Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Attachment 10 

From the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments for 

the Rocky Mountain Region including the Greater Sage-Grouse Sub-Regions of: Lewistown, 

North Dakota, Northwest Colorado, and Wyoming and the Approved Resource 

Management Plans for: Billings, Buffalo, Cody, HiLine, Miles City, Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument, South Dakota, and Worland 

Prepared by 

US Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Land Management 

Billings Field Office, Montana 

September 2015 
MISSION STATEMENT 

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most 

of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of 

Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. 

The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral 

estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and 

conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and 

future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained 

yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts 

from public lands. 

BLM/MT/PL-15/016+1610 
State Director Recommendation for Approval 

I hereby recommend for approval the Pompeys Pillar National Monument Resource Management Plan. 
[left intentionally blank] 
September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP i 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page 

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1-1

1.1 Description of the Planning Area .............................................................................................. 1-1

1.2 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................ 1-2

1.3 Planning Criteria ............................................................................................................................ 1-2

1.4 Issues Addressed ........................................................................................................................... 1-3

1.4.1 Issues Considered But Not Analyzed Further ........................................................ 1-4

2. POMPEYS PILLAR........................................................................................................... 2-1

2.1 General Overview ........................................................................................................................ 2-1

2.1.1 National Monument ...................................................................................................... 2-4

2.1.2 National Historic Landmark ........................................................................................ 2-4

2.1.3 Area of Critical Environmental Concern ................................................................. 2-4

2.1.4 Current Land Use at Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark, 

National Monument, and ACEC ................................................................................ 2-5

2.1.5 National Historic Trails ................................................................................................ 2-5

3. APPROVED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................................................... 3-1

3.1 Approved Resource Management Plan Instructions ............................................................ 3-1

3.2 Goals, Objectives, and Management Decisions ..................................................................... 3-2

3.2.1 Pompeys Pillar National Monument (51 acres) (PPNM) ...................................... 3-2

3.2.2 Physical, Biological, and Cultural/Heritage Resources .......................................... 3-5

3.2.3 Resource Uses and Support ...................................................................................... 3-25

4. CONSULTATION, COORDINATION, AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ................................ 4-1

4.1 Consultation and Coordination ................................................................................................ 4-1

4.1.1 Cooperating Agencies .................................................................................................. 4-1

4.1.2 Native American Indian Tribes ................................................................................... 4-1

4.1.3 United States Fish And Wildlife Service ................................................................... 4-2

4.2 Public Involvement ........................................................................................................................ 4-3

5. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................... 5-1

5.1 Implementing the Plan ................................................................................................................. 5-1

5.2 Maintaining the Plan...................................................................................................................... 5-2

5.3 Changing the Plan ......................................................................................................................... 5-2

5.4 Plan Evaluation, Adaptive Management, and Monitoring ..................................................... 5-2

6. GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................................... 6-1

7. REFERENCES.................................................................................................................. 7-1

TABLES Page 

1-1 Lands in the Planning Area ........................................................................................................................ 1-1

2-1 Pompeys Pillar Designations ..................................................................................................................... 2-5
ii Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

FIGURES Page 

2-1 Pompeys Pillar National Monument General Location Map ............................................................. 2-2

2-2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Specific Location Map .............................................................. 2-3

Appendix A (Figures 1 through 12): 

1 Pompeys Pillar National Monument – general location map

2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument – specific location map

3 Pompeys Pillar National Monument, National Historic Landmark, and Area of Critical 

Environmental Concern

4 Pompeys Pillar National Monument, Management Zones, and Area of Critical Environmental 

Concern 

5 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Riparian Priority Recovery Areas w/ PPNM location inset 

6 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Visual Resource Management 

7 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Lands Retention and Available for Disposal

8 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Rights-of-Way Exclusion and Avoidance Areas 

9 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Livestock Grazing 

10 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Areas Closed to Target Shooting 

11 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Renewable Energy 

12 Pompeys Pillar National Monument National Historic Trail Management Corridors

APPENDICES

A Approved RMP Amendment Maps

B Best Management Practices

C Bureau of Land Management Billings Field Office and Pompeys Pillar National Monument Sign 

Plan

D Wildlife Resources

E PFC – Proper Functioning Condition

F Implementation and Monitoring

G Pompeys Pillar Designations

H Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands

I Land Health Standards

J Visual Resource Management Program

K Biological Opinion

L Cultural Resources

M Recreational Setting Characteristics
September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP iii

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Full Phrase

ACEC area of critical environmental concern 

ADC animal damage control 

ANS aquatic nuisance species 

APLIC avian protection plan 

APHIS Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

AQRV air quality-related values 

ARMP Approved Resource Management Plan 

AUM animal unit month 

B&PPNM Billings and Pompey National Monument 

BA biological assessment 

BGEPA Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act 

BiFO Billings Field Office 

BLM US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management 

BMPs best management practices 

CEQ Council on Environmental Quality 

CFR Code of Federal Regulations 

CSU controlled surface use 

DFC desired future condition 

DOI Department of the Interior 

EA environmental assessment 

EIS environmental impact statement 

EO executive order 

ERMA extensive recreation management area 

ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973 

ESR emergency stabilization and rehabilitation 

FLERA Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act 

FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act 

FRCC fire regime condition class 

GHG greenhouse gas 

GHMA general habitat management area(s) 

IM instruction memorandum 

IPM integrated pest management 

ISRP individual special recreation permits 

LCNHT Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail 

LN lease notice 

LWCF Land and Water Conservation Fund 

MDEQ Montana Department of Environmental Quality 

MTFWP Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks 

NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

NHL National Historic Landmark 

NHPA National Historic Preservation Act 

NHT National Historic Trail 
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS (continued) Full Phrase

iv Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

NLCS National Landscape Conservation System

NM national monument

NPNHT Nez Perce National Historic Trail

NPS National Park Service

NRHP National Register of Historic Places

NSO no surface occupancy

OHV off-highway vehicle

ORP outdoor recreation planner

OSV over-snow vehicle

PFC proper functioning condition

PFYC potential fossil yield classification

PHMA priority habitat management area(s)

PMWHR Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range

PPNM Pompeys Pillar National Monument

R&PP Recreation and Public Purposes Act

RMP resource management plan

ROD record of decision

ROW right-of-way

RS revised statute

SIP state implementation plan

SHPO State Historic Preservation Office

SRMA special recreation management area

SRP special recreation permit

SSS special status species

SWPP source water protection programs

T&E threatened and endangered

TCP traditional cultural property

THPO Tribal Historic Preservation Officer

TMA travel management area

TMDL total maximum daily load

USC United States Code

USFS US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

USFWS US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

VRI visual resource inventory

VRM visual resource management

WAAQS Wyoming Ambient Air Quality Standards

WMA weed management area

WSA wilderness study area

WSR Wild and Scenic River

WUI wildland urban interface
September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 1-1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this Approved Resource Management Plan (ARMP) is to approve the US Department of 

the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) management decisions on approximately 51

acres of BLM-administered surface and 51 acres of BLM-administered minerals in Pompeys Pillar 

National Monument (PPNM). The regulations for making and modifying land use plan decisions, which 

comprise a resource management plan (RMP), are found in 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 

1600. Land use plan decisions consist of desired outcomes (goals and objectives) and allowable uses and 

management actions.

The Billings Field Office (BiFO) of the BLM prepared the Draft RMP/Draft Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) (published on March 29, 2013) and Proposed RMP/FEIS (published on May 29, 2015) for 

the BiFO and Pompeys PPNM planning areas together. For ease of implementation, one ARMP for the 

BiFO and one for PPNM have been prepared. This document reflects the management direction only for 

the PPNM.

1.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANNING AREA

The record of decision (ROD) approving the resource management plan provides a framework for 

future management direction and appropriate use at PPNM. It is on BLM-administered land in 

Yellowstone County, south-central Montana, within the BLM BiFO Planning Area (Table 1-1).

Table 1-1

Lands in the Planning Area

County

Total 

County 

Acres

PPNM 

BLM-Administered 

Surface (and 

Percentage of Total 

County Acres)

PPNM

BLM-Administered Federal 

Mineral Estate Acres* (and 

Percentage of Total 

County Acres)

Yellowstone 1,695,363 51 (0.003%) 51 (0.003%)*

Total 1,695,363 51 (0.003%) 51 (0.003%)*

*To the extent administered by the BLM
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1-2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED

The purpose of the RMP is to provide a single, comprehensive land use plan to guide management of

BLM-administered lands on the 51 acres of Pompeys Pillar National Monument. This plan provides goals,

objectives, land use allocations, and management direction for the BLM-administered surface and mineral

estate, based on multiple use and sustained yield, unless otherwise specified by law (Federal Land Policy

and Management Act [FLPMA] Section 102[c], 43 United States Code [USC], Section 1701 et seq.).

This comprehensive plan is needed to address competing resource uses and values in the same area. In 

addition, conditions have changed since approval of the 1984 Billings Resource Area RMP, as amended. 

These changed conditions provide land use plan direction for the PPNM by integrating the component’s 

planning process into the planning process for the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS revised land use plan. This plan developed and implemented an RMP that is consistent with the 

relevant designating legislation or proclamation and national and state office policies and guidance using 

an interdisciplinary and integrated approach.

1.3 PLANNING CRITERIA

BLM planning regulations (43 CFR, Part 1610) require the preparation of planning criteria before all 

RMPs are developed. Planning criteria are the standards, rules, and guidelines that help to guide the 

planning process. These criteria influence all aspects of the planning process, including collecting and 

inventorying data, developing issues to address, formulating alternatives, estimating impacts, and 

selecting the Preferred Alternative. In conjunction with the planning issues, planning criteria ensure that 

the planning process is focused and incorporates appropriate analyses. Planning criteria are developed 

from appropriate laws, regulations, and policies and from public participation and coordination with 

cooperating agencies, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and American Indian tribes.

Planning criteria used in the development of this RMP are as follows:

 The RMP will recognize the existence of valid existing rights

 The RMP will comply with applicable laws, regulations, executive orders (EOs), and BLM 

supplemental program guidance

 Planning decisions will cover BLM-administered public lands, including split-estate lands 

where the federal government has retained the subsurface mineral estate

 Planning decisions will use and observe the principles of multiple use and sustained yield set 

forth in FLPMA and other applicable law (43 USC, Section 1701 [c][1])

 The BLM will use a systematic interdisciplinary approach to achieve integrated consideration 

of physical, biological, economic, and other sciences (43 USC, Section 1701 [c][2])

 An area potentially suitable for designation as an area of critical environmental concern 

(ACEC) or other special designations will be identified and, where appropriate, brought 

forward for analysis in the EIS (43 USC, Section 1701 [c][3])

 The BLM will rely, to the extent it is available, on the inventory of public lands, their 

resources, and other values (43 USC, Section 1701 [c][4])

 The BLM will consider present and potential uses of the public lands (43 USC, Section 1701 

[c][5])
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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 1-3

 The BLM will consider Presidential Proclamation 7396: Establishment of the Pompeys Pillar 

National Monument

 The BLM will consider the relative scarcity of the values involved and the availability of 

alternative means (including recycling) and sites for the realization of those values (43 USC, 

Section 1701 [c][6])

 The BLM will consider the relationship between short-term uses of the human environment 

and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity

 Decisions in the RMP will comply with applicable pollution control laws, including state and 

Federal air, water, noise, or other pollution standards or implementation plans (43 USC, 

Section 1701 [c][8])

 To the extent consistent with the laws governing the administration of the public lands 

(FLPMA 202 b[9]), the BLM will be consistent with existing officially approved or adopted 

resource plans, policies, or programs of other federal agencies, state agencies, American 

Indian tribes, and local governments that may be affected (43 CFR, Part 1610.3-1[c][9])

1.4 ISSUES ADDRESSED

Those planning issues determined to be within the scope of the EIS were used to develop one or more 

of the alternatives or were addressed in other parts of the EIS. For example, as planning issues were 

refined, the BLM collaborated with cooperating agencies to develop a reasonable range of alternatives 

designed to address and resolve key planning issues, such as what areas, if any, contain unique or 

sensitive resources requiring special management. 

A reasonable range of alternatives provides various scenarios for how the BLM and cooperating agencies 

can address this and other key planning issues, including the management of resources and resource 

uses in the decision area. In other words, key planning issues serve as the rationale for alternative 

development. 

The key planning issues identified for developing alternatives in the EIS are listed below.

Issue 1: How can public lands be managed to maintain or improve wildlife and fisheries habitats 

and control invasive species?

Where public land ownership patterns are highly fragmented protection and/or improvement of fish and 

wildlife habitats is more challenging. The key to maintaining fish and wildlife habitats is diverse, healthy 

vegetation and plant communities and good water quality, stream channel, and riparian conditions. The 

RMP will identify the range (current and potential) of wildlife habitat as well as habitat conditions in the 

decision area. 

Issue 2: How should recreation activities be managed in response to public demand while 

protecting natural and cultural resource values and provide for visitor safety?

Recreation use in the decision area continues to increase. With this popularity has come a demand for a 

greater variety and availability of recreation opportunities such as motorized and non-motorized trails 

(including equestrian trails), climbing, mountain biking, hiking, and camping. With the number of visitors 

growing, resource and user conflicts are becoming more common. Recreational use needs to be 
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1-4 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

managed, including identifying special recreation management areas (SRMAs) where management 

attention is needed to highlight important recreational opportunities or deal with problems such as 

conflicts between users or impacts on other resources. The RMP should assist the BLM in providing 

access to the public lands and to ensure quality environmentally responsible outdoor recreational 

opportunities, experiences, and benefits for the growing number of public land users. 

Issue 3: What areas should be designated for special management (e.g., ACECs and Wild and 

Scenic Rivers) and how should these areas be managed?

FLPMA and BLM policy require the BLM to give priority to designation and protection of ACECs during 

the land use planning process. The Wild and Scenic River (WSR) Act directs federal agencies to consider 

the potential for including watercourses into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System during the land 

use planning process. The alternatives analyzed in this RMP/EIS include a range of management 

prescriptions for managing the existing and potential ACECs, as well as for managing the eligible rivers 

as suitable WSRs. 

As part of the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS development, evaluations were 

conducted to address whether certain places in the decision area qualified/remained qualified for special 

designation to protect unique or significant values. Subject to valid existing rights, the RMP will avoid 

approval of proposed actions that could degrade the values of potential special designations. 

Issue 4: How will the cultural and historic values at Pompeys Pillar National Monument be 

protected?

The cultural and historic values and associated viewshed at Pompeys Pillar National Monument (if it is 

within the decision area) will be preserved through management actions developed in this RMP for 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument. Pompeys Pillar National Monument (51 acres) was designated a 

national monument for the purpose of protecting ethnographic, historic, and archaeological values 

associated with Pompeys Pillar.

Issue 5: How will recreation and visitor services at Pompeys Pillar National Monument be 

managed?

Pompeys Pillar National Monument and ACEC will be managed to provide for interpretation, use, and 

enjoyment while protecting the significant resource values, providing for user safety, and maximizing 

socio-economic benefits.

1.4.1 Issues Considered But Not Analyzed Further

During scoping, several concerns were raised that are beyond the scope of this planning effort or that

referred to the BLM planning process and implementation. Additionally, several issues were raised that

are of concern to the public but governed by existing laws and regulations (e.g., water quality). Where

law or regulation already dictates certain management, alternatives were not developed.

Policy or administrative actions include those actions that are implemented by the BLM because they are

standard operating procedure, because federal law requires them, or because they are BLM policy.

Administrative actions do not require a planning decision to implement. They are, therefore, issues that

are eliminated from detailed analysis in this planning effort.
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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 1-5

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final 

Environmental Impact Statement provides a comprehensive list of issues outside the scope of the RMP or

issues addressed through administrative or policy action (USDOI BLM 2015). The PRMP/FEIS is available 

at http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/billings_field_office/rmp/prmp_feis.html. Some major issues were

considered but not analyzed because they were inconsistent with existing laws or higher-level

management direction or because they were beyond the scope of the purpose and goals of this RMP. 

These issues include those described below.

1.4.1.1 Issues Beyond the Scope of the Purpose and Goals of this RMP

 Settlement of Revised Statute (RS) 2477 claims. The State of Montana and the Counties of 

Big Horn, Carbon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, and 

Yellowstone and the State of Wyoming and Big Horn County may hold valid existing 

highway rights-of-way across public lands in the planning area pursuant to RS 2477, Act of 

July 26, 1866, chapter 262, § 8, 14 Stat. 251, 253, codified at 43 USC § 932. This RMP does 

not adjudicate, analyze, or otherwise determine the validity of claimed RS 2477 rights-ofway. Nothing in this RMP extinguishes any valid right-of-way (ROW), or alters in any way 

the legal rights the State of Montana and the Counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Golden Valley, 

Musselshell, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, and Yellowstone and the State of Wyoming 

and Big Horn County have to assert and protect RS 2477 rights, and to challenge in federal 

court or other appropriate venue any use restrictions imposed by the RMP that they believe 

are inconsistent with their rights. If a claimed ROW is recognized by the BLM through an 

administrative determination, or a ROW is determined to be valid by a court of law, any use 

restriction imposed by this RMP shall no longer apply to it.

 New proposals for wilderness study areas (WSA) or wilderness. Any individual, 

organization, or agency can submit potential wilderness designation lands to Congress for 

designation. Only Congress can designate (WSA), established under Section 603 of FLPMA, 

as wilderness or release WSAs for other uses. 

 Expansion of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range (PMWHR) beyond the Herd Area. 

Wild horses can only be managed on areas of public lands where they were known to exist 

in 1971, at the time of the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act (herd

areas and territories). Under section 1339 “Limitation of Authority” the Wild Free-Roaming 

Horses and Burros Act of 1971 states “Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the 

Secretary to relocate wild free-roaming horses or burros to areas of the public lands where they do 

not presently exist”. Until a change in the law allows for expansion of the PMWHR onto 

additional National Forest System lands and BLM lands that are outside of the Herd Area 

and Territory, the agencies have a legal obligation to follow the law to the greatest extent 

possible. Horses were in the Pryor Mountains historically, but by 1968 they were largely 

limited to the 1968 designated range due to the US Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service (USFS)/BLM boundary fence. Though there is much supposition as to the extent of 

wild horses in 1971, comprehensive agency inventories, assessments, and public involvement 

(BLM/USFS/NPS 1972; BLM/USFS 1974) provided the basis for Herd Area and Territory 

boundaries per the 1971 Act. Subsequent land use planning efforts in 1984 (BLM) and 1987 

(USFS) validated the same areas as being wild horse herd management area and territory, 

respectively. 
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1-6 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

 Activities and uses beyond the jurisdiction of the BLM.

 Changing existing laws, policies, and regulations.

 Availability of funding and personnel for managing programs.

1.4.1.2 Nonenergy Leasable Minerals

Non-energy leasable minerals, such as phosphate, sodium, potassium , sulphur, trona, or Gilsonite, are 

not present in the decision area. Because of this, no allocations are made nor are they discussed or 

analyzed further in this document.
September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 2-1

CHAPTER 2

POMPEYS PILLAR

Pompeys Pillar is an ACEC, a national monument created by presidential proclamation in 2001, as well 

as a National Historic Landmark (NHL). It is also an identified Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

(LCNHT) high potential historic site and a high potential route segment (see Figure 2-1 and Figure

2-2).

2.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW

Pompeys Pillar is a massive sandstone outcrop that rises approximately 127 feet on the banks of the 

Yellowstone River, approximately 30 miles east of Billings. ’Its premier location at a natural ford in the 

Yellowstone River, and its geologic distinction as the only major sandstone formation in the area, have 

made Pompeys Pillar a celebrated landmark and outstanding observation point for more than 11,000 

years of human occupation. Hundreds of markings, petroglyphs, and inscriptions left by visitors have 

transformed this geologic phenomenon into a living journal of the American West.

On January 17, 2001, Pompeys Pillar was designated a national monument under the authority of Section 

2 of the Antiquities Act. Fifty-one acres of federally owned land were set apart and reserved as Pompeys 

Pillar National Monument for the purpose of protecting the ethnographic, historic, and archaeological 

values associated with the massive sandstone outcrop.

In 1965, before being designated a National Monument, Pompeys Pillar was officially designated a NHL.

In 1991, the BLM acquired the NHL and adjacent land, totaling 366 acres. The total area currently being 

managed as Pompeys Pillar is 474 acres, the additional 107 acres being an adjacent island in the 

Yellowstone River that is also under BLM administration.

Ownership of the mineral estate has not been established due to the complexities arising from the 

multiple ownerships previous to BLM acquisition. To the extent that the federal government owns the 

minerals at PPNM, they are withdrawn through the Presidential Proclamation signed January 17, 2001.
2. Pompeys Pillar 2-2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015 Map 1
2. Pompeys Pillar September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 2-3
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2-4 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

2.1.1 National Monument

Approximately 51 acres at Pompeys Pillar was designated a National Monument by executive 

proclamation of the President (Appendix G) in January 2001. The intent was to protect the historic 

and cultural objects described below (Presidential Proclamation 7396). This was accomplished through 

Section 2 of the Antiquities Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 USC, Section 431). Section 2 states, 

“The President of the United States is authorized, in his discretion, to declare by public 

proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic 

or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of 

the United States to be national monuments, and may reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, 

the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with proper 

care and management of the objects to be protected. When such objects are situated upon a 

tract covered by a bona fide unperfected claim or held in private ownership, the tract, or so 

much thereof as may be necessary for the proper care and management of the object, may be 

relinquished to the Government, and the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to accept 

the relinquishment of such tracts in [sic] behalf of the Government of the United States.”

Ethnographic and archaeological evidence indicates that Pompeys Pillar was a place of ritual and religious 

activity. Hundreds of petroglyphs on the face of the rock, noted by William Clark in his journal, reflect 

the importance of the site to early peoples. The Crow people, dominant residents of the region when 

Clark passed through, refer to Pompeys Pillar in their language as the “Mountain Lions Lodge,” and it 

figures prominently in Crow oral history. Pompeys Pillar also includes the markings and signature of a

host of characters from the pioneer past, including fur trappers, Yellowstone River steamboat men, 

frontier army troops, railroad workers, missionaries, and early settlers. In 1873, Lieutenant Colonel 

George Armstrong Custer and his men camped at its base, where they came under attack by Sioux 

warriors.

2.1.2 National Historic Landmark

National Historic Landmarks are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the 

Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of 

the United States. In 1965, Pompeys Pillar was officially designated an NHL, primarily because of the 

significance of William Clark’s signature panel. The boundary includes approximately 6 acres above the 

2,890-foot contour level. In 1983, the same site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places 

(NRHP) as a significant cultural property (Appendix G). A significant cultural property is a property or 

a place that is eligible for inclusion on the NRHP because of its association with cultural practices and 

beliefs that are rooted in the history of a community and are important to maintaining the continuity of 

that community’s traditional beliefs and practices. Pompeys Pillar fulfills both of these descriptions for 

multiple Native American populations. The Pompeys Pillar NHL is entirely within the PPNM boundary. 

2.1.3 Area of Critical Environmental Concern

The BLM designated Pompeys Pillar an ACEC in 1996 to protect its cultural and historic resource values. 

Pompeys Pillar served as an important landmark and traveler register during the exploration and fur trade 

period and is an important physical reminder of the nineteenth century’s westward movement of EuroAmerican culture. In addition, the Pompeys Pillar property is a rich habitat for fish and wildlife resources. 

The wildlife species are typical of the riverine environment of the middle Yellowstone Valley in the early 

nineteenth century. Pompeys Pillar ACEC (432 acres) includes PPNM (51 acres), designated in 2001, and 
2. Pompeys Pillar

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 2-5

Pompeys Pillar NHL (six acres) designated in 1965. Table 2-1 provides a summary of special designations 

at Pompeys Pillar. The rationale for designation for all three is their cultural and historic values.

Table 2-1

Pompeys Pillar Designations

Designation Acreage

National Monument 51

National Historic Landmark in the National Monument 6 +/-

ACEC (includes the NM and NHL) 432

2.1.4 Current Land Use at Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark, National 

Monument, and ACEC

Current uses at Pompeys Pillar mainly focus on the historic and cultural recreational experiences for 

visitors. Pompeys Pillar is used extensively for education by regional schools. Because it is next to an 

interstate highway use by motorists traveling through the region may continue and possibly increase. 

The interpretive trail system, outdoor amphitheater, and scenic views offer outstanding opportunities 

for both locals and visitors. 

Pompeys Pillar ACEC also offers exceptional recreation, including hunting, in the general management 

zone. Wildlife viewing, photography, and dispersed recreation, such as hunting, are among the most 

frequent visitor uses. There are few public land opportunities along the Yellowstone River with good 

physical and legal access. The recent acquisition of the Yellowstone Wildlife Management Area and 

Yellowstone River State Park by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (MTFWP), across the river, also 

provides outstanding recreation opportunities. Lands surrounding or next to the Pompeys Pillar planning 

area are important to preserving the historic and cultural viewshed.

2.1.5 National Historic Trails

As National Historic Trail (NHT) is congressionally designated and is an extended long-distance trail, 

not necessarily managed as continuous. It follows as closely as possible and practicable the original trails 

or routes of travel of national historic significance. The purpose of an NHT is to identify and protect the 

historic route and the historic remnants and artifacts for public use and enjoyment. An NHT is managed 

to protect the nationally significant resources, qualities, values, and associated settings of the areas that

such a trail may pass through, including the primary use or uses of the trail.

NHTs, especially high potential sites and segments, are managed and protected in accordance with the 

National Trails System Act of 1968, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the 

National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) Act, EO 13195, and BLM Instruction Memorandum 

(IM)-2009-215.

To qualify for designation as a NHT, a trail must meet the following criteria:

 Have been established by a historic use and have historical significance as a result of that use

 Have historic use of the trail that has had a far-reaching effect on broad patterns of 

American culture

 Has significant potential for public recreation or historical interest
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2-6 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

The LCNHT Comprehensive Management Plan was completed in 1982. In 2012, the LCNHT completed 

a Foundation Document, which is a formal statement of the ’NHT’s core mission that provides basic 

guidance for all planning and management decisions

The BLM guidance further provides that NHTs should be managed to promote their preservation, public 

access, travel opportunities, enjoyment, and appreciation for present and future generations as a 

component of the NLCS or the National Trails System.

The BiFO manages approximately seven miles of the LCNHT, which primarily follow the Yellowstone 

River through the planning area. Most public lands along the river trail are inaccessible, except for 2.2 

miles near the PPNM (Map 166 of the B&PPNM PRMP/FEIS).
September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-1

CHAPTER 3

APPROVED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

3.1 APPROVED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN INSTRUCTIONS

The ARMP is now the baseline plan for managing the PPNM in south-central Montana.

Once an RMP is approved, it may be changed through amendment. This process begins by the need to

consider monitoring and evaluation findings, new data, new or revised policy, or a change in

circumstances. It may also begin by a proposed action that would change the scope of resource uses or

the terms, conditions, and decisions of the approved plan. If the BLM were to propose a plan amendment, 

the process would follow the same procedure required for preparing and approving the plan, but the

focus would be limited to that portion of the plan being amended (43 CFR, Part 1610.5-5).

The BLM decisions proposed in this document apply only to BLM-administered surface and mineral estate

acres. This includes the BLM-administered mineral estate that is under privately owned land, which is

commonly referred to as split-estate. This document does not include planning or management decisions

for lands or minerals privately owned, those owned by the State of Montana, those owned by local

governments, or those administered by other federal agencies.

Any BLM decisions in this ARMP do not change any existing rights or authorizations, for example, the

terms and conditions of existing oil and gas leases or rights-of-ways (ROWs). However, post-lease

actions or authorizations, such as applications for permit to drill, road ROWs, and pipeline ROWs, could 

be subject to mitigation measures. This would be consistent with the decisions required through projectspecific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis or other environmental review. The

stipulations or conditions of approval are in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and any lease

terms.

All future resource authorizations and actions will conform to or be consistent with the decisions 

contained in this ARMP. All operations and activities authorized under permits, contracts, cooperative 

agreements, or other authorizations will be modified, as necessary, to conform to this plan within a 

reasonable time frame. However, this ARMP does not repeal any valid existing right on public land. This 

is a claim or authorization that takes precedence over the decisions developed in this plan. If such 
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3-2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

authorizations come up for review and can be modified, they will also be brought into conformance with 

this plan.

While the Final Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument Plan constitutes compliance with NEPA 

for the broad-scale decisions made in this ARMP, the BLM will continue to prepare environmental 

assessments (EAs) and EISs where appropriate as part of implementation level planning and decisionmaking.

3.2 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND MANAGEMENT DECISIONS

This section presents the goals, objectives, land use allocations, and management actions established for 

protecting and preserving resources on public lands managed by the BLM at Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument.

3.2.1 Pompeys Pillar National Monument (51 acres) (PPNM)

Goal PPNM 1: Comply with the designating Presidential Proclamation (Appendix G) by conserving, 

protecting, and restoring the nationally significant landscape, objects, and values for which PPNM was designated 

for the benefit of present and future generations.

Goal PPNM 2: Effectively manage valid existing rights and compatible uses within the PPNM.

Goal PPNM 3: Manage discretionary uses within PPNM to ensure the protection of the objects and values for 

which the PPNM was designated.

Goal PPNM 4: Utilize science, local knowledge, partnerships, and volunteers to effectively manage the PPNM 

in order to enhance the public’s understanding and enjoyment of the PPNM consistent with the designating 

legislation or proclamation, with an emphasis on youth and veterans.

Goal PPNM 5: PPNM will be managed as a high potential historic site and a high potential route segment 

along the LCNHT. The Lewis and Clark high potential route segment will be managed consistent with the trailwide goals for the LCNHT.

Goal PPNM 6: PPNM is included within the LCNHT Management corridor. Where multiple NLCS designations 

overlap, as in this case with the PPNM and the LCNHT, the BLM must comply with all applicable statutes. In 

order to do so, the more protective management requirements will likely apply. However, this will be evaluated 

on a case-by-case basis.

Management Decisions (MD)

The Pompeys Pillar ACEC (432 acres) includes the 51 acre National Monument. The following management is 

for Pompeys Pillar National Monument (51 acres only) (see Billings ARMP for Pompeys Pillar ACEC Goals and 

Management Direction).

MD PPNM-1: Manage Pompeys Pillar NM (51) acres to protect the historical and cultural objects for 

which it was designated a National Monument.

MD PPNM-2: Develop and maintain relationships with other Federal agencies, tribal governments, 

state and local governments, national-level partnership organizations and non-profit groups, and the 
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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-3

general public in order to effectively manage the PPNM in accordance with designating legislation and 

proclamations, other applicable laws, and BLM policy.

MD PPNM-3: Land Use Authorizations: Exclusion area, except for those necessary to serve the site 

facilities.

MD PPNM-4: Land Tenure: land disposals not allowed

MD PPMN-5: Visual Resource Management (VRM): Class II for the NHL (6 acres) for protection of the 

significant historical resource and VRM Class III for the remainder of the PPNM for consideration of 

potential facility development and public management concerns.

MD PPNM-6: BLM Road Maintenance: Limited to the designated roadway and only that work 

necessary to ensure public safety and serviceability of the road to meet government standards.

MD PPNM-7: Fluid Mineral Leasing, Locatable Minerals, Solid Leasable Minerals, Mineral Materials Sales 

and Permits: All Federal lands and interest in lands within the boundaries of PPNM are appropriated and 

withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, or leasing or other disposition under the

public land laws, including, but not limited to withdrawal from location, entry, and patent under the 

mining laws, and from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing, subject to 

valid existing rights. Consider acquiring minerals from willing sellers.

MD PPNM-8: Geophysical Exploration: closed to geophysical exploration

MD PPMN-9: Fuel wood cutting/Wood Product Sales: not allowed

MD PPMN-10: Hunting: Closed to hunting for public safety and resource concerns

MD PPNM-11: Target Shooting: Not allowed for public safety and resource concerns

MD PPNM-12: Road Maintenance: Limited to the designated roadway and only that work necessary to 

ensure public safety and serviceability of the road and to meet government standards

MD PPNM-13: Site Facilities: When new administrative offices, visitor centers, contact stations, and 

similar facilities are needed for the Monument, the BLM will generally develop, or encourage the 

development of, these facilities within nearby communities to enhance local economic vitality and quality 

of life and to minimize disturbance within the Monument.

MD PPNM-14: Management Zones: Front Country Zone – includes all of the National Monument 

lands (51 acres) and 34 acres outside of and immediately adjacent to the National Monument (Map 4). In 

this zone the BLM will: 

1. Inventory existing facilities and determine whether to remove, maintain, restore, enhance, 

or allow natural disintegration of each facility. Subject to applicable law and valid existing 

rights, the BLM will consider removal of facilities that do not have administrative, public 

safety, recreational, cultural, or historic value.
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3-4 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

2. Use this zone area to develop new facilities, including structures and roads, where they are 

necessary for public health and safety, are required under law, are necessary for the 

exercise of valid existing rights or other non-discretionary uses, prevent impacts on fragile 

resources, or further the purposes for which the NM was designated.

3. Facilities within the Monument, including utility, water, and electrical supply lines, will be 

designed and sited in a manner that minimizes impacts on the objects and values and the 

area’s scenic characteristics; emphasizes energy efficiency and, where possible, the use of 

small-scale renewable energy installations; and conforms to best management practices 

(BMP) for visual resources management and the BLM Guidelines for a Quality Built 

Environment.

4. Facilities will be designed to enhance visitor experiences

MD PPMN-15: Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) and Bicycles: Limited to designated roads and trails (2).

Administrative use or other authorized use allowed on a case-by-case basis.

MD PPNM-16: Plant Collecting: Not allowed

MD PPNM-17: Renewable Energy: Closed (6) to commercial renewable energy facilities and 

development.

MD PPNM-18: Fire Suppression: Water use only within monument (51 acres).

MD PPMN-19: Livestock Grazing: Livestock grazing may be allowed on a temporary basis, for the 

treatment of noxious weeds, or as a prescription to meet site specific vegetation or other resource 

management goals.(6)

MD PPMN-20: Fuels Management: Fuels management and prescribed fire (7) may be allowed in the 

entire PPNM

MD PPNM-21: Range Improvements: Conditionally Allowed (4)

MD PPNM-22: Noxious/Invasive Weed Treatments : Allowed (4) (9)

MD PPNM-23: Animal Trapping/Trap lines: Allowed for administrative purposes in the entire PPNM.

MD PPNM-24: Non-Commercial Collection of Common Invertebrate and Plant Fossils: Not allowed

MD PPMN-25: Cremains Scattering: Not allowed

MD PPNM-26: Special Recreation Permits (SRP) and Letters of Authorization: Allowed (4)

SRPs will initially be limited to existing SRPs. Additional (new) SRPs will be permitted only when 

determined not to result in impacts on the values for which the ACEC was designated.

MD PPNM-27: Other Permitted Activities: Allowed (4)

MD PPNM-28: Geocaching: Generally not allowed (10)
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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-5

MD PPMN-29: Other Management Activities: Other management activities and/or uses will be 

considered in subsequent site-specific analysis, and will consider the values for which the PPNM is 

designated (4).

MD PPMN-30: See notes:

Notes:

1. Avoidance area; granting Rights-of-Way (surface, subsurface, aerial) within the area should 

be avoided, but rights-of-way may be granted if there is minimal or no conflict with identified 

resource values and impacts on ACEC resource values can be fully mitigated.

2. OHV and bicycle, use will be limited to designated routes only.

3. Commercial collection of plant materials, including common species, authorized by permit 

only. Casual use allowed.

4. The activity is allowed in the area on a case-by-case basis and only if there is minimal or no 

conflict with identified resources values and impacts on PPNM resource values can be fully 

mitigated. Additional NEPA analysis required. Cultural inventories will be required for 

surface disturbing activities. Native American coordination/consultation required on 

activities within PPNM (especially if cultural resources are one of the values for PPNM 

designation)..

5. This includes all commercial renewable energy facilities, including those for testing, 

monitoring, and development.

6. Livestock grazing will be controlled through terms and conditions on the grazing permit. 

7. Evaluate fire potential and remove fuels where needed to protect resource values. Types of 

treatments permitted include: mechanical treatments, treatment or application of chemicals, 

and other treatments that will not negatively impact the values of the PPNM.

8. Open to mineral material activities on a case-by-case basis and subject to controlled surface 

use (CSU), seasonal timing restrictions, restricted or no uses in avoidance areas (e.g. 

riparian areas, areas with special wildlife or plant features, areas of high cultural significance, 

and sensitive viewsheds), and additional NEPA analysis required. 

9. Treatments may include any combination of herbicide application, mechanical treatments, 

burning, grazing, and the use of insects or pathogens. 

10. If geocache location/activity does not conflict with the resource values of the PPNM this 

activity could be considered. BLM resource specialists (archaeologist and wildlife biologist), 

BLM outdoor recreation planner (ORP), and PPNM manager must agree activity does not 

impact PPNM values.

3.2.2 Physical, Biological, and Cultural/Heritage Resources

The following goals, objectives, and management decisions, while they do not specifically mention PPNM, 

they are applicable to PPNM. For a complete numerical listing of goals, objectives, and management 

decisions for each Resource and Resource Use, please see the Billings Field Office Approved Resource 

Management Plan. 
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3-6 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Air Resources (AIR)

Goal AIR 1: Ensure authorizations and management activities comply with local, state, and federal air quality 

regulations and requirements.

Goal AIR 2: Manage BLM authorized activities to maintain compliance with the national ambient air quality 

standards (NAAQS), Montana ambient air quality standards (MAAQS), and the Montana State Implementation 

Plan (SIP). 

Goal AIR 3: Reduce air quality and air quality related value (AQRV) impacts, including visibility and acid 

deposition, by including technically and economically feasible management actions to reduce emissions of criteria 

and hazardous air pollutants.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD AIR-1: The BLM authorized activities will stipulate requirements to reduce fugitive dust emissions 

from construction activities and sites with surface disturbance.

MD AIR-2: The BLM authorized activities will stipulate requirements to reduce fugitive dust emissions 

from travel on high-traffic unpaved roads.

MD AIR-3: The BLM authorized activities will stipulate engine and stationary source emission control 

requirements needed to ensure compliance with NAAQS, MAAQS, Wyoming Ambient Air Quality 

Standards (WAAQS), and the Montana State SIP.

MD AIR-4: If unacceptable air quality or AQRV degradation trends are identified and are determined 

to be caused by BLM authorized activities, additional emission control will be included in the BLM 

authorized activities.

MD AIR-5: The BLM will coordinate smoke management with the Montana-Idaho Airshed Management 

Group, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and the Yellowstone County Air 

Quality Unit in Yellowstone County.

MD AIR-6: Management of the non-attainment area(s) within the planning area will continue to be the 

responsibility of the State of Montana (Map 4 of the B&PPNM PRMP/FEIS).

Climate Change (CC)

Goal CC-1: Evaluate the observed and anticipated long-term dynamic of climate change and reduce

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from projects when feasible.

Goal CC-2: Provide for diverse, healthy ecosystems that are resilient to stressors, such as climate change.

Goal CC-3: Provide for flexible, adaptable management that allows for timely responses to changing climatic 

conditions.

Goal CC-4: Maintain or improve the ability of the BLM lands to reduce (sequester) atmosphere GHGs.
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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-7

Management Decisions (MD)

MD CC-1: Promote vegetative capture and storage of carbon, with consideration for resource 

objectives, by using Rangeland Standards and Montana Forestry/Rangeland BMP guidelines at the project 

planning and implementation level.

MD CC-2: The BLM authorized activities will consider the use of BMPs to reduce emissions of GHGs.

MD CC-3: Priority will be placed on actions such as: enhanced energy efficiency, use of lower GHGemitting technologies and/or renewable energy, planning for carbon capture and sequestration, and the 

capture or beneficial use of fugitive methane emissions.

MD CC-4: Adjust the timing of BLM-authorized activities as needed to accommodate long-term 

changes in seasonal weather patterns, while considering the impacts on other resources and resource 

uses.

Soil Resources (SOIL)

Goal SOIL 1: Maintain or improve soil health and productivity (e.g., chemical, physical, and biotic properties) by 

implementing Standards for Rangeland Health and other soil protection measures.

Goal SOIL 2: Minimize accelerated soil erosion and compaction and maintain surface soil water infiltration 

based on site specific conditions.

Goal SOIL 3: Manage BLM-authorized activities to minimize soil mass movement (primarily from accelerated 

water/wind erosion) resulting from fire, above-ground disturbances, and accelerated stream bank erosion. 

Goal SOIL 4: Manage soil resources to:

 Prevent or minimize accelerated soil erosion

 Prevent or minimize flood and sediment damage, as needed

 Establish desirable plant communities, maintain existing desirable vegetative ground cover 

composition consistent with the ecological site characteristics, and sustain other ground cover 

including biotic crusts and litter to increase or maintain surface soil stability and nutrient cycling.

 Manage BLM-authorized activities to minimize sediment delivery to creeks, streams, and standing 

bodies of water (lakes, ponds, reservoirs, etc.).

Management Decisions (MD)

MD SOIL-1: BLM-authorized surface-disturbing activities will include plans for reclamation. Site-specific 

reclamation actions should reflect the complexity of the project, environmental concerns, and the 

reclamation potential of the site, giving consideration to soils susceptible to erosion and compaction 

when assessing projects.

MD SOIL-2: The Standards for Rangeland Health (Appendix I) will be used to assess compaction and 

erosion issues.
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3-8 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD SOIL-3: Respond in a timely manner to assess soil and mitigate potential soil damage after wildland 

or prescribed fire, in accordance with BLM Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) standards.

MD SOIL-4: Identify opportunities to construct water flow, sediment control and watershed 

stabilization projects in partnership with local, state, and federal programs.

MD SOIL-5: Ground-disturbing authorizations will be allowed in areas where erosion will be effectively 

controlled or mitigated with a BLM-approved design plan.

MD SOIL-6: Use Rangeland Health Standards (Appendix I) and BMPs (Appendix B) to assess and 

mitigate disturbance of soils (e.g., erosion, re-vegetation, fiber mats and other restoration measures, 

etc.).

Water Resources (WATER)

Goal WATER 1: Maintain and/or improve surface water and groundwater resources, maintain compliance with 

applicable federal and state water quality standards, and improve water quality where practical within the scope 

of the BLM’s authority.

Goal WATER 2: Restore and/or maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of water resources to 

protect designated beneficial uses and achieve water quality standards.

Goal WATER 3: Minimize erosion and subsequent sedimentation for improved stream and watershed health.

Goal WATER 4: Maintain or improve morphological conditions to a stable state that can fully support 

beneficial uses.

Goal WATER 5: Protect water quality for municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreation, and residential purposes 

by adopting protective measures to meet federal, tribal, state, and local water quality requirements.

Goal WATER 6: Floodplains are properly functioning allowing for aquifer recharge, wildlife habitat, and flood 

water retention. (Map 8 of the B&PPNM PRMP/FEIS )

Goal WATER 7: Stream channel conditions are representative of the site capacity and dimension and 

moderate flows to allow floodplain aquifer recharge and safeguard floodplains.

Goal WATER 8: Secure and protect water rights for beneficial uses on the BLM administered lands to ensure 

water availability to the BLM authorized uses and programs.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD WATER-1: BLM will participate in the development, implementation, and monitoring of water 

quality restoration plans/total maximum daily load (TMDL) plans.

MD WATER-2: Use Rangeland Health guidelines and other management strategies to meet the 

Standards for Rangeland Health (Standards 2, 9 &12) (Appendix I).

MD WATER-3: Use BMPs (Appendix B) and other practical management strategies to meet water 

quality standards set forth in rules/laws of federal, tribal, state, and local agencies.
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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-9

MD WATER-4: Acquire in-stream water rights where appropriate, to ensure water availability for 

multiple-use management and proper functioning riparian and upland areas.

MD WATER-5: Cooperate with MDEQ and local communities to implement Source Water 

Protection Programs (SWPPs) and preserve source water.

MD WATER-6: Mitigation of surface-disturbing activities will be applied where needed to minimize 

impacts of human activities on riparian, water and floodplain resources, consistent with the stipulations 

identified for oil and gas development in this section. Mitigation measures will be applied during activity 

level planning if an on-site evaluation of the project area indicates the presence of these resources. 

Exceptions may be granted by the Authorized Officer, if an environmental review demonstrates that 

effects could be mitigated to an acceptable level or portions of the area can be occupied without 

affecting a particular habitat. Exceptions may also be granted where the short-term effects are mitigated 

by the long-term benefits (e.g., prescribed fire, wildlife monitoring, forest health treatments, and habitat 

restoration).

As defined in the Glossary, surface-disturbing and disruptive activities will not prohibit all activities or 

authorized uses. For example, emergency activities (e.g., fire suppression, search and rescue), rangeland 

monitoring, routine maintenance associated with an approved authorization, dispersed recreational 

activities (e.g., hunting, hiking), and livestock grazing are not considered surface-disturbing or disruptive 

activities.

MD WATER-7: Oil and gas surface occupancy and use is prohibited within State-designated Source 

Water Protection Areas (no surface occupancy [NSO])

MD WATER-8: Restrict or limit BLM-authorized activities that contribute to deteriorating watershed 

conditions and/or excessive erosion.

MD WATER-9: Use Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines (Appendix I) and BMPs (Appendix 

B) to mitigate impacts from activities that are contributing to excessive erosion.

MD WATER-10: Monitor route conditions and temporarily/permanently close roads and/or apply 

mitigation measures where runoff contributes to accelerated decline in water quality and/or habitat, 

and/or reclaim.

MD WATER-11: Avoid the discharge of oil and gas- produced water from point sources to public 

lands, including stream channels and uplands, as a means of disposal. Any allowed discharge will be in 

compliance with MDEQ requirements. 

MD WATER-12: Surface occupancy and use for oil and gas exploration and development (including 

geophysical operations) will be prohibited within riparian areas and wetlands, water bodies, perennial 

and intermittent streams, and floodplains of perennial streams. (NSO) (Same as MD Veg/R&W-6)

MD WATER-13: Surface occupancy and use will be controlled within 300 feet of riparian and/or 

wetland areas. Surface-disturbing activities will require a plan with design features that demonstrate how 

all actions will maintain and/or improve the functionality of riparian and wetland areas, The plan will 

address: (a) potential impacts on riparian and wetland resources, (b) mitigation to reduce impacts to 
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3-10 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

acceptable levels (including timing restrictions), (c) post project restoration, and (d) monitoring (the 

operator must conduct monitoring capable of detecting early signs of change in riparian and/or wetland 

conditions. (CSU) (Same as MD FH & SSS-7 and MD VEG/R&W-7)

Vegetation: Forests and Woodlands (VEG/F&W)

Goal VEG/F&W 1: Restore and/or maintain the health and productivity of public forests and woodlands to 

provide a balance of forest and woodland resource benefits to current and future generations.

Goal VEG/F&W 2: Manage forests and woodlands, considering factors such as species, density, canopy cover, 

age class, and stand health and understory components, to restore vitality, health, and diversity.

Goal VEG/F&W 3: Promote forest vegetation recovery on forested lands after wildfire events.

Goal VEG/F&W 4: Use fire and fuels treatments as an integrated approach to meet forest health objectives.

Goal VEG/F&W 5: Return forests toward a more natural forest condition class and fire regime by implementing 

treatments that move forest conditions toward Fire Regime Condition Class I (FRCC1).

Goal VEG/F&W 6: Natural disturbance regimes will be maintained or mimicked so that plant communities are 

resilient to climate change and periodic outbreaks of insects, disease, and wildfire.

Goal VEG/F&W 7: Manage quaking aspen stands to promote vigor and resilience and to promote expansion of 

its current range.

Goal VEG/F&W 8: Manage coniferous and deciduous forests to promote vigor and resilience. 

Goal VEG/F&W 9: Manage forests and woodlands to meet or exceed the standards identified in BLM’s 

Standards for Rangeland Health (Standards 1 and 5).

Management Decisions (MD)

MD VEG/F&W-1: An inventory and health assessment of forested stands within the planning area will

be completed during the life of the plan, as budget and other priorities allow.

MD VEG/F&W-2: Monitor forest health indicators, including populations of insects, and apply forest 

management methods which promote the appropriate level of stocking and function based on the forest 

type.

MD VEG/F&W-3: Manage vegetation structure, density, species composition, patch size, pattern, and 

distribution in a manner which reduces the occurrence of unnaturally large and severe wildfires and 

forest insect/disease outbreaks. The amount of vegetation to be treated may vary and will be based on 

inventory and monitoring to meet desired objectives.

MD VEG/F&W-4: Treat stands at risk of catastrophic wildfire and epidemic levels of forest insects 

and/or disease as a high priority.
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-11

MD VEG/F&W-5: Conduct forest and woodland health management activities using a prescription 

based on the best available science. At a minimum, prescriptions will require a description of current 

stand conditions and desired future conditions (DFC).

MD VEG/F&W-6: Forest management will emphasize forest structures with large trees appropriate to 

the forest type, snag recruitment, and large diameter trees for cavity nesters where appropriate.

MD VEG/F&W-7: Use adaptive management strategies that address climate change in order to 

maintain or enhance forest and woodland ecosystems

MD VEG/F&W-8: Will allow operations on approx. 60% of forested acres not restricted by WSAs or 

ACECs.

MD VEG/F&W-9: Mechanical harvest (e.g. soil disturbing activities) limited on slopes > 25% without 

an approved mitigation and reclamation plan in place, but line or helicopter operations allowed.

MD VEG/F&W-10: Emphasis will be placed on retention and acquisition of forested lands. Disposal, 

retention, or acquisition of forested lands will consider the values of the forest type, habitat diversity, 

and potential for carbon sequestration.

MD VEG/F&W-11: Cutting for density management, forest health, and fuels management will be 

allowed unless otherwise restricted (e.g., WSAs, ACECs, etc.). Large trees will be retained in numbers 

and species as appropriate for the forest type and successional stage, consistent with wildlife 

requirements and other resource values.

Vegetation: Rangelands and Shrublands (Veg/R&S)

Goal VEG/R&S 1: Manage vegetative resources to maintain a diversity of ecological conditions on rangelands 

while providing for a variety of multiple uses that are economically feasible, and based on sound biological 

principles and the best available science. 

Goal VEG/R&S 2: Manage vegetative communities to restore, maintain or enhance vegetation community 

health, habitat, composition and diversity to provide a mix of successional stages that incorporate diverse 

structure and composition in the desired vegetation types. 

