[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 442-443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-31249]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[SDM 76798]


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

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest 
Service has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) proposing to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 
6782 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 6782 withdrew 2,387.22 
acres of National Forest System land from location and entry under 
United States mining laws in order to protect the unique cave resources 
in the area surrounding Jewel Cave National Monument. PLO No. 6782 will 
expire on May 17, 2010, unless extended. This notice also gives the 
public an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request 
a public meeting.

DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received by 
April 5, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the Regional 
Forester, Rocky Mountain Region, 740 Simms Street, Golden, Colorado 
80401, or the Montana State Director (MT-924), Bureau of Land 
Management, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana 59101-4669.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Hunt, USDA Forest Service, 
Rocky Mountain Region, 740 Simms Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, 303-
275-5071, or Sandra Ward, BLM Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate 
Drive, Billings, Montana 59101-4669, 406-896-5052.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USDA Forest Service has filed an 
application requesting that the Secretary of the Interior extend the 
duration of PLO No. 6782 (55 FR 20766, (1990)), which, subject to valid 
existing rights, withdrew certain land in Custer County, South Dakota, 
from location and entry under the mining laws (30 U.S.C. Ch. 2) for an 
additional 20 years. The area described contains 2,387.22 acres in 
Custer County as follows:

Black Hills Meridian

Black Hills National Forest

T. 3 S., R. 2 E.,
    Sec. 34, S\1/2\S\1/2\.
T. 4 S., R. 2 E.,
    Sec. 2, lot 4, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ excluding that portion of 
the NE\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\ east of the U.S. Highway 16; and those 
portions of lot 3, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\NW\1/4\ west of U.S. 
Highway 16;
    Sec. 3, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 10, N\1/2\;
    Sec. 11, N\1/2\;
    Sec. 12, S\1/2\N\1/2\.
T. 4 S., R. 3 E.,
    Sec. 6, lots 6 and 7, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, lots 1 and 2, W\1/2\NE\1/4;\, and E\1/2\NW\1/4;\.

    The area described contains 2,387.22 acres in Custer County.

    The purpose of the proposed extension is to continue the withdrawal 
created by PLO No. 6782 for an additional 20-year term to protect the 
unique cave resources in the area surrounding the Jewel Cave National 
Monument.
    As extended, the withdrawal would not alter the applicability of 
those public land laws governing the use of National Forest System 
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 this area.
    There are no suitable alternative sites available. The Jewel Cave 
formations are unique to this area and follow the local geology.
    No water will be needed to fulfill the purpose of the requested 
withdrawal extension.
    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 Montana State Director at the 
address noted above. Comments, including names and street addresses of 
respondents, and records relating to the application will be available 
for public review at the BLM Montana State Office at the address stated 
above, or 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,

[[Page 443]]

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.
    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 Montana State Director by April 5, 2010. 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 and at least one local newspaper at least 30 days before the 
scheduled date of the meeting.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the applicable 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2310.4.

(Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1)

Cynthia Staszak,
Chief, Branch of Land Resources.
[FR Doc. E9-31249 Filed 1-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P