[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 4039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1355]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-029-1610-DH CBMP]


Extension of Scoping Period, Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Miles City and Billings Field 
Offices, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The BLM issued a Notice of Intent to Plan in a December 19, 
2000 Federal Register notice. This notice is to inform the public that 
the scoping period has been extended to January 31, 2001.
    BLM is preparing an Oil and Gas Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) jointly with the 
State of Montana (State). The planning area for the BLM will be the 
BLM-administered oil and gas estate within the Powder River and 
Billings RMP areas. The planning area for the State will be potential 
coal bed methane development areas around the state. The RMP Amendment 
will be based on the existing statutory requirements and will meet the 
requirements of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 
1976. The RMP Amendment will guide BLM's oil and gas decisions within 
the Powder River and Billings RMP areas and help the State evaluate 
effects of further oil and gas permit applications. The Draft EIS and 
RMP Amendment is scheduled for completion by September 2001. The Final 
EIS and Proposed RMP Amendment is scheduled for March 2002.
    The public has been asked to help BLM and the State identify 
issues, concerns and alternatives. Draft Planning Criteria to help 
guide the effort have also been developed for public comment.

DATES: Any issues, concerns, or alternatives should be submitted to BLM 
on or before January 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES: All submissions should be sent to the following address: 
BLM, Mary Bloom, BLM Project Leader, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, 
Montana, 59301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Bloom, BLM Project Leader, (406) 
233-3649.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary information is described in 
Federal Register Notice of Intent to Plan dated December 19, 2000, 
Volume 65, Number 244, pages 79422-79423.
    The BLM and the State are seeking information from individuals, 
organizations, and agencies that may be affected by the plan. 
Specifically, we request any issues, concerns or alternatives that 
should be addressed in the plan amendment.
    This notice meets the requirements of 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 
1610.2(c).

    Dated: January 3, 2001.
Aden L. Seidlitz,
Associate Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-1355 Filed 1-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P