[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 19793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9021]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-924-1430-ET; MTM 024829]


Public Land Order No. 7440; Revocation of Department of the Air 
Force Withdrawals; Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public land order.

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SUMMARY: This order revokes, in their entirety, two public land orders 
which withdrew public lands for the use of the United States Air Force 
for military and communication site purposes. The lands are no longer 
needed for military purposes and the revocation is needed to permit 
development of a recreation area and interpretative site. This action 
will open 66.37 acres to surface entry, mining, and mineral leasing. 
The lands have been and will remain open to disposal of mineral 
materials under the Act of July 31, 1947, 30 U.S.C. 601-604 (1994).

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 12, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Ward, BLM Montana State Office, 
P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107, 406-896-5052.
    By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior 
by Section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 
43 U.S.C. 1714 (1994), it is ordered as follows:
    1. Public Land Order No. 1758 and Public Land Order No. 2186, as 
corrected by Public Land Order No. 2230, which withdrew public lands 
for use of the Department of the Air Force for military and 
communication site purposes, are hereby revoked in their entirety:

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 17 N., R. 20 E.,
    Sec. 19, NE\1/4\, that part described as beginning at a point 
which is S. 23 deg.13'33" E., 6880.73 feet from the northwest corner 
of sec. 18, T. 17 N., R. 20 E., thence N. 37 deg.16'10" W., 65.56 
feet; N. 52 deg.43'50" E., 100.00 feet; S. 37 deg.16'10" E., 30.00 
feet to a point which is S. 24 deg.01'12" E., 6826.53 feet from the 
northwest corner of sec. 18; S. 37 deg.16'10" E., 70.00 feet; S. 
52 deg.43'50" W., 100.00 feet; N. 37 deg.16'10" W., 34.44 feet to 
the point of beginning. S\1/2\, that part described as beginning at 
a point N. 16 deg.27' W., 1314.22 feet from the southeast corner of 
said sec. 19, thence S. 0 deg.12' W., 118.97 feet; N. 89 deg.48' W., 
624.26 feet; N. 44 deg.48' W., 323.12 feet; N. 89 deg.48' W., 157.00 
feet; S. 58 deg.12' W., 338.35 feet; N. 89 deg.48' W., 503.00 feet; 
S. 72 deg.12' W., 508.00 feet; N. 89 deg.48' W., 420.00 feet; N. 
65 deg.48' W., 433.76 feet; N. 0 deg.12' E., 535.00 feet; N. 
59 deg.12' E., 540.00 feet; S. 77 deg.48' E., 535.00 feet; N. 
73 deg.12' E., 692.00 feet; S. 89 deg.48' E., 830.00 feet; S. 
0 deg.12' W., 188.48 feet; S. 89 deg.48' E., 621.67 feet; S. 
0 deg.12' W., 790.00 feet to the point of beginning.
    Sec. 20, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, that part described as follows: Tract 
No. F, Part 1: Beginning at a point N. 44 deg.22'00" E., 5986.83 
feet from the southwest corner of said sec. 20; thence N. 
8 deg.16'30" W., 298.00 feet; N. 81 deg.43'30" E., 796.60 feet; S. 
8 deg.16'30" E., 320.00 feet; S. 81 deg.43'30" W., 496.60 feet; S. 
8 deg.16'30" E., 100.00 feet; S 81 deg.43'30" W., 300.00 feet; N. 
8 deg.16'30" W., 122.00 feet to the point of beginning.

    The areas described aggregate 66.37 acres in Fergus County.

    2. At 9 a.m. on May 12, 2000, the lands shall be opened to the 
operation of the public land laws generally, subject to valid existing 
rights, the provisions of existing withdrawals, other segregations of 
record, and the requirements of applicable law. All valid applications 
received at or prior to 9 a.m. on May 12, 2000, shall be considered as 
simultaneously filed at that time. Those received thereafter shall be 
considered in the order of filing.
    3. At 9 a.m. on May 12, 2000, the lands shall be opened to location 
and entry under the United States mining laws and to the operation of 
the mineral leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights, the 
provisions of existing withdrawals, other segregations of record, and 
the requirements of applicable law. Appropriation of any lands 
described in this order under the general mining laws prior to the date 
and time of restoration is unauthorized. Any such attempted 
appropriation, including attempted adverse possession under 30 U.S.C. 
38 (1994), shall vest no rights against the United States. Acts 
required to establish a location and to initiate a right of possession 
are governed by State law where not in conflict with Federal law. The 
Bureau of Land Management will not intervene in disputes between rival 
locators over possessory rights since Congress has provided for such 
determinations in local courts.

    Dated: March 20, 2000.
Sylvia V. Baca,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 00-9021 Filed 4-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P