[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60815-60816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25204]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) for the 
Limestone Hills Training Area Land Withdrawal, Montana Army National 
Guard (MTARNG)

AGENCY: National Guard Bureau (NGB), Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This announces the availability of the Final LEIS prepared

[[Page 60816]]

by NGB (lead agency) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the 
Department of Interior (DOI) (cooperating agency). The LEIS analyzed 
the proposed withdrawal of 18,644 acres of federal land within the 
Limestone Hills Training Area (LHTA) from BLM administration. The LEIS 
proposes that Congress authorize BLM to transfer administrative 
responsibility of all federal land within the LHTA to the Army for 
military training use by the MTARNG. No new facilities are proposed in 
this LEIS. The LEIS is the detailed statement required by the National 
Environmental Policy Act to be included in a recommendation or report 
on a legislative proposal to Congress.

DATES: The waiting period will end 30 days after publication of a 
notice of availability in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions should be forwarded by mail to 
Ms. Sundi West, MTARNG, Fort Harrison, 1956 MT Majo Street, P.O. Box 
4789, Helena, Montana 59636-4789, via telephone at (406) 324-3088, or 
via e-mail at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sherri Lionberger, BLM, 106 North 
Parkmont, Butte, Montana 59701, via telephone at (406) 533-7671, or via 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the LEIS is to provide 
comprehensive analysis of the proposed action and alternatives to the 
Secretaries of Interior and Army so findings and recommendations can be 
forwarded to Congress regarding the proposed land withdrawal. The study 
area for the environmental analysis is resource dependent. It includes 
Lewis and Clark County and Broadwater County for socioeconomic 
resources, MTARNG facilities for military mission, and the LHTA for 
biological and mineral resources.
    The LEIS analyzes potential environmental effects of three action 
alternatives and a No Action Alternative. Action Alternatives 2 and 3 
were developed as a result of the LEIS scoping process.
    Alternative 1: This was the MTARNG's original proposed action. 
Under the proposed action, management responsibility for all resources, 
except for mineral resources, would be shifted from the BLM to the 
MTARNG. Under this alternative, the Department of the Army could 
exercise its authority to condemn private land, and/or terminate any 
mineral claim or grazing permits.
    Alternative 2: Under this alternative, the MTARNG and BLM would 
share resource management responsibilities. MTARNG would manage most 
resources in the LHTA's closure area. BLM would manage most resources 
in the non-closure area. The closure area is the portion of the LHTA 
that restricts access without prior approval of the MTARNG. The non-
closure area is the portion of LHTA that is open to public access for 
surface use only.
    Alternative 3: (Preferred Alternative): Under this alternative, the 
LHTA would be withdrawn from BLM jurisdiction with modifications based 
on scoping comments and stakeholder recommendations. The proposed 
withdrawal area is approximately 18,644 acres of federal land that 
encloses state-owned and private land which is not included in the 
withdrawal.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the BLM's current right-of-way 
grant for military use of the LHTA by MTARNG would not be renewed. The 
current right-of-way grant expires in 2014.
    This LEIS is a component of the legislative proposal package that 
BLM will submit to DOI and the Office of Management and Budget. After 
agency review and concurrence, the DOI will transmit the proposed 
legislation to Congress.
    Significant Issues: The LHTA is a 23,110 acre parcel of land with 
private and state-owned in-holdings totaling approximately 2,666 acres. 
The BLM manages 20,444 acres of the total acreage and allows the MTARNG 
to conduct military training on its property through the right-of-way 
grant. The public land is also used for grazing, mining, recreation, 
transportation, utility right-of-ways, and wildlife management. A 
limestone mine is currently operating within the LHTA. All federally-
managed LHTA land falls within one of seven grazing allotments. In 
addition, the MTARNG is currently engaged in clearing unexploded 
ordnance from an LHTA range that is no longer in use.
    Issues considered in the LEIS include the following: (1) Continued 
ability of Graymont Western's Indian Creek Limestone Mine to extract 
and process ore within the LHTA; (2) allocation and management of 
grazing allotments; (3) public access to the LHTA; (4) noise and dust 
generated during training exercises, and by vehicular traffic; (5) 
impacts to Broadwater County due to possible termination of BLM 
payments in lieu of taxes if the withdrawal is granted; (6) potential 
impacts to wildlife in the Elkhorn Management Area; (7) consistency of 
land management policies after transfer of administrative 
responsibilities; (8) potential impacts to range management and cleanup 
activities; (9) owner access to, and use of, in-holdings; and (10) 
impacts to the local economy and MTARNG training under the no action 
alternative.
    Potentially significant adverse impacts to socioeconomics are 
expected under Alternative 1 and the No Action Alternative. There are 
no potentially significant adverse impacts expected under Alternatives 
2 or 3.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-25204 Filed 9-29-11; 8:45 am]
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