The New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (collectively the ¿Trustees¿) have started the process to identify, plan and implement wildlife and wildlife habitat restoration projects for three Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. (FMI) mine facilities in New Mexico. The draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment (RP/EA) was released for public review and comments (see web link below). The draft RP/EA identifies and evaluates proposed wildlife and wildlife habitat restoration project alternatives to restore, rehabilitate, replace, or acquire the equivalent of wildlife resources injured by the release of hazardous substances from the Chino, Cobre and Tyrone Mine facilities. In addition to seeking public comments on the projects being proposed in the draft RP/EA, the Trustees will also accept and evaluate new project ideas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requests proposals for land acquisition and restoration projects in southwestern New Mexico to address impacts identified in the draft RP/EA. The final selection of restoration projects will occur after the Trustees review public comments, and will be identified in a final restoration plan which is expected to be released in early 2013. Link to Additional Information Draft Wildlife Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Chino, Cobre, and Tyrone Mine Facilities (Draft RP/EA). The New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Seek Public Comment on Wildlife Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment Wildlife and habitat restoration project proposal information guidelines If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: George Dennis 505-761-4754 george_dennis@fws.gov