[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60026-60027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20779]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-010-1430-ET; MTM 60957]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal Extension and Opportunity for 
Public Meeting; Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior proposes to extend the duration 
of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6664 for an additional 20-year term. PLO 
No. 6664 withdrew 840 acres of public lands in Carbon County, Montana, 
from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land laws, 
including the United States mining laws to protect the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) Petroglyph Canyon and Weatherman Draw archeological 
sites. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed 
action and to request a public meeting. The lands have been and will 
remain open to mineral leasing.

DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received by 
January 22, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the BLM 
Billings Field Office Manager, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana 
59101-4669.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Carroll, BLM, Billings Field 
Office, (406) 896-5242, or at the above address, or Sandra Ward, BLM, 
Montana State Office, (406) 896-5052.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The withdrawal created by PLO No. 6664 (53 
FR 7186-7) will expire March 6, 2008, unless extended. The Assistant 
Secretary for Land and Minerals Management has approved the BLM 
petition to file an application to extend PLO No. 6664 for an 
additional 2-year period. The withdrawal was made to protect the 
Petroglyph Canyon and Weatherman Draw archeological sites on public 
lands described as follows:

Principal Meridian, Montana, (Weatherman Draw)

T. 8 S., R. 24 E.,
    Sec. 20, S\1/2\SE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\.

(Petroglyph Canyon)

T. 9 S., R. 26 E.,
    Sec. 35, lots 2, 3, 6, 7, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\NW\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 840 acres in Carbon County.
    The purpose of the proposed extension is to continue the withdrawal 
created by PLO No. 6664 for an additional 20-year term to protect the 
archeological sites at Petroglyph Canyon and Weatherman Draw.
    As extended, the withdrawal would not alter the applicability of 
those public land laws governing the use of lands under lease, license, 
or permit or governing the disposal of the mineral or vegetative 
resources other than under the mining laws.
    The use of a right-of-way or interagency or cooperative agreement 
would not adequately protect the cultural resources in these areas.
    There are no suitable alternative sites available. Significant 
cultural resources are located at the Petroglyph Canyon and Weatherman 
Draw sites in the above-described public land.
    Water will not be needed to fulfill the purpose of the requested 
withdrawal.
    For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or 
objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal extension may 
present their views in writing to the BLM Billings Field Office at the 
address noted above.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the BLM Billings Field Office at the 
address noted above during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, 
phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comments, be advised that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

[[Page 60027]]

    Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal extension. All 
interested persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being 
heard on the proposed withdrawal extension must submit a written 
request to the BLM Billings Field Manager within 90 days from the date 
of publication of this notice. If the authorized officer determines 
that a public meeting will be held, a notice of the time and place will 
be published in the Federal Register at least 30 days before the 
scheduled date of the meeting. This withdrawal extension proposal will 
be processed in accordance with the applicable regulations set forth in 
43 CFR 2310.4.

(Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1(b)(1))

    Dated: October 11, 2007.
Theresa M. Hanley,
Deputy State Director, Division of Resources.
[FR Doc. E7-20779 Filed 10-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P