[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 23159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10719]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-029-03-1310-DT CBMP]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Montana 
Statewide Oil and Gas Final Environmental Impact Statement and Plan 
Amendments of the Powder River and Billings Resource Management Plans 
(RMPs); Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Montana State Office, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
and the National Environmental Policy Act, the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision 
for the Montana Statewide Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 
and Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment of the Powder River and 
Billings RMPs. The BLM planning area included oil and gas estate 
administered by BLM in the Powder River and Billings RMP areas. The 
FEIS and Plan Amendments were available for protest from January 17, 
2003, through February 18, 2003. All protests and comments received 
were considered during the preparation of the ROD.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD have been sent to affected Federal, State, 
and local government agencies and to interested parties. The document 
will be available electronically on the following Web site: http://www.mt.blm.gov/mcfo/. Copies of the ROD are available for public 
inspection at the following BLM office locations: Office of External 
Affairs, Main Interior Building, Room 6214, 18th and C Streets, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240; External Affairs Office; Montana State Office, 
5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101; Miles City Field Office, 111 
Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Bloom, Coal Bed Methane Program 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 
59301, (406) 233-3649.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Powder River RMP area encompasses the 
southeastern portion of Montana consisting of Treasure and Powder River 
counties, and portions of Rosebud, Big Horn, Carter, and Custer 
counties. There are approximately 2,522,950 BLM-administered oil and 
gas acres in the Powder River RMP area. The Billings RMP area 
encompasses the south-central portion of Montana consisting of 
Wheatland, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, 
Yellowstone, and Carbon counties, and the remaining portion of Big Horn 
County. There are approximately 662,066 BLM-administered oil and gas 
acres in the Billings RMP area. The BLM-administered oil and gas 
acreage in Blaine, Park, and Gallatin counties is not part of this BLM 
planning effort.
    The State of Montana was a co-lead in preparation of the EIS. Four 
Designated Cooperating Agencies helped the BLM and the State prepare 
the EIS: the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the United States Department of 
Energy, the Crow Tribe, and the United States Environmental Protection 
Agency. The Northern Cheyenne Tribe declined to become a cooperating 
agency, but was invited by the BLM to participate in all Cooperating 
Agency activities.

    Dated: April 11, 2003.
Martin C. Ott,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 03-10719 Filed 4-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P