Goal VEG/R&S 3: Maintain, improve, enhance, or restore habitat to facilitate the conservation, recovery, and 

maintenance of populations of native and desirable nonnative plant and animal species. 

Management Decisions (MD)

MD VEG/R&S-1: Manage rangelands to meet health standards consistent with the Standards for 

Rangeland Health (Standards 1 and 5) and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management and apply 

appropriate guidelines where not meeting the standards (Appendix I).

MD VEG/R&S-2: Identify and maintain areas containing high quality native vegetation for use as seed 

collection sites.
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3-12 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD VEG/R&S-3: To manage cheatgrass and annual bromes, use the best available vegetation 

treatments, including but not limited to early spring grazing, prescribed fire, interim farming practices, 

and herbicide use.

MD VEG/R&S-4: Native seed will be used for all restoration and rehabilitation efforts unless site 

specific objectives dictate otherwise.

Vegetation: Riparian and Wetlands (VEG/R&W)

Goal VEG/R&W 1: Riparian and wetland areas will be managed to promote healthy wetland ecosystems, 

supporting physical processes and natural combinations of vegetation that work together to create stable stream 

banks, functional floodplains, complex fish and wildlife habitat and high water quality within site potential (Map 

5).

Goal VEG/R&W 2: Riparian vegetation will be managed to achieve or sustain DFCs. The DFCs will be 

developed by an interdisciplinary team, giving consideration to restoring and/or promoting natural communities 

and complex riparian conditions valuable to water quality and wildlife habitat.

Goal VEG/R&W 3: Invasive species management will focus on restoring native and desired non-native 

communities to riparian areas to attain DFCs.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD VEG/R&W-1: Forest treatments will comply with the Montana Streamside Management Zone law 

to protect riparian resources.

MD VEG/R&W-2: Manage riparian communities to meet Standards for Rangeland Health (Standard 2) 

to ensure riparian areas and wetlands are in Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) (Appendices I and E).

MD VEG/R&W-3: Mitigation of surface-disturbing activities will be applied where needed to minimize 

impacts of human activities on riparian, water and floodplain resources, consistent with the stipulations 

identified for oil and gas development in this section. Mitigation measures will be applied during activity 

level planning if an on-site evaluation of the project area indicates the presence of these resources. 

Exceptions may be granted by the Authorized Officer, if an environmental review demonstrates that 

effects could be mitigated to an acceptable level or portions of the area can be occupied without 

affecting a particular habitat. Exceptions may also be granted where the short-term effects are mitigated 

by the long-term benefits (e.g., prescribed fire, wildlife monitoring, forest health treatments, and habitat 

restoration).

As defined in the Glossary, surface-disturbing and disruptive activities will not prohibit all activities or 

authorized uses. For example, emergency activities (e.g., fire suppression, search and rescue), rangeland 

monitoring, routine maintenance associated with an approved authorization, dispersed recreational 

activities (e.g., hunting, hiking), and livestock grazing are not considered surface-disturbing or disruptive 

activities.

MD VEG/R&W-4: Riparian areas will be monitored on a prioritized basis. High priority areas will

include:
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-13

 Riparian areas adjacent to fish bearing waters.

 Riparian areas with existing cottonwood galleries or potential cottonwood gallery habitat

MD VEG/R&W-5: High priority riparian areas will be managed towards DFCs. Other riparian areas 

will be managed to meet rangeland health standards (properly functioning condition), unless other DFCs 

are appropriate.

MD VEG/R&W-6: Surface occupancy and use for oil and gas exploration and development (including 

geophysical operations) will be prohibited within riparian areas and wetlands, water bodies, perennial 

and intermittent streams, and floodplains of perennial streams. (NSO) (Same as MD WATER-12)

MD VEG/R&W-7: Surface occupancy and use will be controlled within 300 feet of riparian and/or 

wetland areas. Surface-disturbing activities will require a plan with design features that demonstrate how 

all actions will maintain and/or improve the functionality of riparian and wetland areas, The plan will

address: (a) potential impacts on riparian and wetland resources, (b) mitigation to reduce impacts to 

acceptable levels (including timing restrictions), (c) post project restoration, and (d) monitoring (the 

operator must conduct monitoring capable of detecting early signs of change in riparian and/or wetland 

conditions. (CSU) (same as MD FH & SSS-7 and MD WATER-13)

MD VEG/R&W-8: Priority riparian habitats will include riparian areas associated with perennial 

streams and cottonwood galleries.

Vegetation: Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds (VEG/IS&NW)

Goal VEG/IS&NW 1: Manage for healthy native plant communities and desirable nonnative plant communities 

by reducing, preventing expansion of, or eliminating the occurrence of undesirable invasive species, undesirable 

nonnative, or noxious weeds (predatory plant pests or disease) by implementing management actions consistent 

with national guidance, state and local weed management plans. 

Goal VEG/IS&NW 2: Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to make progress towards a healthy plant 

community, while meeting multiple land use objectives and meeting Standards for Rangeland Health (Standards 

1, 2, and 5) (Appendix I).

Goal VEG/IS&NW 3: Maintain baseline data to evaluate effectiveness of management actions and assess 

progress toward meeting invasive species management goals/objectives. 

Goal VEG/IS&NW 4: Create buffer zones to protect and/or restore fish and wildlife habitat and neighboring 

agricultural fields.

Goal VEG/IS&NW 5: Control invasive and non-native weed species and prevent the introduction of new 

invasive species, including aquatic nuisance species (ANS), by implementing a comprehensive weed program 

including: coordination with key partners, prevention and early detection, education, inventory and monitoring, 

and using principles of IPM and creating weed management areas (WMAs).

Management Decisions (MD)

MD VEG/IS&NW-1: Reclamation/stabilization and maintenance materials used will be from weed free 

seed source.
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3-14 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD VEG/IS&NW-2: Invasive species, including aquatic invasives, will be managed in cooperation with 

other agencies, organizations, and landowners in accordance with EO 13112 (1999).

MD VEG/IS&NW-3: Biological control will be applied where appropriate and approved by Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The BLM will consider adapting new or updated biological 

control techniques, as supported by research.

MD VEG/IS&NW-4: Domestic sheep and goats used for weed control will only be authorized where 

mechanisms are in place to achieve effective separation from wild sheep.

MD VEG/IS&NW-5: Weed control using domestic sheep and/or goats in potential grizzly bear and 

wolf habitat will only be authorized after consultation with U.S. Fish Wildlife Services.

MD VEG/IS&NW-6: Visitor protection during herbicide treatments at developed recreation areas will

include posting signs to prevent public entry. To the extent practical, herbicide treatments will occur 

only during low recreation use.

MD VEG/IS&NW-7: Require the use of certified weed free seed forage and feeds to prevent 

establishment of new weed species. Forage subject to this rule will include hay, grains, cubes, pelletized 

feeds, straw and mulch.

MD VEG/IS&NW-8: Require the use of weed free seed and mulch for BLM-authorized activities and 

projects.

MD VEG/IS&NW-9: Noxious/Invasive species treatments will be approved by the appropriate BLM 

specialist prior to treatment occurring

MD VEG/IS&NW-10: Stipulations will be attached to all surface disturbing projects for 

noxious/invasive species prevention, identification, and treatments, as well as monitoring during and after 

project.

MD VEG/IS&NW-11: When possible, hand spray herbicides in areas of special status species (plants 

and animals)

MD VEG/IS&NW-12: Noxious and invasive weed control will not occur within 1⁄2 mile of nesting and 

brood rearing areas for special status species during the nesting and brood rearing season

MD VEG/IS&NW-13: Treatment priorities will be established consistent with State of Montana 

Noxious Weed guidance. 

High Treatment Priority: eradication of new species; new infestations, areas of special concerns, riparian 

corridors or special status plant populations where there is a high threat to species of concern (such as 

Russian olive and salt cedar treatments); areas where partnership/cooperative agreements are in place; 

treatment and prevention in special designations and WMAs.

Moderate/Low Treatment Priority: areas that contain existing large infestations with a focus on 

boundaries of infestations, travel routes, trails, trailheads, and access points leading to areas of concern, 
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-15

control existing large infestations and suppression of existing large infestations when eradication/control 

or containment is likely not to be successful.

MD VEG/IS&NW-14: Remove invasive species from cottonwood galleries and take actions to 

maintain the appropriate stand composition, structure and understory diversity to promote the 

expansion of galleries.

MD VEG/IS&NW-15: Aerial application of non-aquatic label herbicides will not be allowed within 500 

feet of wetlands, riparian areas, and aquatic habitats. 

Specific buffer strip widths indicated on pesticide labels or by state regulations must be followed. This 

also applies to cropland and ornamentals. Exceptions will be applied when managing riparian 

noxious/invasive species and following aquatic approved herbicide labels.

MD VEG/IS&NW-16: Land base application methods will not be allowed within 25 feet (by vehicle) or 

10 feet (by hand) of fish-bearing water bodies during periods when fish are in life stages most sensitive 

to the herbicide(s) used. Exceptions will be applied when managing riparian noxious/invasive species and 

following aquatic approved herbicide labels.

MD VEG/IS&NW-17: Vehicle and hand application of herbicides will not be allowed within 25 feet (by 

vehicle) or 10 feet (by hand) of wetlands, riparian areas, aquatic habitats, dwellings and cropland.

Exceptions will be applied when managing riparian noxious/invasive species and following aquatic 

approved herbicide labels.

MD VEG/IS&NW-18: Mix herbicides with non-aquatic label at a minimum of 500 feet away from 

riparian areas, water sources, floodplains, and known special status plant species populations.

MD VEG/IS&NW-19: Aerial application of herbicides will not be allowed within 1⁄2 mile of special 

status plant species.

Vehicle and hand application of herbicides near special status plant species will be allowed only when the 

treatment will benefit special status plant species (to be determined during site-specific analysis).

MD VEG/IS&NW-20: Native plant species common to the site’s natural plant community will be used 

to restore disturbed ground. 

Desirable non-native species will be considered based on site-specific analysis where difficult site 

stabilization or wildlife concerns prevail.

MD VEG/IS&NW-21: A target range of a minimum of 400 acres and at least a maximum of 2,000 

acres of invasive and noxious weeds will be treated annually by BLM and cooperators through a 

variation of methods (herbicide, manual, mechanical, sheep/goats, biological and fire).

Wildlife Habitat and Special Status Species (WLH & SSS)

Goal WLH & SSS 1: Manage terrestrial habitat to provide native species diversity and viability, and to sustain 

ecological, economic, and social values while providing for multiple uses of public lands (Appendix D).
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3-16 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Goal WLH & SSS 2: Manage for no net loss and connectivity of priority habitats on BLM-administered lands. 

The necessary habitat will be present to maintain, enhance, or restore threatened and endangered (T & E), 

special status, and priority native species populations. Sagebrush, native grasslands, seasonal or crucial wildlife 

ranges, special status species habitat, fisheries, cottonwood galleries, and riparian/wetlands will be priorities.

Goal WLH & SSS 3: Manage all BLM actions or authorized activities to sustain wildlife populations and their 

habitats and to avoid contributing to the listing of or jeopardizing the continued existence or recovery of special 

status species and their habitats.

Goal WLH & SSS 4: Manage or restore habitat on BLM-administered lands within the planning area to 

facilitate the conservation, recovery, and maintenance of populations of native, desirable non-native, and special 

status species consistent with appropriate local, state, and federal management plans.

Goal WLH & SSS 5: Manage habitats to support MTFWP in the attainment of objectives and well-distributed, 

healthy populations of wildlife species consistent with the MTFWP’s Strategic Habitat Plan, Montana’s 

Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy, and strategic population plans, and to achieve the stated 

purpose of designated State of Montana Wildlife Management Areas.

Goal WLH & SSS 6: Minimize fragmentation of large intact blocks of wildlife habitat to maintain connectivity, 

population migrations and functional blocks of security habitat for big game species.

Goal WLH & SSS 7: Manage environmental risks and associated impacts in a manner compatible with 

sustaining plant, fish, wildlife, and special status species populations. Environmental risks include, but are not 

limited to, parasites, diseases, insect outbreaks, catastrophic fires, contamination, pesticides, rodenticides, 

herbicides, climate, and other hazards.

Goal WLH & SSS 8: Coordinate with other agencies to prevent or control diseases, pests and species that 

threaten the health of humans, wildlife, livestock, and vegetation.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD WLH & SSS-1: Implement conservation actions identified in EO 13186 – “Responsibilities of 

Federal Agencies To Protect Migratory Birds.”

MD WLH & SSS-2: Implement the North American Bird Conservation initiative to restore, enhance, 

and maintain habitats for migratory birds. Include US Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife 

Service (USFWS) Birds of Conservation Concern for Bird Conservation Regions 10 and/or 17 where 

appropriate through project level NEPA analysis. Emphasize maintenance and restoration of habitats that 

sustain special status species with minimum disturbance during the breeding season. 

MD WLH & SSS-3: Enhance or restore habitat composition and structure beyond PFC in riparian 

habitats, where and when appropriate, for migratory bird habitat.

MD WLH & SSS-4: Retaining important blocks of hiding, security, and thermal cover for big game will

be considered during project planning. The BLM will emphasize habitat improvements in areas where 

there is limited or fragmented security habitat through vegetation treatments and route limitations 

(including seasonal closures).
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-17

MD WLH & SSS-5: Assist in the restoration, reintroduction, augmentation, or re-establishment of T 

& E, special status, and priority species and other populations and (or) habitats in coordination with 

other agencies (Appendix K).

MD WLH & SSS-6: Fences identified as barriers to wildlife movement on BLM-administered lands will

be modified or removed to accommodate wildlife passage, unless the fences were built specifically to 

keep native ungulates out of an area. Fences will also be placed and marked, or modified, to reduce 

wildlife collisions or entanglements.

MD WLH & SSS-7: Utilize appropriate offsite compensatory mitigation to reduce impacts on wildlife 

habitat. This will be necessary if (1) all onsite mitigation has been accomplished and adverse effects have 

not been mitigated; or (2) if onsite mitigation is not feasible. Off –site mitigation will be applied as close 

to the affected area as possible and for the same or similar impacted species or habitats.

MD WLH & SSS-8: The BLM will apply appropriate mitigation measures and conservation actions to 

BLM authorized activities to avoid, minimize, rectify, reduce, or compensate for impacts if an evaluation 

of the project area indicates the presence of important wildlife species, seasonal wildlife habitat, or 

other resource concern.

MD WLH & SSS-9: Manage siting of facilities to minimize impacts on wildlife habitat function and 

quality, to minimize impacts on vegetation resources for all uses, and to minimize wildlife mortality 

during the life of the facility.

MD WLH & SSS-10: Where wildlife conflicts exist, overhead power lines and tall structures will

follow the recommendations in the Avian Protection Plan (APLIC) guidelines. When possible, perch, 

collision, and electrocution preventions will be used.

MD WLH & SSS-11: Management techniques, including but not limited to prescribed and managed 

wildfire, prescriptive livestock grazing, planting, exclusion to intense disturbance, timber harvest and 

other mechanical methods will be used to restore, maintain or improve the desired ecological 

conditions of vegetation communities for the purpose of improving forage, nesting, breeding, and 

security habitat, hiding cover and travel corridors for a wide diversity of terrestrial and aquatic species.

MD WLH & SSS-12: Management actions will emphasize providing habitat of sufficient quantity and 

quality, including connectivity and wildlife movement corridors, habitat complexity, forest openings, 

edges, and ecotones, to enhance biological diversity and provide quality, sustainable habitat for native 

wildlife species.

MD WLH & SSS-13: Predator control will be permitted subject to the stipulations outlined in the 

annual Animal Damage Control (ADC) Memorandum of Understanding between BLM and USDAAPHIS. Predator control in non-USDA ADC areas will be subject to the same stipulations as applied to 

those counties where predators are managed by USDA-APHIS.

MD WLH & SSS-14: The BLM could seasonally limit/close rock climbing activities in areas with active 

raptor nests and will educate the public about the importance of avoiding such locations.
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3-18 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD WLH & SSS-15: Unoccupied raptor nests will be protected from removal or destruction for 7 

years.

MD WLH & SSS-16: Surface disturbing and disruptive activities that impact special status species, 

particularly during critical life cycles, will be avoided or minimized.

MD WLH & SSS-17: When wildlife or their habitat could be affected, the BLM will require, as 

appropriate, a current year wildlife survey of the project area from the project proponent.

Power lines

MD WLH & SSS-18: Where resource conflicts exist, BLM will not authorize above-ground power 

lines (<69kV), unless burying the power line is unfeasible. If burying power lines is unfeasible, then 

power lines will be authorized in a manner that ensures habitat is maintained (e.g. 

Special Status Species

MD WLH & SSS-19: Special Status Species: All federally listed and BLM sensitive species and their 

habitats will be considered priority species and habitats.

MD WLH & SSS-20: Special Status Species: Identify distribution, key habitat areas, and special 

management needs for development of management plans and conservation measures, consistent with 

restoration, conservation and recovery plans for threatened, endangered, and other special status 

species. Priority habitats are riparian/ wetland areas, native grasslands, sagebrush steppe, conifer forests, 

and seasonal ranges supporting life cycle requirements for wildlife (i.e., winter, breeding, parturition, 

etc.).

MD WLH & SSS-21: Special Status Species: Timing restrictions will be used in special status species 

habitat. Surface disturbing and disruptive activities that impact special status species habitats during their 

seasons of use, particularly during critical life cycles will be avoided or minimized.

MD WLH & SSS-22: Special Status Species: Assist in the restoration, reintroduction, augmentation, or 

re-establishment of threatened, endangered, and other priority or special status species populations and 

(or) habitats in coordination with MTFWP and USFWS.

Special Status Species: Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Nests and Habitat

MD WLH & SSS-23: Special Status Species: Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Nests and Habitat - BGEPA 

(Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act): BLM will coordinate with USFWS on activities that may affect 

bald or golden eagles for compliance with BGEPA. The BLM will not issue a notice to proceed for any 

project that is likely to result in take of bald eagles and/or golden eagles until the applicant completes its 

obligation under applicable requirements of BGEPA, including completion of any required procedure for 

coordination with the FWS or any required permit. The applicant may be required to conduct further 

analysis and mitigation following assessment of operational impacts.

MD WLH & SSS-24: Special Status Species: Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Nests and Habitat - Bald 

eagle and golden eagle nesting habitats will be actively protected from loss due to fire, insect, or disease 

by reducing vegetation competition and encroachment in these habitats, unless visual barriers are 

compromised.
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-19

Special Status Species: Bald Eagle Nests

MD WLH & SSS-25: Special Status Species: Bald Eagle Nests - Activities and habitat alterations 

including surface disturbing or disruptive activities that disturb bald eagles will be restricted within 

suitable habitats or avoided within 1⁄2 mile of bald eagle nest sites active within the preceding 5 breeding 

seasons. Activities in bald eagle habitat will be conducted according to Montana Bald Eagle Management 

guidelines (Montana Bald Eagle Working Group, 2010, Montana Bald Eagle Management Guidelines: An 

Addendum to Montana Bald Eagle Management Plan, 1994).

Fisheries Habitat and Special Status Species (FISHERIES) (FH & SSS) 

Goal FH & SSS 1: Manage aquatic habitat to provide native and desirable non-native species diversity and 

viability, and sustain ecological, economic, and social values while providing for multiple uses of public lands.

Goal FH & SSS 2: Manage aquatic ecosystems to provide sustainable recreational and educational benefits to 

the public.

Goal FH & SSS 3: Manage fisheries habitat to support MTFWP’s Strategic Habitat Plan and the Montana 

Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy.

Goal FH & SSS 4: Management activities will emphasize restoration and/or maintenance of riparian structure, 

composition, and processes, including physical integrity of riparian ecosystems, amount and distribution of woody 

debris to sustain physical and biological complexity, adequate summer and winter thermal regulation, water 

quality and hydrologic processes, distribution and diversity of riparian vegetative communities and source habitats 

for riparian dependent species.

Goal FH & SSS 5: Use cooperative efforts to minimize negative impacts on, or enhance aquatic ecosystems on 

adjacent private lands.

Goal FH & SSS 6: Coordinate with other agencies to prevent or control diseases, pests and species that 

threaten the health of humans, wildlife, livestock, and vegetation.

Goal FH & SSS 7: Manage or restore habitat on BLM-administered lands within the planning area to facilitate 

the conservation, recovery and maintenance of populations of native and special status species (BLM special 

status species, Candidate species, USFWS listed, proposed, or petitioned species) consistent with appropriate 

local, state, and federal management plans.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD FH & SSS-1: Manage riparian areas and wetlands supporting fisheries toward PFC, as required 

through Standards and Guidelines (Appendices I and E).

MD FH & SSS-2: Roads will be located, designed and maintained, to the extent practical, to reduce 

sedimentation, identify and remove unnatural barriers, eliminate fish passage barriers (when desired), 

and restore or maintain riparian vegetation.

MD FH & SSS-3: Manage siting of facilities to minimize impacts on fish habitat function and quality, to 

minimize impacts on vegetation resources for all uses, and to minimize fish mortality during the life of 

the facility.
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3-20 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD FH & SSS-4: Habitat-improvement techniques will be used where appropriate to provide missing 

habitat components or improve existing habitats.

MD FH & SSS-5: The BLM will continue to partner with MTFWP in the establishment of fishing access 

sites.

MD FH & SSS-6: Develop and maintain a prairie fish and fish habitat inventory and identify potential or 

suitable habitat.

MD FH & SSS-7: Surface occupancy and use will be controlled within 300 feet of riparian and/or 

wetland areas. Surface-disturbing activities will require a plan with design features that demonstrate how 

all actions will maintain and/or improve the functionality of riparian and wetland areas, The plan will 

address: (a) potential impacts on riparian and wetland resources, (b) mitigation to reduce impacts to 

acceptable levels (including timing restrictions), (c) post project restoration, and (d) monitoring (the 

operator must conduct monitoring capable of detecting early signs of change in riparian and/or wetland 

conditions. (CSU) (same as MD WATER-13 and MD VEG/R&W-7)

MD FH & SSS-8: Habitat conditions will be monitored on fish-bearing streams (approx. 7 miles) with 

existing or potential threats, where grazing or human-caused impacts are likely.

Cultural and Heritage Resouces (C&HR)

Goal C&HR 1: Identify, preserve, and protect significant cultural resources and ensure that they are available 

for appropriate uses by present and future generations (FLPMA, Section 103 (c), 201(a) and (c); NHPA, Section 

110(a); Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Section 14(a)).

Goal C&HR 2: Seek to reduce imminent threats and resolve potential conflicts from natural or human-caused 

deterioration, or potential conflict with other resource uses (FLPMA Section 203(c), NHPA 106, 110(a) (2)) by 

ensuring that all authorizations for land use and resource use will comply with the NHPA Section 106. 

Goal C&HR 3: Cultural resources on BLM-administered land will be protected and maintained in stable 

condition. Appropriate management actions will be determined after evaluation and allocation of cultural 

resource use categories through cultural resource project plans. 

Goal C&HR 4: Maintain viewsheds of important cultural resources whose settings contribute significantly to 

their scientific, public, traditional, or conservation values.

Goal C&HR 5: Provide and promote research opportunities that will contribute to our understanding of the 

ways humans have used and influenced the landscape.

Goal C&HR 6: Manage historic trails to realize their educational, recreational, and scientific values.

Goal C&HR 7: Enhance public understanding of, and appreciation for, cultural resources through educational 

outreach and heritage tourism opportunities.
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-21

Management Decisions (MD)

MD C&HR-1: Evaluate cultural resources according to National Register criteria (36 CFR Part 60.4) 

and assign cultural resources to appropriate use categories as the basis for management decisions (see 

Appendix L).

MD C&HR-2: All sites determined eligible to the NRHP will be allocated and managed for Scientific, 

Public, Traditional, Experimental, and/or Conservation for Future Use. However, if another use 

becomes evident or proposed after use allocation has occurred, the use allocation may be changed 

without a plan amendment (Appendix L).

MD C&HR-3: All sites determined not eligible to the NRHP and not containing antiquities or 

archaeological resources will be allocated and managed as Discharged from Management Use

MD C&HR-4: Cremains scattering will not be permitted on prehistoric or historic archaeological sites, 

buildings, or structures, Native American burials, sacred sites, or traditional cultural use areas.

MD C&HR-5: Design and maintain facilities to preserve the visual integrity of cultural resources, 

settings, and cultural landscapes consistent with VRM objectives established in the RMP

MD C&HR-6: Where feasible, acquire properties adjacent to public lands through donation, exchange, 

or purchase that contain significant cultural resources including, but not limited to, those properties 

eligible for inclusion on the NRHP

MD C&HR-7: Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Rock Art Sites: Allocate and manage all 

National Register eligible sites for Conservation, Scientific, Traditional, and /or Public Use. 

Interpretative sites will be developed as appropriate.

MD C&HR-8 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Aboriginal Occupation Sites and 

Structures (prehistoric and protohistoric): Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to 

Scientific, Public, Traditional, and/or Conservation Use.

Interpretative sites will be developed as appropriate.

MD C&HR-9: Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Lithic Scatters/Workshops: Allocate 

and manage all National Register eligible sites to Conservation and or Scientific Use.

MD C&HR-10: Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Vision Quest Sites/Sacred 

Sites/Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs)/Ethnohistoric Sites: Allocate and manage all National 

Register eligible sites to Conservation and/or Traditional Use

MD C&HR-11: Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Historic Features: Allocate and 

manage all National Register eligible sites to Conservation and/or Scientific Use

MD C&HR-12: Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Historic Roads/Trails: Allocate and 

manage all National Register eligible resources for Scientific, Conservation, and/or Public Use. 

Interpretative sites will be developed as appropriate.
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3-22 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD C&HR-13: Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Historic Structures and/or 

Homesteads: Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Scientific, Conservation, and/or 

Public Use.

Interpretative sites will be developed as appropriate.

MD C&HR-14: Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – “Other” Sites: All National Register 

eligible sites will be allocated and managed for Scientific and/or Conservation Use with public use being 

monitored.

Paleontological Resources (PALEO)

Goal PALEO 1: Identify, manage, and monitor at-risk paleontological resources (scientific values); preserve and 

protect vertebrate fossils through best science methods; and promote public and scientific use of invertebrate and 

paleo-botanical fossils.

Goal PALEO 2: Manage fossil locales with high scientific value in a stable condition, while allowing appropriate 

scientific and public use.

Goal PALEO 3: Locate, evaluate, and manage paleontological resources and protect them where appropriate

Goal PALEO 4: Facilitate suitable scientific, educational, and recreational uses of fossils

Goal PALEO 5: Ensure that significant fossils are not inadvertently damaged, destroyed, or removed from 

public ownership as a result of surface disturbance or land tenure adjustments

Management Decisions (MD)

MD PALEO-1: The Potential Fossil Yield Classification (PFYC) system will be used to assess possible 

resource impacts and mitigation needs for Federal actions involving surface disturbance, land tenure 

adjustments, and land-use planning

MD PALEO-2: Vertebrate fossils can be collected only under a permit issued to qualified individuals. 

Vertebrate fossils include bones, teeth, eggs, and other body parts of animals with backbones, such as 

dinosaurs, fish, turtles, and mammals. Vertebrate fossils also include trace fossils such as footprints, 

burrows, gastroliths, and coprolites.

MD PALEO-3: Fossils collected under a permit remain the property of the federal government and 

must be placed in a suitable repository which will be identified at the time of permit issuance

MD PALEO-4: Where feasible, acquire properties adjacent to public lands through donation, 

exchange, or purchase that contain significant paleontological resources

MD PALEO-5: For all surface disturbing activities occurring within PFYC Class 3 or higher units, a 

stipulation or condition of approval will be included on the permitting document. Assessment, inventory, 

and/or mitigation will be required based on PFYC class (Map 35 of the B&PPNM PRMP/FEIS ). (LN)

MD PALEO-6: Written and web-based information will be developed, maintained, and provided about 

fossils and to promote visitor education
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-23

MD PALEO-7: Paleontological Resource Use permits will be issued for scientific study.

BLM will support investigations in lesser known areas and in areas where surface disturbance is 

occurring or anticipated.

Visual Resources (VISUAL)

Goal VISUAL 1: Manage public lands for their scenic values while providing for the overall multiple-use and 

quality of experience to visitors of public lands.

Goal VISUAL 2: Establish visual management objectives to minimize adverse impacts on the visual resources 

on the landscape.

Goal VISUAL 3: Maintain the overall integrity of VRM classes, while allowing for modifications to landscapes in 

those classes, consistent with the established management objectives.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD VISUAL-1: Manage visual resources according to established guidelines for VRM classes

(Appendix J).

MD VISUAL-2: Use the visual resource contrast rating system during project level planning to 

determine whether or not proposed activities will meet VRM objectives. Identify appropriate mitigation 

measures to reduce visual contrasts.

MD VISUAL-3: Prepare rehabilitation plans to address landscape modifications on a case-by-case basis.

MD VISUAL-4: Manage BLM public lands according to the following VRM class designations (Map 6):

 VRM Class I 29,714 acres

 VRM Class II 55,883 acres

 VRM Class III 349,441 acres

 VRM Class IV 0 acres

Fire Ecology and Management (FIRE)

Goal FIRE 1: Manage wildfire and fuels for the protection of public health, safety, property, and resource 

values. The protection of human life is the single, overriding priority. Setting priorities among protecting human 

communities and community infrastructure, other property and improvements, and natural and cultural resources 

will be done based on the values to be protected, human health and safety, and the costs of protection. 

Goal FIRE 2: Manage hazardous fuels in areas of urban and industrial interface to reduce potential loss due to 

fire.

Goal FIRE 3: Maintain desired mix of seral stages within vegetation communities, including desert shrublands, 

forest and woodlands, grasslands, mountain shrublands, sagebrush (all sub-species), riparian/wetlands and aspen. 

Goal FIRE 4: Manage vegetation communities through cooperative efforts by restoring natural fire regimes and 

frequency to the landscape, where appropriate.
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3-24 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Goal FIRE 5: Maintain partnerships with the public and interagency cooperators to strengthen coordination of 

all fire management activities and encourage the creation of fire-safe communities.

Goal FIRE 6: Utilize an integrated management technique unless otherwise restricted (defined as prescribed 

fire, mechanical, chemical, or biological, followed by desired reseeding) to reduce fuels to protect high priority 

areas or resource values.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD FIRE-1: In the course of fire suppression, a resource advisor will be consulted or assigned to 

wildfires that involve or threaten public lands.

MD FIRE-2: The use of fire suppression chemicals will be limited around areas with rock art and 

standing structures and other areas with significant cultural resources (including ACECs).

MD FIRE-3: Use of wildfire suppression chemicals within 300 feet of waterways will be prohibited.

MD FIRE-4: Fuels treatments will be designed to protect or improve resource values.

MD FIRE-5: ESR of burned areas will be conducted according to current policy to protect and sustain 

ecosystems, public health and safety.

MD FIRE-6: Prevent the movement of wildfires from the wildlands into the Wildland Urban Interface

(WUI) area (Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management, pg. 28)

MD FIRE-7: Response to wildfires will be based on ecological, social, economic and legal consequences 

of the wildfire.

Fire management strategies and tactics will be determined by (but not limited to) the following:

 Firefighter and public safety

 Resource values at risk

– In priority habitat management areas (PHMA) suppression will be prioritized to 

conserve habitat

– In general habitat management areas (GHMA), suppression will be prioritized where 

wildfires threaten PHMA

 Proximity to private land

 Firefighting resource availability

MD FIRE-8: Heavy equipment will not be used to construct fire lines in crucial winter range, habitat of 

candidate or special status species, riparian/wetlands or in areas of cultural resource sensitivity or other 

designated areas (e.g., ACECs, WSAs). Exceptions will be permitted for protection of human life, 

property and/or to protect resource values from further loss due to unwanted/unplanned natural or 

human caused wildland fires. 
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-25

Cultural Resource Specialists, Wildlife Biologists, or Resource Advisors will be consulted for locations of 

identified areas before use of or anticipated use of heavy equipment.

If heavy equipment is used, rehabilitation work on lines will begin immediately after containment.

Heavy equipment could be used in a WSA only if the exceptions in the non-impairment standards are 

met.

MD FIRE-9: Wildfires (natural ignitions) that occur within or adjacent to an area identified for 

vegetation or fuels treatment could be managed to meet the desired management objectives.

MD FIRE-10: Prescribed fire will be allowed on up to 5 percent of the percent of BLM administered 

acres within the planning area to achieve measurable landscape level objectives from (1) other 

resources, including, but not limited to, forestry, wildlife, range, vegetation, and watershed; and (2) the 

reduction of hazardous fuels; 

Treatment methods, including prescribed burning and mechanical treatments will be used to eliminate 

conifer encroachment and stimulate vegetative re-growth in grassland/shrub land habitats; and to reduce 

fuels, thin under-stories, recycle nutrients, and create small openings in forested vegetation types.

3.2.3 Resource Uses and Support

Energy & Mineral Resources: Solid Leasables (including coal), Fluid Mineral Resources, Locatable 

Minerals, and Mineral Materials

Management Decisions (MD)

MD Minerals 1: All Federal lands and interest in lands within the boundaries of PPNM are 

appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, or leasing or other 

disposition under the public land laws, including, but not limited to withdrawal from location, entry, and 

patent under the mining laws, and from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal 

leasing, subject to valid existing rights. Consider acquiring minerals from willing sellers.

Forestry and Woodland Products (FWP)

Goal FWP 1: Manage forest resources to provide a sustained flow of local economic benefits and protect nonmarket economic values, consistent with other resource objectives. 

Goal FWP 2: Manage forests and woodlands to meet or exceed the standards identified in BLM’s Standards for 

Rangeland Health (Standards 1 and 5)

Management Decisions (MD)

MD FWP-1: Biomass and small diameter materials associated with forest/fuels treatments will be made 

available for use.

MD FWP-2: New road construction will follow Montana’s Water Quality BMPs for Montana forests. 

New roads may be left open to the public if travel plan objectives for the area are met.
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3-26 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD FWP-3: Temporary road construction will follow Montana’s Water Quality BMPs for Montana 

forests and be decommissioned, with reclamation initiated within 1 year of project completion.

MD FWP-4: When salvage is proposed in dead and dying forests, contiguous acres of undisturbed 

standing and down woody material will be retained on a site specific basis, consistent with wildlife 

species, forest health restoration, and other resource requirements (e.g., soils, riparian, visual resources, 

etc.).

Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands: Land Tenure Adjustment and Access (R/LT)

Goal R/LT 1: Manage the acquisition, disposal, withdrawal, and use of public lands to meet the access needs of 

internal and external customers and to preserve important resource values.

Goal R/LT 2: Acquire or retain access to public lands to improve management efficiency, to facilitate multiple 

uses and public enjoyment of BLM public lands in coordination with private landownership, local, state or federal 

entities. (Map 7)

Goal R/LT 3: Maintain and/or acquire access across state/private lands to public lands for recreational 

opportunities and management of public land resources.

Goal R/LT 4: Public access will be maintained or improved through all land ownership adjustment transactions.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD R/LT-1: Newly acquired lands will be managed for the highest potential purpose and greatest 

public benefit for which they are acquired and will be managed similar to adjacent and/or surrounding 

lands.

MD R/LT-2: Lands or interest in lands will be acquired by purchase, exchange, revocation of another 

agency’s withdrawals, administrative transfer from another agency, cooperative agreement, donation, or 

other authority, and evaluated against the criteria in Appendix H. All land or mineral ownership 

adjustments will be based on a willing buyer, willing seller basis and will be managed as similar lands are 

under the approved RMP. Administration of other federal lands could occur through revocation of 

withdrawals, jurisdictional or administrative transfer, or agreement.

MD R/LT-3: Evaluate the proposed disposal tracts (Category III) using the land tenure criteria identified 

in Appendix H.

MD R/LT-4: Parcels of land administered by BLM and discovered through land status updates and 

corrections will be managed as similar lands are under the approved RMP.

MD R/LT-5: Lands acquired within or adjoining Congressionally designated areas (NM, NHT, etc.) or 

within administratively designated special management areas, such as ACECs and SRMAs, which have 

unique or fragile resources, will be managed the same as the special management area.

MD R/LT-7: Use all methods available to acquire access: easements from land or land exchange with 

willing parties will be the preferred methods of access acquisition.
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-27

MD R/LT-8: Retain existing access to BLM-administered lands, or other public lands, in conveyance 

documents.

MD R/LT-9: Participate and adopt National Historic Trails Land Acquisition Plans

MD R/LT-10: The specifically authorized acreage for land use should be avoided by oil and gas 

exploration and development activities. All authorized surface land uses are valid claims to prior existing 

rights unless the authorization states otherwise. (lease notice [LN])

MD R/LT-12: Special Designations (including ACECs and WSAs), archeological sites/historic districts, 

and lands acquired through Land Water Conservation Funds will be managed as Category I – Retention.

MD R/LT-16: Land ownership adjustments will be considered through site-specific analysis, based on 

retention, acquisition and disposal criteria (Appendix H). 

Establish three (3) adjustment categories based on BLM land tenure adjustment classes:

 Category I – Retention: Lands managed in Category I – Retention will include all lands with 

Special Designations (including ACECs, WSAs, NHTs, National Monuments, etc.), lands with 

wilderness characteristics, National Register listed archeological/historic sites/districts, and 

lands acquired through Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Category I lands will

not be transferred from BLM management by any method for the life of the plan.

 Category II- Retention/Limited Land Ownership Adjustment: Public lands within Category II 

will be considered for limited land ownership adjustments; however lands in Category II will

not be available for sale under section 203 of FLPMA. Some public lands in Category II may 

contain resource values protected by law or policy. If actions cannot be taken to adequately 

mitigate impacts from disposal of those lands, those parcels will be retained. 

 Category III – Disposal (land ownership adjustments, including sales): These lands generally 

have low or unknown resource values or are isolated or fragmented from other public land 

ownerships making them difficult to manage. Public land parcels in this category are 

relatively smaller in size (typically 160 acres or less). A listing of the legal descriptions of 

these disposal parcels can be found by alternative in Appendix H. These parcels have been 

found to potentially meet the sale criteria of section 203(a)(1) of FLPMA and could be made 

available for sale, however, exchange could have priority over disposal by FLPMA sale.

MD R/LT-17: Manage 83,507 acres in Category I – Retention (Map 7)

MD R/LT-18: Manage 353,829 acres in Category II - Retention/Limited Land Ownership Adjustment 

(no land disposals through direct sale). Land exchanges will be considered. (Map 7)

MD R/LT-19: Manage 264.4 acres in Category III – Disposal (land ownership adjustments, including 

direct sale or land exchanges). (Map 7)

MD R/LT-20: Consider applications for R&PP leases/patents and airport grants only in Category II and 

Category III.
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3-28 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD R/LT-21: BLM public lands will be available for state indemnity grants, as legally required in 

Categories II and III lands. 

There are no lands in the BiFO that are suitable for agricultural entry or Indian allotments. This is based 

on a combination of poor soil types, a lack of water, available water rights, and rugged topography.

Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands: Rights-of-Way, Leases, and Permits (R/RLP)

Goal R/RLP 1: Manage public lands to meet transportation and rights-of-way (ROW) needs while protecting 

resources.

Goal R/RLP 2: Address the needs of industry, utilities, the public, or government entities for land use 

authorizations while minimizing impacts on other resource values.

Goal R/RLP 3: Maintain availability of public lands to meet the habitation, cultivation, trade, mineral 

development, recreation, and manufacturing needs of external customers and the general public.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD R/RLP-1: ROW exclusion or avoidance areas will be subject to valid existing rights. (Map 8)

MD R/RLP-2: Issues in connection with RS2477 roads will be subject to the current guidance

Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands: Withdrawals (R/WD)

Goal R/WD 1: Protect significant resources or significant government investments.

Goal R/WD 2: Use withdrawal actions with the least restrictive measures and minimum size necessary to 

accomplish the required purposes of the withdrawal.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD R/WD-1: Review withdrawals two (2) years prior to termination either to extend, modify, or 

revoke. If withdrawals are no longer needed, in whole or in part, for the intended purpose for which 

they were created, the withdrawal will be revoked or modified.

MD R/WD-2: Consider other agency requests for new withdrawals, relinquishments, extensions or 

modifications on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to determining if the lands will be suitable 

for return to BLM public domain.

MD R/WD-3: All Classification and Multiple Use classifications in the planning area have been 

terminated.

MD R/WD-4: Withdrawal proposals will be evaluated at the project level and will not be approved 

unless the land management is consistent with maintaining and protecting BLM resource values (see BMP 

(Appendix B) as appropriate).

MD R/WD-5: The following area is currently closed and will continue to be recommended for 

withdrawal from mineral entry (51acres): (Map 8)

 Pompeys Pillar NM 
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-29

Livestock Grazing (LG)

Goal LG 1: Provide opportunities for livestock grazing as a part of multiple-use in a manner that meets and/or 

exceeds rangeland health standards.

Goal LG 2: Maintain existing desirable (allotment categorization) rangeland conditions or improve rangeland 

health utilizing best grazing management practices.

Goal LG 3: Monitor and evaluate rangeland health to determine appropriate management actions.

Goal LG 4: Integrate livestock use and associated management practices with other multiple-use needs and 

objectives to maintain, protect, and improve rangeland health.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD LG-1: Use livestock grazing to enhance ecosystem health, wildlife habitat, or mitigate resource 

issues (e.g., noxious/invasive weed control and hazardous fuel reduction) where supported by sitespecific environmental analysis.

MD LG-2: Site-specific management actions that protect riparian areas will be addressed at the project 

level.

MD LG-3: Grazing treatments and systems will be adaptive to new research, science and 

methodologies.

Areas Open to Grazing, Animal Unit Month (AUM) Allocation, and Monitoring

MD LG-4: Total acres available for prescriptive use of livestock grazing: 432 acres (Map 9)

The following areas could be open to livestock grazing on a temporary basis for the treatment of 

noxious weeds or as a prescriptive treatment (targeted grazing) to meet site specific vegetation or other 

resource management goals:

 Pompeys Pillar ACEC: 432 acres

Recreation and Visitor Services (REC)

Goal REC 1: Public lands managed by the BiFO provide a diverse array of benefits to the public, including 

economic, environmental, personal, and social ones. 

Goal REC 2: The BLM policy is to develop and maintain cooperative relationships with national, state, and local 

recreation providers, tourism entities, and local recreational groups.

Goal REC 3: BLM’s goal is to develop and maintain appropriate recreational facilities, balancing public demand, 

protection of public land resources, and fiscal responsibility.

Goal REC 4: The management direction is to emphasize and support collaborative public outreach, awareness 

events, and programs that promote public service and stewardship, and to encourage sustainable travel and 

tourism development with local communities and provide community-based conservation support for visitor 

service. The emphasis is placed on providing interpretive and informational signs and materials for public lands 
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3-30 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

visitors, maintaining facilities to a high standard consistent with the recreational setting, and limiting development 

of additional facilities to those areas where public recreational use of surrounding public lands requires them.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD REC-1: Conduct periodic accessibility, safety, and condition assessments in accordance with 

Bureau policy at developed recreation sites. Prioritize available funds to resolve deferred and corrective 

maintenance needs.

MD REC-2: Monitoring. Monitoring of recreation resources and human use including the following: 

visitor use and use patterns; recreation caused resource effects or impacts; visitor satisfaction; and 

effectiveness or attainment of outcomes-focused management objectives, recreation setting 

characteristics, and standards and indicators will be developed and implemented as a ImplementationPlan level Decision component.

MD REC-3: Allow non-commercial dispersed camping subject to length of stay limitations, without a 

permit on BLM-administered lands in the planning area, except where prohibited. Evaluate the need for 

future developed camping locations in SRMA plans, based on select criteria such as habitat, resources, 

cultural, and socio-economic needs.

MD REC-4: Mineral exploration activities will be coordinated for timing to minimize conflicts during 

peak use periods (e.g., weekends, holidays, summer use season, etc.).

MD REC-5: Cooperate with MTFWP, private landowners, and other partners to improve hunter 

access and the availability of public lands for hunting in accordance with EO 13443. Lands closed to 

hunting are 51 acres at the Pompeys Pillar National Monument and 784 acres at Four Dances Natural 

Area SRMA/ACEC.

MD REC-6: Use off-site interpretation, education, and outreach as a means to protect public 

resources.

MD REC-7: Allow target shooting in appropriate areas and prohibit target shooting in areas with 

resource conflicts (refer to management actions by alternative below for areas available/prohibited to 

target shooting). The BiFO will not designate specific target shooting sites but will pursue or facilitate 

the transfer of fee title ownership of suitable areas commonly used for shooting areas, to interested 

local governments or organizations. The BiFO can also employ the patent provisions of the Recreation 

and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, 43 U.S.C. § 1721, to convey ownership of lands for shooting ranges to 

non-profit organizations or local governments with the stipulation of non-revision of fee title and with 

no monitoring requirements by BLM (refer to the Land Tenure and Access section).

MD REC-8: The BLM will not issue permits or other land use authorizations for commercial services 

providing for the disposal of cremated remains on public lands. Individual, non-commercial scattering of 

cremated remains is subject to applicable state law and is considered casual use under 43 CFR, Part 

2920.0-5(k). Inquiries from individuals and families to scatter cremated remains should be handled on a 

case-by-case basis. 

If the level of use associated with individual, non-commercial scattering of cremated remains exceeds 

casual use criteria and causes resource concerns, the BiFO may establish notification requirements to 
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-31

determine the extent of use and whether an authorization process for this activity needs to be 

implemented, and may provide guidelines to users about appropriate scattering procedures and 

locations. If warranted, the BiFO may establish a process for issuing letters of authorization through the 

Lands, Realty, and Cadastral Survey Division, after the appropriate level of public scoping, NEPA analysis, 

and consultation have been completed.

MD REC-9: Monitoring of recreation resources will continue to occur, with emphasis placed on 

developed recreation sites and SRMAs. Monitoring will include regular patrols to check on signing, 

visitor use, recreation related impacts, and user conflicts. Monitoring will also emphasize identification of 

areas with compliance problems. Actual visitor numbers and/or vehicle counts will be documented at 

developed sites for trend analysis. Monitoring of SRPs will be conducted for compliance with the terms, 

conditions, and stipulations of the SRP as well as annual monitoring and evaluation of compliance with 

administrative requirements. Periodic assessments will be made to ensure that uses in SRMAs and 

extensive recreation management areas (ERMA) are consistent with their management objectives.

MD REC-10: Cultivation for wildlife habitat improvements at the Sundance Lodge Recreation Area and 

at Pompeys Pillar ACEC will continue. Changes in cultivation patterns, seasons of use, and type of 

activity, including termination of use, could occur during project level review.

MD REC-11: All signs will conform to the sign policies, guidelines, directives, and plans (Appendix C).

MD REC-12: As emerging technologies cause new types of recreational activities to be developed or 

proposed for use on lands managed by the BiFO, these new recreational activities will be evaluated on a 

case-by-case basis, taking into account the resource values present, the types of activities proposed and 

their potential impacts. The emphasis on permitting these activities will be to allow them only if they 

avoid any impacts on high value resource locations (WSAs, ACECs, PMWHR, visual resources, areas of 

high soil erosion, critical wildlife habitats, cultural and paleontological sites, etc.).

Special Recreation Permits

MD REC-13: The BLM will issue special recreation use permits as appropriate for commercial, 

competitive, and special events subject to guidelines in BLM Handbook 2930, resource capabilities, social 

conflict concerns, professional qualifications, public safety, and public needs. SRPs will only be allowed in 

priority habitat if they are consistent with the goals and objectives for that habitat or species.

MD REC-14: Issuance of SRPs and special stipulations attached per permit for both commercial and 

non-commercial permits will be determined by set monitoring indicators, BLM policies, and identified 

through site specific analysis.

MD REC-15: Issue SRPs, as appropriate, in an equitable manner for specific recreational uses of public 

lands and related waters as a means to minimize user conflicts, control visitor use, protect recreation 

resources, and provide for private and commercial recreation use. “Activity level planning will be 

developed through an environmental review process with public involvement. This management 

approach will identify the necessary indicators to monitor all permit conditions of approval that include 

the standards and stipulations necessary to change operations in the future.” Individual Special 

Recreation Permits (ISRP) will continue to be issued at Shepherd Ah-Nei per regulation of the Federal 

Land Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) and follow the business plan for Shepherd Ah-Nei.
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3-32 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Target Shooting Areas Open/Closed (Map 10)

MD REC-16: Pompeys Pillar National Monument and ACEC

 432 acres closed for resource (cultural, historical) and public safety concerns (major 

destination site: visitor center, parking lots, trails, other facilities, adjacent private lands).

 0 acres open. Management emphasis is on historical significance

Trails and Travel Management (TTM)

Goal TTM 1: Manage access to balance public use and protect public land resources, 

Goal TTM 2: Promote safety for all public land users, and 

Goal TTM 3: Minimize conflicts among OHV users and other uses of public lands. 

Goal TTM 4: Goals and objectives will accomplish this by using partnerships with other land managing 

agencies, local governments, communities, and interest groups through a balanced approach, so as to protect 

public lands by minimizing impacts and resources while providing opportunities for the safe use and enjoyment of 

OHVs 

Goal TTM 5: The BiFO will use a systematic process that considers the unique resource issues and social 

environments within each individual Travel Management Area (TMA) and integrate concepts of habitat 

connectivity into OHV planning to minimize habitat fragmentation. 

Goal TTM 6: Establish a long-term, sustainable, multi-modal transportation system of areas, roads, trails, and 

primitive roads which addresses public and administrative access needs to and across BLM-managed lands and 

related waters.

Goal TTM 7: Manage travel and transportation on public lands and related waters in accordance with law, EO, 

proclamation, regulation, and policy.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD TTM-1: Motorized travel on BLM-administered land (outside of established TMAs) will be limited 

to existing roads and trails. Measureable limits of change that will occur to the resource as a result of 

these travel modes will include indicators based on Land Health Standards, accelerated soil erosion 

and/or other resource concerns and potential for natural rehabilitation. Site specific travel planning will

be initiated. Site specific travel planning will be initiated when those limits are exceeded within a five (5) 

year period after the BiFO ROD is signed.

MD TTM-2: To protect resource values 28,631 acres will be managed as closed to motorized vehicle 

use and 405,523 acres will be managed as limited to motorized vehicle use (refer to the specific TMA 

sections below).

