New Mexico · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Shu'tu'ba'/Espinosa Ridge
BLM found a natural system, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 5 active mining claims and 1 right of way inside the line today, and three grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 7,177 acres and was designated December 23, 2024, in the Rio Puerco 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 5 claims sit inside this line: 5 active, 5 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 5 as Active.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)5claims
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
1 right of way sits inside the line. BLM files 1 under other energy facilities.
- PUBLIC SVC CO OF NM1right of way
Grazing allotments
3 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Tejon23,954acres
- Ortiz Mountain7,232acres
- Los Tanos1,844acres
The nearest areas
- La CienegaNew Mexico · 15,131 acres · 10 rights of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it17miles
- Santa Fe Canyon RanchNew Mexico · 22,990 acres · 32 rights of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it31miles
- OjitoNew Mexico · 3,887 acres · at least 20 active mining claims, 5 rights of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it31miles
- Cabezon PeakNew Mexico · 5,098 acres · 3 grazing allotments covering part of it45miles
- SombrilloNew Mexico · 18,089 acres · 13 rights of way, 6 grazing allotments covering part of it45miles
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 Shu'tu'ba'/Espinosa Ridge. 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