ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments on a proposed habitat conservation plan and a draft environmental assessment for the Crossroads-Hobbs-Roadrunner Transmission Project located in Roosevelt and Lea counties. The HCP and EA are part of the incidental take permit application for the endangered dunes sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush lizard under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act. If finalized, the permit would extend over a 60-year term.
NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest LLC developed a proposed habitat conservation plan outlining the construction of approximately 137 miles of 345-kV transmission line and 16 miles of related access roads across a combination of private, trust and state lands. The HCP includes strategies to avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential impacts on the dunes sagebrush lizard, focusing on activities such as construction, operation, and maintenance of the transmission line and roads. It also addresses the anticipated loss of shinnery oak sand dune habitat, which is critical to the survival of the dunes sagebrush lizard.
The HCP proposes to conserve up to 6,000 acres of private land through the establishment of conservation easements to offset impacts to 277 acres of dunes sagebrush lizard habitat. The easement land protects high-quality, occupied areas of dunes sagebrush lizard habitat in addition to providing connectivity to other suitable habitat patches. The HCP would also establish land use restrictions or conditions on up to 20,000 acres of New Mexico State Land Office lands to improve dunes sagebrush lizard habitat connectivity for 35 years.
Habitat conservation plans are voluntary agreements that ensure the effects of non-federal activities on threatened and endangered species are adequately minimized or mitigated. Private landowners play a key role in protecting and promoting habitat conservation. Learn more about habitat conservation plans.
The Federal Register notice, proposed HCP and draft environmental assessment are available for review and comment at www.regulations.gov by searching for docket number FWS–R2–ES–2025–0053. The 30-day public comment begins Dec. 1, 2025.