MD TTM-3: Modifications to a transportation network (routes, re-routes or closures) in the planning 

area where travel is limited to existing roads and trails may be made through activity-level planning.
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-33

MD TTM-4: Cooperatively develop public outreach programs to promote trail etiquette, 

environmental ethics and a responsible-use stewardship ethic (e.g., Tread Lightly, Leave No Trace, etc.).

MD TTM-5: BLM will continue to coordinate with MTFWP in the Block Management program, or 

other access agreements with other landowners, as appropriate. Designated motorized routes will

conform with seasonal travel limitations, based on annual block management agreements, as determined 

by the Authorized Officer on a case-by-case basis.

MD TTM-6: Administrative access will limit motorized use to BLM-authorized use only. BLM 

employees, permittees, contractors, personnel from other agencies and other motorized access needs 

authorized by the Authorized Officer, will be allowed for resource management, maintenance, 

inventory, monitoring, or compliance purposes. Public use on administrative access routes will be limited 

to non-motorized access.

MD TTM-7: Motorized wheeled cross-country travel to conduct BLM-authorized activities will require 

prior authorization

MD TTM-8: Upon completion of site-specific projects, roads used for commercial or administrative 

access on BLM-administered lands will be reclaimed, unless the route provides specific benefits for 

public access, minimizes impacts on the resource and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

MD TTM-9: The BLM may close or restore unauthorized, user created roads and trails to prevent 

resource damage.

MD TTM-10: Motorized off-road travel will be allowed for any military, fire, search and rescue, or law 

enforcement vehicle for emergency operations.

MD TTM-11: SRPs for motorized events, competitive events, or organized group activities will be 

considered and addressed through site-specific analysis.

MD TTM-12: Non-motorized recreational trails will be considered during the development of SRMA 

management plans and travel management plans (refer to Recreation/Visitor Services section).

MD TTM-13: Motorized off-road big game retrieval will be authorized by the Field Manager on a caseby-case basis for individuals with a disabled hunter access permit (issued by MTFWP). Stipulations or 

limitations will be included in the authorization.

MD TTM-16: Efforts will be made to acquire easements across private lands to provide for public 

access.

MD TTM-18: Motorized travel for all activities will be allowed on designated or existing routes only.

Livestock permittees building or maintaining fences as part of the implementation of a grazing permit or 

lease will be exempted.

MD TTM-19: All motorized routes designated as “Open”, “Closed” or “Administrative Use Only” will

be available for use for non-motorized activities.
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3-34 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD TTM-20: The Nez Perce National Historic Trail (NPNHT) and Lewis& Clark NHT are nonmotorized trails by Congressional designation except for auto tour routes and crossings, and approve 

motorized use dating prior to the enacting legislation.

MD TTM-22: Snowmobile use in the decision area will be allowed, except where restricted, and will be 

subject to the following restrictions: avoid locations where wind or topographic conditions may have 

reduced snow depth and create situations where damage to vegetation or soils will occur, or where 

vegetation is taller than the protective snow cover. Ecologically sensitive areas will be closed to 

snowmobiling if resource damage caused or exacerbated by snowmobile activity is found to be 

occurring in these areas.

MD TTM-23: Where OHVs are causing or will cause considerable adverse effects upon soil, 

vegetation, wildlife, wildlife habitat, cultural resources, historical resources, threatened or endangered 

species, wilderness suitability or other authorized uses, or other resources, the affected areas will be 

immediately closed to the type(s) of vehicle causing the adverse effect until the adverse effects are 

eliminated and measures implemented to prevent recurrence.

Dispersed Camping

MD TTM-26: Excluding WSAs and ACECs, OHV use off designated routes for the purposes of 

camping will be allowed, for a distance up to 150 feet from the centerline of the route. 

Site selection must be completed by non-motorized means only and accessed by the most direct route.

Ecologically sensitive areas or other areas restricted to motorized use will be closed to dispersed 

camping if resource damage is found to be occurring in these areas.

Game Retrieval

MD TTM-27: OHV use off-road big game retrieval will not be allowed for the general public.

Snowmobiles (any vehicle capable of over snow travel)

MD TTM-28: Unrestricted Snowmobile (OSV) use will be allowed within the Field Office lands except 

the following areas:

 Restricted to the following designated routes within the PMWHR: Sykes Ridge Road – PM 

1002, PM 1001, PM 1006 and Burnt Timber Road -PM 1011, (except between April 15 and 

June 15, when Burnt Timber Road is closed to all vehicle use for resource protection).

 Not allowed at any time within WSAs in accordance with Manual 6300. 

 Motorized over-the-snow travel may be limited by vehicle type, season, snow-depth, or 

other conditions as necessary. 

 Over the snow vehicles will be prohibited in big game winter range.

Landing of Aircraft

MD TTM-29: Landing of aircraft (helicopters, wheel and float planes, ultra-lights, gliders, etc.) is 

permissible on roads and primitive roads designated as “open” within TMAs and routes outside of 

TMAs.
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-35

Renewable Energy (RE)

Management Decisions (MD)

MD RE-1: Closed to commercial renewable energy facilities and development (Map 11)

Transportation and Facilities (T&F)

Goal T&F 1: Manage roads, primitive roads and trails for public access or administrative needs, while 

maintaining or protecting resource values, in coordination with other federal agencies, state and local 

governments and private landowners. This action will be done in coordination with the development and 

implementation of the TMAs. 

Goal T&F 2: Ensure BLM facilities are maintained to meet public health and safety requirements.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD T&F-1: BLM-administered roads included in the transportation system will be assigned 

maintenance intensities, as needed. These roads will be managed in accordance with objectives identified 

in the TMAs, assigned maintenance intensities and in consideration of resources issues and available 

funding.

MD T&F-2: Roads and trails will be inspected on an established schedule in accordance with the 

Bureau’s Condition Assessment guidance. The results of the condition assessments will be reviewed to 

determine the need for reconstruction, maintenance, or disposal.

MD T&F-3: BLM authorized recreation sites, administrative sites, buildings, bridges, roads, and trails 

will be maintained within Bureau standards to reduce deferred maintenance costs; meet public health 

and safety requirements; provide universal accessibility as appropriate and to enhance visitor 

experiences. These activities will be coordinated with other federal, state and local government 

agencies, private landowners and the general public as needed.

MD T&F-4: Bridges and major culverts will be inspected on an established schedule in accordance with 

the Bureau’s Condition Assessment guidance. The results of the condition assessments will be reviewed 

to determine the need for reconstruction, maintenance or disposal.

Condition assessments and Emergency Action Planning for hazard class dams will be performed as 

required by the latest version of the 9177 (Dam Safety) manual section and associated handbooks. The 

results of the condition assessments will be reviewed to determine the need for reconstruction, 

maintenance, or disposal.

MD T&F-5: New roads and trails determined to be necessary for permanent or long-term use as part 

of BLM’s transportation system will be constructed subject to NEPA and approved engineering 

standards. Consideration will be given to use demands, location, safety and resource constraints when 

determining the level of road necessary, in accordance with BLM Manuals 9113 and 9114.

MD T&F-6: Lands available or suitable for transportation facilities within the planning area will be 

identified. Road repair, road rehabilitation, road construction, and maintenance standards appropriate to 

specific areas will be identified as well as any limitations.
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3-36 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

MD T&F-7: If an existing road, primitive road or trail is substantially contributing to resource impacts, 

the road will be considered for re-design, re-routing, closure, or decommissioning to minimize the 

adverse impacts.

MD T&F-8: Provide adequate administrative and other facilities to accommodate management needs, 

based on management analysis, to maintain, replace, construct, lease; including asset disposal.

National Historic Trails (NHT)

Goal NHT 1: The BLM’s intent is to protect NHTs for long-term heritage and educational values and to 

enhance the public experiences of these unique trails through interpretation and support of heritage tourism 

while maintaining compatible recreational use with historic trail values. (Map 12)

Goal NHT 2: The BLM’s intent is to: 1) safeguard the nature and purposes; and conserve, protect, and restore 

the National Trail resources, qualities, values, and associated settings and the primary use or uses; 2) Reduce the 

potential for uses that substantially interfere with the nature and purposes of the National Trails; and 3) Avoid 

activities that are incompatible with the purposes for which the National Trail was established.

Management Decisions (MD)

MD NHT-1: Implement the Interagency National Historic Trail Plans for the Lewis and Clark and Nez 

Perce NHTs. Participate in the Interagency planning update efforts as needed.

MD NHT-2: Identify and acquire from willing sellers easements and lands within the NHT corridors. 

See Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands Section for additional references

MD NHT-3: Retain public land within federal ownership

MD NHT-4: The LCNHT will be withdrawn from mineral actions. 

MD NHT-5: Minimize changes that will result in degradation of resource values or opportunities for 

sharing the experience of the original users of the NHTs.

MD NHT-6: The LCNHT management corridor is identical to the Yellowstone River corridor.

MD NHT-7: Support partnerships and cooperative agreements with other agencies, local and state 

authorities, and NGOs to implement stewardship and educational goals for the NHTs. Support the 

Montana site stewardship program for monitoring and evaluation of significant trail resources.

MD NHT-8: Manage the auto tours routes associated with the NHTs to include signage and 

appropriate facilities as set out in the NHT’s Comprehensive Management Plan.

MD NHT-9: Implement the Interagency National Historic Trail Plans and all revisions including sub 

plans such as interpretive plans.

MD NHT-10: Participate and follow the NHT’s Land Acquisition Management Plans.

MD NHT-11: The setting for the Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce NHT segments will be maintained 

where setting is an aspect of integrity by utilizing viewshed management tools.
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 3-37

MD NHT-12: The management corridor for the Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce NHT segments is 1⁄2 

mile either side of centerline

MD NHT-13: Management actions will apply to the NHT management corridor 

MD NHT-14: An inventory and evaluation will be maintained for the trail segments and include this 

data in a trails management plan.

MD NHT-15: Manage NHTs as ROW avoidance areas.

MD NHT-16: The NHTs will be managed as exclusion areas for Renewable Energy (wind and solar) 

ROW actions.

MD NHT-17: Surface disturbing activities will be subject to mitigation guidelines.

MD NHT-18: NSO for oil and gas development and exploration within 1⁄2 mile of the L&C and NP 

NHTs management corridor (NSO).

MD NHT-19: Manage NHTs as Visual Resource Inventory (VRI) Class III.

Manage NHT trails as VRM Class II once specific trail course has been identified

Social and Economic Conditions and Environmental Justice (SEC/EJ)

Goal SEC/EJ 1: Provide opportunities for economic sustainability at the national, regional, and local level.

Goal SEC/EJ 2: Provide for a diverse array of opportunities that result in social benefits for local residents, 

businesses, recreationists, visitors, interested citizens and future generations, while minimizing the negative social 

effects. 

Goal SEC/EJ 3: Identify and remediate, to the extent possible, disproportionate negative impacts on minority or 

low income populations per EO 12898.

Goal SEC/EJ 4: BLM will continue to notify and consult with appropriate American Indian Tribes and BLM 

authorized actions. Consultation and coordination will be conducted on a government-to-government basis with 

federally recognized tribes with cultural affinity to the decision area. Management of public lands will

accommodate the exercise of rights provided by treaties or law that are applicable to the planning area. BLM will

coordinate with appropriate entities within tribal government on issues under its jurisdiction to determine 

appropriate protocols that provide for treaty uses of public lands.
3. Approved Resource Management Plan

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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 4-1

CHAPTER 4

CONSULTATION, COORDINATION, AND PUBLIC 

INVOLVEMENT

An interdisciplinary team of specialists from the BLM’s BiFO and its Montana State Office prepared the 

Billings Field Office and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP. Fifteen agencies, including tribal, 

federal, state, and county governments, participated in development of the document as cooperating 

agencies. BLM field and state office staffs provided technical review and support.

In consideration of public comments and input from tribes and Cooperating Agencies, the BLM prepared 

the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. A notice of availability announcing its release was published in the Federal 

Register on May 29, 2015, initiating a 30-day public protest period, which ended on June 29, 2015. The 

BiFO received ten protests during this period, all of which it resolved. 

4.1 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION

4.1.1 Cooperating Agencies

As part of the initiation process for the RMP, the BLM sent letters to Native American tribes and more 

than 50 federal, state, county, and local agencies, inviting them to participate in the planning process.1

The BLM held meetings with government agencies and tribes and initiated working relationships among 

team members and agency personnel.

4.1.2 Native American Indian Tribes

In accordance with the NHPA and in recognition of the government-to-government relationship 

between tribes and the federal government, the BLM wrote to 14 tribal governments to inform them of 

 

1The following agencies and tribes are cooperating agencies who helped BLM prepare the RMP: Big Horn County, Wyoming; 

Bureau of Indian Affairs; Bureau of Reclamation; Carbon County, Montana; Department of Natural Resources and 

Conservation Northeastern Land Office; Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Southern Land Office; Golden 

Valley County, Montana; Montana Association of Conservation Districts; MTFWP’s; Montana State Historic Preservation Office 

(SHPO); Musselshell County, Montana; Musselshell Planning Project; Northern Cheyenne Tribe; Wheatland County, Montana; 

and Yellowstone County, Montana. Other state and federal agencies participated as part of the RMP process but were not 

formal cooperating agencies: the Wyoming Fish and Game Department, the Wyoming SHPO, National Park Service (NPS) 

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, and USFS Custer National Forest.
4. Consultation, Coordination, and Public Involvement

4-2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

the RMP revision initiative. The BLM attempted to conduct government-to-government consultation 

with the following tribes: 

 Arapahoe

 Assiniboine and Gros Ventre (Fort Belknap)

 Assiniboine and Sioux (Fort Peck)

 Blackfeet

 Chippewa Cree (Rocky Boy)

 Crow

 Lower Brule

 Northern Cheyenne

 Oglala Sioux

 Rosebud Sioux

 Standing Rock Sioux

 Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations)

 Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

The BLM Montana/Dakotas invited the Montana State Historic Preservation Officers and Tribes to 

participate in the preparation of the RMP’s land use planning decisions included in the PPNM planning 

area. The BLM sought information about the identification of historic properties in consideration of land 

use planning decisions included in this ARMP, in accordance with the National Programmatic Agreement 

between the BLM, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Conference of State 

Historic Preservation Officers and the State Protocol Agreement between the BLM and SHPO, or 

where applicable the Section 106 regulations. The BLM incorporated the information it received from 

the SHPOs and tribes into the Proposed ARMP and considered such information in making the land use 

plan decisions.

The BLM has met its obligations under Section 106 of the NHPA, 54 USC, Section 306108, as outlined 

in the National Programmatic Agreement and the State Protocols or, where applicable, the Section 106 

regulations. The BLM will satisfy the requirements of NHPA Section 106 for future implementation-level

decisions, such as project proposals, including adequate consultation with SHPOs, Tribal Historic 

Preservation Officers (THPOs), Native American Tribes, and other interested parties, consistent with 

the alternatives procedures set forth in the National Programmatic Agreement and relevant state 

protocol or, where applicable, the Section 106 regulations.

The Montana SHPO was a formal cooperating agency for planning. 

4.1.3 United States Fish And Wildlife Service

As required by Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), the BLM consulted with the 

USFWS. The BLM prepared a biological assessment based on the RMP’’s proposed plan (Alternative E) 
4. Consultation, Coordination, and Public Involvement

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 4-3

for USFWS consideration. The BLM’s assessment and the response from the USFWS are found in 

Appendix K, Biological Opinion.

4.2 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

During the scoping for and preparation of the RMP, the BLM encouraged formal and informal public 

input. The 30-day scoping period began when the Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register

on May 15, 2008. The formal scoping period ended August 22, 2008, although comments received after 

that date were also considered.

The BLM hosted seven public scoping meetings during August 2008 to explain the planning process and 

gather input. News releases to local and regional media sources advertised the times and locations of 

the scoping meetings. The total registered attendance for all seven meetings was 90 people.

A notice of availability announcing the release of the Draft RMP/EIS was published in the Federal Register

on March 29, 2013, initiating a 90-day public comment period, which ended on June 29, 2013. During 

this period, the public had the opportunity to review and comment on the Draft RMP/EIS.

The BLM held six public meetings on the Draft RMP/EIS in towns and cities throughout the planning area 

and received comment letters by mail, e-mail, and fax and delivered by hand. The 463 unique comment 

submissions covered a wide spectrum of thoughts, ideas, opinions, and concerns.
4. Consultation, Coordination, and Public Involvement

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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 5-1

CHAPTER 5

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

5.1 IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN

Implementation, after a BLM RMP is approved, is a continuous and active process. Management 

decisions can be characterized as immediate or one-time future decisions.

Immediate decisions—These are the land use planning decisions that go into effect when the ROD is 

signed. They include goals, objectives, allowable uses, and management direction, such as the allocation 

of lands as open or closed for salable mineral sales, lands open with stipulations for oil and gas leasing, 

and areas designated for OHV use. These decisions require no additional analysis and guide future land 

management actions and subsequent site-specific implementation decisions in the planning area. 

Proposals for future actions, such as oil and gas leasing, land adjustments, and other allocation-based 

actions will be reviewed against these plan decisions to determine if the proposal conforms with the 

plan.

One-time future decisions—These types of decisions are those that are not implemented until additional 

decision-making and site-specific analysis is completed. Examples are implementation of the 

recommendations to withdraw lands from locatable mineral entry or development of travel management 

plans. Future one-time decisions require additional analysis and decision-making and are prioritized as 

part of the BLM budget process. Priorities for implementing one-time RMP decisions will be based on 

the following criteria:

 National BLM management direction

 Available resources

General implementation schedule of one-time decisions—Future decisions discussed in this ARMP will 

be implemented over a period of years, depending on budget and staff availability. After issuing the 

ROD, the BLM will prepare implementation plans that establish tentative time frames for completing 

one-time decisions identified in the ARMP. These actions require additional site-specific decision-making 

and analysis.
5. Plan Implementation

5-2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

This schedule will assist BLM managers and staff in preparing budget requests and in scheduling work. 

However, the proposed schedule must be considered tentative and will be affected by future funding, 

nondiscretionary workloads, and by partner and external public cooperation. Yearly review of the plan 

will provide consistent tracking of accomplishments and information that can be used to develop annual 

budget requests to continue implementation.

5.2 MAINTAINING THE PLAN

The ARMP can be maintained as necessary to reflect minor changes in data. Plan maintenance is limited 

to further refining or documenting a previously approved decision incorporated in the plan or clarifying 

previously approved decisions. 

The BLM expects that new information gathered from field inventories and assessments, research, other 

agency studies, and other sources will update baseline data or will support new management techniques, 

BMPs, and scientific principles. Where monitoring shows that land use plan actions or BMPs are not 

effective, the plan may be maintained or amended, as appropriate.

Plan maintenance will be documented in supporting records; it does not require formal public 

involvement, interagency coordination, or the NEPA analysis required for making new land use plan 

decisions.

5.3 CHANGING THE PLAN

The ARMP may be changed, should conditions warrant, through a plan amendment or revision process. 

A plan amendment may become necessary if major changes are needed or to consider a proposal or 

action that is not in conformance with the plan. Monitoring, evaluating new data, making policy changes,

or changing public needs might also provide a need to amend the plan. If several areas of the plan 

become outdated or otherwise obsolete, it also might require a plan revision. Plans are amended and 

revised with public input and the appropriate level of environmental analysis conducted according to the 

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) procedures for implementation of NEPA.

New information may lead to changes in resource inventories. New use areas and resource locations 

may be identified or use areas and resource locations that are no longer valid may be identified. These 

resources usually cover small areas requiring the same protection or mitigation as identified in this plan.

Identifying new areas or removing old areas that no longer have those resource values would not 

require a plan amendment or revision.

5.4 PLAN EVALUATION, ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT, AND MONITORING

Evaluation is a process by which the plan and monitoring data are reviewed to see if management goals 

and objectives are being met and if management direction is sound. Land use plan evaluations determine 

if decisions are being implemented, if mitigation measures are satisfactory, if there are significant changes 

in the related plans of other entities, if there is new data of significance to the plan, and if decisions 

should be changed through amendment or revision. Monitoring data gathered over time is examined and 

used to draw conclusions on whether management actions are meeting stated objectives, and if not, why

not. Conclusions are then used to make recommendations on whether to continue current management 

or to identify what changes need to be made in management practices to meet objectives.
5. Plan Implementation

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 5-3

The BLM will use land use plan evaluations to determine if the decisions in the ARMP, supported by the 

accompanying NEPA analysis, are still valid in light of new information and monitoring data. Evaluations 

will follow the protocols established by the BLM Land Use Planning Handbook (H-1601-1) or other 

appropriate guidance in effect at the time the evaluation is initiated. The monitoring framework for this 

ARMP can be found in Appendix F.
5. Plan Implementation

5-4 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

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September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-1

CHAPTER 6

GLOSSARY

Acquisition. The BLM acquires land, easements, and other real property rights when it is in the public 

interest and consistent with approved land use plans. The BLM’s land acquisition program is designed to

accomplish the following:

 Improve management of natural resources through consolidation of federal, state, and 

private lands

 Increase recreation opportunities, preserve open space, and ensure accessibility of public 

land

 Secure key property necessary to protect endangered species and promote biological 

diversity

 Preserve archaeological and historical resources

 Implement specific acquisitions authorized by acts of Congress

Activity plan. A type of implementation plan (see Implementation plan); an activity plan usually 

describes multiple projects and applies best management practices to meet land use plan objectives. 

Examples of activity plans are interdisciplinary, habitat, recreation area, and allotment management plans 

(H-1601, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Actual use. An annual livestock grazing report describing where, how many, what kind or class of 

livestock and how long livestock graze on an allotment or on a portion or pasture of an allotment (43 

CFR, Part 4100.0-5).

Administrative purposes. Administrative use functions involving regular maintenance or operation of 

facilities or programs.

Administrative use. Official use related to management and resources of the public lands by federal, 

state, or local governments or non-official use sanctioned by an appropriate authorization instrument, 

such as a ROW, permit, lease, or maintenance agreement.
6. Glossary

6-2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Affected environment. The natural, physical, and human-related environment that is sensitive to 

changes from the alternatives.

Air quality. Depends on the quantity and type of pollutants in the atmosphere and the dispersion 

potential of an area to dilute those pollutants. 

Air quality related value (AQRV). A resource identified by the Federal Land Management Agency 

for one or more federal areas that may be adversely affected by a change in air quality. The resource 

may include visibility or a specific scenic, cultural, physical, biological, ecological, or recreational resource 

identified by the FLMA for a particular area. AQRV impacts may also include sulfur, nitrogen, acid 

deposition, and lake acidification.

All-terrain vehicle. A wheeled vehicle (other than a over snow vehicle) that is defined as having a 

wheelbase and chassis width of 50 inches or less, is steered using handlebars, generally has a dry weight 

of 800 pounds or less, travels on three or more low-pressure tires, and has a seat designed to be 

straddled by the operator.

Alternative. A mix of management prescriptions applied to specific land areas to achieve a set of goals 

and objectives. Each alternative represents a different way of achieving a set of similar management 

objectives. 

Amendment. The process for considering or making changes in the terms, conditions, and decisions 

of approved RMPs or management framework plans. Usually only one or two issues are considered that 

involve only a portion of the planning area (H-1601, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Appeal. Application for review of an implementation decision at a higher administrative level.

Appropriate fire management response (AMR). Any specific action suitable to meet fire 

management objectives. Typically, the AMR ranges across a spectrum of tactical options (from 

monitoring to intensive management actions). The response action is based on an evaluation of risks to 

firefighter and public safety, the circumstances under which the fire occurs, including weather and fuel 

conditions, natural and cultural resource management objectives, protection priorities, and values to be 

protected. The evaluation must also include an analysis of the context of the specific fire within the 

overall local, geographic area, or national wildland fire situation.

Area of critical envrironmental concern. An area on public land where special management 

attention is required, when such areas are developed or used or where no development is required. An 

ACEC is designated to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or scenic 

values, fish and wildlife resources, or other natural systems or processes or to protect life and safety 

from natural hazards (FLPMA Section 103 [a]).

Assessment. The act of evaluating and interpreting data and information for a defined purpose (H1601-1, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook). 

Assets. Roads, primitive roads, and trails that comprise the transportation system. Also the general 

term used to describe all BLM-constructed assets in the Facility Asset Management System.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-3

Attainment area. A geographic area in which criteria air pollutant levels meet the health-based 

primary standard (national ambient air quality standard) for the pollutant. An area may have on 

acceptable level for one criteria air pollutant but may have unacceptable levels for others. Thus, an area 

could be in attainment and nonattainment simultaneously. Attainment areas are defined using federal 

pollutant limits set by the EPA.

Authorized officer. The BLM employee who has the delegated authority to make a specific decision.

Avoidance area. Areas determined to be less suitable for a ROW because of important or valued 

resources or resources assigned to a special status or a substantive conflict with use. These areas 

exhibit constraints to siting facilities and are less desirable for a ROW but could be mitigated to reduce 

potential effects that the ROW might have on the environment. 

Avoidance mitigation. Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an 

action (40 CFR, Part 1508.20[a]); for example, it may also include avoiding the impact by moving the 

proposed action to a different time or location.

Baseline. The condition of a defined area or resource that can be quantified by an appropriate metric.

During environmental reviews, the baseline is considered the affected environment that exists at the 

time the review begins and is used to compare predictions of the effects of the proposed action or a 

reasonable range of alternatives.

Beneficial outcomes. Improved conditions, maintenance of desired conditions, prevention of worse 

conditions, and the realization of desired experiences. Also referenced as recreation benefits.

Best management practices. A suite of techniques that guide or may be applied to management 

actions to aid in achieving desired outcomes. Best management practices are often developed in 

conjunction with land use plans, but they are not considered a land use plans decision unless the land 

use plans specifies that they are mandatory. They may be updated or modified without a plan 

amendment if they are not mandatory (H-1601, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Biological assessment. The document prepared by or under the direction of BLM concerning listed 

and proposed species and designated and proposed critical habitat in the action area. It contains the 

BLM’s determination of potential effects of the action on such species and habitat. A biological 

assessment is required for formal consultations and conferences on major construction projects. It is

recommended for all formal consultations and formal conferences and many informal consultations 

where a written evaluation of the effects of an action on listed or proposed species and on designated 

or proposed critical habitat is needed (M-6840, Special Status Species Manual).

Biological opinion (BO). The document that includes the opinion of the USFWS as to whether a 

federal action would be likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species or would destroy 

or adversely modify designated critical habitat. A BO is a summary of the information on which the 

opinion is based and a detailed discussion of the effects of the action on listed species or designated 

critical habitat. Depending on the determination of jeopardy, the BO may contain reasonable and 

prudent alternatives, a statement of anticipated take of listed animals, and conservation 

recommendations for listed plants (M-6840, Special Status Species Manual).
6. Glossary

6-4 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Candidate species. A species for which the US Fish and Wildlife Service has sufficient information on 

status and threats to propose it for listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species 

Act, but for which issuance of a proposed rule is currently precluded by higher priority listing actions. 

Separate lists for plants, vertebrate animals, and invertebrate animals are published periodically in the 

Federal Register (M-6840, Special Status Species Manual).

Casual use. Activities that involve practices that do not ordinarily disturb or damage the public lands, 

resources, or improvements and, therefore, do not require a ROW grant or temporary use permit (43 

CFR, Part 2800). Also, any short-term noncommercial activity that does not damage or disturb the 

public lands, their resources, or improvements and that is not prohibited by closing the lands to such 

activities (43 CFR, Part 2920). Casual use generally includes collecting geochemical, rock, soil, or mineral 

specimens using hand tools, hand panning, and nonmotorized sluicing. It also generally includes use of 

metal detectors, “gold spears,” and other battery-operated devices for sensing the presence of minerals 

and hand battery-operated dry washers. Casual use does not include use of mechanized earth-moving 

equipment, truck-mounted drilling equipment, suction dredges, motorized vehicles in areas or on routes 

designated as closed to off-road vehicles, chemicals, or explosives. It also does not include occupancy or 

operations where the cumulative effects of the activities result in more than negligible disturbance.

Closed. Generally denotes that an area is not available for a particular use or uses. For example, 43 

CFR, Part 8340.0-5, sets forth the specific meaning of closed as it relates to off-highway vehicle use, and 

43 CFR, Part 8364, defines it as it relates to closure and restriction orders (H-1601-1, BLM Land Use 

Planning Handbook). 

Code of federal regulations. The official legal tabulation or regulations directing federal government 

activities (BLM National Management Strategy for OHV Use on Public Lands).

Collaboration. A cooperative process in which interested parties, often with widely varied interests, 

work together to seek solutions with broad support for managing public and other lands (H-1601, BLM 

Land Use Planning Handbook).

Comprehensive travel management. Proactive interdisciplinary planning; on-the-ground 

management and administration of travel networks (both motorized and nonmotorized) to ensure that 

public access, natural resources, and regulatory needs are considered. It consists of inventory, planning, 

designation, implementation, education, enforcement, monitoring, easement acquisition, mapping and 

signing, and other measures necessary to provide access to public lands for a variety of uses, including 

those for recreational, traditional, casual, agricultural, commercial, educational, and other purposes.

Condition class (fire regimes). Fire regime condition classes are a measure describing the degree of 

departure from historical fire regimes, possibly resulting in alterations of key ecosystem components, 

such as species composition, structural stage, stand age, canopy closure, and fuel loadings. One or more 

of the following activities may have caused this departure: fire suppression, timber harvesting, livestock 

grazing, introduction and establishment of exotic plant species, or introduced insects or disease.

Condition Class 1. Fire regimes are within a historical range, and the risk of losing key ecosystem 

components from fire is low. Vegetation attributes (species composition and structure) are intact and 

functioning within a historical range.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-5

Condition Class 2. Fire regimes have been moderately altered from their historical range. The risk of 

losing key ecosystem components from fire is moderate. Fire frequencies have departed from historical 

frequencies by one or more return intervals (increased or decreased). This results in moderate changes 

to one or more of the following: fire size, frequency, intensity, severity, and landscape patterns. 

Vegetation attributes have been moderately altered from their historical range.

Condition Class 3. Fire regimes have been altered significantly from their historical ranges. The risk of 

losing key ecosystem components from fire is high. Fire frequencies have departed from historical 

frequencies by multiple return intervals. This action results in dramatic changes to one or more of the 

following: fire size, frequency, intensity, severity, and landscape patterns. Vegetation attributes have been 

altered significantly from their historical range.

Conformance. A proposed action must be specifically provided for in the land use plan, or if not 

specifically mentioned, must be clearly consistent with the goals, objectives, or standards of the 

approved land use plan (H-1601, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Conservation agreement. A formal signed agreement between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and 

other parties that implement specific actions, activities, or programs designed to eliminate or reduce 

threats to a species or otherwise improve its status. Conservation agreements can be developed at a 

state, regional, or national level and generally include multiple agencies at both the state and federal level

and tribes. Depending on the types of commitments the BLM makes in a conservation agreement and 

the level of signatory authority, plan revisions or amendments may be required before the conservation 

agreement is signed or subsequently in order to implement the conservation agreement (M-6840, 

Special Status Species Manual).

Conservation strategy. A strategy outlining current activities or threats that are contributing to the 

decline of a species, along with the actions or strategies needed to reverse or eliminate such a decline 

or threat. Conservation strategies are generally developed for species of plants and animals that are 

designated as BLM sensitive species or that the USFWS has determined to be federal candidates under 

the ESA.

Cooperating agency. The Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing National 

Environmental Policy Act define a cooperating agency as any agency that has jurisdiction by law or 

special expertise for proposals covered by NEPA (40 CFR, Part 1501.6). Any federal, state, or local 

government with such qualifications may become a cooperating agency by agreement with the lead 

agency (H-1601, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Council on Envrionmental Quality. An advisory council to the President, established by the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It reviews federal programs to analyze and interpret 

environmental trends and information.

Cremains. Cremated human remains. Cremains are not considered a hazardous substance (WO IM2011-159).

Cultural resource or cultural property. A definite location of human activity, occupation, or use 

identifiable through field survey, historical documentation, or oral evidence. The term includes 

archaeological, historic, or architectural sites, structures, or places with important public and scientific 
6. Glossary

6-6 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

uses and may include definite sites or places of traditional cultural or religious importance to specified 

social or cultural groups. (Cf. traditional lifeway value; see definite location.) Cultural resources are places 

and things that are located, classified, ranked, and managed through the system of identifying, protecting, 

and using them for public benefit (M-8100-1, BLM Cultural Resources Management).

Cultural resource inventory classes. There are three cultural resource inventory classes identified 

in M-8100-1, BLM Cultural Resources Management, as follows:

1. Class I—existing data inventory. A study of published and unpublished documents, records, 

files, registers, and other sources, resulting in analysis and synthesis of all reasonably 

available data. Encompass prehistoric, historic, and ethnological/sociological elements and 

are in large part chronicles of past land uses. They may have major relevance to current land 

use decisions. 

2. Class II—sampling field inventory. A statistically based sample survey designed to help 

characterize the probable density, diversity, and distribution of archaeological properties in a 

large area by interpreting the results of surveying limited and discontinuous portions of the 

target area.

3. Class III—intensive field inventory. A continuous, intensive survey of an entire target area, 

aimed at locating and recording all archaeological properties that have surface indications, by 

walking close-interval parallel transects until the area has been thoroughly examined. Class 

III methods vary geographically, conforming to the prevailing standards for the region 

involved (M-8100-1, BLM Cultural Resources Management).

Cumulative effect. The impact on the environment from one action added to other past, present, and 

reasonably foreseeable future actions, regardless of what agency (federal or nonfederal) or person 

undertakes such other actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively 

significant actions taking place over time (H-1790-1, BLM NEPA Handbook).

Designated roads, primitive roads, and trails. Specific roads, primitive roads, and trails identified 

by the BLM (or other agency) where some type of motorized vehicle use is appropriate and allowed, 

either seasonally or yearlong (from MS-1626).

Design value. A statistic that describes the air quality status of a given location relative to the level of 

the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Design values are defined to be consistent with 

the NAAQS in terms of their averaging times and their statistical formats.

Desirable nonnative. Any species not naturally occurring in a given area that independently or in 

conjunction with other species contributes beneficially to a site’s ecological function or recovery or the 

desired future condition of a site.

Desired condition. Description of those factors that should exist within ecosystems to maintain their 

survival and to meet social and economic needs.

Desired outcomes. A type of land use plan decision expressed as a goal or objective.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-7

Dispersed recreation. Unstructured recreation that is not confined to specific locations or dependent 

on recreation sites. Examples are hunting, fishing, off-road vehicle use, hiking, and sightseeing.

Disposal. Transfer of public land out of federal ownership to another party through sale, exchange, 

Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926, Desert Land Entry, or other land law statutes.

Disruptive activities. Those public land resource uses and activities that are likely to alter the 

behavior, displace, or cause excessive stress to animal or human populations at a specific location or 

time. In this context, a disruptive activity refers to those actions that alter behavior or displace 

individuals of a species such that reproductive success is negatively affected, or an their physiological 

ability to cope with environmental stress is compromised. This term does not apply to the physical 

disturbance of the land surface, vegetation, or features. When administered as a land use restriction 

(e.g., no disruptive activities), this term may prohibit or limit the physical presence of sound above 

ambient levels, light beyond background levels, or the nearness of people and their activities. The term is 

commonly used in conjunction with protecting wildlife during crucial life stages (e.g., breeding, nesting, 

and birthing), although it could apply to any resource value on the public lands. The use of this land use 

restriction is not intended to prohibit all activity or authorized uses.

These definitions are not intended to prohibit all activities or authorized uses. For example, emergency 

activities, such as fire suppression and search and rescue, or rangeland monitoring, dispersed 

recreational activities, such as hunting and hiking, and livestock grazing are not considered surfacedisturbing or disruptive activities.

Durability (protective and ecological). Maintaining the effectiveness of a mitigation site and project 

for the duration of the associated impacts; includes resource, administrative/legal, and financial 

considerations (adopted and modified from BLM Manual Section 1794).

Easement. An interest in land entitling the owner or holder, as a matter or right, to enter land owned 

by another party for a particular purpose.

Ecological site. A kind of land with a specific potential natural community and physical site 

characteristics, differing from other kinds of land in its ability to produce distinctive kinds and amounts 

of vegetation and to respond to management. Ecological sites are defined and described with 

information about soil, species composition, and annual production.

Ecological site description. Description of the soils, uses, and potential of a kind of land with specific 

physical characteristics to produce distinctive kinds and amounts of vegetation (Interpreting Indicators of 

Rangeland Health).

Ecosystem. Organisms together with their abiotic environment, forming an interacting system, 

inhabiting an identifiable space (Society for Range Management).

Eligible river. A river or river segment found eligible for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic 

Rivers System through the determination that it is free flowing and, with its adjacent land area, possesses 

one or more river-related outstandingly remarkable values (Wild and Scenic Rivers Act).
6. Glossary

6-8 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Emergency stabilization and rehabilitation. Prompt actions following a wildfire that are necessary 

to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation of natural and cultural resources, to minimize threats 

to life and property, to repair lands unlikely to recover, and to repair or replace minor facilities damaged 

by fire. 

Endangered species. Any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion 

of its range (BLM Manual 6840, Special Status Species Manual).

Environmental assessment. A concise public document for which a federal agency is responsible that 

serves the following:

 Briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an 

environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact

 Aid an agency’s compliance with the NEPA when no environmental impact statement is 

necessary

 Facilitate preparation of an environmental impact statement when one is necessary (40 CFR, 

Part 1508.9)

Environmental impact statement. A detailed written statement as required by Section 102 (2) of 

NEPA, which states that all agencies of the federal government must include in every major federal 

action that would significantly affect the quality of the environment, a detailed statement prepared by the 

responsible official on the following:

 The environmental impacts of the proposed action

 Any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided should the proposal be 

implemented

 Alternatives to the proposed action

 The relationship between local short-term uses of the human environment and the 

maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity

 Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that will be involved in the 

proposed action, should it be implemented (40 CFR, Part 1508.11, and NEPA)

Ephemeral stream. A stream that flows only in direct response to precipitation and whose channel is 

at all times above the water table. Generally, ephemeral streams do not flow continuously for more than 

30 days and have more robust upland vegetation than found outside the ephemeral riparian wetland 

area.

Existing way. A way existing at the time that a Wilderness Study Area survey was completed. 

Evaluation (plan evaluation). The process of reviewing the land use plan and the periodic plan 

monitoring reports to determine whether the land use plan decisions and NEPA analysis are still valid 

and whether the plan is being implemented.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-9

Exceedance. With respect to a national ambient air quality standard means one occurrence of a 

measured or modeled concentration greater than the specified concentration level of such standard for 

the averaging period (1-hour, 3-hours, 8-hours, 24-hours, or annual) specified by the standard.

Exceptional event. An event that affects air quality, is not reasonably controllable or preventable, is 

caused by human activity that is unlikely to recur at a particular location or a natural event, and is 

determined by the EPA Administrator in accordance with 40 CFR, Part 50.14, to be an exceptional 

event. It does not include stagnation of air masses or meteorological inversions, a meteorological event 

involving high temperatures or lack of precipitation, or air pollution relating to source noncompliance.

Exclusion area. An area determined to be unsuitable for a ROW because of the following:

 Unique, highly valued, complex, or legally protected resources

 Potentially significant environmental impact resulting from conflict with current land uses

 Posing substantial hazard to construction or operation of a linear facility (e.g., electric 

transmission line, pipeline, telephone line, or fiber optic line

In these areas, ROWs will be granted only in cases where there is a legal requirement to provide such 

access.

Facility, energy or mining. A place, building, or equipment used for a particular purpose or activity, 

such as oil and gas well pads and associated infrastructure and active mining development areas with 

operating equipment or significant human activity

Federal lands. As used in this document, lands owned by the United States, without reference to how 

the lands were acquired or what federal agency administers the lands. The term includes mineral estates 

and coal estates underlying private surface but excludes lands held by the United States in trust for 

Indians, Aleuts, or Eskimos.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Public law 94-579). Establishes public land 

policy guidelines for administration and to provide for the management, protection, development, and 

enhancement of public lands.

Federal register. A daily publication that reports presidential and federal agency documents (BLM 

National Management Strategy for OHV Use on Public Lands).

Fire management plan. Strategic implementation-level plans that define a program to manage 

wildland fires, fuel reduction, and fire rehabilitation based on an area’s approved RMP. Fire management 

plans must address a full range of fire management activities that support ecosystem sustainability, values 

to be protected, firefighter and public safety protection, and public health and environmental issues and 

must be consistent with resource management objectives and activities of the area.

Fire preparedness. Activities that lead to a safe, efficient, and cost-effective fire management program 

in support of land and resource management objectives through appropriate planning and coordination. 
6. Glossary

6-10 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Fire regime/condition class (FRCC). An interagency standardized tool for determining the degree 

of departure from reference condition vegetation, fuels, and disturbance regimes. Assessing FRCC can 

help guide management objectives and set priorities for treatments

Fire suppression. All work activities connected with fire extinguishing operations, beginning with 

discovery of a fire and continuing until the fire is completely out.

Fluid minerals. Oil, gas, coal bed natural gas, and geothermal resources.

Fluvial. Pertaining to streams or produced by stream action.

Forage. Vegetation of all forms available and of a type consumed by animals.

Forest. An ecosystem characterized by a more or less dense and extensive tree cover, often consisting 

of stands varying in characteristics, such as species composition, structure, age class, and associated 

processes and commonly including meadows, streams, fish, and wildlife.

Fossil. Remains, traces, or imprints of organisms, preserved in or on the Earth’s crust and include 

fossilized bones, impressions of parts of organisms, or tracks.

Fragmentation. The splitting or isolating of patches of similar habitat by natural events or 

development activities.

Free-flowing river. As applied to any river or section of a river, this means existing or flowing in a 

natural condition without impoundment, diversion, straightening, riprapping, or other modifications of 

the waterway (Wild and Scenic Rivers Act).

Fuel management. Manipulation or reduction of fuels to meet forest protection and management 

objectives while preserving and enhancing environmental quality.

Fuel treatment. The rearrangement or disposal of fuels to reduce the fire hazard.

Fuel type. An identifiable association of fuel elements of a distinctive plant species, form, size, 

arrangement, or other characteristics that will cause a predictable rate of fire spread or difficulty of 

control under specified weather conditions.

Functional habitat. The combination of requirements (food, water, cover, and space), juxtaposed in a 

manner necessary to provide sustainable populations of fish and wildlife species. In addition, human

activities within this habitat must be such that fish or wildlife can subsist without their sustainability being 

reduced. Habitat functionality will vary by wildlife species and by location.

Functioning at risk. (1) A condition in which vegetation and soil are susceptible to losing their ability 

to sustain naturally functioning biotic communities. Human activities, past or present, may increase the 

risks. (Rangeland Reform Final Environmental Impact Statement at 26.) (2) Uplands or riparian-wetland 

areas that are properly functioning, but a soil, water, or vegetation attribute makes them susceptible to 

degradation and lessens their ability to sustain natural biotic communities.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-11

Uplands are particularly at risk if their soils are susceptible to degradation. Human activities, past or 

present, may increase the risks (Rangeland Reform Draft Environmental Impact Statement Glossary). 

See also Properly Functioning Condition and Nonfunctioning Condition (H-4180-1, BLM Rangeland Health 

Standards Manual).

Geocaching. An outdoor adventure game for global position system (GPS) users. Participating in a 

cache hunt is designed to take advantage of the features and capability of a GPS unit and to enjoy the 

freedom of access to public land. GPS users find caches through their location coordinates. Once found, 

a cache may provide the visitor with a variety of awards. The visitor is asked to sign a logbook and to 

leave or replace items they find in the cache. 

Geographic information system (GIS). A system of computer hardware, software, data, and 

applications that capture, store, edit, analyze, and display a wide array of geospatial information (H-1601, 

BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Goal. A broad statement of a desired outcome; usually not quantifiable and may not have established 

time frames for achievement (H-1601, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Grazing lease. A document authorizing use of the public lands outside an established grazing district. 

Grazing leases specify all authorized uses, including livestock grazing, suspended use, and conservation 

use. Leases specify the total number of AUMs apportioned, the area authorized for grazing use, or both 

(43 CFR, Part 4100.0-5).

Grazing permit. A document authorizing the use of the public lands within an established grazing 

district. Grazing permits specify all authorized use, including livestock grazing, suspended use, and 

conservation use. Permits specify the total number of AUMs apportioned, the area authorized for 

grazing use, or both (43 CFR, Part 4100.0-5).

Guidelines. A practice, method, or technique determined to be appropriate to ensure that standards 

can be met or that significant progress can be made toward meeting the standard. Guidelines are tools 

such as grazing systems, vegetative treatments, or improvement projects that help managers and 

permittees achieve standards. Guidelines may be adapted or modified when monitoring or other 

information indicate they are not effective or a better means of achieving the applicable standard 

becomes appropriate (H-4180-1, BLM Rangeland health Standards Manual).

Habitat. An environment that meets a specific set of physical, biological, temporal, or spatial 

characteristics that satisfy the requirements of a plant or animal species or group of species for part or 

all of their life cycle (M6840, Special Status Species Manual).

Habitat type. An aggregation of units of land capable of producing similar plant communities at climax.

Habitat management plan. A written and approved activity plan for a geographical area of public 

lands that identifies wildlife habitat management actions to be implemented in achieving specific 

objectives related to RMP planning document decisions (BLM Manual 6780, 1981).

Historic range of variability (HRV). Characterizes fluctuations in ecosystem conditions or 

processes over time, thereby providing a reference against which to evaluate recent and potential future 
6. Glossary

6-12 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

ecosystem change. Landres et al. (1999) defined natural variability as “the ecological conditions and their 

variability over space and time relatively unaffected by people.” The theory behind HRV is that the 

broad historical envelope of possible ecosystem conditions, such as a burned area, vegetation cover type 

area, or patch size distribution, provides a representative series of reference conditions to guide land 

management (Aplet and Keeton 1999). For the RMP, the term historical is used to reference the period 

before Euro-American settlement.

Historic resources or historic property. Any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, 

or object included on, or eligible for inclusion on, the National Register of Historic Places. The term 

includes, for purposes of these regulations, artifacts, records, and remains that are related to and 

located within such properties. The term “eligible for inclusion on the National Register” includes both 

properties formally determined as such by the Secretary of the Interior and all other properties that 

meet National Register listing criteria (quoted from 36 CFR, Part 800.2[e]; compare National Historic 

Preservation Act, Section 301, Appendix 5; see also cultural resource-cultural property. Cultural property is 

an analogous BLM term not limited by National Register status; M-8100-1, BLM Cultural Resources 

Management). The term can also refer to cultural properties that have a period of use between EuroAmerican settlement to present.

Hydrologic condition. The current state of the processes controlling the yield, timing, and quality of 

water in the watershed. Each physical and biological process that regulates or influences stream flow and 

groundwater character has a range of variability associated with the rate or magnitude of energy and 

mass exchange. At any point in time, each of these processes can be defined by their current rate or 

magnitude relative to the range of variability associated with each process. Integration of all processes at 

one time represents hydrologic condition.

Impacts (or effects). Environmental consequences (the scientific and analytical basis for comparison of 

alternatives) as a result of a proposed action. Effects may be either direct, which are caused by the 

action and occur at the same time and place, or indirect, which are caused by the action and are later in 

time or farther removed in distance but are still reasonably foreseeable, or cumulative (BLM National 

Management Strategy for OHV Use on Public Lands).

Implementation decisions. Implement land use plan decisions; generally appealable to the Interior 

Board of Land Appeals under 43 CFR, Part 4.410 (H-1601-1, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Implementation plan. An area or site-specific plan written to implement decisions made in a land use 

plan. Implementation plans include both activity plans and project plans (H-1601-1, BLM Land Use 

Planning Handbook).

Important value. As related to ACECs, a relevant value, resource, system, process, or hazard that has 

substantial significance and values. This generally requires qualities of more than local significance and 

special worth, consequence, meaning, distinctiveness, or cause for concern. A natural hazard can be 

important if it is a significant threat to human life or property (43 CFR, Part 1610.7-2[a][2]).

Inholding. A nonfederal parcel of land that is completely surrounded by federal land.

Integrated pest management (IPM). A long-standing, science-based, decision-making process that 

identifies and reduces risks from pests and pest management-related strategies. It coordinates the use of 
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-13

pest biology, environmental information, and available technology to prevent unacceptable levels of pest 

damage by the most economical means, while posing the least possible risk to people, property, 

resources, and the environment. IPM provides an effective strategy for managing pests in all arenas, from 

developed agricultural, residential, and public areas to wild lands. IPM serves as an umbrella to provide 

an effective, all encompassing, low-risk approach to protect resources and people from pests. BLM 

Departmental Manual 517 (Pesticides) defines integrated pest management as “a sustainable approach to 

managing pest by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes 

economic, health, and environmental risks.”

Integrated weed management. A decision support system involving deliberate selections, 

integration, and implementation of effective weed management tactics. It uses cost/benefit analysis and 

takes into consideration public interests and social, economical, and ecological impacts in the decisionmaking process.

Interdiscliplinary team. Staff specialists representing identified skill and knowledge needs working 

together to resolve issues and provide recommendations to a BLM Authorized Officer (H-4180-1, BLM 

Rangeland Health Standards Manual).

Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA). The DOI Office of Hearings and Appeals Board acts for 

the Secretary of the Interior in responding to appeals of decisions on the use and disposition of public 

lands and resources. Because the IBLA acts for and on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, its 

decisions usually represent the DOI’s final decision but is subject to the courts.

Intermittent stream. A stream that flows only at certain times of the year when it receives water 

from springs or from some surface sources, such as melting snow in mountainous areas. During the dry 

season and throughout minor drought periods, these streams will not flow. Geomorphological 

characteristics are not well defined and are often inconspicuous. In the absence of external limiting 

factors, such as pollution and thermal modifications, species are scarce and adapted to the wet and dry 

conditions of the fluctuating water level.

Invasive nonnative species. See Invasive plants and species.

Invasive plants and species. Plants and organisms that have been introduced into an environment 

where they did not evolve. Executive Order 13112 focuses on organisms whose presence is likely to 

cause harm the economy, the environment, or human health.

Invasive weeds—noxious weeds. Nonnative invasive plants that are fast spreading and often 

expensive or difficult to control. Noxious weeds may proliferate, forming monocultures, which can 

crowd out other plants that provide biodiversity.

