[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19291-19294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07196]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLMT001900 L16100000.DP0000 LXSS00065E]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Billings and Pompeys Pillar 
National Monument Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact 
Statement, MT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
has prepared a combined Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Billings and Pompeys Pillar 
National Monument within the Billings Field Office of the BLM Montana/
Dakotas State Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of 
the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this notice of the draft 
RMP/EIS in the Federal Register.The BLM will announce future meetings 
or hearings and any other public participation activities at least 15 
days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or 
mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Billings and Pompeys 
Pillar National Monument draft RMP/EIS by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/billings_field_office/rmp.html
     Email: [email protected]
     Fax: 406-896-5281
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Billings Field Office, 
5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101
    Copies of the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument draft 
RMP/EIS are available in the Billings Field Office at the above address 
or may be viewed at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/billings_field_office/rmp.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Sherve-Bybee, RMP Team Lead, 
406-896-5234 or Jim Sparks, Billings Field Manager, 406-896-5241; at 
the above mailing address or via email at: [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal 
business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to 
leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive 
a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area is located in Big Horn, 
Carbon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, 
and Yellowstone Counties in Montana, and a portion of Big Horn County 
in Wyoming. This planning area encompasses approximately 434,154 acres 
of BLM-managed public lands. The RMP will fulfill the needs and 
obligations set forth by NEPA, FLPMA, and BLM management policies. The 
planning effort of the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 
RMP/EIS will revise the existing Billings RMP of 1984, as amended, and 
provide the Billings Field Office with an updated framework in which to 
administer BLM public lands. This draft RMP/EIS addresses new issues, 
changes in resource conditions, and changes in resource management 
practices since adoption of the Billings RMP in 1984 and was developed 
through a collaborative planning process. Formal public scoping began 
with the publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register on 
May 15, 2008 (73 FR 28150), a legal document notifying the public and 
any affected agencies of the intent to revise the 1984 RMP and prepare 
an EIS, including draft planning criteria for review. The formal public 
scoping period ended on August 22, 2008; however, scoping comments were 
received through September 19, 2008.
    Public scoping opportunities included seven open houses in 
communities within the planning area, a mailing of 1,200 scoping 
packages describing the area and process as well as soliciting written 
comments, a Web site, and outreach with various Federal and State 
government agencies. Outreach efforts were also made to tribes and 
consultation with the tribal governments is ongoing.
    The information obtained from the scoping process was used to 
define the relevant issues that are addressed in a range of alternative 
management actions, the environmental impacts of which are analyzed in 
the draft EIS. Based on the scoping comments received and their 
subsequent analysis and evaluation, the following major planning issues 
were identified as being within the scope of the BLM Billings and 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument draft RMP/EIS.
    Issue: Vegetation Communities--How can the public lands be managed 
to provide desired plant communities?
    Issue: Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat and Invasive Species--How can 
public lands be managed to maintain or improve wildlife and fisheries 
habitats and control invasive species?
    Issue: Special Status Species, including Threatened and Endangered 
Species--How can public lands be managed to conserve and recover 
threatened, endangered, proposed, and BLM-sensitive species, including 
Greater Sage-Grouse?
    Issue: Commercial Activities--What public lands will be available 
for commercial activities and how will

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those activities be managed while protecting the integrity of other 
resources?
    Issue: Recreation Activities--How should recreation activities be 
managed to satisfy public demand while protecting natural and cultural 
resource values and provide for visitor safety?
    Issue: Motorized and Non-Motorized Uses--How will conflicts between 
motorized and non-motorized uses be resolved and how will effects to 
resources from motorized uses be addressed?
    Issue: Special Designations--What areas should be designated for 
special management (e.g., areas of critical environmental concern 
(ACEC), Wild and Scenic Rivers, etc.) and how should these areas be 
managed?
    Issue: Social and Economic Conditions--How will local social and 
economic conditions be addressed?
    Issue: Pompeys Pillar National Monument--How will the cultural and 
historic values at Pompeys Pillar National Monument be protected and 
how will recreation and visitor services at Pompeys Pillar National 
Monument be managed?
