New Mexico · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Copper Hill
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a fish resource here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 25 active mining claims and 6 rights of way inside the line today, and five grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 21,925 acres and was designated May 24, 2012, in the Taos RMP. In the plan's name, RMP stands for 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 25 claims sit inside this line: 25 active, 18 with a holder BLM names and 7 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 25 as Active.
- LITHIUM NORTH AMERICA LLC18claims
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)7claims
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
6 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 3 under non-energy facilities, 2 under fiber optic facilities and 1 under oil & gas facilities.
- NM ST HWY DEPT2rights of way
- NEW MEXICO GAS CO1right of way
- USFS (CARSON NATIONAL FOREST)1right of way
- TELECOMMUNICATIONS OF TX LP1right of way
- VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS OF TX1right of way
Grazing allotments
5 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Copper Hill - Closed (LUP)13,927acres
- Dixon Arriba - Closed (LUP)9,016acres
- Cuestecita Allotment - Closed (LUP)1,510acres
- Rito Cieneguilla - Closed (LUP)1,369acres
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10086.010424–acres
The nearest areas
- Lower GorgeNew Mexico · 24,675 acres · at least 1 active mining claim, 31 rights of way, 14 grazing allotments covering part of it4miles
- Ojo CalienteNew Mexico · 101,226 acres · 31 rights of way, 21 grazing allotments covering part of it14miles
- SombrilloNew Mexico · 18,089 acres · 13 rights of way, 6 grazing allotments covering part of it19miles
- Santa Fe Canyon RanchNew Mexico · 22,990 acres · 32 rights of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it33miles
- Taos PlateauNew Mexico · 288,234 acres · at least 6 active mining claims, 26 rights of way, 74 grazing allotments covering part of it37miles
Next to it
Lower Gorge Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.
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 Copper Hill. 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