[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29129-29130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12960]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-020-1610-00]


Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Miles City District, Montana, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 and section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, a supplement to the Big Dry Resource 
Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) has been 
prepared for the Calypso Trail, Big Dry Resource Area. The 1996 Calypso 
Trail Supplement to the Big Dry RMP/EIS describes and analyzes future 
options for management of the Calypso Trail.
    Management for the Calypso Trail was addressed in the 1993 Draft 
Big Dry RMP/EIS and the 1995 Proposed Big Dry RMP and Final EIS. Eight 
protests, some with multiple signatures, were received by the Director, 
protesting the Calypso Trail decision. In May 1996, a Record of 
Decision was issued approving all of the decisions made in the 1995 
Proposed Big Dry RMP and Final EIS with one exception, the decision 
pertaining to management of Calypso Trail.
    Further planning was conducted in late 1995 for the Calypso Trail. 
A Notice of Intent to conduct further planning was issued in the 
Federal Register October 4, 1995. The notice also informed the public 
that comments, concerns, or information would be considered until 
November 13, 1995. The notice announced an open house meeting, held 
October 19, 1995 in Miles City. Written comments were received from 
organizations and individuals. All comments were considered during the 
preparation of the Supplement.
    Reading copies will be available at the Custer, Prairie, and Fallon 
County public libraries and at the following Bureau of Land Management 
locations: Office of External Affairs, Main Interior Building, Room 
5800, 18th and C Streets NW., Washington, DC; External Affairs Office, 
Montana State Office, 222 North 32nd Street, Billings, MT; and Miles 
City District Office, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT.
    The RMP process includes an opportunity for review through a plan 
protest to the Bureau of Land

[[Page 29130]]

Management's Director. Any person or organization who participated in 
the planning process and has an interest which is, or may be, adversely 
affected by approval of this Supplement to the RMP may protest the 
plan. Careful adherence to the following guidelines will assist in 
preparing a protest:
     Only those persons or organizations who participated in 
the planning process may protest.
     A protesting party may raise only those issues which were 
commented on during the planning process.
     Additional issues may be raised at any time and should be 
directed to the Miles City District for consideration in plan 
implementation, as potential plan amendments, or as otherwise 
appropriate.
    In order to be considered complete, a protest must contain, at a 
minimum, the following information:
    1. The name, mailing address, telephone number, and interest of the 
person filing the protest.
    2. A statement of the issue being protested.
    3. A statement of the portion of the plan being protested. To the 
extent possible, this should be done by reference to the specific 
pages, paragraphs, and sections in the proposed management plan.
    4. A copy of all documents addressing the issue submitted during 
the planning process or a reference to the date the issue was discussed 
for the record.
    5. A concise statement explaining why the BLM State Director's 
decision is believed to be incorrect is a critical part of the protest. 
Take care to document all relevant facts and references or cite the 
planning documents, environmental analysis documents, and available 
planning records (meeting minutes, summaries, correspondence). A 
protest without any data will not provide the BLM with sufficient 
information, and the Director's review will be based on existing 
analysis and supporting data.

DATES: The period for filing protests begins when the Environmental 
Protection Agency publishes a Notice of Receipt of the Supplement in 
the Federal Register. The protest period lasts 30 days and there is no 
provision for any time extension. To be considered ``timely'' the 
protest must be postmarked no later than the last day of the 30-day 
protest period. Although not a requirement, sending a protest by 
certified mail, return receipt requested, is recommended.

ADDRESSES: All protests must be filed in writing to: Director (480), 
Bureau of Land Management, Resource Planning Team, 1849 C Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Bloom, RMP/EIS Team Leader, Miles 
City District Office, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301, (406) 
232-4331.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Calypso Trail is a road that separates 
two roadless areas that make up the Terry Badlands Wilderness Study 
Area. The Supplement analyzes four alternatives to resolve management 
for the Calypso Trail: Alternative A is existing management where off-
road vehicle use is allowed on the Calypso Trail. Under Alternative B, 
off-road vehicle use would be closed on the Calypso Trail, which by 
definition closes the road to motorized vehicles, except for authorized 
use. Alternative C is the same as Alternative A. The proposed decision, 
Alternative D, is to manage Calypso Trail as was presented in the 1993 
Draft Big Dry RMP/EIS. BLM proposes to keep the trail open to motorized 
vehicles and off-road vehicle use would be limited to the trail itself.

    Dated: May 15. 1996.
Glenn A. Carpenter,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-12960 Filed 6-6-96; 8:45 am]
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