    In addition to the no-action alternative, three action alternatives 
were developed to respond to these key issues:
     Alternative A: Continues existing management practices (no 
action alternative);
     Alternative B: Emphasizes conservation of natural and 
cultural resources while providing for compatible development and use;
     Alternative C: Emphasizes resource development and use 
while protecting natural and cultural resources; and
     Alternative D: Provides development opportunities while 
protecting sensitive resources (preferred alternative).
    Special management areas in the area analyzed by the RMP/EIS 
include wild and scenic rivers, wilderness study areas, ACECs, research 
natural areas (RNAs), national historic trails, the Pryor Mountain Wild 
Horse Range, and Pompeys Pillar National Monument. The BLM Billings 
Field Office is concerned with applying the appropriate management of 
these areas to protect the values and resources for which they were 
designated. The BLM Billings Field Office considered carrying forward 
or removing current administrative designations (i.e., ACECs), 
depending on whether they still met the criteria for which they were 
originally designated. Additional areas were nominated for designation 
as ACECs and those that met relevance and importance criteria and 
required special management are proposed in the draft RMP/EIS.
    In accordance with 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b) and BLM Manual 1613.32 
regarding ACECs, this Notice of Availability announces a concurrent 
public comment period on proposed ACECs. Alternative B proposes to 
retain nine ACECs and designate three new ACECs and under this 
alternative the proposed management is the most restrictive. 
Alternative B would manage all ACECs as closed to all mineral activity 
including solid and fluid mineral leasing and would recommend 
withdrawal of all ACECs from locatable mineral entry. Alternative C 
proposes to retain nine ACECs and designate two new ACECs and the 
proposed management is less restrictive than Alternative B. All 
proposed management in the ACECs is subject to valid existing rights. 
The proposed ACECs and the most restrictive management (Alternative B) 
are:
     Pompeys Pillar National Monument and ACEC (432 acres), 
designated in the 1996 RMP amendment. Values of concern include 
historical, cultural, biological, geologic, outstanding viewsheds, and 
unique resources. Proposed use limitations(s): Right-of-way exclusion 
area (83 acres) and right-of-way avoidance area (349 acres); closed to 
all mineral leases; closed to geophysical exploration; closed to 
mineral material disposals and related exploration and development 
activities; withdrawal from locatable mineral entry all closures are 
subject to valid existing rights. This ACEC would also be closed to 
renewable energy development, closed to fuelwood cutting/wood product 
sales, closed to cremains scattering, and closed to land disposals.
     Bridger Fossil Area ACEC (577 acres), designated in the 
1998 RMP amendment. Values of concern include paleontological values 
and Bridger Fossil Area National Natural Landmark. Proposed use 
limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area; travel is limited to 
designated roads and trails; closed to all mineral leases, closed to 
geophysical exploration; closed to mineral material disposals and 
related exploration and development activities; recommended for 
withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; closed to renewable energy 
development; closed to fuel wood cutting/wood product sales, closed to 
animal trapping/traplines; closed to recreational target shooting; 
closed to cremains scattering; closed to special recreation permits; 
and closed to other activities normally requiring a BLM permit.
     Castle Butte ACEC (184 acres), designated in the 1998 RMP 
amendment. Values of concern--unique cultural values. Proposed use 
limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area, no land disposals, travel 
limited to designated routes, closed to renewable energy development, 
closed to geophysical exploration, closed to use of explosives for 
geophysical exploration for oil and gas, closed to fuel wood cutting/
wood product sales, closed to animal trapping/traplines, closed to 
recreational target shooting, closed to cremains scattering, closed to 
special recreation use permits, and closed to range improvements.
