N.M. Code R. § 19.2.20.9 – Rule Requirements

A. All roads constructed on state trust lands administered by the New Mexico state land office shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with this Rule. Roads built on state trust land that will cross adjacent land administered by the bureau of land management (BLM) will be constructed and maintained in concert with the BLM new road policy effective January 1, 1988. Roads built on state trust land only shall be constructed in accordance with the minimum standards described in 19.2.20.10 NMAC and maintained in accordance with the standards described in 19.2.20.11 NMAC, unless local conditions warrant exceptions. Such exceptions shall be approved by the state land office district land use specialist (SLO LUS).
B. Certain new temporary roads are exempted from the construction requirements of this Rule. The roads exempted are those that will provide access for a seasonal or temporary activity and/or for a temporary business use. However, these types of roads are subject to maintenance and/or rehabilitation requirements required by the SLO LUS.
C. Roads built on state trust lands shall be constructed and maintained by a right-of-way grantee in accordance with the requirements set forth in the right-of-way grant if those requirements are different than the requirements of this Rule. Construction and maintenance of these roads will be done in a manner that insures that authorized traffic remains within the right-of-way and erosion damage is mitigated.
D. When roads built on state trust lands are no longer needed, as determined by the lessee or right of way grantee and by the commissioner, they will be abandoned and rehabilitated according to 19.2.20.12 NMAC. However, the New Mexico state land office may determine that such a road is still needed for other purposes, and if so, it shall notify the lessee or grantee in writing of this determination, at which time the lessee or grantee shall be released from all responsibility for maintenance and rehabilitation.
[12/31/99; 19.2.20.9 NMAC – Rn, 19 NMAC 2. SLO 20.9, 09/30/02]