[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 3754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-953]



[[Page 3754]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-060-1430-ET; MTM 68761]


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. 6674 for an additional 20-year term. PLO 
No. 6674 withdrew 320 acres of public lands in Fergus 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) Blacktail Creek Paleontological Site. 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 
April 21, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the BLM 
Lewistown Field Manager, P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown, Montana 59457.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debbie Tucek, BLM, Lewistown Field 
Office, (406) 538-1931, or at the above address, or Sandra Ward, BLM, 
Montana State Office, (406) 896-5052, or at 5001 Southgate Drive, 
Billings, Montana 59101-4669.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The withdrawal created by PLO No. 6674 (53 
FR 15041) will expire April 26, 2008, unless extended. The Assistant 
Secretary for Land and Minerals Management has approved the BLM 
petition to file an application to extend PLO No. 6674 for an 
additional 20-year period. The withdrawal was made to protect the 
Blacktail Creek Paleontological Site on public lands described as 
follows:

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 13 N., R. 22 E.,
    Sec. 6, W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 14 N., R. 22 E.,
    Sec. 33, N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, N\1/2\SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\NE\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 320 acres in Fergus County.

    The purpose of the proposed extension is to continue the withdrawal 
created by PLO No. 6674 for an additional 20-year term to protect the 
paleontological resources of the Blacktail Creek Paleontological Site.
    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 paleontological resources in the area.
    There are no suitable alternative sites available. Significant 
paleontological resources are located at the Blacktail Creek 
Paleontological Site on the above-described public lands.
    Water will not be needed to fulfill the purpose of the 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 Lewistown Field Office at the 
address noted above.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the BLM Lewistown Field Office at the 
address noted above during regular business hours 7:45 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 
from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    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 Lewistown 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)

    Dated: January 14, 2008.
Theresa M. Hanley,
Deputy State Director, Division of Resources.
[FR Doc. E8-953 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P