     East Pryor ACEC (8,301 acres), designated in the 1998 RMP 
amendment. Values of concern--wild horse and wildlife habitat, unique 
cultural/historical resources, special status plant species, and 
paleontological values including values for the Crooked Creek Natural 
Area and the Crooked Creek National Natural Landmark. Proposed use 
limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area (except valid existing 
rights), no land disposals, travel limited to designated routes, closed 
to oil and gas leasing and development, recommended for withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry (subject to valid existing rights), closed to 
solid leasable minerals (subject to valid existing rights), mineral 
material sales not permitted, closed to renewable energy development, 
closed to geophysical exploration for oil and gas, use of explosives 
for geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed, fuel wood 
cutting/wood product sales, closed to livestock grazing within the 
Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range boundary except livestock trailing 
allowed through Bad Pass only, animal trapping/traplines, closed to 
recreational target shooting, and cremains scattering not allowed.
     Four Dances Natural Area ACEC (784 acres), designated in 
the 2001 RMP amendment. Values of concern--significant cultural and 
scenic values, peregrine falcon nesting habitat, and managed for the 
natural hazards of the cliffs. Proposed use limitation(s): Right-of-way 
avoidance area; no land disposals; off-highway vehicle use (including 
bicycles) limited to administrative or authorized use only, no 
snowmobiles or off-road use, closed to oil and gas leasing, 
exploration, and development, closed and continued withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry, closed and continued withdrawal from solid 
leasable mineral entry, mineral material sales not allowed, closed to 
renewable energy development, geophysical exploration for oil and gas 
not allowed, use of explosives for geophysical exploration

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for oil and gas not allowed, fuel wood cutting/wood product sales not 
allowed, buffalo grazing not permitted, range improvements not allowed, 
animal trapping/traplines not allowed, no discharging of firearms, 
archery hunting may be allowed if deemed necessary by Montana Fish, 
Wildlife, and Parks (authorization from BLM required), cremains 
scattering not allowed, special recreation use permits not allowed, 
other activities normally requiring a BLM permit not allowed, day use 
area only, closed to horseback riding, closed to use of fireworks, 
closed to hang gliding, closed to paint ball activities, closed to 
exercising pets off leash, and special management/priority would be 
given to protecting falcon eyries by restricting human activity along 
the rims that might adversely affect the nesting birds.
     Grove Creek ACEC (8,251 acres), proposed ACEC/not 
designated in previous RMP or amendments. Values of concern--
significant archaeological and traditional cultural values and special 
status plants. Proposed use limitations(s): Right-of-way exclusion 
area, no land disposals, travel limited to designated routes, closed to 
oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development, closed and 
recommended for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, closed and 
recommended for withdrawal from solid leasable mineral entry, mineral 
materials sales not allowed, geophysical exploration for oil and gas 
not allowed, use of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and 
gas not allowed, fuel wood cutting/wood product sales not allowed, 
range improvements not allowed, animal trapping/traplines not allowed, 
closed to recreational target shooting, cremains scattering not 
allowed, special recreation use permits not allowed, closed to 
renewable energy development, and other activities normally requiring a 
BLM permit not allowed.
     Meeteetse Spires ACEC (1,523 acres), designated in the 
1998 RMP amendment. Values of concern--protect and enhance unique 
vegetation (rare plants) and conserve scenic values. Proposed use 
limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area, no land disposals, travel 
limited to designated routes, plant collecting allowed for scientific 
use or range/forestry studies only, no collection of special status 
species plants without a permit, fluid mineral leasing closed (956 
acres), no surface occupancy for fluid mineral leasing (567 acres), 
recommended for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry (956 acres), 
mineral material sales not allowed, closed to renewable energy 
development, use of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and 
gas not allowed, fuel wood cutting/wood product sales not allowed, 
closed to livestock grazing, range improvements not allowed, cremains 
scattering not allowed, special recreation permits not allowed, and 
other activities normally requiring a BLM permit not allowed.