Jurisdiction. The legal right to control or regulate use of a transportation facility. Jurisdiction requires 

authority but not necessary ownership.

K factor. A soil erodibility factor used in the universal soil loss equation that is a measure of the 

susceptibility of soil particles to detachment and transport by rainfall and runoff. Estimation of the factor 

takes several soil parameters into account, including soil texture, percent of sand greater than 0.10 

millimeter, soil organic matter content, soil structure, soil permeability, clay mineralogy, and coarse 
6. Glossary

6-14 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

fragments. K factor values range from .02 to .64, the greater values indicating the highest susceptibilities 

to erosion.

Land classification. A process for determining the suitability of public lands for certain types of 

disposal or lease under the public land laws or for retention under multiple use management. 

Land tenure adjustments. Ownership or jurisdictional changes. To improve the manageability of 

BLM-administered lands and their usefulness to the public, the BLM has numerous authorities for 

repositioning lands into a more consolidated pattern, disposing of lands, and entering into cooperative 

management agreements. These land pattern improvements are completed primarily through the use of 

land exchanges but also through exchange, sale, purchase, donation, or other authority and through the 

use of cooperative management agreements and leases.

Land tenure adjustment category. The designation of an analyzed tract of land for retention or 

manner of disposal, based on resource values or public access. 

Category I. Lands managed in Category I—Retention will include all ACECs, WSAs, lands with 

wilderness characteristics, archaeological sites/historic districts, and lands acquired through 

LWCF, NHTs, National Monuments or other congressionally designated areas. Lands in 

Category I will not be transferred from BLM management by any method for the life of the plan.

Category II. Retention/limited landownership adjustment (no land disposals through sale)—

Public lands in Category II will not be available for sale under Section 203 of FLPMA. However, 

lands in this category could be exchanged for lands or interest in lands. Some public lands in 

Category II may contain resource values protected by law or policy. If actions could not be 

taken to adequately mitigate impacts from disposal of those lands, those parcels would be 

retained. 

Category III. (Disposal – landownership adjustments, including sale)—These lands generally 

have low or unknown resource values or are isolated or fragmented from other public 

landownerships making them difficult to manage. Public land parcels in this category are 

relatively smaller (typically 160 or fewer acres). A listing of the legal descriptions of these 

disposal parcels can be found in Appendix H under Legal Descriptions of Disposal Tracts by 

Alternative. These parcels have been found to potentially meet the sale criteria of Section 

203(a)(1) of FLPMA and could be made available for sale; however, exchange could have priority 

over disposal by FLPMA sale.

Land use allocation. The identification in a land use plan of the activities and foreseeable development 

that are allowed, restricted, or excluded for all or part of the planning area, based on desired future 

conditions (from H-1601-1, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Land use plan. Decisions that establish management direction for land in an administrative area, as 

prescribed under the planning provisions of FLPMA; an assimilation of land use plan-level decisions 

developed through the planning process and outlined in 43 CFR, Part 1600, regardless of the scale at 

which the decisions were developed. The term includes both RMPs and management framework plans

(H-1601-1, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-15

Land use plan boundary. The geographic extent of a resource management plan.

Land use plan decision. Establishes desired outcomes and actions needed to achieve them. Decisions 

are reached using the planning process in 43 CFR, Part 1600. When they are presented to the public as 

proposed decisions, they can be protested to the BLM Director. They are not appealable to Interior 

Board of Land Appeals.

Leasable minerals. Those minerals or materials designated at leasable under the Mineral Leasing Act 

of 1920. They include coal, phosphate, asphalt, sulphur, potassium and sodium minerals and oil, gas, and 

geothermal resources.

Lease. Section 302 of FLPMA provides the BLM’s authority to issue leases for the use, occupancy, and 

development of public lands. Leases are authorizations to possess and use public lands for fixed periods. 

Land uses that may be authorized by lease are those involving substantial construction, development, or 

land improvement and the investment of large amounts of capital that is to be amortized over time. A 

lease conveys a possessory interest and is revocable only in accordance with its terms and the 

provisions of 43 CFR, Part 2920.1-1(a). There are no limitations on the amount of land that may be 

included in a lease, but the area should be limited to the size justified. Also see Permits.

Limited areas. Designated areas where the use is subject to restrictions, such as limiting the number 

or types or vehicles allowed, dates and times of use (seasonal restrictions), limiting use to existing roads 

and trails, limiting use to designated roads and trails where use will be allowed only on roads and trails 

that are signed for use, or limited to administrative use. Combinations of restrictions are possible, such 

as limiting use to certain types of vehicles during certain times of the year (BLM National Management 

Strategy for OHV Use on Public Lands).

Mechanized travel. Moving by means of mechanical devices, such as a bicycle; not powered by a 

motor.

Mine. An opening or excavation in the Earth for extracting minerals.

Mineral. Any naturally formed inorganic material, solid, or fluid inorganic substance that can be 

extracted from the Earth; any of various naturally occurring homogeneous substances (as stone, coal, 

salt, sulfur, sand, petroleum, water, or natural gas) obtained usually from the ground. Under federal laws, 

considered as locatable (subject to the general mining laws), leasable (subject to the Mineral Leasing Act 

of 1920), and salable (subject to the Materials Act of 1947).

Leasable Minerals. Those minerals or materials designated as leasable under the Mineral 

Leasing Act of 1920, as amended. Leasable minerals include such solid leasables as coal, 

phosphate, asphalt, sulphur, potassium, and sodium minerals and such fluid leasables as oil and 

gas.

Nonenergy Leasable Minerals.These solid minerals include phosphate, sodium, potassium, 

sulphur, potash, and Gilsonite. Most are used for fertilizer, feed stock (mineral supplement for 

livestock), or other industrial processes. See 43 CFR, Part 3500, for more information on 

nonenergy leasable minerals.
6. Glossary

6-16 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Locatable Minerals. Minerals subject to exploration, development, and disposal by staking 

mining claims as authorized by the Mining Law of 1872, as amended. This includes deposits of 

gold, silver, and other uncommon minerals not subject to lease or sale.

Saleable Minerals or Mineral Materials. Common materials, such as sand and gravel, and 

common varieties of stone, pumice, pumicite, and clay that are not obtainable under the mining 

or leasing laws but that can be acquired under the Materials Act of 1947, as amended, through 

sales or special permits.

Mineral entry. The filing of a claim on public land to obtain the right to any locatable minerals it may 

contain.

Mineral estate. The ownership of minerals, including rights necessary for access, exploration, 

development, mining, ore dressing, and transportation. 

Minimization mitigation. Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its 

implementation (40 CFR, Part 1508.20[b]).

Minimize. To reduce the adverse impact of an operation to the lowest practical level.

Mining claim. A parcel of land that a miner takes and holds for mining purposes, having acquired the 

right of possession by complying with the Mining Law of 1872 and local laws and rules. A mining claim 

may contain as many adjoining locations as the locator may make or buy. There are four categories of 

mining claims: lode, placer, mill site, and tunnel site.

Mitigation. A measure that will change the proposed action and will actually reduce or eliminate 

impacts. CEQ NEPA regulations identify five types of measures to deal with significant environmental 

effects, as follows:

 Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action

 Minimizing an impact by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its 

implementation

 Rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment

 Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and maintenance

 Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources or 

environments

Monitoring. Observations, data collection, and studies that evaluate compliance of on-the ground 

management with the RMP direction, or the effectiveness of RMP-prescribed management direction, in 

meeting broader goals objectives. Monitoring evaluates if actions comply with NEPA decisions that have 

been implemented, achieve the desired objectives (e.g., effectiveness), and are based on accurate 

assumptions (e.g., validation).

Motorized. Any machine activated by a nonliving power source. Small battery-powered, hand-carried 

devices such as flashlights, shavers, and Geiger counters are not classed as motorized equipment, such as

ATVs/OHVs, motorcycles, cars, and trucks.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-17

Multiple use. The management of the public lands and their various resource values so that they are 

used in the combination that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people; 

making the most judicious use of the land for some or all of these resources or related services over 

areas large enough to provide sufficient latitude for periodic adjustments in use to changing needs and 

conditions; the use of some land for less than all of the resources; a combination of balanced and diverse 

resource uses that takes into account the long-term needs of future generations for renewable and 

nonrenewable resources, including recreation, range, timber, minerals, watershed, wildlife and fish, and 

natural scenic, scientific and historical values; and harmonious and coordinated management of the 

various resources without permanent impairment of the productivity of the land and the quality of the 

environment, with consideration being given to the relative values of the resources and not necessarily 

to the combination of uses that will give the greatest economic return or the greatest unit output 

(FLPMA and BLM Manual 6840, Special Status Species Manual).

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Encourages productive and enjoyable harmony 

between humans and the environment; promotes prevention or elimination of damage to the 

environment and biosphere and stimulates the health and welfare of humans; enriches the understanding 

of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the nation; and establishes a CEQ (BLM 

National Management Strategy for OHV Use on Public Lands).

National register. The National Register of Historic Places, expanded and maintained by the Secretary 

of Interior, as authorized by Section 2(b) of the Historic Sites Act and Section 101(a)(1)(A) of the 

National Historic Preservation Act. The National Register lists cultural properties found to qualify for 

inclusion because of their local, state, or national significance. Eligibility criteria and nomination 

procedures are found in 36 CFR, Part 60. The Secretary’s administrative responsibility for the National 

Register is delegated to the National Park Service (M-8100-1, BLM Cultural Resource Management).

National wild and scenic rivers system. A system of nationally designated rivers and their 

immediate environments that have outstanding scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, 

historical, cultural, and other similar values and are preserved in a free-flowing condition. The system 

consists of three types of streams, as follows:

 Recreational—Rivers or sections of rivers that are readily accessible by road or railroad and 

that may have some development along their shorelines and may have undergone some 

impoundments or diversion in the past

 Scenic—Rivers or sections of rivers free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds 

still largely undeveloped but accessible in places by roads

 Wild—Rivers or sections of rivers free of impoundments and generally inaccessible except 

by trails, with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive and waters unpolluted

Native american tribe. Any Native American group in the coterminous United States that the 

Secretary of the Interior recognizes as possessing tribal status (listed periodically in the Federal Register; 

H-1601, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Naturalness. Lands and resources affected primarily by the forces of nature, where the imprint of 

human activity is substantially unnoticeable in an area of 5,000 acres or greater. The BLM has the 

authority to inventory, assess, and monitor the attributes of the lands and resources on public lands, 
6. Glossary

6-18 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

which, taken together, are an indication of an area’s naturalness. These attributes may include roads and 

trails, fences and other improvements, the nature and extent of landscape modifications, the presence of 

native vegetation communities, and the connectivity of habitats (from IM-20030275, change 1, 

Considerations of Wilderness Characteristics in LUP, Attachment 1). 

Neotropical migratory birds. Birds that winter in Central America, South America, the Caribbean, 

and Mexico and then return to the United States and Canada during spring to breed. Includes almost 

half of the bird species that breed in the United States and Canada.

Nonfunctioning condition. A condition in which vegetation and ground cover are not maintaining soil 

conditions that can sustain natural biotic communities. It also refers to riparian-wetland areas that do 

not provide adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris to dissipate stream energy associated 

with high flows and thus are not reducing erosion, improving water quality, or possess other normal 

characteristics of riparian areas. The absence of a floodplain may be an indicator of nonfunctioning 

condition (H-4180-1, BLM Rangeland Health Standards Manual).

Noxious weed. A nonnative plant species designated by federal or state law and county weed boards 

that generally possess one or more of the following characteristics: aggressive and difficult to manage; 

parasitic; a carrier or host of serious insects or disease; or nonnative, new, or not common to the 

United States. 

Objective. A description of a desired outcome for a resource. Objectives can be quantified and 

measured and, where possible, have established time frames for achievement.

Off-highway or off-road vehicle. Any motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country 

travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. 

It excludes any registered motorboat, any fire, emergency, or law enforcement vehicle when used for 

emergency operations, and any combat or combat support vehicle when used for national defense 

purposes, and any vehicle whose use is expressly authorized by the respective agency head under a 

permit, lease, license, or contract (EO 11644).

Off-road vehicle designations:

 Open—Designated areas and trails where off-road vehicles may be operated, subject to 

operating regulations and vehicle standards set forth in BLM Manuals 8341 and 8343, or an 

area where all types of vehicle use are permitted at all times, subject to the standards in 

BLM Manuals 8341 and 8343.

 Limited—Designated areas and trails where use of off-road vehicles is subject to 

restrictions, such as limiting the number or types of vehicles allowed, dates and times of use 

(seasonal restrictions), limiting use to existing roads and trails, or limiting use to designated 

roads and trails, where use will be allowed only where they are signed for use.

Combinations of restrictions are possible, such as limiting use to certain types of vehicles 

during certain times of the year.

 Closed—Designated areas and trails where the use of off-road vehicles is permanently or 

temporarily prohibited. Off-road vehicles in closed areas may be allowed for certain 
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-19

reasons; however, such use would be made only with the approval of the BLM Authorized 

Officer.

Official use. Use by an employee, agent, or designated representative of the federal government or 

one of its contractors, in the course of his or her employment, agency, or representation (BLM National 

Management Strategy for OHV Use on Public Lands).

Open area. An area where all types of vehicle use is permitted at all times, anywhere in the area,

subject to the operating regulations and vehicle standards set forth in 43 CFR, Parts 8341 and 8342. 

Operator. One who has authorization from the BLM to conduct activity on public land.

Outstandingly remarkable values. Values among those listed in Section 1(b) of the WSR Act of 

1968: “scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, historical, cultural, or other similar values....” 

Other similar values that may be considered are ecological, biological, or botanical.

Over-snow vehicle. A motor vehicle that is designed for use over snow that runs on a track or tracks 

or skis, while in use. Does not include machinery used strictly for grooming on nonmotorized trails.

Overstocked. The situation in which trees are so closely spaced that they compete for resources and 

do not reach full growth potential.

Paleontological resources. Any fossilized remains, traces, or imprints of organisms, preserved in or 

on the Earth’s crust, that are of paleontological interest and that provide information about the history 

of life on Earth; does not include any materials associated with an archaeological resource (as defined in 

Section 3[1] of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 [16 USC, Section 470bb(1)]) or 

any cultural item (as defined in Section 2 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation 

Act [24 USC, Section 3001 et seq.]).

Perennial stream. One that flows continuously. Perennial streams are generally associated with a 

water table in the localities through which they flow.

Permit. A short-term (up to three years) revocable authorization to use public lands for specific 

purposes. Section 302 of FLPMA provides the BLM’s authority to issue permits for the use, occupancy, 

and development of public lands. Permit land uses involve either little or no land improvement or 

construction or investment that can be amortized within the terms of the permit. A permit conveys no 

possessory interest. The BLM Authorized Officer may renew it at his or her discretion or revoke it in 

accordance with its terms or the provisions of 43 CFR, Part 2920.1-1(b). Also see Leases. 

Permittee. Holder of a valid permit that authorizes grazing use of the public lands within the grazing 

district. Also a holder of a special recreation permit for commercial, competitive, organized, or vending 

activities for recreation on public lands. Also a holder of a commercial filming permit issued by the BLM 

for filming on public lands. 

Permitted use. The forage allocated by, or under the guidance of, an applicable land use plan for 

livestock grazing in an allotment under a permit or lease and expressed in AUMs (43 CFR, Part 4100.0-

5; from H-4180-1, BLM Rangeland Health Standards Manual).
6. Glossary

6-20 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Petroglyph. A figure, design, or indentation carved, abraded, or pecked on natural rock surfaces. 

Pictograph. A figure or design, colored with charcoal or natural mineral pigments, painted on a rock.

Planning area. A geographical area for which land use and resource management plans are developed 

and maintained.

Planning criteria. The standards, rules, and other factors developed by managers and interdisciplinary 

teams for their use in forming judgment about decision-making, analysis, and data collection during 

planning. Planning criteria streamline and simplify the resource management planning actions (H-1601, 

BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Population. Within a species, a distinct group of individuals that tend to mate only with members of 

the group. Because of generations of inbreeding, members of a population tend to have similar genetic 

characteristics.

Potential fossil yield classification. A system of general classification based on the lithology of 

surface rocks that estimates the likelihood of a given rock unit to yield vertebrate or other scientifically 

important fossil materials.

Potential to emit. The maximum capacity of a facility or emitting unit, within physical and operational 

design, to emit a pollutant. Any physical or operational limitation on the capacity of the facility or 

emitting unit to emit a pollutant, including air pollution control equipment and restrictions on hours of 

operation or on the type or amount of material combusted, stored, or processed, is treated as part of 

its design only if the limitation or the effect it will have on emissions is enforceable at the federal level. 

Prehistoric. The period when Native American cultural activities took place that were not yet 

influenced by contact with historic nonnative cultures. The end of this period varies by region. 

Prescribed fire. Any fire ignited by management action to meet specific objectives. A written approved 

fire plan must exist and NEPA requirements must be met before the fire is started (H-9214-1, BLM 

Prescribed Fire Management Handbook).

Prevention of significant deterioration (PSD). A regulatory program under the Clean Air Act 

(Public Law 84-159, as amended) to limit air quality and AQRV degradation in areas currently achieving 

the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The PSD program established air quality classes in which 

differing amounts of additional air pollution are allowed above a legally defined baseline level. Small 

additional air pollution may be considered significant in PSD Class I areas (certain large national parks 

and wilderness areas in existence on August 7, 1977, and specific tribal lands redesignated since then). 

PSD Class II areas allow deterioration associated with moderate well-controlled growth (most of the 

country). Area classes are described below.

 Class I—An area that allows only minimal degradation above the baseline. The Clean Air 

Act designated existing national parks over 6,000 acres and national wilderness areas over 

5,000 acres in existence on August 7, 1977, as mandatory federal Class I areas. These areas 

also have special visibility protection. In addition, four tribal governments have redesignated 

their lands as Class I Areas.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-21

 Class II—An area that allows moderate degradation above the baseline. Most of the United 

States (outside nonattainment areas) is Class II.

 Class III—Any area that allows the maximum amount of degradation above the baseline. 

Although Congress allows air quality regulatory agencies to redesignate Class II lands to 

Class III, none have been designated.

Prevention of significant deteriorion increment and increment analysis. The allowable PSD 

increment is the change in pollutant concentration allowed in a Class I, II, or III area. PSD increment 

values are provided in EPA regulations. As performed by the BLM for NEPA analysis, PSD increment 

analysis is a method of comparing predicted (modeled) pollutant concentrations to the EPA’s allowable 

PSD increment values for the purpose of public disclosure only. The BLM increment analysis is not a 

regulatory analysis. State air quality agencies and the EPA perform regulatory PSD increment analyses.

Primitive and unconfined recreation (in regard to designated Wilderness Areas). Means 

nonmotorized types of outdoor recreation that do not require developed facilities or mechanical 

transport. Mechanical transport means any vehicle, device, or contrivance for moving people or material 

in or over land, water, snow, or air that has moving parts. This includes sailboats, sailboards, hang 

gliders, parachutes, bicycles, game carriers, carts, and wagons. The term does not include wheelchairs 

nor horses or other pack stock, skis, snowshoes, nonmotorized river craft, including drift boats, rafts, 

and canoes, or sleds, travois, or similar devices without moving parts (43 CFR, Part 6301.5, Definitions).

There are no designated Wilderness Areas in the Billings Field Office planning area. For lands under 

Wilderness Review (Wilderness Study Areas), “No mechanical transport, which includes all motorized 

vehicles plus trail or mountain bikes, will be allowed on such trails” (H-8550-1, Chapter III, Section H1).

Primitive recreation. As defined in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, primitive recreation is 

managed to be essentially free from evidence of humans and on-site controls. Motor vehicle use is not 

permitted. Means of access include hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, nonmotorized boating, 

and horseback riding.

Primitive road. A linear route managed for use by four-wheel drive or high clearance vehicles. 

Primitive roads do not normally meet any BLM road design standards. 

Primitive route. Any transportation linear feature in areas that have been identified as having 

wilderness characteristics and not meeting the wilderness inventory road definition.

Properly functioning condition (PFC).

 An element of the Fundamental of Rangeland Health for watersheds and therefore a 

required element of state or regional standards and guidelines under 43 CFR, Part 

4180.2(b).

 Condition in which vegetation and ground cover maintain soil conditions that can sustain 

natural biotic communities. For riparian areas, the process of determining that function is 

described in BLM Technical Reference (TR) 1737-9, Final Environmental Impact Statement at 

26, 72.

 Riparian-wetland areas are functioning properly when adequate vegetation, landform, or 

large woody debris are present to dissipate stream energy associated with high-water flows, 
6. Glossary

6-22 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

thereby reducing erosion and improving water quality; filter sediment, capture bed load, and 

aid floodplain development; improve floodwater retention and groundwater recharge; 

develop root masses that stabilize streambanks against cutting action; develop diverse 

ponding and channel characteristics to provide the habitat and the water depth, duration, 

and temperature necessary for fish production, waterfowl breeding, and other uses; and 

support greater biodiversity. The functioning condition of riparian-wetland areas is 

influenced by geomorphic features, soil, water, and vegetation. 

 Uplands function properly when the existing vegetation and ground cover maintain soil 

conditions capable of sustaining natural biotic communities. The functioning condition of 

uplands is influenced by geomorphic features, soil, water, and vegetation. See also 

Nonfunctioning Condition and Functioning at Risk (H-4180-1, BLM Rangeland Health Standards 

Manual).

Proper functioning condition for lentic areas. Riparian-wetland areas are functioning properly 

when adequate vegetation, landform, or debris is present to dissipate energies associated with wind 

action, wave action, and overland flow from adjacent sites, thereby reducing erosion and improving 

water quality; filter sediment and aid floodplain development; improve flood-water retention and 

groundwater recharge; develop root masses that stabilize islands and shoreline features against cutting 

action; restrict water percolation; develop diverse ponding characteristics to provide the habitat and the 

water depth, duration, and temperature necessary for fish production, water bird breeding, and other 

uses; and support greater biodiversity.

Proper functioning condition for lotic areas. A riparian-wetland area is considered to be in proper 

functioning condition when adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris is present to

accomplish the following:

 Dissipate stream energy associated with high water flow, thereby reducing erosion and 

improving water quality

 Filter sediment, capture bedload, and aid floodplain development

 Improve flood-water retention and ground-water recharge

 Develop root masses that stabilize streambanks against cutting action

 Develop diverse ponding and channel characteristics to provide the habitat and the water 

depth, duration, and temperature necessary for fish production, waterfowl breeding, and 

other uses

 Support greater biodiversity

Proposed species. Species that the Secretary of the Interior has officially proposed for listing as 

threatened or endangered and a proposed rule has been published in the Federal Register (M-6840, 

Special Status Species Manual).

Public land. Any land and interest in land owned by the United States and administered by the 

Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management, without regard to how the United 

States acquired ownership, except lands located on the Outer Continental Shelf and land held for the 
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-23

benefit of Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos (from H-1601-1, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook and BLM 

Public Land Statistics).

Range improvement. An authorized physical modification or treatment designed to improve 

production of forage, change vegetation composition, control patterns of use, provide water, stabilize 

soil and water conditions restore, protect and improve the condition of rangeland ecosystems to benefit 

livestock, wild horses and burros, and fish and wildlife. The term includes structures, treatment projects, 

and use of mechanical devices or modifications achieved through mechanical means (43 CFR, Part 

4100.0-5; H-4180-1, BLM Rangeland Health Standards Manual).

Rangeland. A kind of land on which the native vegetation, climax, or natural potential consists 

predominantly of grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs. Rangeland includes lands revegetated 

naturally or artificially to provide a non-crop plant cover that is managed like native vegetation. 

Rangeland may consist of natural grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, most deserts, tundra, alpine 

communities, coastal marshes, and wet meadows (H-4180-1, BLM Rangeland Health Standards Manual).

Raptor. A group of predatory avian species (e.g., hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls) also referred to as 

birds of prey, which share various physical characteristics, such as sharp talons and a strongly curved bill.

Reclamation. Actions taken to restore damaged lands to proper functioning condition including 

removing structures, replacing or regrading topsoil, tilling compacted soils to allow infiltration of air and 

water, installing erosion control structures, seeding or planting native vegetation, and implementing 

integrated pest management to control invasive species. 

Record of decision. A document signed by a responsible official recording a decision that was 

preceded by preparing an EIS.

Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act of 1926. The objective of the R&PP Act is to meet 

the needs of state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations by leasing or conveying 

public land required for recreation and public purpose uses. 

Recreation experience. Psychological outcomes realized either by recreation-tourism participants as 

a direct result of their on-site leisure and activity participation or by nonparticipating community 

residents as a result of their interaction with visitors and guests in their community or interaction with 

the BLM and other public and private recreation-tourism providers and their actions.

Recreation management zones. The recreation management zones are delineated for specific 

recreation opportunities, predominantly recreation and visitor services focus, and recreation setting 

characteristics for long-term management. 

Recreation opportunities. Favorable circumstances enabling visitors’ engagement in a leisure activity 

to realize immediate psychological experiences and attain more lasting, value-added beneficial outcomes.

Recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS). A framework for inventorying, planning, and managing 

recreation opportunities. ROS is divided into six classes: primitive, semiprimitive nonmotorized, 

semiprimitive motorized, roaded natural, rural, and urban. This system has been replaced by the 

Recreation Setting Characteristics Matrix.
6. Glossary

6-24 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Recreation setting character. The distinguishing recreational qualities of any landscape, objectively 

defined along a continuum, ranging from primitive to urban landscapes, expressed in terms of the nature 

of the component parts of its physical, social, and administrative attributes. These recreational qualities 

can be both classified and mapped. This classification and mapping process should be based on variation 

that either exists (for example, setting descriptions) or is desired (for example, setting prescriptions) 

among component parts of the various physical, social, and administrative attributes of any landscape. 

The recreation opportunity spectrum is one of the tools for doing this. Below is a text version of the 

recreation setting character matrix:

 Primitive Classification: 

– Physical:

 More than 1⁄2 mile from either mechanized or motorized routes.

 Undisturbed natural landscape.

 No structures. Foot/horse and water trails only. 

– Social: 

 Fewer than three encounters/day at camp sites and fewer than 6 

encounters/day on travel routes. 

 Fewer than or equal to three people per group. 

 No alteration of the natural terrain. Footprints only observed. Sounds of 

people rare.

– Operational: 

 Foot, horse, and non-motorized float boat travel.

 No maps or brochures available on-site. Staff is rarely present to provide 

on-site assistance.

 No on-site posting/signing of visitor regulations, interpretive information or 

ethics. Few use restrictions

 Back Country Classification:

– Physical:

 Within 1⁄2 mile of four-wheel drive vehicle, ATV and motorcycles routes.

 Character of the natural landscape retained. A few modifications contrast 

with character of the landscape (e.g. fences, primitive roads).

 Maintained and marked trails, simple trailhead developments and basic 

toilets.

– Social: 

 3-6 encounters/day off travel routes (e.g., campsites) and 7-15 

encounters/day on travel routes 

 4-6 people per group. 

 Areas of alteration uncommon. Little surface vegetation wear observed. 

Sounds of people infrequent. 

– Operational:

 Mountain bikes and perhaps other mechanized use, but all is non-motorized.

 Basic maps, staff infrequently present (e.g. seasonally, high use periods) to 

provide on-site assistance.

 Basic user regulations at key access points. Minimum use restrictions.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-25

 Middle Country Classification:

– Physical:

 Within 1⁄2 mile of four-wheel drive vehicle, ATV and motorcycles routes.

 Character of the natural landscape retained. A few modifications contrast 

with character of the landscape (e.g. fences, primitive roads).

 Maintained and marked trails, simple trailhead developments and basic 

toilets. 

– Social: 

 7-14 encounters/day off travel routes (e.g., staging areas) and 15-29 

encounters/ day on travel routes 

 7-12 people per group. 

 Small areas of alteration. Surface vegetation showing wear with some bare 

soils. Sounds of people occasionally heard.

– Operational

 Four-wheel drives, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition 

to non-motorized, mechanized use.

 Area brochures and maps, staff is occasionally (e.g. most weekends) present 

to provide on-site assistance.

 Some regulatory and ethics signing. Moderate use restrictions. (e.g. camping, 

human waste).

 Front Country Classification

– Physical: 

 Within 1⁄2 mile of low-clearance or passenger vehicle routes (includes 

unpaved County roads and private land routes).

 Character of the natural landscape partially modified but none overpower 

natural landscape (e.g. roads, structures, utilities).

 Rustic facilities such as campsites, restrooms, trailheads, and interpretive 

displays.

– Social: 

 15-29 encounters/day off travel routes (e.g., campgrounds) and 30 or more 

encounters/day on travel routes.

 13-25 people per group.

 Small areas of alteration prevalent. Surface vegetation gone with compacted 

soils observed. Sounds of people regularly heard

– Operational:

 Two-wheel drive vehicles predominant, but also four wheel drives and nonmotorized, mechanized use.

 Information materials describe recreation areas & activities, staff periodically 

present (e.g. weekdays & weekends).

 Rules, regulations, and ethics clearly posted. Use restrictions, limitations, 

and/or closures.

 Rural Classification 

– Physical: 

 Within 1⁄2 mile of paved/primary roads and highways.
6. Glossary

6-26 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

 Character of the natural landscape considerably modified (agriculture, 

residential or industrial).

 Modern facilities such as campgrounds, group shelters, boat launches, and 

occasional exhibits.

– Social: 

 People seem to be generally everywhere.

 26-50 people per group.

 A few large areas of alteration. Surface vegetation absent with hardened 

soils. Sounds of people frequently heard.

– Operational:

 Ordinary highway auto and truck traffic is characteristic.

 Information described to the left, plus experience and benefit descriptions, 

staff regularly present (e.g. almost daily).

 Regulations strict and ethics prominent. Use may be limited by permit, 

reservation, etc.

 Urban Classification

– Physical: 

 Within 1⁄2 mile of streets and roads within municipalities and along highways.

 Urbanized developments dominate landscape.

 Elaborate full-service facilities such as laundry, restaurants, and groceries.

– Social: 

 Busy place with other people constantly in view.

 Greater than 50 people per group.

 Large areas of alteration prevalent. Some erosion. Constantly hear people.

– Operational:

 Wide variety of street vehicles and highway traffic is ever-present.

 Information described to the left, plus regularly scheduled on-site outdoor 

demonstrations and clinics.

 Enforcement in addition to rules to reduce conflicts, hazards, and resource 

damage. 

Recreation setting characteristics matrix. More than 1⁄2 mile from either mechanized or 

motorized routes; undisturbed natural landscape; no structures, foot/horse and water trails only; fewer 

than three encounters a day at campsites and fewer than six encounters a day on travel routes; fewer 

than or equal to three people per group; no alteration of the natural terrain; footprints only observed; 

and sounds of people rare.

Recreation settings. The collective distinguishing attributes of landscapes that influence and 

sometimes actually determine what kinds of recreation opportunities are produced.

Recreational river. Those rivers or sections of rivers that are readily accessible by road or railroad, 

that may have some development along their shorelines, and that may have undergone some

impoundment or diversion in the past.

Regeneration. The act of renewing tree cover by establishing young trees naturally or artificially.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-27

Relevant value. As related to ACECs, a significant historic, cultural, or scenic value; a fish or wildlife 

resource or other natural system or process or natural hazard (43 CFR, Part 1610.7-2[a][1]).

Residual impacts. Impacts that remain after applying avoidance and minimization mitigation; also 

referred to as unavoidable impacts.

Resilience. The capacity of a plant community or ecosystem to maintain or regain normal function and 

development following disturbance. 

Resource management plan (RMP). A land use plan as described by the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act. The RMP generally establishes the following in a written document:

 Land uses for limited, restricted, or exclusive use; designations, including ACEC designation; 

and transfer from BLM administration

 Allowable resource uses (either singly or in a combination) and related levels of production 

or use to be maintained

 Resource condition goals and objectives to be attained

 Program constraints and general management practices needed to achieve the above items

 Need for an area to be covered by more detailed and specific plans

 Support action, including such measures as resource protection, access, development, realty 

action, or cadastral survey, as necessary to meet the above

 General implementation sequences in which carrying out a planned action

 Intervals and standards for monitoring and evaluating the plan to determine the effectiveness 

of the plan and the need for amendment or revision (43 CFR, Part 1601.0-5[k]).

Revision. The process of completely rewriting the land use plan due to changes in the planning area 

affecting major portions of the plan or the entire plan. 

Right-of-way (ROW). Public lands authorized to be used or occupied for specific purposes, in 

accordance with a ROW grant, which are in the public interest and require ROWs over, on, under, or 

through such lands. A 44LD513 ROW is a ROW that BLM issues to itself.

 Major ROWs—High-voltage transmission lines (100 kilovolts and over) and major pipelines 

(24 inches and over in width)

 Minor ROWs and Land Use Authorizations/Permits—Communication sites and towers

Right-of-way corridor. A parcel of land that has been identified by law, Secretarial order, through a 

land use plan or by other management decision as being the preferred location for existing and future 

ROW grants and suitable to accommodate one type of ROW or one or more ROWs that are similar, 

identical, or compatible. The purpose of establishing ROW corridors is to encourage the concentration 

of utilities in a defined area to reduce the proliferation of multiple single-user ROWs and to reduce the 

extent of environmental impact analysis for each separate ROW proposal. 
6. Glossary

6-28 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Riparian area. A form of wetland transition between permanently saturated wetlands and upland 

areas. Riparian areas exhibit vegetation or physical characteristics that reflect the influence of permanent 

surface or subsurface water. Typical riparian areas are lands along perennially and intermittently flowing 

rivers and streams, glacial potholes, and the shores of lakes and reservoirs with stable water levels. 

Excluded are ephemeral streams or washes that lack vegetation and depend on free water in the soil.

River. As defined in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, a flowing body of water or estuary or section, 

portion, or tributary thereof, including rivers, streams, creeks, runs, kills, rills, and small lakes.

Road. A linear route declared a road by the owner, managed for use by low clearance vehicles having 

four or more wheels, and maintained for regular and continuous use. (Closed, Limited, Open, 

Permanent Road)

Rock art. A generic term used to describe both petroglyphs (carvings) and pictographs (paintings).

Routes. Multiple roads, trails, and primitive roads; a group or set of roads, trails, and primitive roads 

that represent less than 100 percent of the BLM transportation system. Generically, components of the 

transportation system are described as routes.

Rural. As defined in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, rural recreation is managed to provide a 

setting that is substantially modified with moderate to high evidence of civilization. Motor vehicle use is 

permitted and visitor conveniences may be provided. Activities are facility/vehicle dependent and include 

sightseeing, horseback riding, road biking, golf, swimming, picnicking, and outdoor games.

Scenic quality ratings. The relative scenic quality (A, B, or C) assigned a landscape by applying the 

scenic quality evaluation key factors; scenic quality A being the highest rating, B a moderate rating, and C 

the lowest rating. The evaluation factors are landform, vegetation, water, color, adjacent scenery, 

scarcity, and cultural modifications (M-8400, Visual Resource Management).

Scenic river. A river or section of a river that is free of impoundments and whose shorelines are 

largely undeveloped but accessible in places by roads.

Scoping. An early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for 

identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action. This effort involves the participation of 

affected federal, state, and local agencies and any affected Native American tribe, the proponent of the 

action, and other interested persons, unless there is a limited expectation under 40 CFR, Part 1507.3I. 

Section 7 Consultation. A part or section of the Endangered Species Act called Interagency 

Cooperation; the mechanism by which federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those 

they fund or authorize, and do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species. 

Section 106 Compliance. The requirement of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 

that any project that the federal government funds, licenses, permits, or assists be reviewed for impacts 

on significant historic properties and that the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory 

Council on Historic Preservation be allowed to comment on a project.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-29

Semiprimitive motorized. As defined in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, managed to provide 

a natural-appearing environment with evidence of humans and management controls present, but subtle. 

Means of access include motorized vehicles and mountain bicycles.

Semiprimitive nonmotorized. As defined in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, managed to be 

largely free from evidence of humans and on-site controls. Motor vehicle use is not permitted (except as 

authorized). Facilities for the administration of livestock and for visitor use are allowed but limited. 

Means of access include hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, nonmotorized boating, and horseback 

riding.

Sensitive Class II Area. A Class II area under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) 

Program for which a federal land management agency, state agency, or tribal authority requests AQRV 

analysis comparable to that performed for PSD Class I areas. Agencies with jurisdiction over sensitive 

Class II areas sometimes request that the lead agency implement mitigation measures to protect AQRVs 

at sensitive Class II areas. Sensitive Class II areas are not addressed by the Clean Air Act.

Sensitive species. Species that require special management consideration to avoid potential future 

listing under the ESA and that have been identified in accordance with procedures set forth in the BLM’s 

6840 Manual. Those species designated by a BLM State Director, usually in cooperation with the state 

agency responsible for managing the species and state natural heritage programs, as sensitive. They are 

species that have the following characteristics:

 Could become endangered in or extirpated from a state or within a significant portion of its 

distribution

 Are under status review by the USFWS or NMFS

 Are undergoing significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that 

will reduce its existing distribution

 Are undergoing significant current or predicted downward trends in population or density 

such that federal listed, proposed, or candidate or state-listed status may become necessary

 Typically have small and widely dispersed populations

 Inhabit ecological refugia or other specialized or unique habitats

 Are state listed but may be better conserved through application of BLM-sensitive species 

status (M6840, Special Status Species Manual)

Significant. An effect that is analyzed in the context of the proposed action to determine the degree 

or magnitude of importance of the effect, whether beneficial or adverse. The degree of significance can 

be related to other actions with individually insignificant but cumulatively significant impacts. 

Significant Paleontological Resource (Significant Fossil Resource). Any paleontological 

resource that is considered to be of scientific interest, including most vertebrate fossil remains and 

certain rare or unusual invertebrate and plant fossils. A significant paleontological resource may be 

considered scientifically important because it is a rare or previously unknown species, it is of high quality 

and is well preserved, it preserves a previously unknown anatomical or other characteristic, or provides 

new information about the history of life on Earth. Paleontological resources that may be considered to 
6. Glossary

6-30 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

not have paleontological significance are those that lack provenance or context, lack physical integrity 

because of decay or natural erosion, or that are overly redundant or are otherwise not useful for 

research.

Site. The combination of biotic, climatic, topographic, and soil conditions of an area. 

Site preparation. Hand or mechanized manipulation of a site, designed to enhance the success of 

regeneration. 

Socioeconomic study area. The geographic area used for estimation and analysis of economic and 

social impacts.

Special recreation permit (SRP). An authorization that allows specified and often time-restricted 

recreation on public lands and related waters. Permits are administered under the BLM Handbook H -

2930 and policy is specifically provided for in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, PL 108-47. 

It is used as a means to manage visitor use, to protect natural and cultural resources, and to achieve the 

goals and objectives of the BLM field office recreation program, as outlined in a land use plan, and as a 

mechanism to authorize the types of described as follows: 

 Commercial use

 Competitive

 Vending

 Special area use

 Organized Use

 Commercial filming permits in conjunction with an SRP 

Special status species. Collectively, federally listed or proposed and BLM sensitive species (BLM State 

Director-designated sensitive species), which include both federal candidate species and delisted species 

within five years of delisting (BLM Manual 6840, Special Status Species Management). (H-1601-1, BLM 

Land Use Planning Handbook).

Split-estate. Surface land and mineral estate of a given area under different ownerships. Frequently, the 

surface will be privately owned and the minerals federally owned.

Spot treatment. An application of an herbicide to a small selected area as opposed to broadcast 

application.

Standard. A description of the physical and biological conditions or degree of function required for 

healthy, sustainable lands (e.g., Land Health Standards). To be expressed as a desired outcome (goal; H1601-1, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook).

Standards for rangeland health. Descriptions of the desired condition of the biological and physical 

components and characteristics of rangeland. The four standards deal with upland soils, riparian and 

wetland areas, desired species, and water quality.
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-31

State implementation plan. A detailed description of the programs a state will use to carry out its 

responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. 

State-listed species. Species listed by a state in a category implying potential endangerment or 

extinction. Listing is either by legislation or regulation (M-6840, Special Status Species Manual).

Stipulations. Requirements that are part of the terms of various types of leases. Some stipulations are 

standard on all federal leases; others may be applied to the lease at the discretion of the surface 

management agency to protect valuable surface resources and uses. 

Suitable river. A river segment found, through administrative study by an appropriate agency, to meet 

the criteria for designation as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system, specified in 

Section 4(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Surface-disturbing activities or surface disturbance. The physical disturbance or removal of land 

surface and vegetation. Some examples of surface-disturbing activities are construction of roads, well 

pads, pipelines, power lines, reservoirs, facilities, recreation sites, and mining. Vegetation renovation 

treatments that involve soil penetration or substantial mechanical damage to plants (plowing, chiseling, 

and chopping) are also surface-disturbing activities.

Surface occupancy. Placement or construction of the land surface (temporary or permanent) for 

more than 14 days, requiring continual service or maintenance. Casual use is excluded. 

Sustainability. Long-term management of ecosystems to meet the needs of present human 

populations without interruption, weakening, or loss of the resource base for future generations (EPA).

Sustained yield. Achieving and maintaining in perpetuity a high-level annual or regular periodic output 

of the various renewable resources of the public lands consistent with multiple use. 

Take. For the purposes of the endangered species act, to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, 

trap, capture, or collect or to attempt to engage in any such conduct (Endangered Species Act of 1973). 

Technically/economically feasible. Actions that are practical or feasible from the technical and 

economic standpoint and using common sense, rather than simply desirable from the standpoint of the 

applicant. It is the BLM’s sole responsibility to determine what actions are technically and economically 

feasible. The BLM will consider whether implementation of a proposed action is likely, given past and 

current practice and technology; this consideration does not necessarily require a cost/benefit analysis 

or speculation about an applicant’s costs and profit (modified from the CEQ’s 40 Most Asked Questions 

and BLM NEPA Handbook, Section 6.6.3).

Temporary disruptive activities. Activities that involve human presence or activities to be in crucial 

habitats for less than one hour during a 24-hour period in a specific area (MT-IM-2010-017, 11-30-09, 

“Guidance of Greater Sage Grouse Management and Conservation in RMP’s in Management Zones 1 & 

2 within Montana/Dakotas BLM,” Attachment 3, Definitions).

Thinning. A cultural treatment made to reduce stand density of trees, primarily to improve growth, 

enhance forest health, or recover potential mortality. 
6. Glossary

6-32 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Threatened species. Any species that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future 

throughout all or a significant portion of its range (BLM Manual 6840, Special Status Species 

Management).

Timeliness. The lack of time lag between impacts and the achievement of compensatory mitigation 

goals and objectives (BLM Manual Section 1794).

Timing limitation (seasonal restriction). A restriction on permitted activities that allows certain 

activities during specific periods to avoid the disturbance of plant or animal species during critical 

periods of the life cycle: mating, parturition, or periods of environmental stress caused by limited food 

supplies or extreme temperatures. 

Total maximum daily load. An estimate of the total quantity of pollutants from all sources: point, 

nonpoint, and natural that may be allowed into waters without exceeding applicable water quality 

criteria.

Traditional cultural property. A property that derives significance from traditional values associated 

with it by a social or cultural group, such as an Indian tribe or local community. A traditional cultural 

property may qualify for listing on the National Register of Historic Places if it meets the criteria and 

criteria exceptions at 36 CFR, Part 60.4. See National Register Bulletin 38.

Trail. A linear route managed for human-powered, stock, or some off-highway forms of transportation 

or for historical or heritage values. Trails are not generally managed for use by four-wheel-drive or high 

clearance vehicles.

Transportation linear features. The broadest category of physical disturbance (planned and 

unplanned) on BLM-administered land. Transportation-related linear features include engineered roads 

and trails, as well as user-defined, non-engineered roads and trails created as a result of the public use of 

BLM-administered land. Linear features may include roads and trails identified for closure or removal, as 

well as those that make up the BLM’s defined transportation system.

Transportation system. The sum of the BLM’s recognized inventory of linear features (roads, 

primitive roads, and trails) formally recognized, designated, and approved as part of the BLM’s 

transportation system.

Travel Management Areas. Polygons or delineated areas where a rational approach has been taken 

to classify areas open, closed or limited, and have identified and/or designated a network of roads, trails, 

ways, and other routes that provide for public access and travel across the planning area. All designated 

travel routes within travel management areas should have a clearly identified need and purpose as well 

as clearly defined activity types, modes of travel, and seasons or time frames for allowable access or 

other limitations (MS-1626).

Definitions of terminology used on Travel Management Area maps and in Chapter 2 Travel Management 

Area Alternatives comparison:

 Open to all Vehicles (O)—Route is open to all uses without any stipulations or restrictions
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-33

 Open with Additional Management (MO)—Route is open to all uses with some forms of 

additional management, such as adaptive management monitoring or specific mitigations, 

monitoring, or maintenance.

 Open with Restrictions – Seasonal (ML or L) – Pryors—Route is open to all uses with 

seasonal restrictions. There may be some forms of additional management such as adaptive 

management monitoring or specific mitigation, monitoring, or maintenance. 

 Open with Restrictions – Conditional (ML or L) – Shepherd—Route is open to all uses 

except during periods of high soil moisture/high erosion potential, during which time route 

will be closed to all motorized uses. There may be some forms of additional management 

such as adaptive management monitoring or specific mitigation, monitoring, or maintenance.

 Open to Technical 4WD by Permit Only (Alt C) – (Open with Restrictions – Vehicle Type 

(ML or L)) – Horsethief—Open to modified 4wd vehicles with special event permit only. 

There may be some forms of additional management such as adaptive management 

monitoring or specific mitigation, monitoring, or maintenance.

 Open to Motorcycles Only (Open with Restrictions – Vehicle Type (ML or L))—Route is 

open to Motorcycles. There may be some forms of additional management such as adaptive 

management monitoring or specific mitigation, monitoring, or maintenance.

 Open to Vehicles 50” or Less (Open with Restriction – Vehicle Type (ML or L))—Route is 

open to vehicles 50" wide or less. There may be some forms of additional management such 

as adaptive management monitoring or specific mitigation, monitoring, or maintenance.

 Administrative Use Only (L or ML)—Route limited to administrative or authorized use only. 

There may be some forms of additional management such as adaptive management 

monitoring or specific mitigation, monitoring, or maintenance.

 Closed to All Vehicles (C)—Route is closed to all uses, including non-motorized uses, in 

that a trail or route will not be officially recognized or maintained.

 Non-motorized Use Only—Route is limited to non-motorized use only (closed to all 

motorized uses). There may be some forms of additional management such as adaptive 

management monitoring or specific mitigation, monitoring, or maintenance.

Unallotted lands. Public lands available for grazing that currently have no livestock grazing authorized. 

Undertaking. A project, activity, or program funded in whole or in part under the direct or indirect 

jurisdiction of a federal agency, including those carried out by or on behalf of a federal agency, those 

carried out with federal financial assistance, those requiring a federal permit, license, or approval, and 

those subject to state or local regulation administered in accordance with a delegation or approval by a 

federal agency.

Unsuitability criteria. Criteria of the federal coal management program by which lands may be 

assessed as unsuitable for all or certain stipulated methods of coal mining (43 CFR, Part 4300).

Urban. As defined in the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, urban recreation is managed to provide a 

setting that is largely modified. Large numbers of users can be expected, and vegetation cover is often 
6. Glossary

6-34 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

exotic and manicured. Facilities for highly intensified motor vehicle use and parking are available, with 

mass transit often included to carry people throughout the site.

User day. Any calendar day, or portion thereof, for each individual accompanied or serviced by an 

operator or permittee on the public lands or related waters; synonymous with passenger day or 

participant day.

Utility. A service that a public utility provides (e.g., electricity, telephone, or water).

Utility corridor. A linear or areal parcel of land that has been identified by law, Secretarial order, the 

land-use planning process, or by other management decisions as being a preferred location for existing 

and future ROW grants and suitable to accommodate more than one type of ROW or one or more 

ROWs that are similar, identical, or compatible. 

Valid existing rights. Documented legal rights or interests in the land that allow a person or entity to 

use said land for a specific purpose and that are still in effect. Such rights include fee title ownership, 

mineral rights, rights-of-way, easements, permits, and licenses. Such rights may have been reserved, 

acquired, leased, granted, permitted, or otherwise authorized over time.

Vegetation type. A plant community with distinguishable characteristics described by the dominant 

vegetation present. 

Visibility (air quality). A measure of the ability to see and identify objects at different distances.

Visitor use. Visitor use of a resource for inspiration, stimulation, solitude, relaxation, education, 

pleasure, or satisfaction.

Visual resource management. A system by which the BLM inventories and manages the scenic 

values and visual quality of public lands. The system is based on research that has produced ways of 

accessing aesthetic qualities of the landscape in objective terms. In RMPs, lands are assigned management 

classes, which determine the amount of modification allowed for the basic elements of the landscape. 

Visual resource mangement classes. A process to define the degree of acceptable visual change 

within a characteristic landscape. Visual Resources are inventoried using procedures established in the 

BLM Handbook H-8410-1 and are managed under the guidelines in BLM Handbook H-8431. A class is 

based on the physical and sociological characteristics of any given homogeneous area and serves as a 

management objective. Categories assigned to public lands are based on scenic quality, sensitivity level, 

and distance zones. Each class has an objective that prescribes the amount of change allowed in the 

characteristic landscape (from H-1601-1, BLM Land Use Planning Handbook). The four classes are 

described below:

 Class I provides for natural ecological changes with very little management activity. This 

class includes primitive areas, some natural areas, some wild and scenic rivers, and other 

similar areas where landscape modification activities should be restricted.

 Class II areas are those areas where changes in any of the basic elements (form, line, color, 

or texture) caused by management activity should not be evident in the characteristic 

landscape. The goal is to retain the existing landscape character. 
6. Glossary

September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 6-35

 Class III includes areas where changes in the basic elements (form, line, color, or texture) 

caused by a management activity may be evident in the characteristic landscape. The level of 

change from an activity should not dominate the landscape, but may attract attention of the 

casual observer. Changes should repeat the basic landscape elements. 

 Class IV applies to areas where changes may subordinate the original composition and 

character; however, they should reflect what could be a natural occurrence within the 

characteristic landscape, if possible. The level of change to the existing landscape can be high

and may dominate the view. This class provides for management activities which require 

modification to the existing landscape character. 

