[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 171 (Thursday, September 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52575-52576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22474]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact 
Statement (LEIS) for the Withdrawal of Lands at the Limestone Hills 
Training Area (LHTA), Near Townsend, MT

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces its intent to prepare an 
LEIS pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as implemented by Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508). The LEIS will analyze both the proposed 
withdrawal of lands supporting training exercises for the Montana Army 
National Guard (MTARNG) and the associated Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) Headwaters Resource Management Plan Amendment. The BLM is 
participating as an active cooperation agency in the preparation of the 
LEIS.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions should be forwarded by mail to 
Ms. Sundi West, Montana Army National Guard Fort Harrison, P.O. Box

[[Page 52576]]

4789, Helena, MT 59604-4789; via telephone at (406) 324-3088, or via 
email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susie Williams, U.S. Bureau of 
Land Management, 106 North Parkmont, Butte, MT 59701, via phone at 
(406) 533-7638, or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of the LEIS is to provide the 
results of comprehensive analysis to the Secretary of Interior and the 
Department of the Army to develop findings and recommendations to 
Congress regarding the proposed land withdrawal, and to serve as a 
public information source. The study area for the environmental 
analysis will be resource-dependent and is likely to include all of 
Lewis and Clark County and Broadwater County for socio-economic 
resources, all MTARNG facilities for military mission, and the LHTA for 
biological and mineral resources.
    The LEIS will analyze potential environmental effects of the 
proposed action and alternatives including a no action alternative. 
Under the no action alternative, the current right-of-way grant from 
the BLM for use of the LHTA by the MTARNG would not be renewed in 2014 
for continued military purposes. Other alternatives may consist of 
alternatives-shared management roles of the LHTA for the MTARNG and the 
BLM, alternative land use options, and alternative locations. The 
alternatives will be developed during preparation of the Draft LEIS as 
a result of public input.
    Significant Issues: The LHTA is a 23,100-acre parcel of land with 
private and state-owned in-holdings totaling approximately 2,640 acres. 
BLM manages 20,460 acres of the total acreage and allows the MTARNG to 
conduct military training on its property through a right-of-way 
agreement that is set to expire in 2014. The public land is also used 
for gazing, mining, recreation, transportation utility right-of-ways, 
and wildlife management. A limestone mine is currently operating within 
the LHTA and every federally-managed acre of the LHTA falls within one 
of seven grazing allotments. In addition, the MTARNG is currently 
engaged in clearing unexploded ordnance from a range on the LHTA that 
is no longer in use.
    Significant issues the LEIS will analyze include the following and 
as well as any additional issues raised during scoping: (1) Continued 
ability of Graymont Western's Indian Creek Limestone Mine to extract 
and process ore within the LHTA; (2) allocation and management of 
grazing allotments; (3) public access to the LHTA; (4) noise and dust 
generated during training exercises and vehicular traffic; (5) impacts 
to Broadwater County due to possible termination of payments in lieu of 
taxes by the BLM if the withdrawal is granted; (6) potential impacts to 
wildlife in the Elkhorn Management Area; (7) consistency of land 
management policy and implementation; (8) potential impacts to range 
management and cleanup activities; (9) owner access to, and use of, 
inholdings; and (10) impacts to local economies and MTARNG training 
facilities under the no action alternative.
    The Department of the Army, through the MTARNG, is initiating a 
public scoping process for the purpose of determining public concerns 
and issues to be analyzed and addressed for this action. A public 
scoping meeting will be held at the Broadwater School Community 
Library, 201 North Spruce, Townsend, Montana, and at the Chamber of 
Commerce of Helena; 225 Cruse Avenue, Helena, Montana. A Public open 
house will occur at each site from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. prior to each 
scoping meeting. The dates and times of these meetings will be 
announced in general public media.
    A brief presentation will precede a request for public information 
and comments. MTARNG and BLM representatives will be available at these 
meetings to receive information and comments from agencies and the 
public regarding issues of concern. It is important that federal, state 
and local agencies, and interested individuals take this opportunity to 
provide information or identify environmental concerns that should be 
addressed during the analysis and preparation of the LEIS. Forms for 
written comments will also be available to submit written comments at 
these meetings.
    Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide 
written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the 
public scoping meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments should 
clearly describe specific information, data, issues or topics which the 
commenter believes the LEIS should address. To be considered in the 
LEIS, comments and suggestions should be received no later than 60 days 
following the public scooping meeting.

    Dated: August 27, 2003.
Richard E. Newsome,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environmental, Safety 
and Occupational Health), OASA (I&E).
[FR Doc. 03-22474 Filed 9-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M