[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22513-22514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10147]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLMTB010-L16100000-DP0000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Missoula Resource Management 
Plan and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Missoula Field 
Office has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an 
associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for BLM public 
lands and resources managed by the Missoula Field 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/Draft EIS within 90 days following 
the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability of the Draft RMP/Draft 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 Missoula Draft RMP/
Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://1.usa.gov/21RNCPG.
     Mail: Missoula Field Office Attn: Missoula RMP, 3255 Fort 
Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804.
    Copies of the Missoula Draft RMP/Draft EIS are available at the 
Missoula Field Office at the above address, or may be viewed at: 
https://1.usa.gov/21RNCPG.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Maggie Ward, RMP Project Manager, 
Missoula Field Office, at (406) 329-3914, at the above mailing list or 
website. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact 
Ms. Ward during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a 
reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Missoula Draft RMP/Draft EIS covers 
approximately 163,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands and 267,000 
acres of Federal mineral estate in western Montana in Flathead, 
Granite, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, and Sanders 
counties. Over 99 percent of the BLM-managed public lands are in 
Granite, Missoula and Powell counties. The planning area is currently 
managed under the Garnet Resource Area RMP (1986). This planning effort 
would update management guidance from the Garnet Resource Area RMP, as 
amended, and create a new Missoula RMP.
    The planning effort is needed to identify goals, objectives, and 
management actions for the BLM-managed public lands. Public involvement 
opportunities occurred during scoping to help identify planning issues 
that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of 
analysis in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. Key issues identified included 
forest vegetation management, wildland fire resiliency and management, 
forest products, Threatened and Endangered species management, big game 
habitat management, livestock grazing, access, recreation management, 
and special designation management including the Lewis and Clark 
National Historic Trail. This plan also considers lands with wilderness 
characteristics, wild and scenic rivers, Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs), lands and realty, minerals, and visual 
resources.
    The Draft RMP/Draft EIS evaluates three alternatives in detail. 
Alternative A is the No Action Alternative, which is a continuation of 
current management in the existing Garnet Resource Area RMP (1986).

[[Page 22514]]

    Alternative B is the agency preferred alternative. Alternative B 
focuses on active forest management and allows for the broadest range 
of management tools to provide forest products and meet forest 
management objectives. Alternative B provides for moving forest 
vegetative communities to the natural range of variability to provide 
for priority wildlife habitat and sustainable forest products at a 
greater rate with increased forest treatments. Alternative B allows 
more lands to be available for livestock grazing as a management tool. 
Alternative B allocates the most acres of special recreation management 
areas.
    Alternative C would have less active forest management and 
emphasizes priority areas for wildlife habitat and vegetation, while 
allowing for modest development of forest resources. Alternative C aims 
to move forested ecosystems towards the natural range of variability 
with an emphasis on natural processes and less active management (lower 
amounts of forest treatments). Alternative C focuses on wildlife-
dependent recreation with four Backcountry Conservation Areas aimed at 
hunting, fishing, and big game habitat objectives. Alternative C 
identifies a wider corridor for the Lewis and Clark National Historic 
Trail.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent 
public comment period for potential ACECs. The proposed ACECs include:
     Bear Creek Flats: (565 acres) Alternative A;
     Limestone Cliffs: (20 acres) Alternatives A and C; and
     Phil Wright Rock: (640 acres) Alternatives B and C.
    The ACECs are proposed to protect biological, botanical, geologic, 
recreational and scenic values. If formally designated, the following 
management prescriptions could apply to potential ACECs, depending on 
proposed management prescriptions for each proposed ACEC: Avoid or 
exclude ROWs; close to non-energy solid leasable mineral leasing; close 
to mineral materials disposal; recommend withdrawal of locatable 
mineral development; close to saleable mineral development; manage for 
higher visual resource values; close or limit motorized and/or off-
highway vehicle travel to designated routes; close to commercial timber 
harvest.
    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 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Donato J. Judice,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-10147 Filed 5-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P