Waiver. Permanent exemption from a lease stipulation. The stipulation no longer applies anywhere 

within the leasehold.

Water quality. The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water with respect to its 

suitability for a particular use. 

Way. A vehicle route within a WSA that was in existence and inventoried during the FLPMA Section 

603-mandated wilderness inventory. Interim Management Policy for Lands under Wilderness Review (H8550-1) defines a way as “a track maintained solely by the passage of vehicles, which has not been 

improved and/or maintained by mechanical means to ensure relatively regular and continuous use.” The 

term is also used during wilderness inventory to identify routes that are not roads. The term is 

developed from the definition of the term “roadless” provided in the Wilderness Inventory Handbook 

(September 27, 1978), as follows: “roadless: refers to the absence of roads which have been improved 

and maintained by mechanical means to insure relatively regular and continuous use. A way maintained 

solely by the passage of vehicles does not constitute a road.” A trace maintained solely by the passage of 

vehicles which has not been improved and /or maintained by mechanical means to ensure relatively 

regular and continuous use. (Interim Management Policy for lands under Wilderness review- IMP, H -

8550-1). 

Wetlands. Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water often and long enough to 

support, and under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for 

life in saturated soil conditions.

Wild and scenic river. Rivers identified in Section 5 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 for 

study as potential additions to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The rivers will be studied 

under the provisions of Section 4 of the act (from M-8351, BLM WSR Policy and Program).

Wildfire. An unplanned ignition of a wildland fire (such as a fire caused by lightening, volcanoes, 

unauthorized and accidental human caused fires) and escaped prescribed fires. (2009 Guidance for 

Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy)

Wild lands. A designation resulting from a plan decision to protect lands with wilderness 

characteristics (LWC) located outside of the Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and Wilderness Areas. 

Wild land protection measures are developed in the course of plan development BLM is required under 

Section 201 of FLPMA to conduct and maintain a current inventory of natural resources. BLM conducts 

its wilderness characteristics inventory through the BLM Manual 6301 and incorporates the findings in 
6. Glossary

6-36 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

the RMP through its Manual 6302. These manuals implement Secretarial Order 3310 and incorporates 

principles from BLM guidance (ex: Organic Act directives) and legal rules developed as part of BLM’s 

original wilderness inventories.

Wildland fire. Any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels. Wildland fire includes 

prescribed fire and wildfire. (2014 NWCG glossary)

Wildland urban interface (WUI). The line, area, or zone in which structures and other human 

development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. 

Wild river. Those rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments and generally inaccessible 

except by trail, with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive and unpolluted. These represent 

vestiges of primitive America.

Wild, scenic, or recreational. The term used for what is traditionally shortened to wild and scenic 

rivers. Designated river segments are classified as wild, scenic, or recreational but cannot overlap (from 

M-8351, BLM WSR Policy and Program).

Withdrawal. An action that restricts the use of public lands by removing them from the operation of 

some or all of the public land laws (e.g. mineral rights).

Woodland. A community of trees that are often small, characteristically short-boled relative to their 

crown depth and forming only an open canopy with the intervening area being occupied by a lower 

vegetation type. 
September 2015 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP 7-1

CHAPTER 7 

REFERENCES

Antiquities Act of 1906. Internet website: http://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/anti1906.htm. 

BLM. 2015. Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument Proposed Resource Management Plan and 

Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS). June 1, 2015. 

BLM Manual 6100 – National Landscape Conservation System Management (public). Internet website: 

http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Information_Resources_Management/policy/blm_man

ual.Par.64370.File.dat/6100.pdf. 

BLM Manual 6220 – National Monuments, National Conservation Areas, and Similar Designations 

(Public). Internet website: http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Information_Resources_ 

Management/policy/blm_manual.Par.5740.File.dat/6220.pdf. 

BLM Manual 6250 – National Scenic and Historic Trail Administration (public). Internet website: 

http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Information_Resources_Management/policy/blm_man

ual.Par.63382.File.dat/M6250%20NSHT%20Administration%20Final_091312.pdf. 

BLM, Forest Service, NPS. 1972. Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range Biology and Alternatives for 

management, Billings MT. 

BLM, Forest Service. 1974. Pryor Mountain Complex Land Use Decisions. 

BLM, NPS, USFWS, and BIA, and Forest Service. 2003. Interagency Strategy for the Implementation of 

Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy. June 20, 2003. Internet website: 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8

&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwiXhqSSzO_HAhVNOYgKHRPbCK0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sierr

aforestlegacy.org%2FResources%2FCommunity%2FSmokeManagement%2FAirQualityPolicy%2FF

edWldFireMgmtPolicy.pdf&usg=AFQjCNENnBCABwAJlFSxdWW_4KzTsbugGA 

Executive Order 13195. Internet website: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/WCPD-2001-01-22/pdf/WCPD2001-01-22-Pg183.pdf. 
7. References

7-2 Pompeys Pillar National Monument Approved RMP September 2015

Montana Bald Eagle Working Group. 2010. Montana Bald Eagle Management Guidelines: An Addendum 

to Montana Bald Eagle Management Plan, 1994, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, 

Montana.Presidential Proclamation 7396: Establishment of Pompeys Pillar National Monument. 

Internet website: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/WCPD-2001-01-22/pdf/WCPD-2001-01-22-

Pg149.pdf.

National Historic Preservation Act. Internet website: http://www.achp.gov/docs/NHPA%20in%

20Title%2054%20and%20Conversion%20Table.pdf.

National Landscape Conservation System Act. Internet website: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/

CRPT-110srpt116/html/CRPT-110srpt116.htm.

National Trails Systems Act. Internet website: http://www.nps.gov/nts/legislation.html.

Presidential Proclamation 7396: Establishment of Pompeys Pillar National Monument. Internet website: 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/WCPD-2001-01-22/pdf/WCPD-2001-01-22-Pg149.pdf.
Appendices

Appendix A

Approved RMP Maps

Appendix A

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Appendix B: 

Best Management Practices

Appendix B B-i September 2015

Table of Contents

B. Best Management Practices ........................................................................................................... B-1

B.1 Air......................................................................................................................................... B-1

Air Resource BMPs: Best Management Practices for Fluid Minerals 

(USDOI, BLM)..................................................................................................................... B-1

B.2 Water.................................................................................................................................... B-2

Water Quality BMPs (Best Management Practices) for Montana Forests .................. B-2

Montana Guide to the Streamside Management Zone Law ........................................ B-2

Erosion and Sediment Control Practices: Field Manual ............................................... B-3

Erosion and Sediment Control Practices: Reference Manual....................................... B-3

Montana Non-Point Source Management Plan ............................................................. B-4

National Menu of Stormwater Best Management Practices (US EPA)....................... B-4

Water-Road Interaction Technology Series Documents (USFS) May 2000 ................ B-5

B.3 Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds ............................................................................. B-5

Invasive Species: Final Vegetation Treatments using Herbicides on BLM in 

17 Western States................................................................................................................ B-5

B.4 Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................................................. B-6

Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines: State of the Art in 

2006 Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC). ............................................ B-6

Com Towers etc. ................................................................................................................. B-6

B.5 Wildland Fire Ecology and Management ....................................................................... B-8

Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response Handbook........................................ B-8

Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Handbook....................... B-8

Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Redbook)................. B-9

B.6 Fluid Minerals..................................................................................................................... B-9

Best Management Practices for Oil and Gas Development on Public Lands ............ B-9

BMPs for Fluid Minerals.................................................................................................... B-9

Western Governors’ Association Coal Bed Methane BMPs Handbook ..................... B-9

Handbook on Best Management Practices and Mitigation Strategies for 

Coal Bed Methane in the Montana Portion of the Powder River Basin ................... B-10

B.7 Coal..................................................................................................................................... B-10

Coal Mining BMPs ........................................................................................................... B-10

B.8 Mineral Materials ............................................................................................................. B-10

Mineral materials site BMP (construction and stormwater) ...................................... B-10

B.9 Livestock Grazing............................................................................................................. B-11

Montana Best Management Practices for Grazing ...................................................... B-11

B.10 Transportation and Facilities .......................................................................................... B-11

Low Volume Roads Engineering Best Management Practices Field Guide 

(U.S. Forest Service) ......................................................................................................... B-11

B.11 Resource Program Best Management Practices (BMPs) ............................................. B-13

Surface Disturbing Activities.......................................................................................... B-14

Air....................................................................................................................................... B-14

Soil ...................................................................................................................................... B-16

Climate:.............................................................................................................................. B-18

Water/Wetlands/Riparian etc. ...................................................................................... B-19

Vegetation.......................................................................................................................... B-21
Table of Contents (continued)

September 2015 B-ii Appendix B

Vegetation - Rangelands.................................................................................................. B-21

Vegetation - Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds..................................................... B-23

Wildlife Habitat and Special Status Species ................................................................. B-24

Fisheries Habitat and Special Status Species ................................................................ B-26

Cultural and Heritage Resources ................................................................................... B-27

Paleontological Resources ............................................................................................... B-29

Wildfire Ecology and Management............................................................................... B-30

Visual Resource Management ........................................................................................ B-32

Fluid Mineral Exploration and Development .............................................................. B-33

Fluid Mineral Extraction.................................................................................................. B-34

Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands............................................................................. B-39

Management of Land Boundaries.................................................................................. B-40

Livestock Grazing............................................................................................................. B-41

Recreation .......................................................................................................................... B-42

Health and Safety ............................................................................................................. B-43

Transportation– Travel Management (Road design and maintenance)................... B-43

B.12 BLM Wind Energy Development Program Policies and Best Management 

Practices (BMPs) ............................................................................................................... B-44

A.1 Policies ................................................................................................................... B-45

A.2 Best Management Practices (BMPs) .................................................................. B-48
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Appendix B B-1 September 2015

B. Best Management Practices

The publications referenced in this appendix are sources of “Best Management Practices” 

(BMPs). BMPs are measures that have been developed by agency, industry, scientific, and/or 

working groups as voluntary methods for reducing environmental impacts associated with 

certain classes of activity. BLM typically uses these measures as guidelines or “project design 

features” during implementation planning at the activity and/or project-specific levels. 

The list included in this appendix is not limiting, but references the most frequently used sources. 

As new publications are developed, BLM may consider those BMPs. In addition, many BLM 

handbooks (such as BLM Manual 9113-Roads and 9213-Interagency Standards for Fire and 

Aviation Operation) also contain BMP-type measures for minimizing impacts. These BLMspecific guidance and direction documents are not referenced in this appendix. 

Planning implications: Use of Best Management Practices is not mandatory, since individual 

measures may not be appropriate for use in every situation. They may be added, dropped, or 

modified through plan maintenance. 

NEPA implications: Only the wind energy development BMPs have been analyzed in a NEPA 

process. The use of other BMPs should be analyzed on a case-by-case basis in NEPA documents 

associated with projects on the public lands. These case-by-case analyses should not “tier to” the 

BMP publication as a way to dismiss environmental impacts (i.e., must still analyze and disclose 

the environmental considerations and effects associated with use of the BMP).

In this sections B.1 through B.10 reference specific documents in which to locate BMPs. Section 

B.11 lists BMPs by resource or resource use. Section B.12 is the BLM Wind Energy 

Development Program Policies and Best Management Practices (BMPs). 

B.1 Air

Air Resource BMPs: Best Management Practices for Fluid Minerals 

(USDOI, BLM) 

Developed by: U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management

Publication reference:

Available 

Online: http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/MINERALS__REALTY__AND_RESOUR

CE_PROTECTION_/bmps.Par.60203.File.dat/WO1_Air%20Resource_BMP_Slideshow%2005-

09-2011.pdf

Description: Updated in May 2011, this Power Point presentation provides a summary of typical 

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for protecting air resources during oil and gas development 

and production operations. Emission reduction BMPs are provided for criteria air pollutants, 
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September 2015 B-2 Appendix B

hazardous air pollutants, volatile organic compounds (an ozone precursor), and greenhouse 

gases. Emission source types include combustion emissions from mobile and stationary sources, 

fugitive emissions, and stationary source vented emissions from non-combustion sources.

Emission controls include transport reduction strategies and fugitive dust controls, as well as 

emission control techniques for drilling, completion, and production. Emission monitoring and 

maintenance strategies are also addressed. This document provides a partial list of air resource 

BMPs and includes links to many additional BMP descriptions that addressing technical and 

economic considerations.

B.2 Water

Water Quality BMPs (Best Management Practices) for Montana Forests 

Developed by: MSU Extension Service, Missoula, Montana, in cooperation with the Montana 

Department of Natural Resources & Conservation, Forestry Division Montana Logging 

Association.( Logan, Robert. 2001).

Publication Reference: Publication EB 158

Available from: Conservation Districts Bureau, DNRC, P.O. Box 20160, Helena, MT. 59620-

1601, or MSU Extension Forestry, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, or MSU Extension 

Publications, P.O. Box 172040, Bozeman, MT 59717.

Description: Discusses methods for managing forest land, while protecting water quality and 

forest soils. These BMPs are intended for all forest land in Montana, including non-industrial 

private, forest industry, and state or federally-owned forests. These are preferred (but voluntary) 

methods that go beyond Montana State Streamside Management Zone Law. These BMPs

includes definitions, basic biological information, and BMPs for: Streamside Management 

Zones, road design, use, planning and location, construction, drainage and closure, stream 

crossings, soils, timber harvesting methods, reforestation, winter planning, and clean-up.

Montana Guide to the Streamside Management Zone Law

Developed by: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Service Forestry 

Bureau, in cooperation with Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Montana Logging 

Association, Montana Wood Products Association, Plum Creek Timber LP, USDA Forest 

Service, USDI Bureau of land Management.

Publication Reference: Revised 2006; reprinted November 2006

Available from: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, 2705 Spurgin 

Road, Missoula, MY 59801-3199 or local MY DNRC field offices. 

Description: MT State Law (77-5-301[1] MCA). Complementary BMPs are found in the Water 

Quality BMPs for Montana Forests (also referenced in the appendix). Provides definitions, 

stream classifications, guidelines and exceptions on the seven forest practices prohibited by 

Montana law in Stream Management Zones: 1. broadcast (Slash) burning, 2. operation of 
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Appendix B B-3 September 2015

wheeled or tracked vehicles except on established roads, 3. the forest practice of clearcutting, 4. 

the construction of roads, except when necessary to cross a stream or wetlands; 5. the handling, 

storage, application, or disposal of hazardous or toxic materials in a manner that pollutes 

streams, lakes, or wetland, or that may cause damage or injury to humans, land, animals or 

plants; 6. the side casting of road material into a stream, lake, wetland, or watercourse; and 7. the 

deposit of slash in streams, lakes, or other water bodies. 

Erosion and Sediment Control Practices: Field Manual 

Developed by: Prepared for the Montana Department of Transportation 

Publication reference: FHWA/MT-030003/8165 

Available From: National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 21161 

Description: The Erosion and Sediment Control Best Management Practices Construction Field 

Manual was developed to assist in design, construction, and post-construction phases of MDT 

projects. This manual provides background to concepts of Erosion and Sediment Control. Most 

of MDTs Best Management Practices are listed within the manual based on application 

categories. Each BMP is described; its applications and limitations are listed, as well as its 

design criteria. Construction phase and post-construction phase BMPs are described. This 

manual is a field guide and condensed version of the Erosion and Sediment Control Design 

Construction Best Management Practices Manual. For more detailed discussion on topic found 

within, refer to the Erosion and Sediment Control Construction Best Management Practices 

Manual. 

Erosion and Sediment Control Practices: Reference Manual 

Developed by: Prepared for the Montana Department of Transportation 

Publication reference: FHWA/MT-030003/8165 

Available From: National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 21161 

Description: The Erosion and Sediment Control Construction Best Management Practices 

Manual was developed to assist in the design, construction, and post-construction phases of 

MDT projects. This manual provides background to State and Federal regulations associated 

with erosion and sediment control practices including a general overview of the erosion and 

sediment processes. Best Management practices are listed within the manual based on 

application categories. Each BMP is described; its applications and limitations are listed, as well 

as its design criteria. The design phase includes development of construction plans, NOI, and 

SWPPP. Construction phase includes the finalization of the SWPPP, NOI, and the 

implementation of BMPs. Post-Construction phase includes monitoring, maintenance, and 

removal activities.
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Montana Non-Point Source Management Plan 

Developed by: Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Planning Bureau, 

Watershed Protection Section 

Publication reference: 2007 

Available From: Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Planning 

Bureau, Watershed Protection Section, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, MT 59620-0901 

Online 

at: http://www.deq.state.mt.us/wqinfo/nonpoint/2007NONPOINTPLAN/Final/NPSPlan.pdf

Description: This document describes the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s 

(DEQ) updated strategy for controlling nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution, which is the 

state’s single largest source of water quality impairment. NPS pollution is contaminated runoff 

from the land surface that can be generated by most land use activities, including agriculture, 

forestry, urban and suburban development, mining, and others. Common NPS pollutants include 

sediment, nutrients, temperature, heavy metals, pesticides, pathogens, and salt. The purpose of 

the Montana NPS Pollution Management Plan (Plan) is: 1) to inform the state’s citizens about 

NPS pollution problems and 2) to establish goals, objectives, and both long-term and short-term 

strategies for controlling NPS pollution on a statewide basis. The goal of Montana’s NPS 

Management Program is to protect and restore water quality from the impacts of non-point 

sources of pollution in order to provide a clean and healthy environment.

National Menu of Stormwater Best Management Practices (US EPA) 

Developed by: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Publication reference: 

Available Online: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm

Description: The National Menu of Best Management Practices for Stormwater Phase II was 

first released in October 2000. EPA has renamed, reorganized, updated, and enhanced the 

features of the website. These revisions include the addition of new fact sheets and revisions of 

existing fact sheets. Because the field of stormwater is constantly changing, EPA expects to 

update this menu as new information and technologies become available. The Menu of BMPs is 

based on the Stormwater Phase II Rule's six minimum control measures. 

1. Public Education - BMPs for MS4s to inform individuals and households about ways 

to reduce stormwater pollution. 

2. Public Involvement - BMPs for MS4s to involve the public in the development, 

implementation, and review of an MS4's stormwater management program. 

3. Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination - BMPs for identifying and eliminating 

illicit discharges and spills to storm drain systems. 
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4. Construction - BMPs for MS4s and construction site operators to address stormwater 

runoff from active construction sites. 

5. Post Construction - BMPs for MS4s, developers, and property owners to address 

stormwater runoff after construction activities have completed. 

6. Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping- BMPs for MS4s to address stormwater 

runoff from their own facilities and activities. 

Water-Road Interaction Technology Series Documents (USFS) May 2000

Available at: http://www.stream.fs.fed.us/water-road/

B.3 Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds 

Invasive Species: Final Vegetation Treatments using Herbicides on BLM 

in 17 Western States

Developed By: Bureau of Land Management

Publications reference: U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 

2007. Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on BLM in 17 Western States. Programmatic 

Environmental Impact Statement, Final. ROD: September 29, 2007. BLM/WO/GI/-07/018+6711 

Available from: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/veg_eis.html

Description: Considered activities, including noxious weed and invasive terrestrial plant species 

management, hazardous fuels reduction treatments, emergency stabilization and rehabilitation 

efforts. Addressed human health and ecological risk for the use of chemical herbicides on public 

lands and provided a cumulative impact analysis addressing the use of chemical herbicides in 

conjunction with other treatment methods.

The ROD also identifies which standard operation procedures must be used with all applications 

of herbicides. Standard operation procedures are found in Appendix B of the ROD.

BLM must also implement additional measures to mitigate potential adverse environmental 

effects of using herbicides as appropriate from site specific assessments to ensure that all 

practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm have been adopted. All BLM 

District and Field Offices must adhere to the mitigation measures listed in Appendix C of the 

ROD.

To prevent the spread of noxious weeds and invasive plants, the BLM will follow prevention 

measures to minimize the amount of existing non-target vegetation that is disturbed during 

project planning. Preventions measures are found in Table 2-7, on page 2-24 of the Final 

Programmatic EIS (June 2007) and ROD (September 2007). (PEIS)
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B.4 Wildlife Habitat

Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines: State of the Art

in 2006 Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC).

Developed by: First published in 1975 (Miller et al.), later updated in 1981 (Olendorff et al.) and 

most recently revised in 1996 by Edison Electric Institute and the Avian Power Line Interaction 

Committee (APLIC) in collaboration with the Raptor Research Foundation. 2006

Publication reference: CEC-500-2009-022

Available from: Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group morning@ucsc.edu, Avian Power 

Line Interaction Committee www.aplic.org, Edison Electric www.eei.org, California Energy 

Commission www.energy.ca.gov

Description: Examines the history of raptor-power line interactions from biological and 

electrical standpoints; and proposes specific solutions for reducing avian-caused electrical 

outages and avian fatalities through cooperative measures between utilities, industry, and federal 

and state agencies.

Com Towers etc.

The following is an attachment from a USFWS Memo from the Director of USFWS pertaining to 

management guidance for the protection of wildlife for siting, construction, operation, and 

decommissioning of communication towers dated September 14, 2000.

Service Interim Guidelines for Recommendations on Communications Tower Siting, 

Construction, Operation, and Decommissioning

1. Any company/applicant/licensee proposing to construct a new communications tower 

should be strongly encouraged to co-locate the communications equipment on an 

existing communication tower or other structure (e.g., billboard, water tower, or 

building mount). Depending on tower load factors, from 6 to 10 providers may 

collocate on an existing tower. 

2. If collocation is not feasible and a new tower or towers are to be constructed, 

communications service providers should be strongly encouraged to construct towers 

no more than 199 feet above ground level, using construction techniques which do 

not require guy wires (e.g., use a lattice structure, monopole, etc.). Such towers 

should be unlighted if Federal Aviation Administration regulations permit. 

3. If constructing multiple towers, providers should consider the cumulative impacts of 

all of those towers to migratory birds and threatened and endangered species as well 

as the impacts of each individual tower. 

4. If at all possible, new towers should be sited within existing "antenna farms" (clusters 

of towers). Towers should not be sited in or near wetlands, other known bird 

concentration areas (e.g., State or Federal refuges, staging areas, rookeries), in known 
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migratory or daily movement flyways, or in habitat of threatened or endangered 

species. Towers should not be sited in areas with a high incidence of fog, mist, and 

low ceilings. 

5. If taller (>199 feet AGL) towers requiring lights for aviation safety must be 

constructed, the minimum amount of pilot warning and obstruction avoidance 

lighting required by the FAA should be used. Unless otherwise required by the FAA, 

only white (preferable) or red strobe lights should be used at night, and these should 

be the minimum number, minimum intensity, and minimum number of flashes per 

minute (longest duration between flashes) allowable by the FAA. The use of solid red 

or pulsating red warning lights at night should be avoided. Current research indicates 

that solid or pulsating (beacon) red lights attract night-migrating birds at a much 

higher rate than white strobe lights. Red strobe lights have not yet been studied. 

6. Tower designs using guy wires for support which are proposed to be located in 

known raptor or waterbird concentration areas or daily movement routes, or in major 

diurnal migratory bird movement routes or stopover sites, should have daytime visual 

markers on the wires to prevent collisions by these diurnally moving species. (For 

guidance on markers, see Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC). 1994. 

Mitigating Bird Collisions with Power Lines: The State of the Art in 1994. Edison 

Electric Institute, Washington, D.C., 78 pp, and Avian Power Line Interaction 

Committee (APLIC). 1996. Suggested Practices/or Raptor Protection on Power Lines. 

Edison Electric Institute Raptor Research Foundation, Washington, D. C; 128 pp. 

Copies can be obtained via the Internet at http://www.eei.org/resources/pubcat/enviro

or by calling 1-800/334-5453).

7. Towers and appendant facilities should be sited, designed and constructed so as to 

avoid or minimize habitat loss within and adjacent to the tower "footprint." However, 

a larger tower footprint is preferable to the use of guy wires in construction. Road 

access and fencing should be minimized to reduce or prevent habitat fragmentation 

and disturbance, and to reduce above ground obstacles to birds in flight. 

8. If significant numbers of breeding, feeding, or roosting birds are known to habitually 

use the proposed tower construction area, relocation to an alternate site should be 

recommended. If this is not an option, seasonal restrictions on construction may be 

advisable in order to avoid disturbance during periods of high bird activity. 

9. In order to reduce the number of towers needed in the future, providers should be 

encouraged to design new towers structurally and electrically to accommodate the 

applicant/licensee's antennas and comparable antennas for at least two additional 

users (minimum of three users for each tower structure), unless this design would 

require the addition of lights or guy wires to an otherwise unlighted and/or unguyed 

tower. 

10. Security lighting for on-ground facilities and equipment should be down-shielded to 

keep light within the boundaries of the site. 

11. If a tower is constructed or proposed for construction, Service personnel or 

researchers from the Communication Tower Working Group should be allowed 

access to the site to evaluate bird use, conduct dead-bird searches, to place net 
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catchments below the towers but above the ground, and to place radar, Global 

Positioning System, infrared, thermal imagery, and acoustical monitoring equipment 

as necessary to assess and verify bird movements and to gain information on the 

impacts of various tower sizes, configurations, and lighting systems.

12. Towers no longer in use or determined to be obsolete should be removed within 12 

months of cessation of use.

In order to obtain information on the extent to which these guidelines are being implemented, 

and to identify any recurring problems with their implementation which may necessitate 

modifications, letters provided in response to requests for evaluation of proposed towers should 

contain the following request: 

"In order to obtain information on the usefulness of these guidelines in preventing bird strikes, 

and to identify any recurring problems with their implementation which may necessitate 

modifications, please advise us of the final location and specifications of the proposed tower, and 

which of the measures recommended for the protection of migratory birds were implemented. If 

any of the recommended measures cannot be implemented, please explain why they were not 

feasible."

B.5 Wildland Fire Ecology and Management 

Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response Handbook 

Guidebook version 1.3 October 2006

Developed by: DOI, Bureau of Land Management

Publication reference: Interagency Burned Area Rehabilitation Guidebook, Interpretation of 

Department of the Interior 620 DM 3, For the Burned Area Rehabilitation of Federal and Tribal 

Trust Lands, Version 1.3.

Available from: http://www.fws.gov/fire/ifcc/esr/Policy/BAR_Guidebook11-06.pdf (last 

accessed 6/10/2011)

Description: Interpretation of Department of the Interior 620 DM 3 for the burned area 

rehabilitation of Federal and Tribal Trust Lands.

Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Handbook 

Developed by: DOI, Bureau of Land Management 

Publication reference: Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Handbook (H1742-1, 2007)

Available 

from: http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/Information_Resources_Management/po

licy/blm_handbook.Par.52739.File.dat/h1742-1.pdf (last accessed 6/10/2011)
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Description: This document addresses the process for implementing emergency fire 

rehabilitation projects following wildland fires.

Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Redbook)

Developed by: Department of the Interior; Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, and National Park Service, and Department of Agriculture; U.S. Forest Service

Available from: National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 S. Development Avenue 

Boise, Idaho 83705-5354 http://www.nifc.gov/policies/pol_ref_redbook_2011.html (last 

accessed 6/10/2011)

Description: This document addresses specific action items that are contained in the Guidance 

for Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy (February 13, 2009).

B.6 Fluid Minerals

Best Management Practices for Oil and Gas Development on Public 

Lands

Available from: http://www.blm.gov/bmp/Technical_Information.htm

BMPs for Fluid Minerals 

Developed by: Bureau of Land Management 

Publication reference: BLM/WO/ST-06/021+3071/REV 07 

Available from: Online at: http://www.blm.gov/bmp/

Description: BMPs for oil and gas demonstrate practical ideas which may eliminate or minimize 

adverse impacts from oil and gas development to public health and the environment, landowners, 

and natural resources; enhance the value of natural and landowner resources; and reduce conflict. 

The publication reference is to the “Gold Book” which is formally titled “Surface Operating 

Standards and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development.” In addition, the first 

internet citation is to a location maintained by the Washington Office of the BLM containing 

general and technical information on the use and application of BMPs. The second location 

refers the reader directly to an online version of the “Gold Book.” The third and fourth locations 

refer the reader to color charts for use in selecting paint colors for oil and gas facilities. 

Western Governors’ Association Coal Bed Methane BMPs Handbook 

http://www.westgov.org/wga/initiatives/coalbed/
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Handbook on Best Management Practices and Mitigation Strategies for 

Coal Bed Methane in the Montana Portion of the Powder River Basin

Prepared for: U.S. Department of Energy National Petroleum Technology Office National 

Energy Technology Laboratory Tulsa, Oklahoma

Developed by: Lead researcher: ALL Consulting Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Co-researcher ; the 

Montana Board of Oil & Gas Conservation Billings, Montana. 

Publication reference: 

Available Online: http://bogc.dnrc.state.mt.us/website/mtcbm/webmapper_cbm_info_res.htm; 

last accessed 9/8/2010

Description: This handbook is intended to serve as a resource to industry, regulators, land 

managers, and concerned citizens. The handbook presents background information on CBM 

activity in the Montana portion of the Powder River Basin (Study Area) while also presenting a 

number of Best Management Practices and Mitigation Strategies specific to CBM that have been 

successfully used throughout the United States.

B.7 Coal 

Coal Mining BMPs

Developed by: Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Engineering and Analysis 

Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Publication reference: COAL REMINING, BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 

GUIDANCE MANUAL, MARCH 2000

Available From: Office of Water Office of Science and Technology Engineering and Analysis 

Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC, 20460

Description: The manual was created to support EPA’s proposal of a Re-mining subcategory 

under existing regulations for the Coal Mining industry. The purpose of this guidance manual is 

to assist operators in the development and implementation of a best management practice (BMP) 

plan specifically designed for a particular re-mining operation. This guidance manual was also 

developed to give direction to individuals reviewing remining applications and associated BMP

plans. This document is not intended as a substitute for thoughtful and thorough planning and

decision making based on site-specific information and common sense.

B.8 Mineral Materials

Mineral materials site BMP (construction and stormwater)

Developed by: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, adopted by Montana DEQ
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Publication Reference: The National Menu of Best Management Practices for Stormwater 

Phase II, EPA, October, 2000.

Description: EPA has found the practices listed in the menu of BMPs to be representative of the 

types of practices that can successfully achieve the minimum control measures. The list of BMPs 

is not all-inclusive, and it does not preclude MS4s from using other technically sound practices. 

However, in all cases the practice or set of practices chosen needs to achieve the minimum 

measure. 

EPA also recognizes that some MS4s may already be meeting the minimum measures, or that 

only one or two additional practices may be needed to achieve the measures. Existing stormwater 

management practices should be recognized and appropriate credit given to those who have 

already made progress toward protecting water quality. There is no need to spend additional 

resources for a practice that is already in existence and operational.

B.9 Livestock Grazing

Montana Best Management Practices for Grazing

Developed by: Working group with representation from: MSU College of Agriculture, Society 

of American Fisheries, Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Woolgrowers Association, 

USDI Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, Montana Farm Bureau, and Montana Department of Natural Resource and 

Conservation. 

Publication reference: N/A, first printed in 1999

Available From: Conservation Districts Bureau, and Montana Department of Natural Resources 

and Conservation, P.O. Box 201601, Helena MT 59620-1601.

Description: Describes BMPs for livestock grazing designed to protect and enhance water 

quality, soils, plant communities, and other rangeland resources. Explains how and why to use 

BMPs to manage upland rangeland, forested rangeland, and riparian areas; and describes how 

grazing BMPs fit into a grazing management plan. 

B.10Transportation and Facilities 

Low Volume Roads Engineering Best Management Practices Field Guide 

(U.S. Forest Service) 

Developed by: US Agency for International Development (USAID) with the cooperation of the 

USDA, the Forest Service, the Office of International Programs, and the International Programs 

Department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. (Gordon Keller & James 

Sherar USDA Forest Service/USAID).
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Available on 

line: http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/24000/24600/24650/Chapters/B_Preface_TableOfContents_Glossary.p

df

Description: The basic objective of this guide is to help engineers, planners, environmental 

specialists, and road managers make good decisions, protect the environment, and build good 

low-volume roads. This Low-Volume Roads Engineering Best Management Practices Field 

Guide is intended to provide an overview of the key planning, location, design, construction, and 

maintenance aspects of roads that can cause adverse environmental impacts and to list key ways 

to prevent those impacts. Best Management Practices are general techniques or design practices 

that, when applied and adapted to fit site specific conditions, will prevent or reduce pollution and 

maintain water quality. BMPs for roads have been developed by many agencies since roads often 

have a major adverse impact on water quality, and most of those impacts are preventable with 

good engineering and management practices. Roads that are not well planned or located, not 

properly designed or constructed, not well maintained, or not made with durable materials often 

have negative effects on water quality and the environment. 

Road Construction and maintenance: H-9113-1—Road Design Handbook. 

BLM Manual: M9113

Developed by:

Publication reference:

Available from:

Description:
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B.11Resource Program Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Best management practices (BMP) are those land and resource management techniques 

determined to be the most effective and practical means of maximizing beneficial results and 

minimizing conflicts and adverse environmental impacts of management actions. BMPs could 

include, but are not limited to structural and nonstructural controls, specific operations, and 

maintenance procedures. BMPs can be applied before, during and after activities to reduce or 

eliminate adverse environmental impacts. BMPs are not one-size-fits-all solutions. BMPs should 

be matched and adapted through interdisciplinary analysis to determine which management 

practices would be necessary to meet the goals and objectives in the Resource Management Plan 

(RMP). The actual practices and mitigation measures that are best for a particular site are 

evaluated through the site-specific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and vary 

to accommodate unique site-specific and local resource conditions.

BMPs described in this appendix are designed to assist in achieving the RMP objectives. These 

guidelines could apply, where appropriate, to all use authorizations, including projects initiated 

by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BMPs are dynamic, and should not be interpreted as 

specific direction at the same level as the RMP decisions. BMPs are selected and implemented as 

necessary, based on site-specific conditions, to meet resource objectives for specific management 

actions.

This appendix does not provide an exhaustive list of BMPs. Additional BMPs may be identified 

during an interdisciplinary process when evaluating site-specific management actions.

Implementation and effectiveness of BMPs must be monitored to determine whether the 

practices are achieving RMP goals and objectives. Adjustments could be made as necessary to 

ensure RMP goals and objectives are being met, as well as to conform with changes in BLM 

regulations, policy, direction, or new scientific information. BMPs may also be updated as new 

technology emerges. In addition, applicants can suggest alternate conditions that could 

accomplish the same result.

Because the management of environmental impacts is an ongoing process, continual refinement 

of BMP design is necessary. This process can be described in these five steps: (1) selection of 

design of a specific BMP; (2) application of the BMP; (3) monitoring; (4) evaluation; and (5) 

feedback. Data gathered through monitoring is evaluated and used to identify changes needed in 

BMP design or application or in the monitoring program.

These best management practices have been organized by the primary resource the best 

management practices could benefit or protect. Each best management practice could actually be 

implemented by a number of resource programs within the Field Office. Best management 

practices would be implemented at the discretion of the Billings Field Office on a projectspecific basis, depending on the specific characteristics of the project area and the types of 

disturbance being proposed. They may not be appropriate to implement in all cases. It has been 

assumed for impact analysis that best management practices would be implemented whenever 

appropriate.
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Surface Disturbing Activities

• Evaluate areas subject to surface disturbance for the presence of cultural and 

paleontological resources/values. This is usually accomplished through the 

completion of a cultural and paleontological inventory. An on-the-ground 

inspection by a qualified archaeologist and/or paleontologist is required. In cases 

where cultural and/or paleontological resources are found, the preferred response 

would be to modify the proposed action to avoid the cultural/paleontological 

resource (avoidance). If avoidance is not possible, actions would be taken to 

preserve the data or value represented by the cultural resource (mitigation).

• Evaluate areas subject to surface disturbance for the presence of threatened, 

endangered or candidate animal or plant species. This is usually accomplished 

through the completion of a biological inventory. An on-the-ground inspection by 

a qualified biologist is required. In cases where threatened, endangered, or 

candidate species are affected, the preferred response would be to modify the 

proposed action to avoid species or their habitat (avoidance). If avoidance of a 

threatened, endangered, or candidate species or its habitat is not possible, a 

Section 7 consultation with USFWS would be required, and a biological 

assessment would be prepared to recommend actions to protect the species or its 

habitat.

• Consider requiring special design and reclamation measures to protect scenic and 

natural landscape values. These may include transplanting trees and shrubs, 

mulching and fertilizing disturbed areas, use of low-profile permanent facilities, 

and painting to minimize visual contrasts. Surface disturbing activities may be 

moved to avoid sensitive areas or to reduce the visual effects of the proposal.

• Design above-ground facilities requiring painting to blend in with the surrounding 

environment.

• Implement reclamation concurrent with construction and site operations to the 

extent possible. Final reclamation actions shall be initiated within 6 months of the 

termination of operations unless otherwise approved in writing by the authorized 

officer.

• Ensure fill material is pushed into cut areas and up over back slopes. Depressions 

should not be left that would trap water or form ponds.

Air

Impacts to air resources and air quality related values (AQRVs) can be reduced using the 

following BMPs.

a) Fugitive dust emissions can be reduced by:

1) using two-track primitive roads whenever possible rather than developing a 

dirt road;
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2) applying water or chemical suppressants (e.g., magnesium chloride, calcium 

chloride, lignin, sulfonate, or asphalt emulsion) to non-primitive unpaved 

roads or surfacing non-primitive unpaved roads with gravel, chip-seal, or 

asphalt; 

3) imposing vehicle speed limits on unpaved roads;

4) restricting the extent of surface impacts during construction activities and 

ongoing operations by using directional drilling to reduce the number of oil 

and gas well pads;

5) using dust abatement techniques before, during, and after surface clearing 

and excavation activities;

6) covering construction materials and stockpiled soils if they are a source of 

fugitive dust;

7) suspending construction activities during high winds;

8) adding gravel to non-reclaimed well pad areas;

9) re-vegetating areas when construction is complete;

10) locating linear facilities in the same or parallel trenches and constructing 

them at the same time; and

11) mowing rather than removing vegetation.

b) Fugitive dust and vehicle exhaust emissions related to oil and gas activity can be 

reduced by restricting vehicle trips by:

1) consolidating facilities by using directional drilling and multiwell oil and gas 

pads;

2) developing centralized liquid collection (water, produced water, and 

fracturing liquid) facilities and production (treatment and product storage) 

facilities to reduce the number and average distance of vehicle trips;

3) using shuttles or vanpools for employee commuting;

4) using automated equipment and remote telemetry; and

5) using solar power to add automated equipment in areas without access to 

electricity.

c) Non-vehicular engine exhaust emissions can be reduced by:

6) electrifying equipment when feasible;
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7) achieving high levels of emission control by installing and operating lowemission equipment (i.e., drill rig engines with emissions at least as low as 

Tier 4 engine standards) or operating older equipment that has been 

retrofitted with additional emission controls such as nonselective catalytic 

reduction or catalytic oxidation; 

8) using natural gas or electric engines rather than diesel engines; 

9) using alternative energy (solar power, wind power, or both) to power new 

water source developments; and

10) converting power sources at existing water well developments to alternative 

energy sources.

d) Fugitive volatile organic compound (VOC), hazardous air pollutant (HAP), and/or 

methane (a greenhouse gas [GHG]) emissions from oil and gas activities can be 

reduced by the following BMPs when feasible:

1) using green completion technology to capture methane (and some VOC and 

HAP) emissions during completion and place the gas in sales pipelines;

2) using flaring rather than venting during completion activities, but only in 

cases where product capture is not feasible;

3) using closed tanks rather than open tanks or pits;

4) installing vapor recovery units on storage tanks;

5) using vapor balancing during condensate and oil tanker truck loading;

6) using closed-loop drilling;

7) replacing pneumatic (natural gas) pumps with electric or solar pumps;

8) optimize glycol circulation rates on glycol dehydrators;

9) replacing wet seals with dry seals in centrifugal compressors;

10) replacing worn rod packing in reciprocating compressors;

11) installing automated plunger lift systems in natural gas wells; and 

monitoring equipment leaks and repairing equipment leaks.

Soil

• Surface disturbance on sustained slopes over 25%, would require reclamation and 

mitigation planning that demonstrates how site productivity will be restored.
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• Surface runoff will be adequately controlled using mitigations such as: water bars, 

fiber mats, contour felling, and vegetative filters. 

• Off-site areas will be protected from accelerated erosion, such as rilling, gullying, 

piping, and mass wasting. 

• Surface-disturbing activities will not be conducted during extended wet periods.

• Construction will not be allowed when soils are frozen. 

• Construction activities will be restricted during wet or muddy conditions and will 

be designed following BMPs to control erosion and sedimentation. 

• Surface disturbing activities are to be avoided in areas of active mass movements 

(landslides and slumps) (MT-11-2)

• Erosion control and sited restoration measures will be initiated within one year of 

completion of a project. Disturbed areas will be re-contoured to provide proper 

drainage.

• Interim reclamation for long-term projects would be considered at the project 

level plan and could include seeding with BLM-approved seed mixtures.

• All surface disturbances are to be reseeded/re-vegetated with native plant species 

common to the site’s natural plant community. Site specific planning may warrant 

the use, on a case by case basis, of introduced species where difficult site 

stabilization or wildlife concerns prevail.

• Require a temporary protection surface treatment such as mulch, matting and 

netting for the reclamation of all mechanically-disturbed areas (this excludes 

wildland fire).

• Speed restrictions for areas susceptible to wind erosion i.e., 25 mph, limited travel 

• Use of saline dust inhibitors

• Areas with steep topography will be developed in accordance with the BLM Gold 

Book (United States Department of the Interior and United States Department of 

Agriculture 2007) requirements. Lease roads and constructed facilities will be 

located in accordance with the approved APD. In areas of construction, topsoil 

will be stockpiled separately from other material, and be reused in reclamation of 

the disturbed areas. Unused portions of the producing well site will have topsoil 

spread over it and will be reseeded

• Construction activities will be restricted during wet or muddy conditions and will 

be designed following BMPs to control erosion and sedimentation. If porous 

subsurface materials are encountered during pit construction, all onsite fluid pits 

will be lined. During road and utility ROW construction, surface soils will be 

stockpiled adjacent to the cuts and fills. 
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September 2015 B-18 Appendix B

• Stream crossings will be designed to minimize impacts and not impede stream 

flow. Erosion control measures will be maintained and continued until adequate 

vegetation cover (as defined by BLM on a case-by-case basis) is reestablished.

Vegetation will be removed only when necessary. Water bars will be constructed 

on slopes of 3:1 or steeper. 

• Erosion control and site restoration measures will be initiated as soon as a 

particular area is no longer needed for exploration, production, staging, or access.

Disturbed areas will be recontoured to provide proper drainage. 

• The road ditches would be flat bottomed and “V” ditches not allowed. Place water 

turn outs where appropriate to lessen the water impacts upon the ditches.

• Topsoil piles may be required to be seeded following the BLM seeding policy. 

• Displaced farmland, whether in crop production or not, will be reclaimed to 

original soil productivity through adoption of standard reclamation procedures. 

• Require the use of specialized low-surface impact equipment (e.g. balloon tired 

vehicles) or helicopters, as determined by the BLM Authorized Officer, for 

activities in off-road areas where it is deemed necessary to protect fragile soils 

and other resources.

• During periods of adverse soil moisture conditions caused by climatic factors 

such as thawing, heavy rains, snow, flooding, or drought, suspend activities on 

existing roads that could create excessive surface rutting. When adverse 

conditions exist, the operator/permittee would contact the BLM Authorized 

Officer for an evaluation and decision based on soil types, soil moisture, slope, 

vegetation, and cover.

• When preparing the site for reclamation, include contour furrowing, terracing, 

reduction of steep cut and fill slopes, and the installation of water bars, as 

determined appropriate for site-specific conditions.

• Restoration requirements include reshaping, re-contouring, and/or resurfacing 

with topsoil, installation of water bars, and seeding on the contour. Removal of 

structures such as culverts, concrete pads, cattle guards, and signs would usually 

be required. Fertilization and/or fencing of the disturbance may be required.

Additional erosion control measures (e.g. fiber matting and barriers) to discourage 

road travel may be required.

Climate:

• Reduce CO2 emissions by reducing vehicle miles traveled and using fuel-efficient 

vehicles.

• Reduce CO2 emissions by using renewable energy to power equipment.

• Reduce CO2 emissions by using energy-saving techniques.
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Appendix B B-19 September 2015

• Identify and implement methods to sequester CO2.

• Reduce methane emissions from oil and gas activities by:

► capturing methane using green completion, when feasible, and beneficially 

using the gas by placing it in sales pipeline;

► flaring methane during well completion activities for which green completion 

is infeasible;

► replacing natural gas driven pneumatic equipment with solar or electrically 

powered equipment;

► optimizing glycol recirculation rates for glycol dehydrators;

► operating flash tank separators on glycol dehydrators; 

► identifying fugitive emissions from equipment leaks and repairing or 

replacing seals, valves, compressor rod packing systems, and pneumatic 

devices; and

► implementing additional GHG emission reduction strategies from the oil and 

gas BMPs located 

at http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/MINERALS__REALTY__AN

D_RESOURCE_PROTECTION_/bmps.Par.60203.File.dat/WO1_Air%20Res

ource_BMP_Slideshow%2005-09-2011.pdf and the EPA Natural Gas Star 

website at http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/tools/recommended.html.

Water/Wetlands/Riparian etc.

• Avoid locating roads, trails, and landings in wetlands.

• Locate, identify, and mark riparian management areas during design of projects 

that may cause adverse impacts to riparian management areas.

• Keep open water free from slash.

• Avoid equipment operation in areas of open water, seeps, and springs.

• Use low ground pressure equipment (flotation tires or tracked) as necessary to 

minimize rutting and compaction.

• All linear and underground facilities crossing riparian areas or wetlands would be 

bored, unless an approved mitigation plan illustrates a maintenance or 

improvement to the riparian area or wetland.(alt table)

• If riparian zones are fenced to exclude grazing, fences will be 100’ from the 

stream banks, unless site-specific circumstances dictate otherwise. 
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September 2015 B-20 Appendix B

• Water well and spring mitigation agreements will be used to facilitate the 

replacement of groundwater that may be lost to drawdown. Replacement water 

may require supply from offsite sources. 

• Avoid the application of fire retardant or foam within 300 feet of a stream channel 

or waterway, when possible, except for the protection of life and property. Aerial 

application and use of retardants and foams would be consistent with national 

policy guidelines established by the National Office of Fire and Aviation, as 

amended.

• Fire engines that have surfactant foam mixes in tanks must be fitted with an antisiphon (back flow protection valve) if filled directly from a stream channel.

• Construct a containment barrier around all pumps and fuel containers utilized 

within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of a stream channel. The containment barrier would 

be sufficient size to contain all fuel being stored or used on site.

• Prior to use on lands administered by the Billings Field Office, all fire suppression

equipment from outside the planning area utilized to extract water from lakes, 

streams, ponds, or spring sources (e.g. helicopter buckets, draft hoses, and 

screens) will be thoroughly rinsed to remove mud and debris and then disinfected 

to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. Rinsing equipment with 

disinfectant solution will not occur within 100 feet of natural water sources (i.e. 

lakes, streams, or springs). Suppression equipment utilized to extract water from 

water sources known to be contaminated with invasive aquatic species, as 

identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and 

Parks, also will be disinfected prior to use elsewhere on lands administered by the 

Billings Field Office.

• Do not dump surfactant foam mixes from fire engines within 600 feet of a stream 

channel.

• Do not conduct fire retardant mixing operations within 600 feet of a stream 

channel.

• Remove all modifications made to impound or divert stream flow by mechanical 

or other means to facilitate extraction of water from a stream for fire suppression 

efforts when suppression efforts are completed.

• When drafting or dipping water during fire operations, continuously monitor 

water levels at the site that water is being removed from. Do not allow water 

extraction to exceed the ability of the recharge inflow to maintain the water levels 

that exist at the time initial attach efforts began. If the water level drops below this 

predetermined level, all water removal would cease immediately until water 

levels are recharged.

• When possible, do not cross or terminate fire control lines at the stream channel.

Terminate control lines at the edge of the riparian zone at a location determined 
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Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix B B-21 September 2015

appropriate to meet fire suppression objectives based on fire behavior, 

vegetation/fuel types, and fire fighter safety.

• Do not construct new roads or mechanical fire control lines or improve existing 

roads within 300 feet of a stream channel unless authorized by the BLM Field 

Manager or Authorized Officer.

• Limit stream crossings on travel routes and trails to the minimal number 

necessary to minimize sedimentation and compaction. The BLM Authorized 

Officer will determine if any impacts need to be rehabilitated by the permittee.

• Conduct mixing of herbicides and rinsing of herbicide containers and spray 

equipment only in areas that are a safe distance from environmentally sensitive 

areas and points of entry to bodies of water (storm drains, irrigation ditches, 

streams, lakes, or wells).

• When used to pump water from any pond or stream, screen the intake end of the 

draft hose to prevent fish from being ingested. Screen opening would be a 

minimum of 3/16 inch (4.7 mm).

Vegetation

• Where seeding is required, use appropriate seed mixture and seeding techniques 

approved by the BLM Authorized Officer.

• Keep removal and disturbance of vegetation to a minimum through construction 

site management (e.g. using previously disturbed areas and existing easements, 

limiting equipment/materials storage and staging sites, etc.).

• Generally conduct reclamation with native seeds that are representative of the 

indigenous species present in the adjacent habitat. Document rationale for 

potential seeding with selected nonnative species. Possible exceptions would 

include use of nonnative species for a temporary cover crop to out-compete 

weeds. In all cases, ensure seed mixtures are approved by the BLM Authorized 

Officer prior to planting.

• Certify that all interim and final seed mixes, hay, straw, and hay/straw products 

are free of plant species listed on the Montana noxious weed list.

• An area is considered to be satisfactorily reclaimed when all disturbed areas have 

been recontoured to blend with the natural topography, erosion has been 

stabilized, and an acceptable vegetative cover has been established. Use 

established guidelines to determine if revegetation has been successful.

Vegetation - Rangelands

• The perennial plant cover of the reclaimed area would equal or exceed perennial 

cover of selected comparison areas normally, adjacent habitat. If the adjacent 

habitat is severely disturbed, an ecological site description may be used as a cover 
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September 2015 B-22 Appendix B

standard. Selected cover can be determined using a method as described in 

Sampling Vegetation Attributes, Interagency Technical Reference, 1996, 

BLM/RS/ST-96/002+1730. The reclamation plan for the area project would 

identify the site-specific release criteria and associated statistical methods in the 

reclamation plan or permit.