     Petroglyph Canyon (240 acres), designated in the 1998 RMP 
amendment. Values of concern--unique cultural values. Proposed use 
limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area, no land disposals, travel 
limited to designated routes only, plant collecting not allowed, closed 
and continued withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, closed to solid 
leasable minerals, mineral materials sales/permits not allowed, closed 
to renewable energy, geophysical exploration for oil and gas not 
allowed, use of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and gas 
not allowed, no heavy equipment/no retardant/no foam use for fire 
suppression, fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed, no range 
improvements allowed, no animal trapping/traplines allowed, closed to 
recreational target shooting, no cremains scattering allowed, no 
special recreation permits allowed, and other activities normally 
requiring a BLM permit not allowed.
     Pryor Foothills RNA ACEC (958 acres), proposed ACEC/not 
designated in previous RMP or amendments. Values of concern--protect 
unique vegetation (a large concentration of BLM special status plant 
species and rare plant communities) and to protect significant historic 
and cultural values in the Gyp Springs area. Proposed use 
limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area, no land disposals, travel 
limited to designated routes, plant collecting not allowed, closed to 
fluid mineral leasing, closed and recommended for withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry, closed to solid leasable mineral development, 
mineral materials sales not allowed, closed to renewable energy 
development, geophysical exploration not allowed, fuelwood cutting/wood 
product sales not allowed, no range improvements would be allowed that 
would result in a net increase of livestock use in this ACEC, closed to 
recreational target shooting, cremains scattering not permitted, 
special recreation permits not allowed, and other activities normally 
requiring a BLM permit not allowed.
     Stark Site ACEC (799 acres), designated in the 1998 RMP 
amendment. Values of concern--protect unique cultural values. Proposed 
use limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area, no land disposals, 
travel limited to designated routes, no surface occupancy for fluid 
mineral leasing, recommended for withdrawal from locatable mineral 
entry, mineral material sales not allowed, closed to renewable energy 
development, geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed, use 
of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed, 
no heavy equipment/no retardant/no foam use during fire suppression, 
fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed, range improvements not 
allowed, animal trapping/traplines not allowed, closed to recreational 
target shooting, cremains scattering not allowed, special recreation 
use permits not allowed, and other activities normally requiring a BLM 
permit not allowed.
     Weatherman Draw ACEC (4,986 acres), designated in the 1998 
RMP amendment. Values of concern--protect unique cultural values. 
Proposed use limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area (subject to 
valid existing rights), no land disposals, travel limited to designated 
routes, plant collecting not allowed, closed to fluid mineral leasing, 
600 acres closed and recommended for continued withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry, 4,386 acres closed and recommended for 
withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, closed to solid leasable 
mineral entry, mineral material sales not allowed, closed to renewable 
energy development, geophysical exploration for oil and gas not 
allowed, fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed, range 
improvements not allowed, animal trapping/traplines not allowed, closed 
to recreational target shooting, cremains scattering not allowed, 
special recreation use permits not allowed, and other activities 
normally requiring a BLM permit not allowed.
     Greater Sage-Grouse ACEC (154,140 acres), proposed ACEC/
not designated in previous RMP or amendments. Values of concern--
protect priority habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse. Proposed use 
limitation(s): Right-of-way exclusion area, no land disposals, closed 
to fluid mineral leasing, recommended for withdrawal from locatable 
mineral entry, mineral materials sales not allowed, closed to renewable 
energy development, geophysical exploration not allowed, special 
recreation permits allowed only if consistent with goals and objectives 
for habitat and/or species, prescribed fire not allowed, heavy 
equipment used for fire suppression not allowed within four miles of 
sage-grouse nesting habitat (leks), grazing allotments within or 
containing portions of the ACEC would be designated as management 
Category

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I, and other permitted activities considered after site specific 
analysis that considered values for which the ACEC is designated.
