New Mexico · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Antelope Pass Research Natural Area
BLM found a natural system and a wildlife resource here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 32 active mining claims (and 101 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review) and 2 rights of way inside the line today, and three grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 8,652 acres and was designated December 1, 1993, in the Mimbres Resource Management Plan.
One of the 1,120 places the Bureau of Land Management has designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This page shows its line, what BLM found there and what sits inside it.
The line
Who holds the claims
At least 133 claims sit inside this line: 32 active and 101 filed and pending, 114 with a holder BLM names and 19 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 54 as Filed, 47 as Under Review and 32 as Active.
- ALMADEX AMERICA INC114claims
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)19claims
BLM's mining rules list designated ACECs among the places where mining that disturbs the surface beyond casual use needs a plan of operations BLM approves. Exploration of five acres or less can go ahead on a notice instead.
The rights of way
2 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 1 under non-energy facilities and 1 under other energy facilities.
- FS1right of way
- COLUMBUS ELEC COOP1right of way
Grazing allotments
3 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Big Cat18,479acres
- Antelope Pass6,227acres
- Pratt Peak5,568acres
The nearest areas
- Granite GapNew Mexico · 1,727 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it10miles
- Central Peloncillo MountainsNew Mexico · 12,302 acres · 7 grazing allotments covering part of it14miles
- Lordsburg Playa Research Natural AreaNew Mexico · 4,515 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it28miles
- Northern Peloncillo MountainsNew Mexico · 781 acres · 3 grazing allotments covering part of it29miles
- Cowboy SpringNew Mexico · 6,691 acres · 3 grazing allotments covering part of it30miles
More from BLM's New Mexico office
Every area BLM's New Mexico office holdsThe proposed rule
A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Antelope Pass Research Natural Area. The comment window hasn't opened: the proposed rule wasn't in the Federal Register at our last check. The Watch sends one email the day it prints.
The rule's abstract
The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish in regulations an updated process for the approval of the development, revision, amendment, and maintenance of land use plans, as provided for by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, this rulemaking will provide clarification of the process the BLM uses for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.Unified Agenda entry for RIN 1004-AF53, Publication ID 2026, reginfo.gov (OMB OIRA), read Oct 18, 2026