[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59741-59742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24281]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLMTB072000-L14300000-ET0000; MTM 98499]
Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting;
Montana
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management
proposes to withdraw, on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
approximately 18,760 acres of public land located in Broadwater County,
Montana, from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the general
land laws, including the United States mining laws, but not the mineral
leasing laws for a period of 5 years to protect the Limestone Hills
Training Area pending the processing of an application for withdrawal
of those lands for military purposes under the Engle Act.
[[Page 59742]]
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 27, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Bureau of Land Management,
Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana 59101.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Ward, BLM, Montana State Office
at 406-896-5052.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Assistant Secretary for Land and
Minerals Management proposes to withdraw the following described public
land located in Broadwater County, Montana, from settlement, sale,
location and entry under the general land laws, including the mining
laws, subject to valid existing rights, to protect the land pending
action on an application for withdrawal of public lands for military
purposes under the Engle Act:
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 6 N., R. 1 E.,
sec. 2, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
sec. 3, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
sec. 4, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
sec. 5, lots 1 and 2, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
sec. 8, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
secs. 9 and 10;
sec. 11, E\1/2\, E\1/2\W\1/2\, and SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
sec. 12, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
sec. 13, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
secs. 14 and 15;
sec. 17, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
sec. 20, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
sec. 21;
sec. 22, lots 3 and 4, W\1/2\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
sec. 23;
sec. 24, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
sec. 25, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
sec. 26;
sec. 27, lots 1 to 9, inclusive, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and
SE\1/4\;
sec. 28, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, and W\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
sec. 29, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and
SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
sec. 33, E\1/2\;
sec. 34, lots 1 to 8, inclusive, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and N\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
sec. 35, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, N\1/2\ and N\1/2\S\1/2\.
T. 6 N., R. 2 E.,
sec. 17, S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
sec. 18, lot 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
sec. 19, lots 1, 2, and 3;
sec. 20, W\1/2\;
sec. 30, lots 2, 3, and 4, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\.
T. 7 N., R. 1 E.,
sec. 26, S\1/2\;
sec. 27, lots 5 to 8, inclusive, and S\1/2\S\1/2\;
sec. 28, S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
sec. 32, E\1/2\ except patented lands;
secs. 33, 34, and 35.
The area described contains 18,760.63 acres in Broadwater County.
The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management has
approved the Bureau of Land Management's petition for approval to file
its withdrawal application. The Assistant Secretary's approval of the
petition constitutes her proposal to withdraw the subject lands.
The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect the above-
described land pending action on an application for withdrawal of
public land for military purposes under the Engle Act. The land is
currently used as a military training range involving live-fire
exercises necessary for national security.
The use of a right-of-way or cooperative agreement would not
provide adequate authorization for the use of this area due to the
broad scope of military training exercises, as well as the non-
discretionary nature of the mining laws.
There are no suitable alternative sites. The land described above
is unique in having been used previously as a military training range
with the attendant capital investments. The use of a different site
would needlessly degrade a second site and require new capital
investments.
Potable water from two wells would be used to meet the daily needs
for training exercises. The proposed withdrawal itself would not
require any water.
On or before December 27, 2010, all persons who wish to submit
comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the proposed
withdrawal may present their views in writing to the BLM Montana State
Director at the address indicated above.
Comments and records relating to the proposed withdrawal will be
available for public review at the BLM Montana State Office at the
address above during regular business hours. Individual respondents may
request confidentiality. Before including your address, phone number,
e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your
comment, be advised that your entire comment--including your personal
identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public review
your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will
be able to do so.
The proposed withdrawal of public land for military purposes under
the Engle Act was discussed at five public meetings as part of the
scoping process for the legislative withdrawal Environmental Impact
Statement.
This withdrawal proposal will be processed in accordance with the
regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300.
For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice
in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated from settlement,
sale, location, and entry under the general land laws, including the
mining laws, unless the application is denied or canceled or the
withdrawal is approved prior to that date. Land uses currently
permitted under the existing right-of-way agreement may continue during
the segregative period.
Notice is hereby given that one or more public meetings will be
held in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested persons
who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on the
proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to the BLM Montana
State Director at the address above by December 27, 2010. A notice of
the time and place of any public meetings will be published in the
Federal Register and at least one local newspaper at least 30 days
before the scheduled date of the meeting.
Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1(b)(1).
Gary P Smith,
Acting Chief, Branch of Land Resources, Montana State Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-24281 Filed 9-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P