[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59741-59742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24281]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLMTB072000-L14300000-ET0000; MTM 98499]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; 
Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management 
proposes to withdraw, on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
approximately 18,760 acres of public land located in Broadwater County, 
Montana, from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the general 
land laws, including the United States mining laws, but not the mineral 
leasing laws for a period of 5 years to protect the Limestone Hills 
Training Area pending the processing of an application for withdrawal 
of those lands for military purposes under the Engle Act.

[[Page 59742]]


DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana 59101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Ward, BLM, Montana State Office 
at 406-896-5052.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Assistant Secretary for Land and 
Minerals Management proposes to withdraw the following described public 
land located in Broadwater County, Montana, from settlement, sale, 
location and entry under the general land laws, including the mining 
laws, subject to valid existing rights, to protect the land pending 
action on an application for withdrawal of public lands for military 
purposes under the Engle Act:

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 6 N., R. 1 E.,
    sec. 2, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    sec. 3, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    sec. 4, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    sec. 5, lots 1 and 2, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    sec. 8, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    secs. 9 and 10;
    sec. 11, E\1/2\, E\1/2\W\1/2\, and SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    sec. 12, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
    sec. 13, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
    secs. 14 and 15;
    sec. 17, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    sec. 20, E\1/2\ and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    sec. 21;
    sec. 22, lots 3 and 4, W\1/2\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    sec. 23;
    sec. 24, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
    sec. 25, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\ and W\1/2\;
    sec. 26;
    sec. 27, lots 1 to 9, inclusive, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and 
SE\1/4\;
    sec. 28, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, and W\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
    sec. 29, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and 
SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    sec. 33, E\1/2\;
    sec. 34, lots 1 to 8, inclusive, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and N\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
    sec. 35, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, N\1/2\ and N\1/2\S\1/2\.
T. 6 N., R. 2 E.,
    sec. 17, S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    sec. 18, lot 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    sec. 19, lots 1, 2, and 3;
    sec. 20, W\1/2\;
    sec. 30, lots 2, 3, and 4, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\.
T. 7 N., R. 1 E.,
    sec. 26, S\1/2\;
    sec. 27, lots 5 to 8, inclusive, and S\1/2\S\1/2\;
    sec. 28, S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    sec. 32, E\1/2\ except patented lands;
    secs. 33, 34, and 35.
    The area described contains 18,760.63 acres in Broadwater County.
    The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management has 
approved the Bureau of Land Management's petition for approval to file 
its withdrawal application. The Assistant Secretary's approval of the 
petition constitutes her proposal to withdraw the subject lands.
    The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect the above-
described land pending action on an application for withdrawal of 
public land for military purposes under the Engle Act. The land is 
currently used as a military training range involving live-fire 
exercises necessary for national security.
    The use of a right-of-way or cooperative agreement would not 
provide adequate authorization for the use of this area due to the 
broad scope of military training exercises, as well as the non-
discretionary nature of the mining laws.
    There are no suitable alternative sites. The land described above 
is unique in having been used previously as a military training range 
with the attendant capital investments. The use of a different site 
would needlessly degrade a second site and require new capital 
investments.
    Potable water from two wells would be used to meet the daily needs 
for training exercises. The proposed withdrawal itself would not 
require any water.
    On or before December 27, 2010, all persons who wish to submit 
comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the proposed 
withdrawal may present their views in writing to the BLM Montana State 
Director at the address indicated above.
    Comments and records relating to the proposed withdrawal will be 
available for public review at the BLM Montana State Office at the 
address above 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.
    The proposed withdrawal of public land for military purposes under 
the Engle Act was discussed at five public meetings as part of the 
scoping process for the legislative withdrawal Environmental Impact 
Statement.
    This withdrawal proposal will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300.
    For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated from settlement, 
sale, location, and entry under the general land laws, including the 
mining laws, unless the application is denied or canceled or the 
withdrawal is approved prior to that date. Land uses currently 
permitted under the existing right-of-way agreement may continue during 
the segregative period.
    Notice is hereby given that one or more public meetings will be 
held 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 BLM Montana 
State Director at the address above by December 27, 2010. A notice of 
the time and place of any public meetings will be published in the 
Federal Register and at least one local newspaper at least 30 days 
before the scheduled date of the meeting.

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

Gary P Smith,
Acting Chief, Branch of Land Resources, Montana State Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-24281 Filed 9-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P