[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49217-49218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19262]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[SDM 98495]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; 
South Dakota

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, has filed 
an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the 
Secretary of the Interior to withdraw approximately 3,968 acres of 
National Forest System land from the mining laws for 20 years to 
protect cultural resources, including rock art of great cultural, 
scientific, and public interest within Craven Canyon.

DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received by 
November 18, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the Forest 
Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest, 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, 
South Dakota 57730 and BLM Montana State Director, 5001 Southgate 
Drive, Billings, Montana 59101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Hunt, Forest Service, Rocky 
Mountain Region, 303-275-5071 or Sandra Ward, BLM Montana State Office, 
406-896-5052.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service, has filed an application with the Bureau of Land 
Management, pursuant to Section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714 (2000) to withdraw the 
following-described National Forest System land within the Black Hills 
National Forest, from location or entry under the United States mining 
laws for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights:

Black Hills National Forest, Black Hills Meridian

T. 7 S., R. 2 E.,
Sec. 12, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 13, N\1/2\NE\1/4\;
Sec. 24, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
Sec. 25, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\.

T. 7 S., R. 3 E.,
Sec. 7, lots 3 and 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\ and SW\1/4\SE\1/
4\;
Sec. 18;
Sec. 19;
Sec. 30, lots 3 and 4, E\1/2\W\1/2\, and E\1/2\;
Sec. 31;
Sec. 32.

    The area described contains 3,968.17 acres in Fall River County.

    The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect and preserve 
existing Native American cultural resources, including rock art of 
great cultural, scientific and public interest within Craven Canyon. 
The southern Black Hills in general contain an unparalleled diversity 
of rock art styles. The most significant representation of this 
diversity exists in Craven Canyon. The rock art sites in this area 
continue to yield information not found in other types of 
archaeological sites.
    The use of a right-of-way or cooperative agreement would not 
provide adequate protection for this area due to the broad scope and 
nondiscretionary nature of the general mining laws.
    No alternative sites are feasible due to the cultural significance 
of the area.
    No water will 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 may present their 
views in writing to the Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest.

[[Page 49218]]

    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the Forest Supervisor's Office, Black 
Hills National Forest, 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, South Dakota 
57730, during regular business hours.
    Individual respondents may request confidentiality. Before 
including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, 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. If you wish to withhold 
your name or address from public review or from disclosure under the 
Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the 
beginning of your comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organization or businesses, will be made available for public 
inspection in their entirety.
    Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested 
persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on 
the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to the Forest 
Supervisor's Office within 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice. Upon determination by the authorized officer 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.
    For a period of two years from the date of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated from 
location or entry under the United States mining laws, unless the 
application is denied or canceled or the withdrawal is approved prior 
to that date. The land will remain open to other uses within the 
statutory authority pertinent to National Forest lands and subject to 
discretionary approval.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2300.

    Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1(b).

    Dated: August 12, 2008.
Theresa M. Hanley,
Deputy State Director, Division of Resources.
[FR Doc. E8-19262 Filed 8-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P