The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office is seeking public comment on the draft environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed relocation of approximately six miles of the New Mexico Gas Company’s Taos Mainline. This is a natural gas utility pipeline that serves as the only purveyor of natural gas to the communities of Taos, Questa, and Red River in Taos County, New Mexico. The public comment period will be open from Jan. 10, 2017, to Feb. 10, 2017.
The project is located primarily on BLM lands within the Rio Grande gorge along State Highway 68. The proposed project area would begin northwest of Rinconada and would terminate northeast of Pilar. The New Mexico Gas Company has filed an application for right-of-way to relocate a portion of the natural gas pipeline to address pipeline stress related to the location of the existing pipeline within landslide-prone areas. If approved by the BLM, construction of the proposed pipeline would begin in August 2017 and last approximately four months.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the BLM has prepared a draft EA to assess the potential impacts of the project’s Proposed Action, No Action, and one other alternative.
As part of the NEPA process, the BLM has issued the draft EA for a 30-day public review period. The public is encouraged to review the draft EA, available at: eplanning.blm.gov. Copies of the draft EA may also be viewed at the BLM Taos Field Office (address listed below). Public comments can be submitted to the BLM via email at blm_nm_tafo_comments@blm.gov, by fax at 575-758-1620, or by mail to Bureau of Land Management, c/o Brad Higdon, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571.
For additional information, please contact Brad Higdon, BLM Planning and Environmental Specialist, at 575-751-4725.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
