U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District Office 1800 Marquess Street Las Cruces, NM 88005 CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION REVIEW/DECISION NEPA Log Number: DOI-BLM-NM-L000-2016-0130-CX Lease/Serial/Case File No.: A. Background Title of Proposed Action: Entomological Research at Dripping Springs and Aguirre Spring Location of Proposed Action: County Township Range Section QQ Dona Ana 023S 003E 001 SESW Dona Ana 023S 003E 001 NWSW Dona Ana 023S 003E 001 SWSW Dona Ana 023S 003E 002 NESE Dona Ana 023S 003E 002 SESE Dona Ana 023S 003E 012 NENW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 SENW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 SWNW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 NESW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 NENW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 SESW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 SWSW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 SENW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 SWNW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 NWSW Dona Ana 022S 004E 029 SWSW Dona Ana 022S 004E 030 NESE Dona Ana 022S 004E 030 SESE Dona Ana 022S 004E 031 NENE Dona Ana 022S 004E 032 NWNW Dona Ana 022S 004E 032 NWNW Dona Ana 022S 004E 032 NENW Applicant (if any): Scott Bundy - NMSU Description of Proposed Action: Dr. Scott Bundy, Professor of Entomology at New Mexico State University, along with his graduate research assistants, would like to monitor insect populations in the Organ Mountains. Research shall be conducted along the La Cueva trail at Dripping Springs and along the Pine Tree Loop trail at Aguirre Springs. Insects of interest all belong to the Heteroptera group and include: stink bugs (Pentatomidae, Dendrocoris contaminatus, Euschistus spp., Moromorpha tetra), burrower bugs (Cydnidae, Dallasiellus spp., etc.), plant bugs (Miridae, Phytocoris spp., Parthenicus spp., etc.), and assassin bugs (Reduviidae, Sinea spp.). None of these species are threatened or endangered but little is known about them in New Mexico, so any data gathered will be a valuable contribution to knowledge of insects for the region. All insects except for the burrower bugs would be sampled using a sweep, beat net, or hand collecting. The sweep net is used on non-woody vegetation, and the insects are swept into a net and transferred to a bucket for counting. For the beat net technique, insects are jarred from woody vegetation by gently tapping the plant with a wooden stick; insects then fall into a net for counting. Hand collecting involves visual observations of the insects on vegetation. Burrower bugs typically are found on the ground or in leaf litter. Small areas (~1 m diameter) of leaf litter would be scooped into a sifter (bag with a wire grid) to sort the fine leaf detritus from larger litter. The bugs would then be removed from the fine litter for counting. All litter would be placed back in its original location. Occasionally (3-5 times per year), the applicant would like to request setting up a black light at one or both sites. The black light consists of a light draped over a white sheet secured between two trees. Insects are attracted to the light and sampled. The light would be set up near dusk and maintained for a couple of hours. None of the techniques used will be destructive to plants or the environment. The majority of the insects would be released after counting. However, a series of these insects would need to be taken back to NMSU to determine/verify identities of the specimens. These insects would be deposited into the NMSU Arthropod Collection and databased. B. Conformance with Land Use Plan This proposed action conforms with the Mimbres RMP because it is specifically provided for in the land use decision(s): Or, it is clearly consistent with the following decisions, objectives, and conditions of the RMP: The proposed action is in conformance with the LUP, even though it is not specifically provided for, because it is clearly consistent with the mission statement and management philosophy of the agency, which guides all Land Use Plan decisions set forth in the Mimbres RMP: “BLM management is based upon the principles of multiple use and sustained yield; a combination of uses that takes into account the long term needs of future generations for renewable and nonrenewable resources. These resources include recreation, range, timber, minerals, watershed, fish and wildlife, wilderness and natural, scenic, scientific and historical values.” This proposed action is categorically excluded from further documentation under NEPA in accordance with BLM NEPA Handbook 1790-1 Appendix 3 or Appendix 4 CXAP3_1.6 DOI Nondestructive data collection, inventory (including field, aerial, and satellite surveying and mapping), study, research, and monitoring activities. This action does not meet any of the extraordinary circumstances described in 516 DM 2, Appendix 2. Review for Extraordinary Circumstances Signature Date Impact Archaeologist David Legare 08/25/2016 No w/ Stipulations Biologist - Plant/TE Cody Howard 08/22/2016 No Biologist - Wildlife/TE Cody Howard 08/22/2016 No I have reviewed this proposed categorical exclusion and determined that it is appropriate for the proposed action and that none of the Categorical Exclusions Extraordinary Circumstances apply. Signatures By Signature Date Planning & Environmental Coordinataor Jennifer Montoya 08/25/2016 Preparer Justina Thorsen 08/26/2016 Finding:Based upon the above review, I have determined that the proposed action (as described, including any indicated stipulations) is in conformance with the land use plan and meets criteria for the selected categorical exclusion in that none of the Extraordinary Circumstances apply. Therefore, the action is excluded from further environmental analysis and documentation. Decision: It is my decision that since the cited CX is applicable for the proposed project and that the action conforms with the (Mimbres RMP), I hereby authorize the proposed action. Date: August 26, 2016 Assistant District Manager .