• Surface disturbing exploration operations would be subject to site specific 

stipulations found in Appendix C.

• Disturbed areas resulting from any construction will be seeded in accordance with 

the BLM seeding policy (USDI BLM, 1999c) or surface owner‘s requirements.

Depending on surface ownership, seeding is usually required during the fall or 

spring.

• Should the reseeding of sagebrush be required, different seeding times and 

techniques will be required. To the extent practicable, vegetation will be 

preserved and protected from construction operations and equipment except 

where clearing operations are required to conduct oil and gas operations, such as 

for roads, well pads, pipelines, power lines, utility lines, and structures. Clearing 

of vegetation will be restricted to the minimum area needed for construction and 

equipment. 

• Cuts and fills for new roads will be sloped to minimize erosion and to facilitate 

re-vegetation. Riparian zones will be protected by federal lease stipulations and 

permit mitigation measures. The BLM seeding policy will be followed for all 

reclamation and reseeding activities. 

• During reclamation activities, early succession plants will be used for revegetation to provide a fast growing cover crop to minimize and compete against 

noxious weeds. 

• Operator reclamation plans will be developed in consultation with the surface 

owner. Reclaimed areas reseeded with native species will require a certified 

weed-free seed mix. The seed mix used on private surface will be developed in 

consultation with the surface owner. Successful revegetation will usually require 

at least two growing seasons to ensure a self-sustaining stand of seeded species. 

• Where seeding is required, use appropriate seed mixture and seeding techniques 

approved by the BLM Authorized Officer.

• Generally, conduct reclamation with native seeds that are representative of the 

indigenous species present in the adjacent habitat. Document rationale for 

potential seeding with selected nonnative species. Possible exceptions would 

include use of nonnative species for a temporary cover crop to out-complete 

weeds. In all cases, ensure seed mixes are approved by the BLM Authorized 

Officer prior to planting

• Certify that all interim and final seed mixes, hay, straw, and hay/straw products 

are free of plant species listed on the Montana noxious weed list.
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Appendix B B-23 September 2015

• Displaced farmland, whether in crop production or not, will be reclaimed to 

original soil productivity through adoption of standard reclamation procedures. 

Vegetation - Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds

• To reduce the potential for the introduction of noxious weeds, clean off all 

equipment with pressure washing prior to operating on BLM lands. Removal of 

all dirt, grease, and plant parts that may carry noxious weed seeds or vegetative 

parts is required and may be accomplished with a pressure hose.

• Ensure all seed, hay, straw, mulch, or other vegetation material transported and 

used on public land for site stability, rehabilitation, or project facilitation is free of 

noxious weeds and noxious weed seed as certified by a qualified federal, state, or 

county officer.

• Operators will monitor noxious weed occurrence on all project areas and 

implement a noxious weed control program in cooperation with the BiFO to 

ensure noxious weed invasion does not become a problem. Reclamation 

/stabilization and maintenance materials used would be from weed seed free 

source to the extent practicable. 

• The operator, grantee, or lessee will be responsible for the control of all noxious 

weed infestations on surface disturbances. Prior to any treatment, the operator, 

grantee, or lessee will be responsible for submission of Pesticide Use Proposals 

and subsequent Pesticide Use Reports. Control measures will adhere to those 

allowed in the Final Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on BLM in 17 

Western States Programmatic EIS (June 2007) and ROD (September 2007).

Herbicide approvals and treatments will be monitored by BiFO. Vehicle and hand 

application of herbicides near specials status plant species would be determined 

on a case-by-case basis and allowed only when the treatment would benefit 

special status plant species. Aerial application of herbicides is prohibited within 

one-half mile of special status plant locations, or other distance deemed safe by 

the Billings Field Office. 

• It is the responsibility of the operator to develop a noxious weed prevention plan 

outlining ways to control noxious weeds on lands disturbed in association with oil 

and gas lease operations. Lease-associated weed control strategies are to be 

coordinated with any involved surface owners and local weed control boards. A 

pesticide-use proposal must be reviewed and approved by BLM prior to any 

herbicide application on lands disturbed by federal oil and gas lease operations. A 

pesticide application record must be made within 24 hours after completion of 

application of herbicides. Additional measures may be required to prevent the 

spread of noxious weeds. 

• The noxious weed prevention plan must include measures to prevent the spread of 

weed seeds from any vehicles and equipment traveling from or prior to mobilizing 

it to, the project area. 
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September 2015 B-24 Appendix B

• When managing weeds in areas of special status species, carefully consider the 

impacts of the treatment on such species. Whenever possible, hand spraying of 

herbicides is preferred over other methods.

• Do not conduct noxious and invasive weed control within 0.5 mile of nesting and 

brood rearing areas for special status species during the nesting and brood rearing 

season.

• Consider nozzle type, nozzle size, boom pressure, and adjuvant use and take 

appropriate measures for each herbicide application project to reduce the chance 

of chemical drift.

• All applications of approved pesticides will be conducted only by certified 

pesticide applicators or by personnel under the direct supervision of a certified 

applicator.

• Prior to commencing any chemical control program, and on a daily basis for the 

duration of the project, the certified applicator will provide a suitable safety 

briefing to all personnel working with or in the vicinity of the herbicide 

application. This briefing will include safe handling, spill prevention, cleanup, 

and first aid procedures.

• Do not apply pesticides within 440 yards (0.25 mile) of residences without prior 

notification of the resident.

• Areas treated with pesticides will be adequately posted to notify the public of the 

activity and of safe re-entry dates, if a public notification requirement is specified 

on the label of the product applied. The public notice signs will be at least 81⁄2” x 

11” in size and will contain the date of application and the date of safe re-entry. 

Wildlife Habitat and Special Status Species

• Where effective, water developments would be managed to reduce the spread of 

West Nile virus.

• Well locations and associated road and pipeline routes would be selected and 

designed to avoid disturbances to areas of high wildlife value (e.g., raptor nest 

sites, wetland areas). 

• Avoid activities and facilities that create barriers to the seasonal movements of 

big game and livestock. 

• Reserve, workover, and production pits potentially hazardous to wildlife would be 

adequately protected (e.g., fencing, netting) to prohibit wildlife access as directed 

by the BLM. 

• Install wildlife escape ramps in all watering troughs, including temporary water 

haul facilities, and open storage tanks. Pipe the overflow away from the last water 

trough on an open system to provide water at ground level.
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Appendix B B-25 September 2015

• As appropriate, mark certain trees on BLM administered lands for protection as 

wildlife trees.

• Consider seasonal distribution of large wildlife species when determining 

methods used to accomplish weed and insect control objectives.

• Temporary and permanent access roads will be avoided on south-facing slopes 

within designated crucial big game winter range, where practicable. 

• The planting of grasses, forbs, trees, or shrubs beneficial to wildlife will follow 

the BLM seeding policy. When needed, BLM will require installation of erosion 

and sedimentation control measures, such as riprap, erosion mats, mulch, bales, 

dikes or water bars. Riprap material and placement must be approved by the 

appropriate agency.

• All above-ground electrical poles and lines will be raptor-proofed to avoid 

electrocution following the criteria outlined in the Avian Power Line Interaction 

Committee (2006). ROW fencing would be kept to a minimum; if necessary, 

fences would consist of four-strand barbed wire meeting BLM Fencing Handbook 

1741-1 standards for facilitating wildlife movement. Bottom wire would be 

smooth.

• For all breeding birds (sage grouse) observed, additional surveys would be 

conducted immediately prior to construction activities to search for active nest 

sites. 

• To avoid potentially significant noise impacts, compressor engines would be 

located 2,500 feet or more from a dwelling or residence and from sage-grouse 

leks. Activities in crucial habitats would be avoided when practicable. 

• Wildlife habitat mitigation would be carried out as quickly as possible or at the 

same time as the disturbance. 

• Locatable mineral development activities would not be allowed within identified 

big game parturition areas between May 1 and June 30 or within raptor nesting 

areas from February 1 to July 31. 

• Powerlines would be buried or otherwise constructed or modified to reduce 

impacts to wildlife where possible. 

• Wildlife-proof fencing would be used on reclaimed area, in accordance with 

standards specified in BLM Fencing Handbook 1741-1, if it is determined that 

wildlife species are impeding successful vegetation establishment.

• Waste water / West Nile 

► Avoiding shallow depths in the pools. Depths should be sufficient to prevent 

the growth of wetland vegetation.

► Provide steep slopes to micropool banks
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September 2015 B-26 Appendix B

► Consider mechanical aeration of permanent pools 

► Make the micropool accessible to remove silt, vegetation, and maintain the 

outlet structure

► Make the micropool accessible to treat with larvicide

► Avoid rock at the outlet structures

Fisheries Habitat and Special Status Species

• Habitat improvement techniques: including stream bank stabilization, riparian 

management, enhancing in-stream cover, providing fish passage, and preventing 

entrainment. All reasonable alternatives for maintaining adequate in-stream flows, 

physical habitat, and water quality would be used, along with purchase of private 

water rights and negotiations on timing, duration and volume of flows and drawdowns where possible.

• If riparian zones are fenced to exclude grazing, fences will be 100’ from the 

stream banks, unless site-specific circumstances dictated otherwise.

• Habitat-improvement techniques will be used where appropriate to provide 

missing habitat components or improve existing habitats: Examples of these 

techniques include stream bank stabilization, riparian management, enhancement 

of in-stream cover, provisions for fish passage, and prevention of entrainment. All 

reasonable alternatives for maintaining adequate in-stream flows, physical habitat, 

and water quality will be used, along with the purchase of private water rights and 

negotiations on timing, duration and volume of flows and draw-downs where 

possible. 

• At the project level, dead and down woody material would be retained in amounts 

that are within the range of natural variability for the plant community, to the 

extent compatible with reforestation objectives, fire hazard reduction standards, 

and public safety. 

• For stream currently occupied by any special status species, do not allow 

extraction of water from ponds or pools if stream inflow is minimal (i.e. during 

drought situations) and extraction of water would lower existing pond or pool 

level.

• Activities such as stream crossings that could directly impact sensitive or 

protected fish species will be undertaken during non-spawning periods for these 

species. In the unlikely event that multiple, sensitive, or protected fish species 

with back-to-back spawning periods are present in the same stream reach, one of 

the following options will be exercised: selecting a nearby, alternative stream 

crossing site that does not provide suitable spawning habitat for the fish species of 

concern; using a nearby, existing stream crossing over the channel to avoid 

instream disturbances; or using shore-based equipment to position and extend the
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Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix B B-27 September 2015

pipeline or other item (e.g., temporary bridge) across the stream, thereby avoiding 

in-channel activities.

• Habitat-improvement techniques will be used where appropriate to provide 

missing habitat components or improve existing habitats. Examples of these 

techniques include stream bank stabilization, riparian management, enhancing instream cover, provide fish passage, and prevent entrainment. All reasonable 

alternatives for maintaining adequate in-stream flows, physical habitat, and water 

quality will be used, along with purchase of private water rights and negotiations 

on timing, duration and volume of flows and draw-downs where possible.

Cultural and Heritage Resources

• Ensure a Class III cultural inventory will be conducted prior to surface 

disturbance commencement

• Ensure that all activities associated with the undertaking, within 100 meters of the 

discovery, are halted and the discovery is appropriately protected, until the BLM 

Authorized Officer issues a Notice to Proceed. A Notice to Proceed may be issued 

by the BLM under any of the following conditions:

o Evaluation of potentially eligible resource(s) results in a determination 

that the resource(s) are not eligible;

o The fieldwork phase of the treatment option has been completed; and

o The BLM has accepted a summary description of the fieldwork performed 

and a reporting schedule for that work

• The operator/permittee will inform all persons associate with the 

project/undertaking that knowingly disturbing cultural resources (historic or 

archaeological) or collecting artifacts is illegal.

• Perform viewshed reclamation when the setting of a site contributes to the 

significance of the property.

• Implement protection measures to stop, limit, or repair damage to sites. A variety 

of protection measures described in BLM Manual 8140 may be used to protect the 

integrity of sites at risk , such as signs, fencing or barriers, trash removal, target 

shooting closures, erosion control, backfilling, repairing, shoring up, or stabilizing 

structures, restricting uses and access, and closures.

• Nominate eligible sites, districts, landscapes and traditional cultural properties for 

inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places

• Encourage public/volunteer involvement in the management of cultural resources 

through participation of established site steward programs and other programs.

• Specific plans would be developed for each site type unless included in other 

integrated activity plans. Such plans would include protective measures, Native 
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September 2015 B-28 Appendix B

American consultation, and regulatory compliance. These plans would also 

include but not be limited to developing a site monitoring system; identifying sites 

in need of stabilization, restoration, and protective measures (e.g. fences, 

surveillance equipment, etc.); developing research designs for selected areas/sites; 

designating sites/areas for interpretative development; identifying areas for 

cultural inventory where federal undertaking are expected to occur; and 

developing specific mitigation measures. The plan would designate sites, districts, 

and landmarks that would be nominated for inclusion in the National Register of 

Historic Places. 

• Conduct inventory according to professional standards commensurate with the 

land-use activity, environmental conditions, and the potential for cultural 

resources

• Pro-actively reduce hazardous fuels or mitigate the potential hazard around 

archaeological and cultural sites that are susceptible to destruction by fire

• Reduce or eliminate imminent threats from natural or human caused deterioration 

or conflict with other resource uses

• Identify priority geographic areas for Section 110 cultural inventories based on a 

probability for unrecorded significant resources and/or resource need

• Ensure that all authorizations for land and resource use would comply with 

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, consistent with and subject 

to the objectives established in the RMP for the proactive use of cultural 

properties in the public interest

• Provide for legitimate field research by qualified scientists and institutions

• Allow for reconstruction, stabilization, maintenance, and interpretation of selected 

sites for public enjoyment and education

• Should National Register eligible cultural resources be found during an inventory, 

impacts to them would be mitigated, generally through avoidance. Should it be 

determined the cultural resources cannot be avoided; consultation with the State 

Historic Preservation Officer would be initiated. A program on mitigation would 

be developed via consultation between the Billings Field Office, the SHPO, and 

the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

• Conduct regular monitoring of at-risk cultural sites to protect sites from conflicts 

with other resources uses and to document natural and human caused 

deterioration 

• Establish and implement protective measures for sites, structures, objects, and 

traditional use areas that are important to Native American tribes with historical 

and cultural connections to the land, in order to maintain the viewshed, intrinsic 

values, and the auditory, visual, and aesthetic settings of the resources. Protection 

measures for undisturbed cultural resources and their natural setting would be 
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Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix B B-29 September 2015

developed in compliance with regulatory mandates and Native American 

consultation

• Conduct consultation process to identify both the resource management concerns 

and the strategies for addressing them through an interactive dialogue with Native 

American tribes with affinity to the project area

• Consult with affiliated Native American tribes for the protection of areas and 

items of traditional life-ways and religious significance that includes, but is not 

limited to burials, rock art, traditional use areas, religious active areas, and sacred 

sites

• Limit surface disturbing activities within selected Native American traditional 

cultural and religious sites for continued use by tribes. Traditional cultural sites 

would be identified in consultation with affiliated Native American tribes 

• Protect burial sites, associated burial goods, and sacred items in accordance with 

the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the 

Archaeological Resources Protection Act

Paleontological Resources 

• Ensure a paleontological inventory will be conducted prior to surface disturbance 

commencement in areas with a PFYC rating of 3 or higher.

• When paleontological resources of potential scientific interest are encountered 

(including all vertebrate fossils and deposits of petrified wood), leave them intact 

and immediately bring them to the attention of the BLM Authorized Officer.

• BLM APD COAs provide guidance for notifying BLM and mitigating damage to 

paleontological resources discovered during oil and gas construction activities.

Limitations include restricted use of explosives for geophysical exploration, 

monitoring requirements, and work stoppages for discovered resources. 

• Reports of theft or damage to fossil resources would be responded to by 

appropriate BLM personnel

• Conduct regular monitoring to protect areas where unauthorized use may occur

• Where scientifically significant fossils are threatened by natural hazards or 

unauthorized collection, the BLM would work with permittees and other partners 

to salvage specimens and reduce future threats to resources at risk

• The BLM would work with local communities, interest groups, individuals, and 

other agencies to enhance the public’s understanding and enjoyment of 

paleontological resources

• In areas where surface disturbance, either initiated by BLM or other land users, 

may threaten significant fossils, the BLM would follow its policy (see Manual 

and Handbook 8270-1) to assess any threat and mitigate damage.
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September 2015 B-30 Appendix B

Wildfire Ecology and Management 

• Operators are required to comply with BLM-imposed conditions during times of 

high fire danger. Such conditions may include restrictions on types of activities 

allowed, hours of operation, and requirements for maintaining certain fire 

suppression equipment at the work site. Operators must maintain a current fire 

suppression plan.

• Use appropriate management after wildland fire, including re-planting, to promote 

reforestation on forested lands which are not expected to regenerate or have not 

shown regeneration within 15 years.

• Notify valid existing land users (such as mine claimants, oil and gas lessees, 

holders of rights-of-way, livestock permittees, and other BLM permitted users of 

the area, etc.) prior to implementation of prescribed fires that may affect their 

investments.

• Remove vegetation, where appropriate, to protect BLM facilities (e.g. range 

improvements, communication sites, recreation sites, etc.)

Fire Management for Sage-Grouse Conservation

• Develop field office-specific sage-grouse tool boxes containing maps, a list of 

resource advisors, contact information, local guidance, and other relevant 

information

• Provide localized maps to dispatch offices and extended attack incident 

commanders for use in prioritizing wildlife suppression resources and designing 

suppression tactics.

• Assign a sage-grouse resource advisor to all extended attack fires in or near key 

sage-grouse habitat areas. Prior to the fire season, provide training to sage-grouse 

resource advisors on wildfire suppression organization, objectives, tactics, and 

procedures to develop a cadre of qualified individuals.

• On critical fire weather days, pre-position additional fire suppression resources to 

optimize a quick and efficient response in sage-grouse habitat areas.

• During periods of multiple fires, ensure line officers are involved in setting 

priorities.

• To the extent possible locate wildfire suppression facilities (i.e. base camps, spike 

camps, drop points, staging areas, heli-bases, etc.) in areas where physical 

disturbance to sage-grouse habitat can be minimized. These include disturbed 

areas, grasslands, near roads/trails or in other areas where there is existing 

disturbance or minimal sagebrush cover.

• Power-wash all firefighting vehicles, to the extent possible, including engines, 

water tenders, personnel vehicles, and ATVs prior to deploying in or near sagegrouse habitat areas to minimize noxious weed spread.
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• Minimize unnecessary cross-country vehicle travel during fire operations in sagegrouse habitat.

• Minimize burnout operations in key sage-grouse habitat areas by constructing 

direct fireline whenever safe and practical to do so.

• Utilize retardant and mechanized equipment to minimize burned acreage during 

initial attack.

• As safety allows, conduct mop-up where the black adjoins unburned islands, dog 

legs, or other habitat features to minimize sagebrush loss.

Fuels Management for Sage-Grouse Conservation

• Where applicable, design fuels treatment objectives to protect existing sagebrush 

ecosystems, modify fire behavior, restore native plants, and create landscape 

patterns which most benefit sage-grouse habitat.

• Provide training to fuels treatment personnel on sage-grouse biology, habitat 

requirements, and identification of areas utilized locally.

• Use fire prescriptions that minimize undesirable effects on vegetation or soils 

(e.g. minimize mortality of desirable perennial plant species and reduce risk of 

hydrophobicity). 

• Ensure proposed sagebrush treatments are planned with interdisciplinary input 

from BLM and/or state wildlife agency biologists and that treatment acreage is 

conservative in the context of surrounding sage-grouse seasonal habitats and 

landscape.

• Where appropriate, ensure that treatments are configured in a manner (e.g., strips) 

that promotes use by sage-grouse (See Connelly et al. 2000).

• Where applicable, incorporate roads and natural fuel breaks into fuel break 

design.

• Power-wash all vehicles and equipment involved in fuels management activities 

prior to entering the area to minimize the introduction of undesirable and/or 

invasive plants species.

• Design vegetation treatments in areas of high fire frequency to facilitate 

firefighter safety, reduce the risk of extreme fire behavior, and to reduce the risk 

and rate of fire spread to key and restoration habitats.

• Give priority for implementing specific sage-grouse habitat restoration projects in 

annual grasslands first to sites which are adjacent to or surrounded by sage-grouse 

key habitats. Annual grasslands are a second priority for restoration when the sites 

are not adjacent to key habitat but within two miles of key habitat. The third 

priority for annual grassland habitat restoration projects are sites beyond the two 
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miles of key habitat. The intent is to focus restoration outward from existing, 

intact habitat.

• As funding and logistics permit, restore annual grasslands to a species 

composition characterized by perennial grasses, forbs, and shrubs.

• Emphasize the use of native plant species, recognizing that non-native species 

may be necessary depending on the availability of native seed and prevailing site 

conditions.

• Remove standing and encroaching trees within at least 100 meters of occupied 

sate-grouse leks and other habitats (e.g., nesting, wintering, and brood rearing) to 

reduce the availability of perch sites for avian predators as appropriate, and 

resources permit.

• Protect wildland areas from wildfire originating on private lands, infrastructure 

corridors, and recreational areas.

• Reduce the risk of vehicle or human-caused wildfires and the spread of invasive 

species by planting perennial vegetation (e.g. green strips) paralleling road rightsof-way. 

• Strategically place and maintain pre-treated strips/areas (e.g., mowing, herbicide 

application and strictly managed grazed strips) to aid in controlling wildfire 

should wildfire occur near key habitat or important restoration areas (such as 

where investments in restoration have already been made).

Visual Resource Management 

• Camouflage of all structures/facilities (e.g. wellheads, com sites, etc.) constructed 

as a result of a BLM authorized undertaking in Class II and Class III Visual 

Resource Management Areas will be required to preserve the viewshed.

Camouflage will consist of placement of wellheads to reduce visual intrusions and 

painting of above-ground structures not requiring safety coloration an 

environmental color two shades darker than the surrounding environment.

• During implementation of vegetation treatments, create irregular margins around 

treatment areas to better maintain existing scenic character of the landscape.

• When feasible, bury utility lines on public lands when in the viewshed of 

residential or community development.

• Bury distribution powerlines or flow lines in or adjacent to access roads

• Use repetition of form, line, color, and texture to blend facilities with the 

surrounding landscape.

• Reclaim and recontour all disturbed areas, including access roads, to the original 

contour or a contour that blends with the surrounding topography.
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• Avoid facility placement on steep slopes, ridge tops, and hilltops.

• Reclaim unused well pads within 1 year.

Fluid Mineral Exploration and Development

• Reduce impacts to wildlife and visual resources by applying the following, as 

appropriate:

► Directional drilling of oil and gas wells

► Drilling of multiple wells from a single pad

► Closed drilling systems

► Cluster development

► Below-ground wellheads

► Remote well monitoring

► Piping of produced liquids to centralized tank batteries off site to reduce 

traffic to individual wells

► Transportation planning (e.g. to reduce road density and traffic volumes)

► Compensatory mitigation

► Noise reduction techniques and designs

► Installation of raptor anti-perch devices in greater sage-grouse habitat

► Avoidance of human activity between 8 pm and 8 am from March 1 through 

May 15 within 1⁄4 mile of the perimeter of occupied greater sage-grouse leks

► Onsite bioremediation of oil field wastes and spills

► Removal of trash, junk, waste, and other materials not in current use

• Reclaim all disturbed surface areas promptly, performing concurrent reclamation 

as necessary, and minimize the total amount of all surface disturbance.

• Ensure all surface soil is stripped prior to conducting operations, stockpiled, and 

reapplied during reclamation, regardless of soil quality. Minimize the length of 

time soil remains in stockpiles and the depth or thickness of stockpiles.

• Strip and separate soil surfaces horizons where feasible and reapply in proper 

sequence during reclamation.
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• Establish vegetation cover on soil stockpiles that are to be in place longer than 1 

year.

• Construct and rehabilitate temporary roads to minimize total surface disturbance, 

consistent with intended use.

• Consider temporary measures such as silt fences, straw bales, or mulching to trap 

sediment in sensitive areas until reclaimed areas are stabilized with vegetation.

• Reshape to the approximate original contour all areas to be permanently 

reclaimed, providing for proper surface drainage.

Fluid Mineral Extraction

• Applications for permit to drill would follow the best management practices as 

outlines in the BLM oil and gas Gold Book 

(http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas/best_management_practi

ces/gold_book.html), as well as on-shore regulations, individual surface use plans, 

and conditions for approval that may be part of the Record of Decision for EISs or 

Decision Records for environmental assessments/Findings of No Significant 

Impacts, Documentations of NEPA Adequacy, and Categorical Exclusions 

prepared for site-specific projects.

• Notify the BLM Authorized Officer within 5 days of completion of reclamation 

work so that timely compliance inspections can be completed. 

• The operator will work with the BLM Authorized Officer on the containment of 

drilling fluids and drill hole cuttings. Adequately fence, post, or cover mud and 

separation pits, and hazardous material storage areas.

Fluid Minerals: Best Management Practices 

• BMPs and standard operating procedures specific to coal bed natural gas (CBNG) 

can be found on pages 24 through 27 of the rod. Cited references are from the 

final SES

• Other more general oil and gas BMPs may be found at the following 

website: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas/best_managemen

t_practices.html. This location is subject to periodic updates and should be 

reviewed as needed. These measures are not lease stipulations and can be added to 

permits for new activities.

Solid Minerals: Best Management Practices

BLM’s long term reclamation goals are to shape, stabilize, revegetate, or otherwise treat 

disturbed areas in order to provide a self-sustaining and productive use of the land in 

conformance with the land-use plan. Short-term reclamation goals are to stabilize disturbed areas 

and protect both disturbed and adjacent areas from unnecessary or undue degradation.
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Reclamation for operations conducted under 43 CFR Group 3500 for the solid leasable minerals 

other than coal and oil shale; 43 CFR Group 3600 for mineral materials; and 43 CFR Parts 3802 

and 3809 for locatable minerals. The authority for regulating surface coal mine reclamation was 

given to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement when Congress enacted the 

Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

The Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) mandates that "the public lands be 

managed in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, 

environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values." Multiple-use 

management is defined in FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1702(c)) and in regulations (43 CFR 1601.0-5(f)) 

as, in part, the "harmonious and coordinated management of the various resources without 

permanent impairment of the productivity of the lands and the quality of the environment with 

consideration being given to the relative values of the resources and not necessarily to the 

combination of uses that will give the greatest economic return or the greatest unit output." In 

addition, FLPMA mandates that activities be conducted so as to prevent "unnecessary or undue 

degradation of the lands" (43 U.S.C. 1732(b)).

The Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 21a) established the policy for the 

Federal Government relating to mining and mineral development. The Act states that it is policy 

to encourage the development of “economically sound and stable domestic mining, minerals, 

metal and mineral reclamation industries.” The Act also states, however, that the Government 

should also promote the “development of methods for the disposal, control, and reclamation of

mineral waste products, and the reclamation of mined land, so as to lessen any adverse impact of 

mineral extraction and processing upon the physical environment that may result from mining or 

mineral activities.”

BLM exercises the authority to supervise exploration, mining, and reclamation activities on 

Indian lands pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 396d and 25 CFR Parts 211, 212, and 216. The standards 

developed for reclamation and closure on Federal lands will apply to operations conducted on 

Indian lands. The Government's trust responsibilities for the various Indian tribes and entities 

require that BLM ensure proper reclamation and closure practices. The regulations governing 

operations on Indian lands require that "adequate measures be taken to avoid, minimize, or

correct damage to the environment--land, water, and air--and to avoid, minimize, or correct 

hazards to the public health and safety" (25 CFR 216.1).

The reclamation plan shall guide both the operator and the BLM toward a planned future 

condition of the disturbed area. This requires early coordination with the operator to produce a 

comprehensive plan. The reclamation plan will serve as a binding agreement between the 

operator and the regulatory agencies for the expected reclamation condition of the disturbed 

lands and must be periodically reviewed and modified as necessary. Because this is a binding 

agreement between the operator and the regulatory agency it must be monitored on a regular 

basis to ensure the reclamation plan is current. New information concerning the ore body, use of 

different mining methods than originally planned, etc., will require the review of the previous 

NEPA analysis to determine whether additional environmental documentation is warranted.

Although the operator will usually develop the reclamation plan, appropriate pre-planning, data 

inventory, and involvement in the planning process by the regulatory agencies, is essential to 
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determine the optimum reclamation proposal. Most determinations as to what is expected should 

be made before the reclamation plan is approved and implemented. However, the regulations 

provide that plans can be modified to adjust to changing conditions or to correct for an oversight. 

The operator should not conduct surface disturbing activities without an approved plan. For 

notice level activities, the notice must contain an agreement to adhere to the reclamation 

requirements of the regulations and a proposal comprehensive enough for the BLM to ensure that 

unnecessary or undue degradation will not result. A reclamation plan should provide the 

following:

1. A logical sequence of steps for completing the reclamation process.

2. The specifics of how reclamation standards will be achieved.

3. An estimate of specific costs of reclamation.

4. Sufficient information for development of a basis of inspection and enforcement of 

reclamation and criteria to be used to evaluate reclamation success and reclamation 

bond release.

5. Sufficient information to determine if the reclamation plan is in conformance with the 

applicable BLM land-use plans, activity plans, and/or coastal zone management plans 

as appropriate.

In preparing and reviewing reclamation plans, the BLM and the operator must set reasonable, 

achievable, and measurable reclamation goals which are not inconsistent with the established 

land-use plans. Achievable goals will ensure reclamation and encourage operators to conduct 

research on different aspects of reclamation for different environments. These goals should be 

based on available information and techniques, should offer incentives to both parties, and 

should, as a result, generate useful information for future use.

The purposes of the reclamation plan are as follows:

1. Reclamation plans provide detailed guidelines for the reclamation process and fulfill 

Federal, State, County and other local agencies requirements. They can be used by 

regulatory agencies in their oversight roles to ensure that the reclamation measures 

are implemented, are appropriate for the site, and are environmentally sound.

2. Reclamation plans will be used by the operator throughout the operational period of 

the project and subsequent to cessation of exploration, mining, and processing 

activities. In turn, responsible agencies, including the BLM, will use the reclamation 

plan as a basis to review and evaluate the success of the reclamation program.

3. Reclamation plans should provide direction and standards to assist in monitoring and 

compliance evaluations.

Surface Disturbing Activities

For the purposes of this Handbook, surface-disturbing activities will be separated into three

broad categories.
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• Prospecting is the search for new deposits or mineral commodities. Prospecting 

activities may include: geophysical/ geochemical studies, and hand sampling of 

mineral specimens.

• Exploration includes efforts to determine the presence of economic deposits of 

mineral commodities. Exploration activities may include: road-building, drilling, 

trenching, bulk sampling, as well as any of the activities cited for prospecting.

• Development and mining or mineral processing is the process of extracting 

valuable minerals from the earth and removing impurities from these minerals. 

These activities may include: developmental drilling, road-building, underground 

mining (including shafts, portals, and adits), surface mining (including trenching, 

open pits, and strip mines), dredging, placer mining, construction of buildings and 

facilities, use of leaching solutions or other chemicals, and the creation of tailings 

disposal sites and waste dumps.

See Table II-1 for a summary of activities and mineral categories/mine status.

National Environmental Policy Act

In accordance with the NEPA (NEPA), an environmental document will be prepared for those 

mineral actions which propose surface disturbance and have not been categorically excluded for 

the purpose of identifying and mitigating the impacts to the environment. Notices under 43 CFR 

3809 are not Federal actions subject to the provisions of NEPA. The requirements and mitigation 

measures recommended in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) shall be made a part of the reclamation plan.

Requirements for Reclamation Plan Content

The reclamation plan should be a comprehensive document submitted with the plan of 

operations, notice, exploration plan, or mining plan. It is expected that there will be changes to 

planned reclamation procedures over the life of the project. Any changes will generally be 

limited to techniques and methodology needed to attain the goals set forth in the plan. These 

changes to the plan may result from oversights or omissions from the original reclamation plan, 

permitted alterations of project activities, procedural changes in planned reclamation as a result 

of information developed by on-site revegetation research undertaken by the operator, results of 

monitoring data which indicates a new concern at the site and studies performed elsewhere, 

and/or changes in Federal/State regulations. Specific requirements are given in Manual Section 

3042.

BLM Review of the Reclamation Plan

When reviewing the reclamation plan, the AO should:

1. Immediately upon its receipt, conduct a completeness review to determine whether 

the reclamation plan is technically and administratively complete.

2. Review the plan for content, both in the office and on-site with the operator, as 

necessary.
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3. Recommend revisions, if necessary, as a result of the on-site review, NEPA 

documentation, and consultation with appropriate BLM personnel and other SMA's.

4. Ensure that the plan conforms to applicable State and Federal requirements.

5. Approve or accept the reclamation plan within the appropriate timeframes.

6. Set a schedule for inspection of operations and reclamation activities. Inspections 

must be scheduled at key points in the reclamation process, as well as at regular 

intervals.

7. Establish criteria for evaluating the success of reclamation.

When administering a reclamation plan, the AO should:

1. Conduct scheduled inspections and other inspections as necessary to ensure 

compliance with the reclamation plan. It is important to inspect work while it is in 

progress and before it is concealed by further work.

2. Document inspections in an established case file and discuss needed changes with the 

operator. These discussions with the operator should also be documented in the case 

file.

3. Ensure that required interim reclamation is current and in accordance with the plan.

4. Take appropriate action in the event of noncompliance.

5. Require revisions of the reclamation plan as necessary.

6. Monitor completed projects and evaluate the success of reclamation.

7. Accept final reclamation after a reasonable monitoring period and issue a decision. A 

reasonable monitoring period should not be less than 5 years for determining 

vegetation and erosion control success.

Mineral Material Sites: Standard Operating Procedures

Before establishing a new community pit, free use area, collection area or exclusive sale, a Plan 

of Operation and a Reclamation Plan will be prepared. The appropriate NEPA analysis will also 

be completed.

When appropriate and necessary a reclamation bond will be collected. Reclamation and 

management of the site will when appropriate consist of the following:

• Suitable topsoil, subsoil, or underlying soil parent material that is suitable for 

plant growth will be removed and stored for site restoration.

• Topcover stockpiles will be stabilized in order to prevent erosion and dust.

• The area will be fenced to exclude livestock, promote revegetation, increase 

safety and reduce theft.

• A weed control plan will be developed or weed control will be addressed in the 

Plan of Operation.

• Purchasers of material will be warned of potential weed seeds.
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• The pit walls will not exceed a safe working angle.

• Reclaimed slopes will not exceed 2.5:1 (h:v).

• Disturbed areas will be reclaimed to blend as closely as possible with natural 

contours.

• Final blending to natural contours should be considered and incorporated into the 

Plan of Operation.

• Stockpiled topcover will be replaced as soon as practically possible.

• Disturbed areas will be scarified (where necessary) and reseeded as soon as 

possible in order to reduce erosion, dust and visual effects.

• Measures may need to be taken to reduce visual effects. Visual effects should be 

considered and incorporated into the Plan of Operation.

• A seed mix approved by BLM and appropriate for the area will be used.

• Erosion controls will be incorporated into the Plan of Operation.

• If dust becomes excessive, measures will be taken to reduce the hazard.

• The site will be returned to as close as possible to the “Post Mining Land Use”

• All remaining litter or trash shall be removed from the site. 

Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands

• Corridors will be required for placement of roads, pipelines, and utility lines in a 

common area of disturbance wherever possible.

• Utility companies will manage vegetation in their rights-of-way, permit area or 

lease area for safe and reliable operation while minimizing impacts to vegetation 

and wildlife habitat.

• Keep removal and disturbance of vegetation to a minimum through construction 

site management e.g., using previously disturbed areas and existing easements, 

limiting equipment/materials storage and staging area sites, etc.

• Re-spread weed-free vegetation removed from the right-of-way to provide 

protection, nutrient recycling, and seed source.

• Ensure rights-of-way (ROW) and utility corridors use areas adjoining or adjacent 

to previously disturbed areas whenever possible.

• Stabilize disturbed areas within road ROWs and utility corridors with vegetation 

practices designed to hold soil in place and minimize erosion. Reestablish 

vegetation cover to increase infiltration and to provide additional protection from 

erosion.
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• Construct sediment barriers when needed to slow runoff, allow deposition of 

sediment, and prevent transport from the site. Straining or filtration mechanisms 

may also be employed for the removal of sediment from runoff.

• Property boundaries and jurisdictional boundaries will be determined in their 

correct location before they are marked and posted. Land management activities 

will not be conducted to an approximate or unknown property or jurisdictional 

boundary line.

Management of Land Boundaries

1. Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP and Cadastral Survey and Lands 

Program Background:

a. In the area covered by this RMP is the Yellowstone River. In some townships 

significant river movement has taken place. This adds a layer of complexity in 

sorting out ownership. In reaches of the river with significant river movement the 

ownership and boundary lines between public lands and adjoining lands, and 

between BLM's special areas, are ill-defined and ripe for unintentional trespass or 

encroachment. Before ownership and the boundaries of the uplands (riparian 

areas, flood plain areas, access areas), islands, and the riverbed can be determine a 

river study is required. This are complex, requires the scare skills of a riparian 

specialist, and expensive. Tools available to enable the scheduling and funding of 

such river studies are (1) for long stretches of the river, Management of Land 

Boundary Plans to identify high risk high priority areas, set priorities, develop the 

workforce plan, and formulate necessary budget planning. and (2) for individual 

action areas, Standards for Boundary Evidence Certificates. The river that is 

becoming increasingly more popular for recreational activities such as rafting, 

fishing and hunting, and significant vegetative and habitat adjustments.

2. The BLM currently monitor boundaries of special areas through development of 

Management of Land Boundary (MLB) Plans.

3. MLB Plans are multi-scale; dependent on the issue(s) monitored,

4. MLB Plans are used on special areas as (a) a risk assessment tool for unit managers to 

protect and monitor land and resources and (b) for workforce planning and out year 

budget planning.

5. MLB Plans identifies the risk to resources and/or land from antiquated surveys, and 

errors and misrepresentations in the land tenure records, e.g., river movement, island 

formation, fraudulent or obliterated surveys.

6. The Director and ASLM have pledged to develop and utilize MLB Plans as a response to 

a recent OIG Audit Report.

7. It is recommended the first iteration MLB Plan for each Planning Area be first order 

(broad scale).

8. Individual actions can be review using the Standards for Boundary Evidence process, 

fourth order (site specific).
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Livestock Grazing 

1. Water developments:

• Place water troughs off-site from springs, streams and riparian zones. To protect 

this type of water source, fence source (when possible) with wildlife friendly 

fencing materials.

• Place wildlife escape ramps in all water tanks and troughs.

• Trough height should not exceed twenty two (22) inches.

• Completely drain troughs and tanks at the end of the grazing season.

• Actual work in springs and stream beds will be done by hand where possible. If 

machinery is needed in these areas, it will be selected to minimize disturbance

• After construction of spring head boxes, troughs, pipelines, and well sites, the 

areas will be cleaned up and refuse removed.

• Cuts, fills, and excavation will be dressed and seeded to blend with surroundings.

Pipelines will be buried where possible.

• Original water sources will be protected, fenced if required, and an off-stream 

watering supply will be provided near the site.

• Size of storage tanks and troughs will be designed to accommodate expected 

needs of livestock and wildlife using each water source.

• Water will be left at the sight for wildlife. Wells will be cased to prevent cave-ins 

and well sites will be fenced.

• Storage structures will be designed to provide water for wildlife. Drinking ramps 

(wildlife ramps) will be installed and storage structure heights will not prohibit 

young wildlife from obtaining water.

2. Fences:

• Property and allotment fences will be determined in their correct location before 

they are constructed. No fence will be constructed to an approximate or unknown 

property or allotment boundary line.

• Ensure that local wildlife needs are incorporated into any construction 

specifications on contract built fence projects.

• Before removing, replacing, or modifying existing fences, cadastral survey will be 

consulted to assure property boundary or evidence of ownership will not be 

destroyed.

• Consider removing, replacing, or modifying existing fences in sage grouse 

habitat. 
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• In critical sage grouse habitat, mark top wire with high-visibility marking 

material.

• Damaged gates and fences will be repaired or replaced according to landowner 

requirements at the operator‘s expense. When working on or near grazing lands, 

project-related construction equipment and vehicle movement will be minimized 

to avoid disturbance of grazing lands. Responsibilities for fence, gate, and cattle 

guard maintenance and noxious weed control will be defined in APDs, BLM 

approvals, or right-of-way (ROW) grants. Facilities will be placed to avoid or 

minimize impacts on livestock water. 

Recreation 

• For developed recreation, construct recreation sites and provide appropriate 

sanitation facilities to minimize impacts to resource values, maximize public 

health and safety, and minimize user conflicts related to approved activities and 

access within an area as appropriate.

• Use public education and/or physical barriers (such as rocks, posts, and 

vegetation) to direct or preclude uses and to minimize impacts to resource values.

• Oil and gas exploration activities will be coordinated for timing to minimize 

conflicts during recreation peak use periods.

• Dispersed recreation activity would be monitored to identify where this use may 

be impacting the vegetation resource.

• Seasonal restrictions on public vehicular access will be evaluated where there are 

wildlife habitat conflict and/or conflicts with wild horses and or wild horse habitat 

or road damage/maintenance issues.

• Do not allow surface or underground disturbance to occur within 100 yards 

(horizontally or vertically) of known cave resources.

• Where appropriate, do not allow ground disturbing activities within 100 yards of 

cave entrances, drainage areas, subsurface passages, and developed recreation 

sites. Do not dispose of waste material or chemicals in sinkholes or gates by cave 

entrances. If during construction activities any sinkholes or cave openings are 

discovered, case construction activities and notify the BLM Authorized Officer.

• The recreation permittee will assume liability for and clean up any and all releases 

of hazardous substances or oil (more than one quart) disposed on public lands as 

defined in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan (40 CFR 

§ 300). The permittee will immediately notify the BLM Authorized Officer of any 

and all releases of hazardous substances or oil (more than one quart) on public 

land.
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Health and Safety

• Hazardous waste site clearance surveys will be conducted prior to surface 

disturbance commencement.

• Solid and hazardous wastes generated as a result of oil and gas lease operations 

will be disposed of in a manner and at a site approved by the appropriate 

regulating agency.

• Areas with steep topography will be developed in accordance with the BLM Gold 

Book (United States Department of the Interior and United States Department of 

Agriculture 2007) requirements. Lease roads and constructed facilities will be 

located in accordance with the approved APD. In areas of construction, topsoil 

will be stockpiled separately from other material, and be reused in reclamation of 

the disturbed areas. Unused portions of the producing well site will have topsoil 

spread over it and will be reseeded.

• Construction activities will be restricted during wet or muddy conditions and will 

be designed following BMPs to control erosion and sedimentation. If porous 

subsurface materials are encountered during pit construction, all onsite fluid pits 

will be lined. During road and utility ROW construction, surface soils will be 

stockpiled adjacent to the cuts and fills. 

• Stream crossings will be designed to minimize impacts and not impede stream 

flow. Erosion control measures will be maintained and continued until adequate 

vegetation cover (as defined by BLM on a case-by-case basis) is reestablished.

Vegetation will be removed only when necessary. Water bars will be constructed 

on slopes of 3:1 or steeper. 

• Erosion control and site restoration measures will be initiated as soon as a 

particular area is no longer needed for exploration, production, staging, or access.

Disturbed areas will be re-contoured to provide proper drainage. 

• The road ditches would be flat bottomed and “V” ditches not allowed. Place water 

turn outs where appropriate to lessen the water impacts upon the ditches.

• Topsoil piles may be required to be seeded following the BLM seeding policy. 

• Take measures to isolate, control, and properly dispose of toxic and hazardous 

materials.

Transportation– Travel Management (Road design and maintenance)

• Keep access roads to a minimum and use only when necessary.

• Design roads to minimize total disturbance, conform with topography, and 

minimize disruption of natural drainage patterns.

• Locate roads on stable terrain, such as ridgetops; natural benches; and flatter 

transitional slopes near ridges, valley bottoms, and moderate sideslopes, and away 
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from slumps, slide-prone areas, concave slopes, clay beds, and where rock layers 

dip parallel to the slope. Locate roads on well-drained soil types; avoid wet areas.

• Construct roads for surface drainage by using outslopes, crowns, grade changes, 

drain dips, waterbars, and /or insloping, as appropriate, during road maintenance.

Grade roads only as necessary. 

• Sloping the road base to the outside edge for surface drainage is normally 

recommended for local spurs or minor collector roads where low traffic volume 

and lower traffic speeds are anticipated. This is also recommended in situations 

where long intervals between maintenance will occur and where minimum 

excavation is wanted. Outsloping is not recommended on steep slopes. Sloping 

the road base to the inside is an acceptable practice with steep sideslopes and 

where the underlying soil formation is very rocky and not subject to appreciable 

erosion or failure.

• Crown and ditching is recommended for arterial and collector roads where traffic 

volume, speed, intensity, and user comfort are considerations. Recommended 

gradients range from 0 percent (0%) to 15 percent (15%) where crown and 

ditching may be applied, as long as adequate drainage away from the road surface 

and ditch lines is maintained.

• Retain vegetation between roads and streams to filter runoff caused by roads.

• Use culverts that pass, at a minimum, a 50 year storm event and/or have a 

minimum diameter of 13 inches for permanent stream crossings and a minimum 

diameter of 18 inches for road crossdrains.

• Strip and stockpile topsoil ahead of construction of new roads, if feasible.

Reapply soil to cut and fill slopes prior to revegetation.

• Use existing roads whenever possible rather than constructing new road systems.

B.12BLM Wind Energy Development Program 

Policies and Best Management Practices (BMPs)

The BLM's Wind Energy Development Program will establish a number of policies and BMPs, 

provided below, regarding the development of wind energy resources on BLM administered 

public lands. The policies and BMPs will be applicable to all wind energy development projects 

on BLM-administered public lands. The policies address the administration of wind energy 

development activities, and the BMPs identify required mitigation measures that would need to 

be incorporated into project-specific Plans of Development (PODs) and right-of-way (ROW) 

authorization stipulations. Additional mitigation measures will be applied to individual projects, 

in the form of stipulations in the ROW authorization as appropriate, to address site-specific and 

species-specific issues. 

These policies and BMPs were formulated through preparation of the Final Wind Energy PElS 

(BLM 2005). The PElS included detailed, comprehensive analysis of the potential impacts of 
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wind energy development and relevant mitigation measures; reviews of existing, relevant 

mitigation guidance; and reviews of comments received during scoping and public review of the 

Draft PElS. Also available online at: http://windeis.anl.gov/

A.1 Policies 

• The BLM will not issue ROW authorizations for wind energy development on 

lands on which wind energy development is incompatible with specific resource 

values. Lands that will be excluded from wind energy site monitoring and testing 

and development include designated areas that are part of the National Landscape 

Conservation System (NLCS) (e.g., Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, 

National Monuments, NCAs,1 Wild and Scenic Rivers, and National Historic and 

Scenic Trails) and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).2

Additional areas of land may be excluded from wind energy development on the 

basis of findings of resource impacts that cannot be mitigated and/or conflict with 

existing and planned multiple-use activities or land use plans. 

• To the extent possible, wind energy projects shall be developed in a manner that 

will not prevent other land uses, including minerals extraction, livestock grazing, 

recreational use, and other ROW uses. 

• Entities seeking to develop a wind energy project on BLM-administered lands 

shall consult with appropriate federal, state, and local agencies regarding specific 

projects as early as in the planning process as appropriate to ensure that all 

potential construction, operation, and decommissioning issues and concerns are 

identified and adequately addressed.

• The BLM will initiate government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribal 

governments whose interests might be directly and substantially affected by 

activities on BLM-administered lands as early in the planning process as 

appropriate to ensure that construction, operation, and decommissioning issues 

and concerns are identified and adequately addressed. 

• Entities seeking to develop a wind energy project on BLM-administered lands, in 

conjunction with BLM Washington Office (WO) and Field Office (FO) staff, 

shall consult with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) regarding the location 

of wind power projects and turbine siting as early in the planning process as 

appropriate. This consultation shall occur concurrently at both the 

installation/field level and the Pentagon/BLM WO level An interagency protocol 

agreement is being developed to establish a consultation process and to identify 

the scope of issues for consultation. Lands withdrawn for military purposes are 

under the administrative jurisdiction of the DoD or a military service and are not 

available for issuance of wind energy authorizations by the BLM. 

 1 Wind energy development is permitted in one NCA, the California Desert Conservation Area (COCA), in accordance with the 

provisions of the California Desert Conservation Area Plan 1980. As Amended (BLM 1999).

2 Although the MPDS developed for this PElS (Section 2.2.1 and Appendix 8) did not exclude all of these lands at the screening 

level, they will be excluded from wind energy development.
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• The BLM will consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as 

required by Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). The specific 

consultation requirements will be determined on a project-by-project basis. 

• The BLM will consult with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) as 

required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 

(NHPA). The specific consultation requirements will be determined on a projectby-project basis. If programmatic Section 106 consultations have been conducted 

and are adequate to cover a proposed project, additional consultation may not be 

needed.

• Existing land use plans wi1l be amended, as appropriate, to (1) adopt provisions 

of the BLM's Wind Energy Development Program, (2) identify land considered to 

be available for wind energy development, and (3) identify land that will not be 

available for wind energy development. 

• The level of environmental analysis to be required under NEPA for individual 

wind power projects will be determined at the FO level. For many projects, it may 

be determined that a tiered environmental assessment (EA) is appropriate in lieu 

of an EIS. To the extent that the PElS addresses anticipated issues and concerns 

associated with an individual project, including potential cumulative impacts, the 

BLM will tier off of the decisions embedded in the PElS and limit the scope of 

additional project-specific NEPA analyses. The site specific NEPA analyses will 

include analyses of project site configuration and micrositing considerations, 

monitoring program requirements, and appropriate mitigation measures. In 

particular, the mitigation measures discussed in Chapter 5 of the PElS may be 

consulted in determining site-specific requirements. Public involvement will be 

incorporated into all wind energy development projects to ensure that all concerns 

and issues are identified and adequately addressed. In general, the scope of the 

NEPA analyses will be limited to the proposed action on BLM-administered 

public lands; however, if access to proposed development on adjacent non-BLMadministered lands is entirely dependent on obtaining ROW access across BLMadministered public lands and there are no alternatives to that access, the NEPA 

analysis for the proposed ROW may need to assess the environmental effects 

from that proposed development. The BLM's analyses of ROW access projects 

may tier off of the PElS to the extent that the proposed project falls within the 

scope of the PElS analyses. 

