[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 33102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15921]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[MT-962-1020-00]


Notice of Availability for the Montana/Dakotas Standards for 
Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management Final 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for 
Livestock Grazing Management (standards and guidelines) Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addresses three alternatives. 
Alternative 1 is the No Action Alternative (continuation of current 
management), Alternative 2 is the Preferred Alternative (the proposed 
standards and guidelines), and Alternative 3 analyzes the Fallback 
standards and guidelines. Based on written and oral comments received 
on the Draft and Supplement to the Draft EIS, Alternative 2 was 
selected as the Preferred Alternative. The Preferred Alternative would 
be incorporated into 10 BLM land use plans in Montana and the Dakotas. 
The Standards and Guidelines Final EIS was made available to the public 
on June 6, 1997. This Notice announces a 30-day protest period and 
provides information on the protest procedures.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Brooks, Project Manager, BLM 
Montana State Office, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107-6800, or 
406-255-2929.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning process includes an opportunity 
for administrative review via a plan protest to the BLM's Director. Any 
person who participated in the planning process and has an interest 
which is or may be adversely affected by the approval of the Preferred 
Alternative may protest such approval. Careful adherence to the 
following guidelines will assist in preparing a protest that will 
assure the greatest consideration to your point of view.
    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. New issues 
may be raised at any time but should be directed to the Montana State 
Office for consideration in plan implementation, as potential plan 
amendments, or as otherwise appropriate.
    The protest period extends for 30 days, starting from the date this 
notice is published in the Federal Register. There is no provision for 
any extension of time. To be considered ``timely,'' your protest must 
be postmarked no later than the last day of the protest period. Also, 
although not a requirement, we suggest that you send your protest by 
certified mail, return receipt requested. Protests may be filed in 
writing to: Director (WO-210), Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Brenda 
Williams, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.
    In order to be considered complete, your 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 or issues being protested.
    3. A statement of the part or parts of the Preferred Alternative 
being protested. To the extent possible, this should be done by 
reference to specific pages, paragraphs, sections, tables, maps, etc., 
included in the final EIS.
    4. A copy of all documents addressing the issue or issues submitted 
during the planning process by the protesting party or an indication of 
the discussion date of the issue(s) for the record.
    5. A concise statement explaining why the proposed decision is 
believed to be incorrect. This is a critical part of your protest. Take 
care to document all relevant facts. As much as possible, reference or 
cite the planning documents, environmental analysis documents, 
available planning records (i.e., meeting minutes or summaries, 
correspondence, etc.). A protest which merely expresses disagreement 
with the proposed decision, without any data, will not provide us with 
the benefit of your information and insight. In this case, the 
Director's review will be based on the existing analysis and supporting 
data.
    At the end of the 30-day protest period, the BLM may issue a Record 
of Decision approving the implementation of any portions of the 
preferred alterative not under protest. Approval will be withheld on 
any portion of the plan under protest until the protest has been 
resolved.

    Dated: June 12, 1997.
Thomas P. Lonnie,
Deputy State Director, Division of Resources.
[FR Doc. 97-15921 Filed 6-17-97; 8:45 am]
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