[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 39062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3472]



[[Page 39062]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) for the 
Limestone Hills Training Area Land Withdrawal, Montana Army National 
Guard (MTARNG)

AGENCY: National Guard Bureau (NGB), Department of the Army (DA), DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: This LEIS has been prepared by NGB (lead agency) and the 
Department of the Interior's (DOIs) Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
(cooperating agency). The LEIS analyzes the proposed withdrawal of 
18,644 acres of federal land within the Limestone Hills Training Area 
(LHTA) from BLM administration. The LEIS proposes that the DOI and 
Congress transfer administrative responsibility of all federal land 
within the LHTA to the Army for military training use by the MTARNG. No 
new facilities are proposed in this LEIS.

DATES: The public comment period for the Draft LEIS will end 90 days 
after publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions should be forwarded by mail to 
Ms. Sundi West, MTARNG, Fort Harrison, P.O. Box 4789, Helena, Montana 
59604-4789; via telephone at (406) 324-3088, or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary L. Figarelle, BLM, 106 North 
Parkmont, Butte, Montana 59701; via telephone at (406) 533-7671; or via 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of the LEIS is to provide 
comprehensive analysis of the proposed action and alternatives to the 
Secretaries of Interior and Army so findings and recommendations can be 
forwarded to Congress regarding the proposed land withdrawal. The study 
area for the environmental analysis is resource dependent. It includes 
Lewis and Clark County and Broadwater County for socioeconomic 
resources, MTARNG facilities for military mission, and the LHTA for 
biological and mineral resources.
    The LEIS analyzes potential environmental effects of four 
alternatives:
    (1) Alternative 1: Under this alternative, management 
responsibility for all resources, except for mineral resources, would 
be shifted from the BLM to the MTARNG. The DA could exercise its 
authority to condemn private land, and/or terminate any mineral claim 
or grazing permits under this alternative.
    (2) Alternative 2: Under this alternative, the MTARNG and BLM would 
share resource management responsibilities. Most resources in the LHTAs 
closure area would be managed by MTARNG. Most resources in the 
nonclosure area would be managed by the BLM. The closure area is the 
portion of the LHTA that restricts access without prior approval of the 
MTARNG. The nonclosure area is the portion of the LHTA that is open to 
public access for surface use only.
    (3) Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative): Under the preferred 
alternative, the LHTA would be withdrawn from BLM jurisdiction with 
modifications based on scoping comments and stakeholder 
recommendations. The proposed withdrawal area is approximately 18,644 
acres of federal land that encloses 2,666 acres of state owned and 
private land. Land proposed for withdrawal is limited to BLM 
administrated land within the withdrawal boundary. If does not include 
private or state owned land.
    (4) Alternative 4 (No Action Alternative): Under this alternative, 
the BLMs current right-of-way grant for military use of the LHTA by 
MTARNG would not be renewed and would expire in 2014.
    Significant Issues: The LHTA is a 23,100-acre parcel of land with 
private and state owned in-holdings totaling approximately 2,666 acres. 
The BLM managed 20,460 acres of the total acreage and allows the MTARNG 
to conduct military training on its property through the right-of-way 
grant. The public land is also used for grazing, mining, recreation, 
transportation, utility right-of-ways, and wildlife management. A 
limestone mine is currently operating within the LHTA. Every federally 
managed acre of the LHTA falls within ne of seven grazing allotments. 
In addition, the MTARNG is currently engaged in clearing unexploded 
ordnance from an LHTA range that is no longer in use.
    Issues in the LEIS include the following: (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 by vehicular traffic; (5) impacts to 
Broadwater County due to possible termination of FLM payments in lieu 
of taxes if the withdrawal is granted; (6) potential impacts to 
wildlife I the Elkhorn Management Area; (7) consistency of land 
management policies after transfer of administrative responsibilities; 
(8) potential impacts to range management and cleanup activities; (9) 
owner access to, and use of, in-holdings; and (10) impacts to the local 
economy and MTARNG training under the no action alternative.
    Potential significant adverse impacts to socioeconomics are 
expected under Alternatives 1 and 4. There are no potentially 
significant adverse impacts expected under Alternative 2 or 3 
(Preferred Alternative).
    The DA, through MTARNG, is continuing its public comment process 
for this action. Public meetings will be held during the LEIS public 
review period.

    Dated: July 3, 2007.
H.E. Wolfe,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety 
and Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-3472 Filed 7-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M