• Site-specific environmental analyses will tier from the PElS and identity and 

assess any cumulative impacts that are beyond the scope of the cumulative

impacts addressed in the PElS.

• The Categorical Exclusion (CX) applicable to the issuance of short-term ROWs 

or land use authorizations may be applicable to some site monitoring and testing 

activities. The relevant CX, established for the BLM in the DOI Departmental 

Manual 516, Chapter 11, Sec. 11.5, E(l9) (DOI 2004), encompasses "issuance of 

short-term (3 years or less) rights-of-way or land use authorizations for such uses 
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as storage sites, apiary sites, and construction sites where the proposal includes 

rehabilitation to restore the land to its natural or original condition." 

• The BLM will require financial bonds for all wind energy development projects 

on BLM-administered public lands to ensure compliance with the terms and 

conditions of the rights-of-way authorization and the requirements of applicable 

regulatory requirements, including reclamation costs. The amount of the required 

bond will be determined during the rights-of-way authorization process on the 

basis of site-specific and project-specific factors. The BLM may also require 

financial bonds for site monitoring and testing authorizations. 

• Entities seeking to develop a wind energy project on BLM-administered public 

lands shall develop a project-specific Plan of Development (POD) that 

incorporates all BMPs and, as appropriate, the requirements of other existing and 

relevant BLM mitigation guidance, including the BLM's interim off-site 

mitigation guidance (BLM 2005a). Additional mitigation measures will be 

incorporated into the POD and into the ROW authorization as project stipulations, 

as needed, to address site-specific and species-specific issues. The POD will 

include a site plan showing the locations of turbines, roads, power lines, other 

infrastructure, and other areas of short-and long-term disturbance. 

• The BLM will incorporate management goals and objectives specific to habitat 

conservation for species of concern (e.g., sage-grouse), as appropriate, into the 

POD for proposed wind energy projects. 

• The BLM will consider the visual resource values of the public lands involved in 

proposed wind energy development projects, consistent with BLM Visual 

Resource Management (VRM) policies and guidance. The BLM will work with 

the ROW applicant to incorporate visual design considerations into the planning

and design of the project to minimize potential visual impacts of the proposal and 

to meet the VRM objectives of the area. 

• Operators of wind power facilities on BLM-administered public lands shall 

consult with the BLM and other appropriate federal, state, and local agencies 

regarding any planned upgrades or changes to the wind facility design or 

operation. Proposed changes of this nature may require additional environmental 

analysis and/or revision of the POD. 

• The BLM's Wind Energy Development Program will incorporate adaptive 

management strategies to ensure that potential adverse impacts of wind energy 

development are avoided (if possible), minimized, or mitigated to acceptable 

levels. The programmatic policies and BMPs will be updated and revised as new

data regarding the impacts of wind power projects become available. At the 

project-level, operators will be required to develop monitoring programs to 

evaluate the environmental conditions at the site through all phases of 

development, to establish metrics against which monitoring observations can be 

measured, to identify potential mitigation measures, and to establish protocols for 
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incorporating monitoring observations and additional mitigation measures into 

standard operating procedures and project-specific stipulations. 

A.2 Best Management Practices (BMPs) 

The BMPs will be adopted as required elements of project-specific PODs and/or as ROW 

authorization stipulations. They are categorized by development activity: site monitoring and 

testing, development of the POD, construction, operation, and decommissioning. The BMPs for 

development of the POD identify required elements of the POD needed to address potential 

impacts associated with subsequent phases of development. 

A.2.1 Site Monitoring and Testing 

• The area disturbed by installation of meteorological towers (i.e., footprint) shall 

be kept to a minimum. 

• Existing roads shall be used to the maximum extent feasible. If new roads are 

necessary, they shall be designed and constructed to the appropriate standard. 

• Meteorological towers shall not be located in sensitive habitats or in areas where 

ecological resources known to be sensitive to human activities (e.g., prairie 

grouse) are present. Installation of towers shall be scheduled to avoid disruption 

of wildlife reproductive activities or other important behaviors. 

• Meteorological towers installed for site monitoring and testing shall be inspected 

periodically for structural integrity. 

A.2.2 Plan of Development Preparation 

General 

• The BLM and operators shall contact appropriate agencies, property owners, and 

other stakeholders early in the planning process to identify potentially sensitive 

land uses and issues, rules that govern wind energy development locally, and land 

use concerns specific to the region. 

• Available information describing the environmental and sociocultural conditions 

in the vicinity of the proposed project shall be collected and reviewed as needed 

to predict potential impacts of the project. 

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-required notice of proposed 

construction shall be made as early as possible to identity any air safety measures 

that would be required. 

• To plan for efficient use of the land, necessary infrastructure requirements shall 

be consolidated wherever possible, and current transmission and market access 

shall be evaluated carefully. 
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• The project shall be planned to utilize existing roads and utility corridors to the 

maximum extent feasible, and to minimize the number and length/size of new 

roads, lay-down areas, and borrow areas. 

• A monitoring program shall be developed to ensure that environmental conditions 

are monitored during the construction, operation, and decommissioning phases. 

The monitoring program requirements, including adaptive management strategies, 

shall be established at the project level to ensure that potential adverse impacts of 

wind energy development are mitigated. The monitoring program shall identify 

the monitoring requirements for each environmental resource present at the site, 

establish metrics against which monitoring observations can be measured, identify 

potential mitigation measures, and establish protocols for incorporating 

monitoring observations and additional mitigation measures into standard 

operating procedures and BMPs.

• "Good housekeeping" procedures shall be developed to ensure that during 

operation the site will be kept clean of debris, garbage, fugitive trash or waste, 

and graffiti; to prohibit scrap heaps and dumps; and to minimize storage yards. 

Wildlife and Other Ecological Resources 

• Operators shall review existing information on species and habitats in the vicinity 

of the project area to identify potential concerns. 

• Operators shall conduct surveys for federal and/or state-protected species and 

other species of concern (including special status plant and animal species) within 

the project area and design the project to avoid (if possible), minimize, or mitigate 

impacts to these resources. 

• Operators shall identify important, sensitive, or unique habitats in the vicinity of 

the project and design the project to avoid (if possible), minimize, or mitigate 

impacts to these habitats (e.g., locate the turbines, roads, and ancillary facilities in 

the least environmentally sensitive areas; i.e., away from riparian habitats, 

streams, wetlands, drainages, or critical wildlife habitats). 

• The BLM will prohibit the disturbance of any population of federal listed plant 

species. 

• Operators shall evaluate avian and bat use of the project area and design the 

project to minimize or mitigate the potential for bird and bat strikes (e.g., 

development shall not occur in riparian habitats and wetlands). Scientifically 

rigorous avian and bat use surveys shall be conducted; the amount and extent of 

ecological baseline data required shall be determined on a project basis. 

• Turbines shall be configured to avoid landscape features known to attract raptors, 

if site studies show that placing turbines there would pose a significant risk to 

raptors. 
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• Operators shall determine the presence of bat colonies and avoid placing turbines 

near known bat hibernation, breeding, and maternity/nursery colonies; in known 

migration corridors; or in known flight paths between colonies and feeding areas.

• Operators shall determine the presence of active raptor nests (i.e., raptor nests 

used during the breeding season). Measures to reduce raptor use at a project site 

(e.g., minimize road cuts, maintain either no vegetation or nonattractive plant 

species around the turbines) shall be considered. 

• A habitat restoration plan shall be developed to avoid (if possible), minimize, or 

mitigate negative impacts on vulnerable wildlife while maintaining or enhancing 

habitat values for other species. The plan shall identify revegetation, soil 

stabilization, and erosion reduction measures that shall be implemented to ensure 

that all temporary use areas are restored. The plan shall require that restoration 

occur as soon as possible after completion of activities to reduce the amount of 

habitat converted at any one time and to speed up the recovery to natural habitats. 

• Procedures shall be developed to mitigate potential impacts to special status 

species. Such measures could include avoidance, relocation of project facilities or 

lay-down areas, and/or relocation of biota. 

• Facilities shall be designed to discourage their use as perching or nesting 

substrates by birds. For example, power lines and poles shall be configured to 

minimize raptor electrocutions and discourage raptor and raven nesting and 

perching. 

Visual Resources 

• The public shall be involved and informed about the visual site design elements of 

the proposed wind energy facilities. Possible approaches include conducting 

public forums for disseminating information, offering organized tours of 

operating wind developments, and using computer simulation and visualization 

techniques in public presentations. 

• Turbine arrays and turbine design shall be integrated with the surrounding 

landscape. Design elements to be addressed include visual uniformity, use of 

tubular towers, proportion and color of turbines, nonreflective paints, and 

prohibition of commercial messages on turbines.

• Other site design elements shall be integrated with the surrounding landscape. 

Elements to address include minimizing the profile of the ancillary structures, 

burial of cables, prohibition of commercial symbols, and lighting. Regarding 

lighting, efforts shall be made to minimize the need for and amount of lighting on 

ancillary structures. 

Roads

• An access road siting and management plan shall be prepared incorporating 

existing BLM standards regarding road design, construction, and maintenance 
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such as those described in the BLM 9113 Manual (BLM 1985) and the Surface 

Operating Standards for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development (RMRCC 

1989) (i.e., the Gold Book). 

Ground Transportation 

• A transportation plan shall be developed, particularly for the transport of turbine 

components, main assembly cranes, and other large pieces of equipment. The plan 

shall consider specific object sizes, weights, origin, destination, and unique 

handling requirements and shall evaluate alternative transportation approaches. In 

addition, the process to be used to comply with unique state requirements and to 

obtain all necessary permits shall be clearly identified. 

• A traffic management plan shall be prepared for the site access roads to ensure 

that no hazards would result from the increased truck traffic and that traffic flow 

would not be adversely impacted. This plan shall incorporate measures such as 

informational signs, flaggers when equipment may result in blocked throughways, 

and traffic cones to identify any necessary changes in temporary lane 

configuration. 

Noise 

• Proponents of a wind energy development project shall take measurements to 

assess the existing background noise levels at a given site and compare them with 

the anticipated noise levels associated with the proposed project. 

Noxious Weeds and Pesticides 

• Operators shall develop a plan for control of noxious weeds and invasive species, 

which could occur as a result of new surface disturbance activities at the site. The 

plan shall address monitoring, education of personnel on weed identification, the 

manner in which weeds spread, and methods for treating infestations. The use of 

certified weed-free mulching shall be required. If trucks and construction 

equipment are arriving from locations with known invasive vegetation problems, 

a controlled inspection and cleaning area shall be established to visually inspect 

construction equipment arriving at the project area and to remove and collect 

seeds that may be adhering to tires and other equipment surfaces. 

• If pesticides are used on the site, an integrated pest management plan shall be 

developed to ensure that applications would be conducted within the framework 

of BLM and DOI policies and entail only the use of EPA-registered pesticides. 

Pesticide use shall be limited to nonpersistent, immobile pesticides and shall only 

be applied in accordance with label and application permit directions and 

stipulations for terrestrial and aquatic applications. 

Cultural/Historic Resources 

• The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal governments early in the planning 

process to identify issues regarding the proposed wind energy development, 
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including issues related to the presence of cultural properties, access rights, 

disruption to traditional cultural practices, and impacts to visual resources 

important to the Tribe(s). 

• The presence of archaeological sites and historic properties in the area of potential 

effect shall be determined on the basis of a records search of recorded sites and 

properties in the area and/or, depending on the extent and reliability of existing 

information, an archaeological survey. Archaeological sites and historic properties 

present in the area of potential effect shall be reviewed to determine whether they 

meet the criteria of eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic 

Places (NRHP). 

• When any rights-of-way application includes remnants of a National Historic 

Trail, is located within the viewshed of a National Historic Trail's designated 

centerline, or includes or is within the viewshed of a trail eligible for listing on the 

NRHP, the operator shall evaluate the potential visual impacts to the trail 

associated with the proposed project and identify appropriate mitigation measures 

for inclusion as stipulations in the POD. 

• If cultural resources are present at the site, or if areas with a high potential to 

contain cultural material have been identified, a cultural resources management 

plan (CRMP) shall be developed. This plan shall address mitigation activities to 

be taken for cultural resources found at the site. Avoidance of the area is always 

the preferred mitigation option. Other mitigation options include archaeological 

survey and excavation (as warranted) and monitoring. If an area exhibits a high 

potential, but no artifacts were observed during an archaeological survey, 

monitoring by a qualified archaeologist could be required during all excavation 

and earthmoving in the high-potential area. A report shall be prepared 

documenting these activities. The CRMP also shall (1) establish a monitoring 

program, (2) identify measures to prevent potential looting/vandalism or erosion 

impacts, and (3) address the education of workers and the public to make them 

aware of the consequences of unauthorized collection of artifacts and destruction 

of property on public land. 

Paleontological Resources 

• Operators shall determine whether paleontological resources exist in a project 

area on the basis of the sedimentary context of the area, a records search for past 

paleontological finds in the area, and/or, depending on the extent of existing 

information, a paleontological survey. 

• If paleontological resources are present at the site, or if areas with a high potential 

to contain paleontological material have been identified, a paleontological 

resources management plan shall be developed. This plan shall include a 

mitigation plan for collection of the fossils; mitigation could include avoidance, 

removal of fossils, or monitoring. If an area exhibits a high potential but no fossils 

were observed during survey, monitoring by a qualified paleontologist could be 

required during all excavation and earthmoving in the sensitive area. A report 
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shall be prepared documenting these activities. The paleontological resources 

management plan also shall establish a monitoring program, (2) identify measures 

to prevent potential looting/vandalism or erosion impacts, and (3) address the 

education of workers and the public to make them aware of the consequences of 

unauthorized collection of fossils on public land. 

Hazardous Materials and Waste Management 

• Operators shall develop a hazardous materials management plan addressing 

storage, use, transportation, and disposal of each hazardous material anticipated to 

be used at the site. The plan shall identify all hazardous materials that would be 

used, stored, or transported at the site. It shall establish inspection procedures, 

storage requirements, storage quantity limits, inventory control, nonhazardous 

product substitutes, and disposition of excess materials. The plan shall also 

identify requirements for notices to federal and local emergency response 

authorities and include emergency response plans. 

• Operators shall develop a waste management plan identifying the waste streams 

that are expected to be generated at the site and addressing hazardous waste 

determination procedures, waste storage locations, waste-specific management 

and disposal requirements, inspection procedures, and waste minimization 

procedures. This plan shall address all solid and liquid wastes that may be 

generated at the site. 

• Operators shall develop a spill prevention and response plan identifying where 

hazardous materials and wastes are stored on site, spill prevention measures to be 

implemented, training requirements, appropriate spill response actions for each 

material or waste, the locations of spill response kits on site, a procedure for 

ensuring that the spill response kits are adequately stocked at all times, and 

procedures for making timely notifications to authorities. 

Storm Water 

• Operators shall develop a storm water management plan for the site to ensure 

compliance with applicable regulations and prevent off-site migration of 

contaminated storm water or increased soil erosion. 

Human Health and Safety 

• A safety assessment shall be conducted to describe potential safety issues and the 

means that would be taken to mitigate them, including issues such as site access, 

construction, safe work practices, security, heavy equipment transportation, traffic 

management, emergency procedures, and fire control. 

• A health and safety program shall be developed to protect both workers and the 

general public during construction, operation, and decommissioning of a wind 

energy project. Regarding occupational health and safety, the program shall 

identify all applicable federal and state occupational safety standards; establish 

safe work practices for each task (e.g., requirements for personal protective 
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equipment and safety harnesses; Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

[OSHA] standard practices for safe use of explosives and blasting agents; and 

measures for reducing occupational electric and magnetic fields [EMF] 

exposures); establish fire safety evacuation procedures; and define safety 

performance standards (e.g., electrical system standards and lightning protection 

standards). The program shall include a training program to identify hazard 

training requirements for workers for each task and establish procedures for 

providing required training to all workers. Documentation of training and a 

mechanism for reporting serious accidents to appropriate agencies shall be 

established. 

• Regarding public health and safety, the health and safety program shall establish a 

safety zone or setback for wind turbine generators from residences and occupied 

buildings, roads, rights-of-ways, and other public access areas that is sufficient to 

prevent accidents resulting from the operation of wind turbine generators. It shall 

identify requirements for temporary fencing around staging areas, storage yards, 

and excavations during construction or decommissioning activities. It shall also 

identify measures to be taken during the operation phase to limit public access to 

hazardous facilities (e.g. permanent fencing would be installed only around 

electrical substations and turbine tower access doors would be locked).

• Operators shall consult with local planning authorities regarding increased traffic 

during the construction phase, including an assessment of the number of vehicles 

per day, their size, and type. Specific issues of concern (e.g., location of school 

bus routes and stops) shall be identified and addressed in the traffic management 

plan. 

• If operation of the wind turbines is expected to cause significant adverse impacts 

to nearby residences and occupied buildings from shadow flicker, low-frequency 

sound, or EMF, site-specific recommendations for addressing these concerns shall 

be incorporated into the project design (e.g., establishing a sufficient setback from 

turbines). 

• The project shall be planned to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) 

(e.g., impacts to radar, microwave, television, and radio transmissions) and 

comply with Federal Communications Commission [FCC] regulations. Signal 

strength studies shall be conducted when proposed locations have the potential to 

impact transmissions. Potential interference with public safety communication 

systems (e.g., radio traffic related to emergency activities) shall be avoided. 

• The project shall be planned to comply with FAA regulations, including lighting 

regulations, and to avoid potential safety issues associated with proximity to 

airports, military bases or training areas, or landing strips. 

• Operators shall develop a fire management strategy to implement measures to 

minimize the potential for a human-caused fire. 
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A.2.3 Construction 

General 

• All control and mitigation measures established for the project in the POD and the 

resource-specific management plans that are part of the POD shall be maintained 

and implemented throughout the construction phase, as appropriate.

• The number and size/length of roads, temporary fences, lay-down areas, and 

borrow areas shall be minimized. Topsoil from all excavations and construction 

activities shall be salvaged and reapplied during reclamation. 

• All areas of disturbed soil shall be reclaimed using weed-free native grasses, 

forbs, and shrubs. Reclamation activities shall be undertaken as early as possible 

on disturbed areas. 

• All electrical collector lines shall be buried in a manner that minimizes additional 

surface disturbance (e.g., along roads or other paths of surface disturbance). 

Overhead lines may be used in cases where burial of lines would result in further 

habitat disturbance. 

• Operators shall identify unstable slopes and local factors that can induce slope 

instability (such as groundwater conditions, precipitation, earthquake activities, 

slope angles, and the dip angles of geologic strata). Operators also shall avoid 

creating excessive slopes during excavation and blasting operations. Special 

construction techniques shall be used where applicable in areas of steep slopes, 

erodible soil, and stream channel crossings.

• Erosion controls that comply with county, state, and federal standards shall be 

applied. Practices such as jute netting, silt fences, and check dams shall be applied 

near disturbed areas.

Wildlife

• Guy wires on permanent meteorological towers shall be avoided, however, may 

be necessary on temporary meteorological towers installed during site monitoring 

and testing.

• In accordance with the habitat restoration plan, restoration shall be undertaken as 

soon as possible after completion of construction activities to reduce the amount 

of habitat converted at any one time and to speed up the recovery to natural 

habitats.

• All construction employees shall be instructed to avoid harassment and 

disturbance of wildlife, especially during reproductive (e.g. courtship and nesting) 

seasons. In addition, pets shall not be permitted on site during construction.
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Visual Resources

• Operators shall reduce visual impacts during construction by minimizing areas of 

surface disturbance, controlling erosion, using dust suppression techniques, and 

restoring exposed soils as closely as possible to their original contour and 

vegetation. 

Roads 

• Existing roads shall be used, but only if in safe and environmentally sound 

locations. If new roads are necessary, they shall be designed and constructed to 

the appropriate standard and be no higher than necessary to accommodate their 

intended functions (e.g., traffic volume and weight of vehicles). Excessive grades 

on roads, road embankments, ditches, and drainages shall be avoided, especially 

in areas with erodible soils. Special construction techniques shall be used, where 

applicable. Abandoned roads and roads that are no longer needed shall be 

recontoured and revegetated. 

• Access roads and on-site roads shall be surfaced with aggregate materials, 

wherever appropriate. 

• Access roads shall be located to follow natural contours and minimize side hill 

cuts.

• Roads shall be located away from drainage bottoms and avoid wetlands, if 

practicable. 

• Roads shall be designed so that changes to surface water runoff are avoided and 

erosion is not initiated. 

• Access roads shall be located to minimize stream crossings. All structures 

crossing streams shall be located and constructed so that they do not decrease 

channel stability or increase water velocity. Operators shall obtain all applicable 

federal and state permits. 

• Existing drainage systems shall not be altered, especially in sensitive areas such 

as erodible soils or steep slopes. Potential soil erosion shall be controlled at 

culvert outlets with appropriate structures. Catch basins, roadway ditches, and 

culverts shall be cleaned and maintained regularly. 

Ground Transportation 

• Project personnel and contractors shall be instructed and required to adhere to 

speed limits commensurate with road types, traffic volumes, vehicle types, and 

site-specific conditions, to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow and to reduce 

wildlife collisions and disturbance and airborne dust. 

• Traffic shall be restricted to the roads developed for the project. Use of other 

unimproved roads shall be restricted to emergency situations. 
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• Signs shall be placed along construction roads to identify speed limits, travel 

restrictions, and other standard traffic control information. To minimize impacts 

on local commuters, consideration shall be given to limiting construction vehicles 

traveling on public roadways during the morning and late afternoon commute 

time. 

Air Emissions 

• Dust abatement techniques shall be used on unpaved, unvegetated surfaces to 

minimize airborne dust. 

• Speed limits (e.g., 25 mph [40 kph]) shall be posted and enforced to reduce 

airborne fugitive dust. 

• Construction materials and stockpiled soils shall be covered if they are a source of 

fugitive dust. 

• Dust abatement techniques shall be used before and during surface clearing, 

excavation, or blasting activities. 

Excavation and Blasting Activities 

• Operators shall gain a clear understanding of the local hydrogeology. Areas of 

groundwater discharge and recharge and their potential relationships with surface 

water bodies shall be identified. 

• Operators shall avoid creating hydrologic conduits between two aquifers during 

foundation excavation and other activities. 

• Foundations and trenches shall be backfilled with originally excavated material as 

much as possible. Excess excavation materials shall be disposed of only in 

approved areas or, if suitable, stockpiled for use in reclamation activities. 

• Explosives shall be used only within specified times and at specified distances 

from sensitive wildlife or streams and lakes, as established by the BLM or other 

federal and state agencies. 

• Borrow material shall be obtained only from authorized and permitted sites. 

Existing sites shall be used in preference to new sites. 

Noise

• Noisy construction activities (including blasting) shall be limited to the least 

noise-sensitive times of day (i.e., daytime only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.)

• All equipment shall have sound-control devices no less effective than those 

provided on the original equipment. All construction equipment used shall be 

adequately muffled and maintained.

• All stationary construction equipment (i.e. compressors and generators) shall be 

located as far as possible from nearby residences.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 B-58 Appendix B

• If blasting or other noisy activities are required during the construction period, 

nearby residents shall be notified in advance.

Cultural and Paleontological Resources 

• Unexpected discovery of cultural or paleontological resources during construction 

shall be brought to the attention of the responsible BLM authorized officer 

immediately. Work shall be halted in the vicinity of the find to avoid further 

disturbance to the resources while they are being evaluated and appropriate 

mitigation measures are being developed. 

Hazardous Materials and Waste Management

• Secondary containment shall be provided for all on-site hazardous materials and 

waste storage, including fuel. In particular, fuel storage (for construction vehicles 

and equipment) shall be a temporary activity occurring only for as long as is 

needed to support construction activities. 

• Wastes shall be properly containerized and removed periodically for disposal at 

appropriate off-site permitted disposal facilities.

• In the event of an accidental release to the environment, the operator shall 

document the event, including a root cause analysis, appropriate corrective actions 

taken, and a characterization of the resulting environmental or health and safety 

impacts. Documentation of the event shall be provided to the BLM authorized 

officer and other federal and state agencies, as required. 

• Any wastewater generated in association with temporary, portable sanitary 

facilities shall be periodically removed by a licensed hauler and introduced into an 

existing municipal sewage treatment facility. Temporary, portable sanitary 

facilities provided for construction crews shall be adequate to support expected 

on-site personnel and shall be removed at completion of construction activities. 

Public Health and Safety 

• Temporary fencing shall be installed around staging areas, storage yards, and 

excavations during construction to limit public access. 

A.2.4 Operation

General 

• All control and mitigation measures established for the project in the POD and the 

resource-specific management plans that are part of the POD shall be maintained 

and implemented throughout the operational phase, as appropriate. These control 

and mitigation measures shall be reviewed and revised, as needed, to address 

changing conditions or requirements at the site, throughout the operational phase. 

This adaptive management approach would help ensure that impacts from 

operations are kept to a minimum. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix B B-59 September 2015

• Inoperative turbines shall be repaired, replaced, or removed in a timely manner. 

Requirements to do so shall be incorporated into the due diligence provisions of 

the rights-of-way authorization. Operators will be required to demonstrate due 

diligence in the repair, replacement, or removal of turbines; failure to do so could 

result in termination of the rights-of-way authorization. 

Wildlife 

• Employees, contractors, and site visitors shall be instructed to avoid harassment 

and disturbance of wildlife, especially during reproductive (e.g., courtship and 

nesting) seasons. In addition, any pets shall be controlled to avoid harassment and 

disturbance of wildlife. 

• Observations of potential wildlife problems, including wildlife mortality, shall be 

reported to the BLM authorized officer immediately. 

Ground Transportation

• Ongoing ground transportation planning shall be conducted to evaluate road use, 

minimize traffic volume, and ensure that roads are maintained adequately to 

minimize associated impacts.

Monitoring Program 

• Site monitoring protocols defined in the POD shall be implemented. These will 

incorporate monitoring program observations and additional mitigation measures 

into standard operating procedures and BMPs to minimize future environmental 

impacts. 

• Results of monitoring program efforts shall be provided to the BLM authorized 

officer. 

Public Health and Safety 

• Permanent fencing shall be installed and maintained around electrical substations, 

and turbine tower access doors shall be locked to limit public access. 

• In the event an installed wind energy development project results in EMI, the 

operator shall work with the owner of the impacted communications system to 

resolve the problem. Additional warning information may also need to be 

conveyed to aircraft with onboard radar systems so that echoes from wind 

turbines can be quickly recognized. 

A.2.5 Decommissioning 

General 

• Prior to the termination of the rights-of-way authorization, a decommissioning 

plan shall be developed and approved by the BLM. The decommissioning plan 

shall include a site reclamation plan and monitoring program. 
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Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 B-60 Appendix B

• All management plans, BMPs, and stipulations developed for the construction 

phase shall be applied to similar activities during the decommissioning phase. 

• All turbines and ancillary structures shall be removed from the site.

• Topsoil from all decommissioning activities shall be salvaged and replied during 

final reclamation.

• All areas of disturbed soil shall be reclaimed using weed-free native shrubs, 

grasses, and forbs.

• The vegetation cover, composition, and diversity shall be restored to values 

commensurate with the ecological setting. 
Appendix C: 

Bureau of Land Management Billings Field Office and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument Sign Plan 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

BUREAU of LAND MANAGEMENT 


BILLINGS FIELD OFFICE and 


POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT 


SIGN PLAN 


February, 2013 

Submitted By:~ &~ 

Billings Field Office Sign Coordinator Date 

Date 

; 1 

Reviewed By ~tt-d..L t - 5- ;l.Ol3 

Billings Field Office Assistant Manager Date 

~-7-13 

Date 

Appendix C C-1 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

Introduction 2 

Purpose of Plan 2 

Sign Policy/Action 2 

Sign Inventory 3 

Sign Review 5 

Sign Categories 8 

Design Standards 11 

Plan Relationships 11 

Pennits and Clearances, and Inventories 12 

Sign Placement 12 

Sign Priority 13 

Sign Ordering and Storage 13 

Sign Database 14 

Staff Responsibilities 14 

Staff Input 15 

References 16 

September 2015 C-2 Appendix C 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

Introduction 

The purpose ofthi Plan is to establish concise and consistent direction and guidance for the sign 

maintenance program and outline the responsibilities of the Field Office/Monument staff and 

State Office Sign Coordinators for the maintenance of ignage utilized on all public land , waters 

and faciliti s managed by the Billing Field Office (BiFO). 

Effective communication requires th clear concise deli very of an understandable message 

through a powerful medium. Signs are one of th avenues for conv ying information to the 

public about the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Th y are a key factor in the way the 

public views the BLM's comp tency to manage the public lands and waters under its 

jurisdiction. Signs on the BLM-managed public lands and waters are our' silent employees.' 

A comprehen ive sign program fosters safety facilitates the management of an area provides a 

learnjng opportunity for vi itors, and offer a positive image and identity for all entitie involved 

in the management of that area. On public lands managed by the Billings Field Office, this Plan 

conforms with and imp) ment the ational ign Guidebook which e tablished standards and 

guidelines for signs and the BLM' National Sign Program. 

Purpose of Plan 

This Plan: 

I. Describes the different type of signs and the location where they are to be used. 

2. Outlines the de ign standards. 

3. Provides specific de ign standards that apply to certain types of igns including material and 

specification requirement . 

3. Identifies procurement procedures. 

4. delineate the inventory and maintenance strategies. 

5. Set schedules for implementation 

5. Provides reference material and other re ources. 

Sign Policy/Action 

This Plan provide guidance and direction for ensuring that the physical condition of BLM 

signage is such that it can accurately identify public lands promote the safety of the public while 

visiting public lands, provide visitors with information and direction, mitigate user and 

management i sue , and providing for the regular maintenance and profes ional appearance of 

BLM signage. 

Appendix C C-3 September 2015 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

The following principles were used in formulating the Billings Field Office/Pompeys Pillar 


ational Monument Sign Plan and are also consistent with the basis of the Bureau of Land 


Management ational Sign Program: 


I. Signs must deliver understandable message to visitor . ach sign should address a single 


topic and not include jargon or technical term . Message hould not be mixed. 


2. Thee tablished BLM logo must be used where appropriate. 

3. Signs must comply with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UF AS) and the 

Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). Sections 4.1 and 4.30 from 

both standards provide pecific guidance for signs. 

4. Signing ituations related to vehicular and pedestrian traffic should follow the specifications 

established in the Manual on niform Traffic ontrol Devices (MUTCD) published by the 

Federal Highway Administration. 

5. BLM-approved international ymbols and established signing industry standards must be used 

for sign design fabrication, in tallation and maintenance. 

6. igns must comply with pertinent Federal, State, and local law , as appropriate. 

7. The standards and guidelines in the BLM National ign Guidebook (December 2004) must be 

applied consistently to ensure that areas are safe and to enhance visitors' experiences on the 

BLM' public lands and water . 

8. Whenever po sible, ign should be used in conjunction with other media such as maps, 

brochures, interpretive material etc. The e will use interchangeable layouts designs, text, maps, 

and images as much a pos ible. 

Sign Inventory 

The first tep in an effective sign maintenance program is to have an accurate and current 

inventory. From this inventory those signs that are damaged deteriorated, missing or down. can 

then be id ntified. A schedule can then b develop d to replace these igns making it possible to 

e timate labor and material costs to install or repair these signs to a good condition. The 

inventory also provides a ba eline for a condition a sessment program to ensure that igns are 

in pected on a r gular basis. These assessment will assist in identifying regular maintenance 

need o future budgets can be planned and scheduled maintenance can be perform d. 

The Billings Field ffice has a ubstantial but incomplete inventory at this time, so a compl tion 

of the inventory i a high priority. Billings Field Office has numerous special emphasis areas 

such as WSAs, ACEC's, SRMA's OHV areas, Wild Horse Range, etc .. These areas will have a 

September 2015 C-4 Appendix C 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

high priority for signing. The Billings Field Office has divided the Field Office into mor 

manageable components for easier work. These areas are describ d as follows: 

Pomp ys Pillar National Monument: This land parcel includes the 51 acre National Monument 

and its related infrastructure and the adjacent AC C for a total of 432 acres. 

Big Horn County, Montana: All public lands located within Big Horn County, which includes 

only small isolated parcel of public lands. However BLM does work closely off: ite with other 

agencies located in this area such as the Crow Indian Reser ation the Northern Chey nne 

Indian Reservation and the Little Big Hom Battlefield National Monument. Administrative 

Site : Thi includes the Britton Springs facility the Bridg r Fire Station Field Office, 

Interagency Fire Center at Billing Airport, Sundance Lodge facility, etc .. 

Carbon County: This land mass includes the Pryor Mountains region, the Beartooth front region, 

and the large blocks of public lands between them which overall includes several Travel 

Managem nt Areas, ACECs the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, and several W As. 

Golden Valley County: This area includes public lands on a portion of the Snowy Mountains and 

mall blocks of public land el ewhere. It has a segment of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail 

on it as w II , located on private lands. 

Mu selshell County: This area has blocks of public lands of varying size inter persed with 

private lands. 

Stillwater County: Small block of public lands some receiving public use, other isolated and 

inaccessible. 

Wheatland County: Small and isolated tracts of public lands. 

Yellowstone County: This area has a limited public land base, but has intensive use at popular 

Recreation Areas with a large urban interface. 

Big Horn County, Wyoming: The Billings Field Office manages/administers 4 300 acres of 

public land in Big Horn County, Wyoming which includes the southernmost part of the Pryor 

Mountain Wild Horse Range. The BLM works closely with the National Park ervice as a 

portion of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range (PMWHR) is located on the Big Horn Canyon 

ational Recreation Area. Th Pryor Mountain and Big Horn Tack-On WSAs both extend into 

Wyoming. 

The BiFO taffwill use Form 9130-4 'Sign Inventory/Maintenance Form", to ensure a 

consistent inventory of all signs. Staff will enter information from thi form into the Facility 

Inventory Maintenance Management System database since funding to maintain igns are 

obtained through this ystem. The inventory may al o be entered into a GI ystem either from a 

hard copy or through data collection with a GP unit. Digital photographs may be taken and 

Appendix C C-5 September 2015 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

attached to the inventory sheets or entered directly into the GIS database. Staff will include all of 

the following items on an inventory form or in a GIS database for each ign: 

a. Date inventoried and name of person conducting the inventory; 

b. Location (initially identified on a map or as mileage from a starting point)· 

c. All language on the sign· 

d. Size, color, and hape of sign (height, length, etc.); 

e. Size 

f. Sign material· 

g. Condition of sign (good deteriorated, damaged, missing/down or obsolete)· 

h. ype of post and attachment system (4X4 treated lwnber, metal fence post, etc.); 

i. Condition of post (good deteriorated, damaged mis ing/down obsolete)· and 

j. otes (poor location, acce ibility issues, vegetation or terrain feature blocking view of sign, 

or anything el e that must be addressed later in the planning process). 

When the inventory is complete, BiFO Staff will place all sign locations on a map of the area, 

with the d tail d infonnation cross-referenced to the Faciliti s Inventory Maintenance 

Management System. Th map may consist of the several ' bite-size" ar a maps used during the 

inventory (such as for the Pompeys Pillar MIA E ). Eventually BiFO int nds to combine all 

in entory data on one large map to facilitat the coordination of signs aero s the entire Field 

Office. 

A working file will bee tabli hed and maintained by the Field Office Sign Coordinator. Included 

in this file will be the inventory data, schedule of implementation Review r suits, a copy of this 

plan, Inventory Form ign exampl sand design , encroachment permits and any rei vant 

communication and directives. 

Sign Review 

Each sign should be reviewed every 5 years to answer the following question and detetmine 

compliance with the ign Plan: 

a: Is the sign consi tent with existing planning documentation (resource management, activity, or 

project plans, etc.)? 

b. Js this sign needed? Doe it serve a purpo e? Is it one of everal in an area? Ha e things 

changed in this location o that the sign i no longer necessary? 

September 2015 C-6 Appendix C 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

c. Is the sign effective? ls them ssage inappropriate or confusing? ls lettering too small to b 

read from a high-speed vehicle? 

d. I th location of the sign still appropriate? 

e. Are sign and post materials appropriate for year-round conditions protection from andalism, 

etc.? 

f. Does the sign complement the re t of the igns in the area? 

g. What is the condition ofth sign? ven if the message i appropriate and the location is a good 

one is the sign faded? Is it time to replace it? 

h. ls each sign meeting required rule and regulations such as MUTCD, UFA /ADAAG etc.? 

Sign maintenance will be planned and cheduled annually during preparation of the annual work 

plan so it can be performed on a regular basis. Sign condition a sessments should be p rfom1ed 

on igns at the minimum of once every 5 years. See tentative Schedule below for details. 

Billings Field Office/Pompeys Pillar NM Sigl}_Plan Schedule 

Area (by priority) Initial Inventory 

Dates 

Review Dates Notes 

Pompeys Pillar NM 2013 2018 2023 Follow-up local 

project plan under 

development by staff 

Administrative Sites No record 2013 

Yellowstone County 2008-2009 2014 2019 High Priority for 

inclusion in Activitylevel Plan (TMA, 

SRMA, etc.) 

Carbon County 

Mu sclshcll County 

2008-2010 2014 2019 High Priority for 

inclusion in Activitylevel Plans (TMA 

SRMA, etcl 

2008 2013 2018 Medium Priority for 

Activity-le el Plans 

(TMA, ACEC) 

Golden Valley County 2008 2013 Low priority. No or 

limit d public access 

to_Qublic lands 

Stillwater County 2013 2018 Low Priority - No or 

limited public acce s 

to_Qublic lands 

Wheatland County Not don Low Priority- No 

~!m_? no public 

Appendix C C-7 September 2015 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

access 

Big Hom County MT Not done Low Priority -No 

signs - no surface 

public lands 

Big Hom County 

WY 

2008 -2010 2014 2019 Small amount of data 

- included with 

Carbon County 

lt intended that condition assessments be performed in conjunction with other assessments such 

a recreation sites, adrnini trative sites, roads and trails in an effort to increase efficiency and 

reduce the resources needed to perfonn similar action within the same area. 

Condition as essrnents will be performed to determine the condition and effectiveness ofB M 

signage. This include evaluating the legibility, appearance, visibility reflectivity, verification 

of location, condition of the sign support structure, and condition of the sign its If using the 

following condition ratings: Good, Deteriorated, Damaged, Missing/Down Obsolete. The 

following information, at a minimum, should be collected while performing a ign condition 

asse ment. The ign JD number (the unique identification number a igned within the ign data 

ba e for each sign), inspectors name and the date of inspection, the condition rating of the sign 

and the condition rating of the sign support structure and a current digital photo of the sign. 

The following definitions of the Condition Ratings should assist in determining the condition of 

a sign. 

Good - The sign may have experienced some weathering, but its lettering and symbols are 

legible. The sign is intact with no holes or broken portions. It may need orne cleaning to 

eliminate accumulated dirt and some minor touch up painting. No vegetation or other objects 

obscure the sign. 

Deteriorated - The sign ha been exten ively impacted by weathering, requiring extensive 

cleaning and painting tore tore it to its original condition. Lettering and symbols are just 

legible, and reflectivity is about half of what it was when the sign was installed new. Vegetation 

may also be starting to encroach on the sign. There may also be minor damage to the sig11. 

These signs should be scheduled to be repaired or replaced· vegetation should also be cleared to 

restore visibility. igns that are not able to be restored or repaired should be scheduled to be 

replaced. 

Damaged - The sign is weathered to the point that its message is no longer legible. lt ha severe 

damage from hole or other andalism. The sign may be repaired temporarily, but it should be 

replaced as soon as po sible. 

Missing/Down - The sign is either missing or damaged beyond repair. If a sign is still needed, a 

replacement sign should be ordered immediately. 

September 2015 C-8 Appendix C 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

Obsolete - The sign messag is outdated or incorrect. Sign should b updated or removed a 

soon as possible. 

If any action is taken on a sign, that action should be noted and the information added to that 

specific sign's record within the sign data base. This is to ensure the information contained 

within the data base is kept cunent. Actions include: 

1.) Install, which is the initial placement and positioning of a sign. 

2.) Inspect which is to view or examine officially, checking for structural integrity and whether 

the sign message is legible. 

3.) Replace, which is th exchange of a sign with one that is identical to the sign that was 

originally placed. 

4.) Repair, is the fixing or restoring of a sign to a good Qr sound condition, from a damaged or 

deteriorated condition. 

Sign Categories 

Following the BLM ationwide standards, BiFO signs are grouped into the following categories: 

identification signs; guide signs; informational signs; traffic control devices; regulatory, warning, 

and safety signs; and a miscellaneous group that includes temporary, specialty and special event 

signs. Each of these categories has its own requirements and functions. Messages should not be 

mixed on a single sign or in a grouping of signs if it leads to sign clutter. 

A. 	 Identification Sign . Identification signs help to orient the visitor, project the presence 

and image of the BLM to the visitor, and identify important areas, facilities and visitor 

amenities. These sign also provide public land visitors with a ready recognition of BLM 

facilities, projects, and services. Messages are primarily text and should be limited to key 

idea and information. Th se signs should not contain any interpr tation. If an area is 

cooperatively managed, an identification ign may display the nam s/logos of the other 

entitie . 

Identification signs must b the standard truncated hape, be recreation brown in color, 

and include the BLM emblem of proportional size. 

B. Administrative Signs. These signs are used to identify office buildings, field stations, 

uch as Britton Springs visitor centers such a at Pompeys Pillar M, etc., and must 

include a raised emblem. 

All dministration signs mu t be the standard truncated shape, be r creation brown in 

color, and include the BLM embl m of propm1ional size. 

Appendix C 	 C-9 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

C. 	 Feature igns (Kiosks). The BiFO has a standard design and layout for Kiosks which 

includes a map on the left side, resource information and regulations on the right, and 

contact numbers on the bottom. There is a brown banner along the top with the name of 

the site in the middle and a BLM logo and American Flag on either side. Kiosk are 

located only at high use areas, specifically at parking lot trailheads, staging areas or 

entrance portals where vellicle pull-outs are available. 

The Pompeys Pillar ational Monument ha it own but similar design and layout for its 

Kio ks. 

D. 	 Area Signs. These sign designate the primary entrances to a popular land area, facility 

or group of facilities. Area sign are located along primary access routes serving each 

area. Thi includes Pompey Pillar National Monuments, the South Hills Off-highway 

Vehicle (OJ-IV) area, and the other BiFO pecial Recreation Areas. The emblem may be 

raised on this type of sign, depending on the significance of the area. 

These signs are recreation brown in color, and include the BLM emblem of proportional 

size. 

E. 	 Guide Signs. Guide signs direct the visitor to a specific destination, such as facilities 

projects, featur s or points of interest. The e sign wi II typically use arrows and distance 

indicators. These sign must be truncated in shape be recreation brown, and contain the 

BLM emblem, unles a different hape i dictated by another jurisdictional agency such 

a a tate highway department for a highway right-of-way. International symbols may be 

u ed when possible to provide supplemental informati n in a simple, concise manner. 

Directional signs will be located to provide the visitor adequate time to make a decision. 

Reassurance marker (route markers) may be placed along roads and trail , typically at 

the beginning, at the end, at intersections, or periodically along the route. The type of 

ign will vary depending on the project, uch as large squar ez Perc HT signs to 

broWll fiberglass rout markers along BLM designated road and trails. As a general 

standard, the BiFO will use brown for direction red or yellow for waming, and white for 

informational along travel routes. 

F. 	 (nfonnational/lnterpretive/Regulatory igns/Panel . Infonnational signs which provide 

limited ducational opportunitie and identify unique and unusual feature a well a 

appropriate regulation . They enhance the public·s awarenes and appr ciation of the 

public land and waters. The BFO will use this type of sign at entrance portals and high 

destination area such a the Four Dance Natural Ar a/AC C and Sundanc Recreation 

reas, Pompey Pillar NM, etc. 

p cifically, the information should be ba ed on a solid theme and central message. 

September 2015 C-10 	 Appendix C 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

Graphics poetry or other att forms may be used to illustrate the theme. Stories or 

descriptions of events unfolding should be used to teach concepts instead of identifying 

straight facts. Titles should use five word or les to identify the point or idea. ubtitles 

should be u ed to identify the theme and introduce text paragraphs. Appropriate colors 

reflecting the urrounding environment should be incorporated into the d sign. Letters 

should be at lea t 24 point in size. ntire text blocks should not be in all capital letters. 

Text should be written to conv y a simple message. Graphics should be clear easy to 

identify and complement the text. 

Regulatory signs should be legible and plainly displayed from any approach to a facility 

or feature, whether the visitor is on foot or in a vehicle. When appropriate, sign should 

be erected to a ist in controlling authorized use in deterTing unauthorized entry and use 

or in precluding accidental entry. The size, color lettering, and the interval of posting 

must be appropriate for each situation. 

The message on Regulatory Signs should be positive rather than prohibitive or negative 

and should xplain the reason for there triction to enhanc the visitor s understanding. 

Signs should be rectangular unless otherwise directed by a higher authority (MUTCD), 

and do not have to display the BLM embl m. 

G. 	 Ace ssibility. The e signs identify particular areas or facilities/programs that are 

universally ace ssible. There ar four areas or facilities where the International Symbol 

of Ace sibility (ISA) is required to be post d according to the two Federal Accessibility 

Standards (the Uniform F d ral Accessibility tandards (UF AS) and the Americans with 

Di abilities Act Accessibility uidelines (ADAAG)). The four areas/facilities requiring 

the I A (ADAAG Section 4.1.2.(7) are accessible parking spaces acce sible restrooms 

ace ssible loading zone, and any accessible entrance to a building. The Bi will mark 

and maintain th seas the highest priority field office wide. 

H. 	 Mi cellaneous igns. Temporary signs may be necessary at construction sites fires etc., 

and will be u d only for specific periods of time. They are temporary, highlight special 

condition or hazard , and may include seasonal me ages or special precautions. They 

will be placed at appropriate high-visibility area and removed when no longer necessary. 

igns hould be mounted appropriately and not fa tened to trees or other natural feature . 

ign u ed under emergency responses have no specific guidelines and will be designed 

and con tructed as needed by the BiFO taff, with as much input and assistance form 

other affected parties as practical, given th circumstances. 

Appendix C 	 C-11 September 2015 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

The temporary use of banners and signs designating a pecial, one-time public event on 

the BLM public lands and waters is allowed. Although there are no specific guidelines 

the National Sign Center may be contacted to design and cr ate banners for special 

events, such as National Public Lands Day National Trails Day, National Fishing and 

Boating Week Great Outdoors Week the lark Days Commemoration etc. 

I. 	 General Purpose Signs. These are sign that are not pecific to the BLM. Stop signs, 

speed limit and other traffic signs and Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) signs are 

examples of signs that fall into this category. 

OSHA sign must conform to the Occupational afety and H alth tandards (29 CFR 

1910.145). BLM Staff are required to acquire them from Prison Jndu tries or locally if 

not available and if permitted by the State Sign oordinator. 

Traffic signs have very stringent requirements and must be designed and installed in 

accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device (MUTCD). These signs 

include any type of vehicular-related traffic control me sages. Traffic control devices 

must be ju tified by legal warrants signed by a professionally registered engineer as 

specified in MUTCD. 

Design Standards 

All Sign Standards et in the BLM ign Manual (BLM M -9130) will be followed. All sign 

standards set by the U.. Departm nt of Transportation will be followed when applicable. If 

other agency standard apply such as sign standard specific for the Nez Perce National Historic 

Trail, these will be adhered to with a copy of the sign standards retained in the ign Plan til for 

future reference. 

Relationship to other Plans 

The Resource Managem nt Plan (RMP) discusses in general t rms the BiFO management 

trat gy and direction. In its new draft RMP (20 13) th BiFO travel management decisions are 

to designat a motorized and non-motorized rout syst m. All non-designat d but existing routes 

would be clo ed po sibly rehabbed, but not signed. Only designated routes would be signed as 

open. pecifics of implementation including igning, brochures and maps will be addres ed in 

Activity-level Travel Management Plans. pecial R cr ation Management Area ( RMA ) 

would also be addressed through Activity-level plan . A Cs may or may not have ActivityLevel Plans. 

September 2015 C-12 	 Appendix C 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

Permits, Clearances, and Inventories 

Appropriate clearances such as Endang red Species Act ( SA), inventories for cultural 

resources, or National Environmental Policy Act (N PA) documentation may be required. Prior 

to the BLM installing any sign the appropriate jurisdictional agency must grant its permi ion. 

Thi may include the State Department of Transportation if the sign will be placed along a State 

highway or the county road and bridge department if the sign will be install d along a county 

road. ncroachment Permits i sued by the managing agency will be retained in the BiFO Sign 

Plan File. 

When placing BLM signs on road under other jurisdiction, BiFO staff should coordinate signing 

requirem nts with that agency. In those instances taff should follow the placement and 

installation guidelines and standards of the agency with jurisdiction of the road. 

Sign Placement 

Placement involves the horizontal positioning, vertical height, and location along the roadway 

where the sign is placed. The general standard for BiFO is to place all signs on the right-hand 

side of the traveled way a close to the standard location as is practical. 

Consider the following guidelines when selecting ign placement locations: 

I. Place signs wh re they provide ad quate time for proper vi wer response considering factor 

uch as speed, trail or road conditions intermediate inter ections and road/trail geometry. 

2. Select locations that minimize viewing obstruction . Some common plac ment locations to be 

avoided includ : 

• Dip in the roadway or trail. 

• Just beyond the crest of a hill. 

• Where a sign could be ob cur d by other sign . 

• Wher th ign may interfer with the normal operation of the facility. 

• Where there is increa ed need for drivers to focu on the roadway. 

• Too clo e to trees or other foliage that could grow to cover the ign face. 

• now removal areas. 

