09/2020
  		11/2020 Alberta Maez
505-425-3534
amaez@fs.fed.us 
Description: proposing a project to promote a mosaic of healthy forests stands and natural grasslands by thinning and prescribed burning in pinon/juniper, and ponderosa pine trees that have encroached into the understory of woodlands and into meadows of Row Mesa.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55446
Location: UNIT - Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District. STATE - New Mexico. COUNTY - San Miguel. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Rowe Mesa.
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