    Alternative A proposes to maintain the nine existing ACECs for a 
total of 37,896 acres. Under Alternative A, 1,675 acres are recommended 
withdrawn from mineral entry and 32,158 acres are not available for 
fluid mineral leasing. Alternative B proposes to retain nine ACECs and 
establish three additional ACECs for a total of 181,175 acres 
(management listed above). Alternative B would continue to withdraw 
1,675 acres from locatable mineral entry, recommend withdrawals from 
locatable mineral entry for 178,749 acres, and make 179,244 acres 
unavailable for fluid mineral leasing. Alternative C proposes to retain 
nine ACECs and establish two additional ACECs for a total of 67,079 
acres. Alternative C would continue to withdraw 1,675 acres from 
locatable mineral entry, recommend withdrawals from locatable mineral 
entry for 1,914 acres, and make 34,558 acres unavailable for fluid 
mineral leasing. Alternative D proposes to retain nine ACECs and 
establish two additional ACECs for a total of 38,786 acres. Alternative 
D would continue to withdraw 1,675 acres from locatable mineral entry, 
recommend withdrawals from locatable mineral entry for 20,827 acres, 
and make 18,716 acres unavailable for fluid mineral leasing.
    The preferred alternative (Alternative D) proposes retaining ACEC 
designation for the following ACECs that are the same acreages as 
designated in the 1996, 1998, and 2001 RMP amendments: Pompeys Pillar 
National Monument and ACEC (432 acres), Bridger Fossil Area ACEC (577 
acres), Castle Butte ACEC (184 acres), Four Dances Natural Area ACEC 
(784 acres), Petroglyph Canyon ACEC (240 acres), and Stark Site ACEC 
(799 acres). The following ACECs were designated in the 1998 RMP 
amendment, but ACEC boundaries expanded or changed in the preferred 
alternative:
     East Pryor ACEC (11,122 acres): This acreage is smaller 
than the 29,550 acres originally designated in 1998 RMP amendment, as 
the preferred alternative removes overlapping/conflicting management 
layers. The East Pryor ACEC is located in the same area as three 
wilderness study areas (WSAs) and the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. 
In the preferred alternative, the boundaries of the ACEC were changed 
to exclude the WSAs, as WSAs have the most restrictive management, and 
the management of the WSAs would provide special management needed for 
the resource values of concern identified in the East Pryor ACEC. The 
1998 boundary of the East Pryor ACEC included only a portion of the 
Demi-John Flat National Register District. The boundary has been 
expanded in the preferred alternative to include all of Demi-John Flat 
National Register District.
     Meeteetse Spires ACEC (956 acres plus 567 acres): The 
additional 576 acres were acquired from The Conservation Fund by the 
BLM in 2009 using money received from the Land and Water Conservation 
Fund. The private land was surrounded on three sides by the Meeteetse 
Spires ACEC and on one side by the U.S. Forest Service Custer National 
Forest (Line Creek Plateau RNA). The 567 acres of private land had been 
subdivided and further development would have threatened the adjoining 
ACEC.
     Weatherman Draw ACEC (4,365 acres plus 7,912 acres): The 
proposed 7,912 acre expansion of the ACEC includes the 2009 donation of 
621 acres of private land to the BLM.
    The preferred alternative (Alternative D) proposes two additional 
ACECs: Grove Creek ACEC (8,251 acres) and Pryor Foothills RNA ACEC 
(2,606 acres).
    The BLM Billings Field Office conducted an inventory of certain 
waterways to determine eligibility and suitability for inclusion into 
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System for designation by Congress 
and drafted interim management prescriptions for those waterway 
segments determined ``suitable'' in the planning process.
    Following the close of the public review and comment period on this 
draft RMP/EIS, public comments will be used to revise the BLM Billings 
and Pompeys Pillar National Monument draft RMP/EIS in preparation for 
its release to the public as the BLM Billings and Pompeys Pillar 
Proposed RMP and Final EIS. While one combined RMP/EIS has been 
prepared, two separate Records of Decision (RODS) will be issued for 
the Billings Field Office and for Pompeys Pillar National Monument. The 
BLM will respond to each substantive comment by making appropriate 
revisions to the document or by explaining why a comment did not 
warrant a change. Notice of the availability of the Proposed RMP and 
Final EIS will be posted in the Federal Register.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware 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 your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Theresa M. Hanley,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-07196 Filed 3-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P