[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 56299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22404]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-099-1150-MQ]


Notice Rescinding the October 18, 1999, Shooting Area Closure in 
South Phillips County, MT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Rescinding Notice of Closure.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on October 18, 1999, 
closed about 26,500 acres of public land to the discharge or use of 
firearms. The areas closed are described as the 40-Complex between Dry 
Fork and Beauchamp Creek, and an area south of Pea Ridge in south 
Phillips County, Montana. The purpose of the closure was to protect 
habitat for the reintroduction of the endangered black-footed ferret 
(Mustela nigripes). That habitat is black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys 
ludovicianus) colonies.
    House Bill 492 (HB 492) was passed by the Montana Legislature to 
allow the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) to manage black and 
white-tailed prairie dogs on Bureau of Land Management lands. Further 
action by FWP consisted of amending Administrative Rules of Montana 
(ARM) 12.2.501, to include black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dogs 
in the definition of non-game wildlife in need of management. The FWP 
Commission approved the adoption of the proposed ARM rule on January 
24, 2002, and FWP filed the ARM adoption notice on February 20, 2002. 
Part of this rule making was to place a seasonal shooting closure on 
all BLM lands in Montana for black-tailed prairie dogs and a year-round 
shooting closure on black-footed ferret reintroduction sites. Since FWP 
has placed a year-round shooting closure on black-footed reintroduction 
sites, BLM's 1999 shooting closure is no longer required to protect the 
habitat for the black-footed ferret.
    The BLM lands in the 40-Complex include:
    T. 24 N., R. 27 E., sec. 20, all; sec. 21, all; sec. 25, all; sec. 
26, all; sec. 27, all; sec. 28, all; sec. 29, N\1/2\ and SE\1/4\; sec. 
34, all; sec. 35, all.
    T. 24 N., R. 28 E., sec. 31, lots 1-4, E\1/2\ W\1/2\ and E\1/2\; 
Sec. 32, all.
    T. 23 N., R. 27 E., sec. 1, lots 1-4, S\1/2\N\1/2\ and S\1/2\; sec. 
2, lots 1-4, S\1/2\N\1/2\ and S\1/2\; sec. 3, lot 1, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and 
E\1/2\SE\1/4\; sec. 10, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and NE\1/4\SE\1/4\; sec. 11, all; 
sec. 12, all; sec. 13, all.
    T. 23 N., R. 28 E., sec. 5, lots 1-4, S\1/2\N\1/2\ and S\1/2\; sec. 
6, lots 1-7, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\; 
sec. 7, lots 1-4; E\1/2\W\1/2\ and E\1/2\; sec. 8, all; sec. 17, all; 
sec. 18, lots 1-4, E\1/2\W\1/2\, and E\1/2\.
    This includes the following prairie dog towns: B040, B041, B042, 
B043, B045, B047, B069, B072, and B148.
    The BLM lands in the area south of Pea Ridge include:
    T. 22 N., R. 29 E., sec. 9, all; sec. 10, all; sec. 11, all; sec. 
13, all; sec. 14, all; sec 15, all; sec. 17 E\1/2\ and S\1/2\SW\1/4\; 
sec. 20, N\1/2\ and SE\1/4\; sec. 21, all; sec. 22, all; sec. 23, all;, 
sec. 24, all; sec. 25, all; sec. 26, all; sec. 27, all; sec. 28, all; 
sec. 29, all.
    T. 22 N., R. 30 E., sec. 18, lots 1-4, E\1/2\W\1/2\ and E\1/2\; 
sec. 19, lots 1-4, E\1/2\W\1/2\ and E\1/2\; sec. 30, lots 1-4, E\1/
2\W\1/2\ and E\1/2\.
    This includes the following prairie dog towns: B095, B096, B111, 
B163, and B164.
    BLM would consider appropriate actions if FWP decides to rescind or 
significantly modify the Annual Rule Regulating Prairie Dog Shooting on 
Public Lands. This could include implementing a Land Use Closure on the 
40-Complex and/or any other black-footed ferret reintroduction site 
under BLM administration to protect black-footed ferrets and the 
associated habitat in accordance with 43 CFR 8364.1.

    The effective date of rescinding this closure is the date the 
notice is published in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Reed at 406-654-5100.

    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1

    Dated: June 17, 2002.
Bruce W. Reed,
Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 02-22404 Filed 8-30-02; 8:45 am]
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