[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 38058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18835]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service
[MT-962-1430-00-CCAM]


Notice of Availability for the Proposed Cooke City Area Mineral 
Withdrawal Final Environmental Impact Statement; Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; Forest Service, 
Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice of Availability is issued by the Bureau of Land 
Management, Interior, and the Forest Service, Agriculture, as the joint 
lead agency. The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documents 
the effects of withdrawing from federal mineral location and entry up 
to 22,000 acres of federal mineral estate near Cooke City, Montana. The 
proposed mineral withdrawal would also apply to hardrock minerals 
acquired by the United States and managed as leasable minerals. The 
proposed mineral withdrawal would be subject to review after 20 years. 
Forest plans for the Custer and Gallatin National Forests would be 
amended to reflect the intent of the mineral withdrawal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Thompson, BLM Co-Lead, or Larry 
Timchak, FS Co-Lead, CCAM, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana, 59107-
6800, (406) 255-0322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EIS analyzes the environmental 
consequences of implementing two alternatives. The proposed withdrawal 
of federal locatable minerals would not allow new mining claims to be 
filed on federal lands in the area. Unpatented mining claims with valid 
existing rights and private lands would not be affected. The no action 
alternative (No Mineral Withdrawal) provides a baseline for comparison. 
This alternative would continue the management that existed prior to 
September 1, 1995. The Secretary of the Interior is the responsible 
official for the decision on a mineral withdrawal. Concurrence on a 
withdrawal decision by the Secretary of Agriculture is required because 
the lands under consideration for withdrawal are administered by the 
Forest Service, USDA. If a mineral withdrawal is approved, the 
Secretary of Agriculture is the responsible official for the Custer and 
Gallatin National Forest Plan amendment decisions.

DATES: A decision on the mineral withdrawal is anticipated in mid- to 
late August 1997.

    Dated: June 23, 1997.
Thomas P. Lonnie,
Deputy State Director, Division of Resources, Bureau of Land 
Management.
Kathleen A. McAllister,
Deputy Regional Forester, USFS Northern Region.
[FR Doc. 97-18835 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P