[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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