• ite location where a significant viewpoint is impaired 

Appendix C C-13 September 2015 
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

3. Erect signs individually on separate posts or mountings except where one sign supplements 

another such as a warning sign with an advisory speed plaque or where route markers and 

destination signs must be grouped. 

All signs need to be visible to users in time for them to ee the sign, perceive the me sage, react 

and complete the necessary maneuver considering approach speeds and condition . 

Place regulatory signs at or near where their mandate or prohibition applies or begins. 

Warning sign are normally placed in advance of the situation to which they call attention to 

allow adequate time for proper response. 

ign faces should be placed at approximately right angles to and directly facing traffic they are 

intended to serve. On curves, orient the sign to face the oncoming traffic- not the road edge. 

Sign Priority 

Priorities for signing are listed below in order of importance: 

1. Public health and safety. 

2. ntrances to and boundaries of areas of national ignificance (e.g., Pompeys Pillar ational 

Monument, Nez Perce and Lewis and Clark National Historic Trails Wilderness tudy Areas) ­

NLCS unit and the PMWHR. 

3. pecial management areas (e.g. recreation sites, watchable wildlife sites, trails, back country 

byways, etc.). 

4. Visitor enhancement and convenience. 

5. Major concentrations ofBLM-managed public lands and waters on major thoroughfares 

crossing large blocks of public lands.6. 1solated or small parcels of public lands with no or 

limited acces or u e. 

7. onformancc of existing signs to new tandard , especially in high Priority Areas (see above) 

Sign Ordering and Storage 

All signs will be ordered through appropriate administrative procedures described in other 

sections of this plan. The signs may be stored at sites throughout the FO prior to installation but 

indi idual programs are responsible for them. Any obsolete, damaged, or decayed signs which 

can be recycled should be brought to a central location designated by the Field Office Manager 

and dispos d offrom there on an annual basis, if necessary. Individual programs will be 

responsible for their own signs and funding. If several programs are involved, the programs will 

split the cost. 

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Sign Data Base 

The sign data base is intended to b on an electronic shared driver adily accessible to all BiFO 

staff member and as a paper file located in the Field Office. Any changes on the ground should 

be changed at the same time on this database and meet the standards as noted above ( e Sign 

Inventory" section). A new Form 9130-4, Sign Inventory/Maintenance Form" will be filled out 

for each n w or replacement sign, kiosk or interpretive panel. At lea t once each fiscal year the 

Field Office Sign oordinator shall imitate a field office-wide taff review of deteriorated 

damaged or newly required signs. 

Staff Responsibilities 

The following key positions are described to better define duties and responsibilities regarding 

sign maintenance. 

National Sign Center: Establishes quality control, consi tency and standardization in all BLM 

ignage. Identifies and recommends other public and private sources for the design and 

production of BLM signs. The Sign Center ensures that all materials produced are consistent 

with current laws regulations, and policies. The Sign Center should produce all BLM signs and 

sign orders in a timely and cost-effective manner. The Sign enter provides experti eon design 

and materials when requested. 

The National Sign Center in Rawlins, Wyoming is the clearinghouse for all custom BLM signs. 

Safety and traffic signs should be ordered from the Federal Pri on Industries (Unicor). The Sign 

Center will detennine the most efficient cost-effective source whether it be in-house or 

contracting for the design and production of these signs. The ign enter is available for 

assistance with special interpr tative products. 

National Sign Coordinator: Develops and maintains the B M ational Sign Program. Creates 

and develops program objectives. Develops current standards and evaluate procedures. The 

ational Sign Coordinator provides program standards and specifications. The National Sign 

Coordinator approves the appropriate content on all BLM standard sign and ha review and 

approval authority for all BLM signs not conf01ming to thee tablished tandards in the Sign 

Guidebook; Coordinates the numbering, printing, and issuing of all standard BLM signs. 

Coordinates and collaborates with all tate ign Coordinators in developing a ational Sign 

trategy and a National 5-Year Sign Maintenance Plan; Coordinates with all Stat Offices, 

program offices, State repr entatives, and Field Offices to achieve management goals. Ha 

review and approval for all requests for alternative ource of design and production for all BI M 

sign . oordinates and collaborates with the National Interpretive Lead on th design and 

production of interpretive waysides. oordinate and collaborates with the National Accessibility 

Lead to ensure the de ign and production of all signs meet accessibility guidelines. 

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State Sign Coordinator: The State Sign Coordinator is responsible for producing and updating 

the State's 5-year sign plan and providing the data to the ational Sign Coordinator. The State 

Sign Coordinator also provides guidance regarding sign maintenance i sues and tracks overall 

sign maintenance needs identified within the statewide sign database. The State sign coordinator 

will be available to assist and provide guidance to ·ield Office staff. 

Field Office Sign Coordinator: The Field Office Sign Coordinator is responsible for ensuring 

that the sign database inventory is complete and up to date. They are also responsible for 

creating and maintaining the Field Office's 5-Year Sign Plan and ensuring that maintenance, and 

replacement schedules for sign are performed on a regular basis and in an efficient manner. 

They coordinate with the Field Office personnel that can help and assist with sign maintenance 

such as equipment operators, recreation planners, and engineers. These are the "on the ground 

personnel that keep the signage in good condition and looking professional. 

Staff Input 

Prepared by (team members): 

Tim Finger - Outdoor Recreation Platmer 

Nancy Bjelland - Wild Horse and Burro Program Specialist, Safety 

Jared Bybee- State Lead Wild Horse and Burro and Rangeland Management Specialist 

Sheila Cain - GIS Specialist 

Tom arroll - Realty Specialist 

Dustin Crowe - Rangeland Management Specialist 

Don Galvin - Park Ranger 

Paul Green - Equipment Operator 

Jeff Herriford - Law Enforcement Officer 

lrv each - Fire Management Officer 

Ernie McKenzie - Wildlife Biologist/F,isheri sand Riparian pecialist 

Larry Padden - atural Resources pecialist (Weeds) 

Jay Parks - Wildlitl Biologist 

Carolyn herve-Bybee - Archeologist, RMP Planning Lead 

Cam1en Thomason - Fire ducation and Mitigation Specialist 

Kachmir Watt - Range Specialist 

Jared Werning - quipment Op rator 

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References 

Highway Safety Act of 1966 (a amended). 


Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (public aw 111-11) 


National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (N PA), as am nded. 42 U.S.C, 4321 et seq. 

The Archaeological Re ources Protection Act of 1979 (P.L. 96-95; 93 tat. 721; 16 U.S.C. 

470aa) 

The National Trails System Act of 1968, as amended, P.L. 90-543, P.L. 110-229 and 16 U.S.C. 

1241-1251 

The Sikes Act, as amended, 16 U..C. 670a-670o and P.L. 90-465 

The Architectural Barrier Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U .S.C. 4151 

Executive rder 13195 (Trails for America in the 21st Century) 

Executive Orders 11644 ( 1972) and 11989 (1977) - Off Road Vehicle Management Policies 

BLM Travel and Transportation Manual (MS-1626) 

42 U.S . . 4332 - Cooperation of Agencies 

BLM Manual 1601 - Land Use Planning 

BLM Manual 9100 - Facilities Planning, Design Construction and Maintenance. 

BLM Manual 9130 - ign Manual 

43 CFR 2920 - Leases Permits, and asements 

43 CFR 8342 - Off-Road Vehicles: Designation Procedures 

43 CFR 8364 - Visitor Services: Closure and Restriction Orders 

BLM s ational Management trategy for Motorized Off-highway Vehicle se on Public LanG 

(January 2001 ). 

ational Mountain Bicycling trategic Action Plan (BLM/WY/PL- 0303/001 +1220). 

ational Scenic and Historic Trail trategy and Work Plan (BLM-WO-GI-06-020-6250). 

The BLM's Priorities for Recreation and Visitor Services (Purple Book May 2003). 

Appendix C C-17 September 2015 
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BLM's Unified Strategy to Implement -BLM's Priorities for Recreation and Visitor Services! 


(January 2007). 


Planning and Conducting Route Inventories (BLM Technical Reference 9113-1 ). 


Roads and Trails Terminology, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 


Washington D , 20240 (Technical Note 422). 


43 CFR 8341.2 or 8364.1. Temporary Closure or Restrictions. 


September 2015 C-18 Appendix C 
Appendix D: 

Wildlife Resources 

Appendix D D-i September 2015

Table of Contents

Appendix D: Wildlife Resources.............................................................................................................D-1

D.1. Threatened and Endangered Species, Special Status Species Plants and Animals...................D-1

D.2. US Fish and Wildlife Consultation Memorandum....................................................................D-3

D.3. SAMPLE Wildlife Monitoring and Protection Plan ..............................................................D-12

D.4. Requirements and/or Guidelines for Wildlife Controlled Surface Use Stipulations or 

Exceptions to No Surface Occupancy Stipulations.................................................................D-37

D.5. Crucial Areas Planning System (CAPS).................................................................................D-38
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Appendix D –Wildlife Resources

D.1. Threatened and Endangered Species, Special Status 

Species Plants and Animals

Special status species include species listed, proposed for listing, or candidate species under the 

Endangered Species Act and sensitive species identified by the BLM

Species USFWS Status BLM Status

Mammals

White-tailed prairie dog None Sensitive

Black-tailed prairie dog None Sensitive

Black-footed ferret* Endangered

Gray wolf Threatened 

(experimental pop.)

Grizzly Bear Threatened

Canada Lynx Threatened

Wolverine Candidate

Townsend’s big-eared bat Sensitive

Spotted bat Sensitive

Fringe-tailed myotis bat Sensitive

Long-legged myotis bat Sensitive

Long-eared myotis bat Sensitive

Pallid bat Sensitive

Birds

Whooping crane Endangered

Mountain plover Proposed Sensitive

Greater sage-grouse Candidate Sensitive

BLM sensitive raptors (peregrine falcon, burrowing owl, ferruginous 

hawk, Swainson’s hawk)

None Sensitive

Migratory birds None Sensitive

Reptiles/Amphibians

Greater short-horned lizard Sensitive

Milk snake Sensitive

Northern leopard frog Sensitive

Spiny softshell turtle Sensitive

Western hog-nosed snake Sensitive

Fish

Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Sensitive

Sauger
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Special Status Plants in the Billings Field Office Planning Area

Common Name1 Scientific Name1 Global/State Status

Nodding rock cress Arabis demissa v. languid (Boechera demissa) G5S1S3

Cushion milkvetch Astragalus aretioides (Orophaca aretioides) G4S2

Geyer’s milkvetch Astragalus geyeri G4S2

Gray’s milkvetch Astragalus grayi G4?S2

Oregon milkvetch Astragalus oreganus G4?S1

Blackfoot River eveningprimrose

Camissonia andina (Oenothera andina) G4S2

Lewis River suncup Camissonia parvula (Oenothera parvula) G5S1

Yellow spiderflower Cleome lutea G5S1

Pinyon Desert cryptantha Cryptantha scoparia G4S1

Spiny hopsage Grayia spinosa G5S2

Mat prickly phlox Leptodactylon caespitosum G4S2

Pryor Mountain bladderpod Lesquerella lesicii (Physaria lesicii) G1S1

Torrey’s desert dandelion Malacothrix torreyi (M. sonchoides v. torreyi) G4S1

Dwarf mentzelia Mentzelia pumila G4S2

Leafy nama Nama densum G5S1

Wasatch bluegrass Poa arnowiae (P. curta) G4S1

Platte River cinquefoil Potentilla platensis G4S1

Largeflower goldenweed Pyrrocoma carthamoides v. subsquarrosa 

(Haplopappus carthamoides var. subsquarrosus)

G4G5T2T3S2

Persistent sepal yellowcress Rorippa calycina G3S1

Shoshone carrot Shoshonea pulvinata G2G3S1

Salty buckwheat Stenogonum salsuginosum (Eriogonum s.) G4?S1

The international network of Natural Heritage Programs employs a standardized ranking system to denote global (G) (range-wide) and State 

(S) (Nature-Serve 2006) status. Species are assigned numeric ranks ranging from 1 (highest risk, greatest concern) to 5 (demonstrably 

secure), reflection the relative degree of risk to the species’ viability, based upon available information.

G1 S1 At high risk because of extremely limited and/or rapidly declining numbers, range, and/or habitat, making it highly vulnerable to 

global extinction or extirpation in the state.

G2 S2 At risk because of very limited and/or declining numbers, range, and/or habitat, making it vulnerable to global extinction or

extirpation in the state.

G3 S3 Potentially at risk because of limited and/or declining numbers, range, and/or habitat, even though it may be abundant in some 

areas.

G4 S4 Uncommon but not rare (although it may be rare in parts of its range), and usually widespread. Apparently not vulnerable in most of 

its range, but possibly cause for long-term concern.

G5 S5 Common, widespread, and abundant (although it may be rare in parts of its range). Not vulnerable in most of its range.

Sub-rank

T# Rank of a subspecies or variety. Appended to the global rank of the full species, e.g. G4T3

? Inexact Numeric Rank - Denotes uncertainty; inexactness. 1Species nomenclature consistent with the USDA PLANTS database (USDA 2009).
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D.2. US Fish and Wildlife Consultation Memorandum
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D.3. SAMPLE Wildlife Monitoring and Protection Plan

The following document is a SAMPLE of the kind and type of measures that could be 

implemented in the event that the Billings Field Office was to receive a proposal for intensive 

development on public lands. This example was written specifically for coal bed natural gas 

development, but can be easily adapted to new types of development and site specific resources. 

The information is presented here to help guide future development proponents as to the level 

of detail that may be required. Many of the measures contained herein serve as examples of 

Conditions of Approval and future monitoring requirements.

Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................13

Plan Purpose .................................................................................................13

Area and Objectives ........................................................................................14

Implementation Protocol ....................................................................................15

Annual Reports and Meetings...............................................................................15

Annual Inventory and Monitoring..........................................................................16

Big Game......................................................................................................17

General Wildlife...............................................................................................17

Aquatic Species................................................................................................17

Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and Other Species of Concern.................................19

Protection Measures..........................................................................................22

Lease Stipulations and Mitigation Measures.............................................................23

Programmatic Guidance for the Development of Project Plans.......................................28

References.....................................................................................................36

List of Tables:

Table 1. Summary of General Wildlife Reporting, Inventory, and Monitoring, Billings Resource 

Management Plan. ...................................................................................33

Table 2. Summary of Survey and Protection Measures, Billings Resource Management Plan

...................................................................................................................34
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Introduction

This Wildlife Monitoring and Protection Plan (WMPP) has been revised and updated from the 

Statewide Oil and Gas Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Amendment of the 

Powder River and Billings Resource Management Plans (RMPs) (BLM, 2001) for the Final 

Billings RMP/ EIS. The DEIS and Amendment addressed future exploration and development of 

BLM and State of Montana managed CBNG resources and conventional oil and gas resources. 

The WMPP will be implemented on federal lands, including split estate, in cooperation with state 

agencies, federal agencies, operators, tribal representatives and landowners. If owners and 

managers of state and private mineral development are willing to incorporate this guidance into 

management of their activities, they may become a partner by entering into a Cooperative 

Agreement. 

The goal of the WMPP is to avoid or minimize impacts to wildlife and serve as a communication 

tool to foster cooperative relationships among project proponents, the public, resource 

management agencies, landowners and adjacent tribal governments. Because this plan addresses 

a large geographic area composed of diverse wildlife habitats and unique situations, it must be 

programmatic in nature. However, the need to provide management recommendations and

guidance to conserve species and habitats remains. Regional or site specific monitoring and 

protection plans which follow the guidance provided in this programmatic document will be 

required as part of each Project Plan. Implementation of this plan during the course of project 

development and operations should promote wildlife conservation and allow land managers and 

project personnel to maintain wildlife populations and productivity levels simultaneously with 

development. It also allows for adaptation of the project plan to ensure the protection of wildlife 

habitat and species affected. 

Plan Purpose

The WMPP was prepared to acquire baseline wildlife information, monitor populations, and 

assess stipulations or other protection measures for effectiveness. Wildlife stipulations attached 

to leases provide protective measures: 1) for certain species or habitats, 2) during a particular 

time period. These stipulations may not address other concerns related to special status species or 

water/habitat related issues caused by direct and indirect impacts from project development. 

Because it is purely speculative to predict how all wildlife will react or how development will 

proceed, it is difficult to develop prescriptive mitigation standards across the entire planning 

area. Although, BLM has some adaptive management strategies in place (e.g., COAs and 

compliance inspections), these mechanisms do not give us the information necessary to 

understand cause and effect relationships. Inventory and monitoring data will be used in adaptive 

management for improving wildlife management techniques and processes. Therefore, the 

purpose of this plan is to acquire baseline wildlife information, monitor populations, and assess 

the effectiveness of stipulations or other protective measures. The WMPP will facilitate our 

ability to pinpoint problems (including the evaluation of other contributing factors), design 
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project plans which include conservation for declining species, monitor the effectiveness of 

decisions, and make recommendations to adjust management to address specific situations.

Project Plans would be required in areas where multiple separate and distinct land disturbing 

activities may be taking place at different times on different schedules but under one plan. These 

areas would typically be larger scale and longer term project proposals with potentially 

significant resource impacts as determined through NEPA analysis. Smaller scale projects with 

minimal resource impacts would not require Project Plans.

Area and Objectives

The WMPP document is the framework for wildlife monitoring and protection in the Billings 

RMP area and provides a template for regional and/or project specific WMPP development. The 

BLM, MFWP, and FWS will work cooperatively to implement portions of the WMPP over the 

planning area.

As energy or project development begins, development specific WMPPs, following the same 

template as this document, will be written in cooperation with other agencies, operators, 

landowners and other interests. The development analysis will include wildlife impacts from the 

affected area, and also the cumulative impacts from other developments (including those of other 

companies) as well as other activities in the area. The objectives of the program are to:

• Establish a framework for cooperation among agencies, operators, landowners, tribal 

governments and interest groups;

• Provide a process for data collection, data management and reporting;

• Determine needs for inventory, monitoring and protection measures;

• Provide guidance and recommendations for the conservation of wildlife species and 

habitats;

• Establish protocols for biological clearances or inventories of Special Status Species;

• Meet the terms and conditions of the Biological Opinion;

• Determine if management practices to conserve wildlife species and habitat in 

stipulations and conservation measures contained in the BLM Record of Decision, are 

meeting specified objectives;

• Develop recommendations to adjust management actions based on field observations 

and monitoring results.

Implementation of the WMPP will begin with the issuance of the Record of Decision and will 

remain in effect for the life of a project (up to 25 years). Guidance for the conservation of 

special status species will be incorporated into the Project Plan. Signatories on an Interagency 

Cooperative Agreement will serve as the “Steering Committee (Interagency Working Group).” A 

“Core Team” (i.e., agency biologists) will oversee the implementation of the programmatic 

elements of the WMPP. As development is initiated, operator-funded biologists, approved by the 

BLM, will write area-specific monitoring and protection plans. These plans will be reviewed by 

the BLM resource specialists for completeness and content. 

Initially, the programmatic template will undergo an annual review for effectiveness. A major 

review will be conducted every 5 years, or as determined by members of the Core Team, 
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Wildlife, and Aquatic Task Groups. The various cooperators will meet annually (or more often as 

needed) to evaluate the progress of the various POD inventory and monitoring efforts. 

Implementation Protocol

This section provides preliminary wildlife inventory, monitoring, and protection protocol. 

Required actions for inventory, monitoring and protection vary by species and development 

intensity. In development areas, Wildlife Reporting, Inventory, and Monitoring requirements are 

summarized in Table 1. Standard protocol for Survey and Protection Measures way (ROW) for 

the application of field reviews are provided in Table 2. Alternative measures and protocols will 

be developed as determined by Core Team members in response to specific needs identified in 

annual reports. This document provides methods for a number of wildlife species/categories. 

Additional species/categories may be added based on needs identified in annual wildlife reports. 

The wildlife species/categories for which specific inventory, monitoring, and protection 

procedures will be applied were developed based on input provided by the public, other agencies, 

and the BLM. 

Considerable efforts will be required by agency and operator personnel for plan implementation. 

Many of the annually proposed agency data collection activities are consistent with current 

agency activities. Additionally, agency cost-sharing approaches will be considered such that 

public demands and statutory directives are achieved. 

Annual Reports and Meetings

State and federal agencies will cooperate to implement the programmatic elements of inventory, 

monitoring and protection actions associated with development in the Billings RMP area. The 

Montana participants in the Interagency Working Group will oversee implementation across the 

planning area and summarize information from work achieved in various PODs. 

During project development (up to 25 years), to include habitat restoration or rehabilitation 

efforts, operators will annually provide an updated inventory and description of all existing 

project features (i.e., location, size, and associated level of human activity at each feature), as 

well as those tentatively proposed for development during the next 12 months. These data will be 

coupled with annual wildlife inventory, monitoring, and protection data obtained for the previous 

year and included in annual reports. Annual reports will be prepared by the BLM. Annual 

wildlife inventory, monitoring, and protection data gathered by parties other than the BLM (e.g., 

operators, MFWP) should provide data/summaries to the BLM using current format standards. 

Upon receipt of this information, annual reports will be completed in draft form by the BLM and 

submitted to the operators, FWS, MFWP, and other parties. A meeting of the Core Team will be 

organized by the BLM and held annually to discuss and modify, as necessary, proposed wildlife 

inventory, monitoring, and protection protocol for the subsequent year. Additional meetings will 

be scheduled as necessary.

Discussions regarding annual operator-specific financing and personnel requirements will occur 

at these meetings. A formula for determining these requirements will be developed at the first 

year’s meeting (i.e., size of development, anticipated impacts, amount of public land, etc.). A 

protocol regarding how to accommodate previously unidentified development sites will also be 
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determined during the annual meeting. Final decisions will be made by the BLM based on the 

input of all affected parties.

A final annual report will be issued by BLM to all potentially affected individuals and groups by 

early February of each year. Annual reports will summarize annual wildlife inventory and 

monitoring results, note any trends across years, identify and assess protection measures 

implemented during past years, specify monitoring and protection measures proposed for the 

upcoming year, and recommend modifications to the existing WMPP based on the effectiveness 

and/or ineffectiveness of past years (i.e., identification of additional species/categories to be 

monitored). Where possible, data presented in reports will be used to identify potential 

correlations between development and wildlife productivity and/or abundance. The BLM will be 

the custodian of the data and stored in BLM’s Geographic Information System (GIS) for retrieval 

and planning unless otherwise agreed to by BLM, MFWP and FWS. Raw data collected each 

year will be provided to other management agencies (e.g., FWS, MFWP) at the request of these 

agencies. In addition, sources of potential disturbance to wildlife will be identified, where 

practical (e.g., development activities, weather conditions, etc.). Inventory and monitoring data 

will be shared on a timely basis by all cooperating agencies.

Additional reports may be prepared in any year, as necessary, to comply with other relevant 

wildlife laws, rules, and regulations (e.g., black-footed ferret survey reports, mountain plover, 

sage-grouse lek counts and bald eagle habitat loss reports).

Annual Inventory and Monitoring

This document outlines the inventory and monitoring protocol for a number of selected wildlife 

species/categories. Protocol will be unchanged except as authorized by the BLM or specified in 

this plan. Additional wildlife species/categories and associated surveys may be added or wildlife 

species/categories and surveys may be omitted in future years, depending on the results 

presented in the coordinated review of annual wildlife reports. MFWP will be contacted during 

the coordination of survey and other data acquisition phases. Opportunistic wildlife observations 

may be made throughout the year by agency and operator personnel. 

The frequency of inventory and monitoring will be dependent upon the level of development. In 

general, inventory and monitoring frequency will increase with increased levels of development. 

The level of effort should also be determined by species presence and development projection. 

Inventory and monitoring results may lead to further currently unidentifiable studies (i.e., cause 

and effect). The following sections identify the level of effort required by the WMPP. Site and 

species-specific surveys will continue to be conducted in association with application or project 

field reviews.

Big Game

Elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and pronghorn are the common big game species that may 

occur within parts or all of the project planning area. Annual big game seasonal habitat use data 

will be collected and made available to operators, Tribes and landowners. Big game use of 
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seasonal habitats is highly dependent upon a combination of environmental factors including 

terrain, forage quality and snow depth. Therefore, it is difficult to attribute changes in habitat use 

to a single factor. Comparisons in trends between big game seasonal habitat reference areas and 

seasonal habitats associated with project development may provide some insight into the 

response of big game to development.

General Wildlife

Wildlife mortality from project related development or activities will be documented and 

reported to the BLM and FWS, and measures will be taken to prevent future mortality. If the 

mortalities are birds, they will be collected and kept for identification by someone with an 

appropriate salvage permit. Also, the facilities or activities would need to be “spot checked” by 

appropriate BLM or FWS personnel to ensure compliance. In no cases would operators or other 

workers be allowed to be in possession of migratory bird carcasses. Access roads and other roads 

with project-related traffic increases will be monitored for wildlife mortality so that specific 

mitigation can be designed and implemented as deemed necessary by BLM, in consultation with 

MFWP. 

Aquatic Species

Prior to development, baseline aquatic inventories will be conducted in potentially affected areas 

with operator financial assistance, in an effort to determine occurrence, abundance, and 

population diversity of the aquatic community. These inventories should be repeated as 

necessary in selected intermittent/perennial streams associated with produced water discharge, as 

well as selected intermittent/perennial streams associated with no produced water discharge 

(control sample site).

Natural fluctuations in species occurrence, abundance, and population diversity will be 

determined by comparing changes in control sample sites to baseline inventories. Changes in 

occurrence, abundance, and population diversity of the aquatic community in streams associated 

with produced water discharge may then be possible by comparing to the natural fluctuations.

Detection of a retraction in the range of a species, a downward trend in abundance, or reduced 

population diversity in systems with produced water discharge shall warrant a review of Project 

Plans and possible recommendations for adjustment of management to address the specific 

problems.

Aquatic groups to be inventoried and monitored will include:

• Benthic macroinvertebrates - Determine population diversity using Hess/kick net 

sampling protocol to measure species abundance and establish a diversity index.

• Amphibians and aquatic reptiles - Determine population diversity and abundance 

utilizing sampling methodologies being developed for prairie species.

• Non-game fish - Determine population diversity using electrofishing and seining.
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• Algae (periphyton) – Determine population diversity.

Raptors 

Raptor inventories will be conducted in the project area every 5 years, with financial assistance 

being provided by proponents. In potentially affected areas, baseline inventory should be 

conducted by the BLM (with operator financial assistance) prior to the commencement of 

development, to determine the location of raptor nests/territories and their activity status. These 

inventories should be repeated every 5 years (in areas with 1 or less well locations/section) for 

the life of the project to monitor trends in habitat use. These surveys may be implemented 

aerially or from the ground. Operators may provide financial assistance for some work. Data 

collected during the surveys (both inventory and monitoring) will be recorded on BLM approved 

data sheets and entered into the BLM GIS database. BLM should be contacted prior to 

commencement of wildlife surveys to insure proper survey protocols are being utilized.

Nest productivity monitoring will be conducted by the BLM or a BLM-approved biologist. 

Active nests located within 1 mile of project-related disturbance areas will be monitored between 

March 1 and mid-July to determine nesting success (i.e., number of nestlings/fledglings per 

nest). These surveys generally will be conducted from the ground. However, some nests may be 

difficult to observe from the ground due to steep and rugged topography and may require aerial 

surveys. Operators may provide financial assistance for aircraft rental as necessary. Attempts 

will be made to determine the cause of any documented nest failure (e.g., abandonment, 

predation).

Additional raptor nest activity and productivity monitoring measures will be applied in areas 

with development (i.e., areas with greater than 1 well locations/section) on and within 1 mile of 

the project area. Inventory/monitoring efforts in these areas, as well as selected undeveloped 

reference areas will be conducted annually during April and May, followed by nest productivity 

monitoring. Site and species-specific nest inventories will also continue to be conducted as 

necessary in association with all application and project field reviews. 

All raptor nest/productivity surveys will be conducted using procedures that minimize potential 

adverse effects to nesting raptors. Specific survey protocol for reducing detrimental effects are 

listed in Grier and Fyfe (1987) and Call (1978) and include the following:

• Nest visits will be delayed for as long as possible during the nesting season.

• Nests will be approached cautiously, and their status (i.e., number of 

nestling/fledglings) will be determined from a distance with binoculars or a spotting 

scope.

• Nests will be approached tangentially and in an obvious manner to avoid startling 

adults.

• Nests will not be visited during adverse weather conditions (e.g., extreme cold, 

precipitation events, windy periods, or during the hottest part of the day).

• Visits will be kept as brief as possible.

• Inventories will be coordinated by the BLM.

• The number of nest visits in any year will be kept to a minimum.
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Appendix D D-19 September 2015

Threatened, Endangered, Candidate, and Other Species of Concern

Operators must identify and map the presence of cottonwood riparian, herbaceous riparian or wet

meadows, permanent water or wetlands, prairie dog towns, or rock outcrops, ridges or knolls on 

their application. The presence of sensitive habitat may not indicate a species is present. It does, 

however, alert the proponent and BLM that a field review and surveys may be required to 

process the permit or initiate action. The level of effort associated with the inventory and 

monitoring required for threatened, endangered, candidate, and other species of concern 

(TEC&SC) will be commensurate with established protocol for the potentially affected species. 

Methodologies and results of these surveys will be included in annual reports or provided in 

separate supplemental reports. As TEC&SC species are added to or withdrawn from FWS and/or 

BLM lists, appropriate modifications will be incorporated to this plan and specified in annual 

reports.

TEC&SC data collected during the surveys will be provided only as necessary to those requiring 

the data for specific management and/or project development needs. Site- and species-specific 

TEC&SC surveys will continue to be conducted as necessary in association with all APD and 

ROW application field reviews. Data will be collected on BLM approved data sheets and entered 

into the BLM GIS database.

Ferruginous Hawk 

Timing of surveys is very important in documenting the territory, occupancy, success and 

productivity of ferruginous hawk populations. The accepted survey and monitoring guidelines 

for ferruginous hawk are taken from the Survey and Monitoring Guidelines for Ferruginous 

Hawks in Montana, 1995.

Bald Eagle 

Inventory and monitoring protocol for the bald eagle will be as described for raptors, with the 

following additions. 

• Operators will indicate the presence of eagle habitat (nesting, foraging, roosting, winter) 

as previously defined on their application. 

• Prior to development or construction, surveys of the wooded riparian corridors within 1.0 

mile of a project area will be conducted in the winter and/or spring by BLM biologists 

and/or BLM-approved biologists to determine the occurrence of winter bald eagle roost 

sites/territories. 

• Surveys will be conducted from daybreak to 2 hours after sunrise and/or from 2 hours 

before sunset to 1 hour after sunset by fixed-wing aircraft. Follow-up ground surveys, if 

necessary, will be conducted during the same time frame. 

• Surveys will be at least 7 days apart. The location, activity, number, and age class 

(immature, mature) of any bald eagles observed will be recorded. 
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• If a roost or suspected roost is identified, BLM, FWS, and MFWP will be notified and a 

GPS record of the roost/suspected roost will be obtained and entered into the BLM GIS 

database. There will be No Surface Occupancy within 0.5 miles of any identified bald 

eagle roost site/territories.

• Nest productivity will be conducted by the BLM or a BLM-approved biologist in areas 

with one or more well locations per section and within 1 mile of the project area. 

• Active nests located within one mile of project-related disturbance areas (well sites, 

pipelines, roads, compressor stations, and other infrastructure) will be monitored on an 

annual basis between March 1 and mid-July to determine nesting success (i.e., number of 

nestlings/fledglings per nest).

Burrowing Owl

Operators should indicate the presence of prairie dog towns on their application. The presence of 

sensitive habitat does not indicate burrowing owls are present. It does, however, alert the 

proponent and BLM that a field review and surveys may be required to process the permit or 

initiate action. In association with APD and ROW application field reviews, prairie dog colonies 

within 0.5 miles of a proposed project or any other suitable habitat within a 0.5 mile radius area, 

will be surveyed for western burrowing owls by BLM biologists or a BLM-approved operatorfinanced biologist twice yearly from June through August to determine the presence/absence of 

nesting owls. Efforts will be made to determine reproductive success (number of fledglings per 

nest).

Black-footed Ferret

Operators should indicate the presence of prairie dog towns on their application. The presence of 

sensitive habitat does not necessarily indicate suitable black-footed ferret habitat is present. It 

does, however, alert the company and BLM that a field review and surveys may be required to 

process the permit or initiate action. BLM biologists and/or BLM-approved operator-financed 

biologists will determine the presence/absence of prairie dog colonies within 0.5 miles of 

proposed activity during APD and ROW application field reviews. Prairie dog colonies on the 

area will be mapped to determine overall size following the approved methodology. Colony 

acreage will be determined using GIS applications. Colonies that meet FWS size criteria as 

potential black-footed ferret habitat (FWS 1989) will be surveyed to determine active burrow 

density using the methods described by Biggins et al. (1993) or other BLM- and FWS-approved 

methodology.

Project activity will be located to avoid impacts to prairie dog colonies that meet FWS criteria as 

black-footed ferret habitat (FWS 1989). If avoidance is not possible, all colonies meeting the 

FWS size criteria and any colonies for which density estimates are not obtained will be surveyed 

for black-footed ferrets by an operator-financed, FWS-certified surveyor prior to, but no more 

than 1 year in advance of disturbance to these colonies. Black-footed ferret surveys will be 

conducted in accordance with FWS guidelines (FWS 1989) and will be conducted on a sitespecific basis, depending on the areas proposed for disturbance in a given year as specified in the 

annual report. If a black-footed ferret or its sign is found during a survey, all development 
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Appendix D D-21 September 2015

activity would be subject to recommendations from the Montana Black-footed Ferret Survey 

Guidelines, Draft Managing Oil and Gas Activities in Prairie Dog Ecosystems with Potential for 

Black-footed ferret Reintroduction and re-initiation of Section 7 Consultation with FWS.

Black-tailed and White-tailed Prairie Dog

The BLM will determine the acreage of occupied black-tailed and/or white-tailed prairie dog 

habitat within suitable mountain plover habitat on federally managed surface acres and federal 

mineral estate lands. Further, a reasonable effort should be made to estimate actual impacts, 

including habitat loss, project development will have on occupied black-tailed and white-tailed 

prairie dog acres within suitable mountain plover habitat over the entire project area.

Prairie dog towns on BLM lands within 0.5 miles of a specific project area will be identified, 

mapped, and surveyed as described in the black-footed ferret section. On an annual basis, the 

BLM and/or a BLM-approved operator-financed biologist will survey, at least a portion of, the 

prairie dog colonies, including the reference colonies. Prairie dog populations are subject to 

drastic population fluctuations primarily due to disease (plague). Therefore, efforts will be made 

to compare the data from the reference colonies with that obtained from the project areas, in 

order to monitor the response of prairie dog populations to project development.

Mountain Plover 

Surface use is prohibited within 1/4 mile of active mountain plover nest sites. Disturbance to 

prairie dog towns will be avoided where possible. Any active prairie dog town occupied by 

mountain plover will have Controlled Surface Use between April 1 and July 31, which may be 

reduced to Controlled Surface Use within 1/4 mile of an active nest, once nesting has been 

confirmed. An exception may be granted by the authorized officer after the BLM consults with 

the FWS on a case-by-case basis and the operator agrees to adhere to the new operational 

constraints.

On federally managed surface acres, black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dog towns greater than 

80 acres in size within suitable mountain plover habitat will have a no surface use stipulation 

from May 1 through June 15. Prior to permit approval, habitat suitability will be determined. The 

BLM, FWS and MFWP will estimate potential mountain plover habitat across the project area 

using a predictive habitat model. Over the next 5 years, information will be refined by field 

validation using most current FWS mountain plover survey guidelines (FWS 2002c) to 

determine the presence/absence of potentially suitable mountain plover habitat. In areas of 

suitable mountain plover habitat, surveys will be conducted prior to ground disturbance activities 

by the BLM or a BLM-approved operator biologist, using the FWS protocol at the project area, 

plus a 0.5 mile buffer. Efforts will be made to identify mountain plover nesting areas not subject 

to development, to be used as reference sites. Comparisons will be made of the trends in 

mountain plover nesting occupancy between these reference areas and areas experiencing 

development.

The BLM shall monitor loss of mountain plover habitat associated with all portions of this action 

(operators will indicate the presence of prairie dog towns or other mountain plover habitat 

indicators on their application). Suitable mountain plover habitat has been defined under ‘critical 
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September 2015 D-22 Appendix D

habitat’ for the mountain plover in FWS’ Statewide Biological Opinion. The actual measurement 

of disturbed habitat will be the responsibility of the BLM or their agent (consultant, contractor, 

etc) with a written summary provided to the FWS’ Montana Field Office, upon project 

completion or immediately, if the anticipated impact area is exceeded.

Sage-Grouse

Sage-grouse lek inventories will be conducted over the project area every 5 years to determine 

lek locations. Surveys of different areas may occur during different years with the intent the high 

potential project areas will be covered at least once every 5 years. Inventories and protocol will 

be consistent with the Montana Sage Grouse Conservation Plan, coordinated by the BLM and 

MFWP. In areas with development, aerial inventories will be conducted annually on affected 

sections, 3 mile buffers, and selected undeveloped reference areas. Surveys may be conducted 

aerially or on the ground, as deemed appropriate by the BLM and MFWP. Operator may provide 

financial assistance.

Reference leks, identified by BLM and MFWP, are leks located in similar habitat and within 

close proximity to areas currently being developed. 

Aerial surveys will be used for determining lek locations. BLM, MFWP or a BLM-approved 

operator-financed biologist will monitor sage-grouse lek attendance within 3 miles of areas 

having development such that all leks on these areas are surveyed at least once every 3 years. 

Data collected during these surveys will be recorded on BLM and MFWP approved data sheets 

and entered into the approved database. An effort should also be made to compare trends of the 

number of males per lek to reference leks.

Sage-grouse winter use surveys of suitable winter habitat within 4 miles of a project area will be 

coordinated by the BLM and implemented during November through February as deemed 

appropriate by these agencies. Results will be provided in interim and/or annual reports. 

Historical information of winter sage-grouse locations will be useful in focusing efforts in areas 

suspected of providing winter habitat. Sage-grouse winter habitat use surveys will be conducted 

when suitable conditions exist.

Protection Measures

Wildlife protection measures have been put in place through lease stipulations and project 

design. Stipulations or mitigation that will be approved in the Final Billings RMP/EIS restrict 

activities are designed to reduce the likelihood of “take” of a federally listed species. For all 

stipulations and mitigation measures that include protection of specific habitats (e.g., sage-grouse 

winter habitat), identification of the specific habitat areas will be based on the best available 

science. This may include BLM surveys or information from other sources. For example, 

researchers have developed sage-grouse habitat models that should provide better information on 

sage-grouse habitat areas than is currently available.
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Appendix D D-23 September 2015

Lease Stipulations and Mitigation Measures

The lease stipulations will be approved in the Final Billings RMP/EIS. These are mandatory 

measures or actions developed as a result of wildlife research and input from agencies and 

operators. Avoidance of important breeding, nesting, and seasonal habitats is the primary 

protection measure that will reduce the possibility of development having an impact on wildlife 

populations, productivity, or habitat use. Additional conservation measures will be incorporated 

through the Project Plan design or as Conditions of Approval. Data collected during monitoring 

efforts and analyzed will be used to determine the appropriateness and the effectiveness of these 

measures throughout the project area. Based on the results of the monitoring data, these measures 

will be reviewed by the Core Team. As monitoring data are collected over time, it is likely some 

protection measures will be added, while others will be modified or removed in cooperation with 

other agencies and the Core Team. All changes in these protection measures will be reported, 

with a justification for the change, in annual reports. An RMP amendment may be required 

depending on the recommended change.

Waivers, Exceptions and Modifications (WEMs)

“Waivers” A lease stipulation may be waived by the Authorized Officer if a determination is 

made by the BLM, in consultation with MFWP and/or FWS, that the proposed action will not 

adversely affect the species in question.

“Exceptions” to protection measure may be granted by the Authorized Officer, in coordination 

with FWS for T&E species and MFWP, if the operator submits a plan that demonstrates impacts 

from the proposed action will not be significant, or can be adequately mitigated.

“Modifications” may be made by the Authorized Officer if it is determined portions of the area 

do not include habitat protected by the stipulation.

Stipulations will be developed and approved for the following species through the Billings RMP 

process: Raptors, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Big Game, Sage-Grouse, Sharp-tailed grouse, 

Prairie dogs, Mountain Plover, Sprague’s Pipit and associated black-footed ferret habitat, 

waterbird colonies, and Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

Terms and Conditions from Section 7 Consultation

In order to be exempt from the prohibitions of Section 9 of the ESA, the Bureau must comply 

with the following terms and conditions, which will implement the reasonable and prudent 

measures described and outlined in the Biological Opinion. These terms and conditions are 

nondiscretionary.

All Species

In the event, dead or injured wildlife species are located during construction and operation, the 

FWS, Montana Field Office, Helena, Montana (406-449-5225) will be notified within 24 hours. 

If the mortalities are birds, they will be collected and kept for identification by someone with an 

appropriate salvage permit. Also, the project areas would need to be “spot checked” by 
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September 2015 D-24 Appendix D

appropriate BLM or FWS personnel to insure compliance. In no cases would operators or other 

workers be allowed to be in possession of migratory bird carcasses. The responsible agency must 

provide for monitoring the actual number of individuals taken. Because of difficulty in 

identification, all small birds found dead should be stored in a freezer for the FWS to identify.

The Bureau shall monitor all loss of TEC&SC habitat associated with all actions. TEC&SC 

habitat will be defined under “habitat use” and “critical habitat” respectively, for each species in 

the Biological Opinion. The actual measurement of disturbed habitat can be the responsibility of 

the BLM or their agent (consultant, contractor, etc.), with a written summary provided to the 

FWS’ Montana Field Office upon project completion. The report will include the location and 

acres of habitat loss, field survey reports, what stipulations were applied, and a record of any 

variance granted to timing and/or spatial buffers. The monitoring of habitat loss for these species 

will commence from the date the Record of Decision (ROD) is signed. The actual measurement 

of disturbed habitat can be the responsibility of the Bureau’s agent (consultant, contractor, etc.) 

with a written summary provided to the FWS’ Montana Field Office semi-annually, or 

immediately if the Bureau determines the action (i.e. APD, pipeline, compressor station) will 

adversely affect a listed species. It is the responsibility of the Bureau to ensure the semi-annual 

reports are complete and filed with the FWS in a timely manner. The semi-annual report will 

include field survey reports for endangered, threatened, proposed and candidate species for all 

actions. The semi-annual reports will include all actions completed under this Biological Opinion 

up to 30 days prior to the reporting date. The first report will be due 6 months from the signing 

of the ROD and on the anniversary date of the signing of the ROD. Reporting will continue for 

the life of the project.

All new roads required for the proposed project will be appropriately constructed, improved, 

maintained, and signed to minimize potential wildlife/vehicle collisions. Appropriate speed 

limits will be adhered to on all project area roads, and operators will advise employees and 

contractors regarding these speed limits. 

Bald Eagle

The Bureau shall require implementation of all conservation measures/mitigation measures 

identified in the Biological Assessment and the Biological Opinion, including the wildlife 

inventory, monitoring, and protection protocol identified in the WMPP. The Bureau shall 

monitor for compliance with the measures and protocol. They are as follows:

• The appropriate standard seasonal or year-long stipulations for raptors or no surface 

occupancy for bald eagles as identified in the Final Billings RMP will be applied. 

• Inventory and monitoring protocol for the bald eagle will be as described for raptors, 

with the following additions. Operators will indicate the presence of eagle habitat as 

previously defined, on their application. Prior to development or construction, 

surveys of the wooded riparian corridors within 1.0 mile of a project area will be 

conducted in the winter and/or spring by BLM biologists and/or BLM-approved 

biologists to determine the occurrence of winter bald eagle roosts. Surveys will be 

conducted from daybreak to 2 hours after sunrise and/or from 2 hours before sunset to 

1 hour after sunset by aircraft. Follow-up ground surveys, if necessary, will be 

conducted during the same time frame. Surveys will be at least 7 days apart. The 
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Appendix D D-25 September 2015

location, activity, number, and age class (immature, mature) of any bald eagles 

observed will be recorded and if a roost or suspected roost is identified, BLM, FWS, 

and MFWP will be notified and a GPS record of the roost/suspected roost will be 

entered into the approved database. No Surface Occupancy will be applied within 0.5 

miles of any identified bald eagle roost sites.

• Nest productivity will be conducted by the BLM or a BLM approved biologist in 

areas with development (i.e., areas with greater than 1 well locations/section) and 

within 1 mile of the project area. Active nests located within one mile of projectrelated disturbance areas will be monitored between March 1 and mid-July to 

determine nesting success (i.e., number of nestlings/fledglings per nest).

• No new above-ground power line should be constructed within 1⁄2 mile of an active 

eagle nest or nest occupied within the recent past. No surface occupancy or use is 

allowed within 0.5 miles of known bald eagle nest sites which have been active 

within the past 5 years. All other actions will be consistent with the Montana Bald 

Eagle Management Plan - July 1994. 

• Power lines will be built to standards identified by the Power Line Interaction 

Committee (2006) to minimize electrocution potential. The FWS has more specific 

recommendations that reaffirm and complement those presented in the Suggested 

Practices. It should be noted these measures vary in their effectiveness to minimize 

mortality, and may be modified as they are tested. Local habitat conditions should be 

considered in their use. The FWS does not endorse any specific product that can be 

used to prevent and/or minimize mortality; however, we are providing a list of Major 

Manufacturers of Products to Reduce Animal Interactions on Electrical Utility 

Facilities.

New Distribution Lines and Facilities

• The following represents areas where the raptor protection measures will be applied when 

designing new distribution line construction:

• Bury distribution lines where feasible.

• Raptor-safe structures (e.g., with increased conductor-conductor spacing) are to be 

used (i.e., minimum 60" for bald eagles would cover all species). 

• Equipment installations (overhead service transformers, capacitors, reclosers, etc.) are 

to be made raptor safe (e.g., by insulating the bushing conductor terminations and by 

using covered jumper conductors).

• Jumper conductor installations (e.g., corner, tap structures, etc.) are to be made raptor 

safe by using covered jumpers or providing adequate separation.

• Employ covers for arrestors and cutouts.

• Lines should avoid high avian use areas such as wetlands, prairie dog towns, and 

grouse leks. If not avoidable, use anti-perching devices to discourage perching in 

sensitive habitats such as grouse leks, prairie dog towns and wetlands to decrease 

predation and decrease loss of avian predators to electrocution.
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Modification of Existing Facilities

Raptor protection measures to be applied when retrofitting existing distribution lines in an effort 

to reduce raptor mortality. Problem structures may include dead ends, tap or junction poles, 

transformers, reclosers and capacitor banks or other structures with less than 60" between 

conductors or a conductor and ground. The following modifications will be made:

• Cover exposed jumpers.

• Gap any pole top ground wires.

• Isolate grounded guy wires by installing insulating link.

• On transformers, install insulated bushing covers, covered jumpers, cutout covers and 

arrestor covers.

• When raptor mortalities occur on existing lines and structures, raptor protection 

measures are to be applied (e.g., modify for raptor-safe construction, install perches, 

perching deterrents, nesting platforms, nest deterrent devices, etc).

• Use anti-perching devices to discourage perching in sensitive habitats such as grouse 

leks, prairie dog towns and wetlands to decrease predation, and decrease loss of avian 

predators to electrocution.

• In areas where midspan collisions are a problem, install effective line-marking 

devices. All transmission lines that span streams and rivers or in known or discovered 

raptor migration areas, should maintain proper spacing and have markers installed.

• These additional standards to minimize migratory bird mortalities associated with 

utility transmission lines will be incorporated into the Terms and Conditions for all 

APDs and stipulations for ROW applications.

Mountain Plover

The Bureau shall require implementation of the conservation measures for mountain plover as 

identified in the Biological Assessment dated October 2006, and the wildlife inventory, 

monitoring, and protection protocol addressed in the WMPP. The Bureau shall monitor for 

compliance with the measures and protocol. They are as follows:

• Surface use is prohibited within 1/4 mile of active mountain plover nest sites. 

Disturbance to prairie dog towns will be avoided where possible. Any active prairie 

dog town occupied by mountain plovers will have a Controlled Surface Use 

stipulation applied between April 1 and July 31. This area may be reduced to No 

Surface Use within 1/4 mile of an active nest once nesting has been confirmed. An 

exception may be granted by the authorized officer after the BLM consults with the 

FWS and the operator agrees to adhere to the new operational constraints.

• Due to the declining status of mountain plover in the analysis area and the need to 

retain the most important and limited nesting habitat, all active prairie dog colonies 

on federal surface within suitable mountain plover habitat will have No Surface 

Occupancy applied. This No Surface Occupancy may be modified through an 

amendment to the biological opinion after analysis of impacts to this preferred nesting 

habitat is completed.
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Appendix D D-27 September 2015

• BLM will determine the acreage of occupied black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dog 

habitat within suitable mountain plover habitat on federally managed surface and 

mineral estate lands. Further, a reasonable effort should be made to estimate the 

actual impacts, including habitat loss, development will have on occupied black-tailed 

and white-tailed prairie dog acres within suitable mountain plover habitat over the 

entire project area. The BLM, FWS, and cooperators will develop a survey protocol 

that may include prioritization of subsets of the project area to be analyzed. Based on 

the results of such analysis, No Surface Occupancy on active prairie dog habitat 

within suitable mountain plover habitat may be modified utilizing an amendment to 

the biological opinion.

• Prior to permit approval, habitat suitability will be determined. The BLM, FWS or 

MFWP will estimate potential mountain plover habitat across the project area using a 

predictive habitat model. Over the next 5 years, information will be refined by field 

validation using most current FWS mountain plover survey guidelines (FWS 2002c) 

to determine the presence/absence of potentially suitable mountain plover habitat. In 

areas of suitable mountain plover habitat, surveys will be conducted prior to ground 

disturbance activities by the BLM or a BLM-approved biologist using the FWS 

protocol at a specific project area plus a 0.5 mile buffer. Efforts will be made to 

identify mountain plover nesting areas not subject to development as reference sites. 

Comparisons will be made of the trends in mountain plover nesting occupancy 

between these reference areas and areas experiencing project development.

• BLM shall monitor all loss of mountain plover habitat associated with this action 

(operators will indicate the presence of prairie dog towns or other mountain plover 

habitat indicators on their application). Suitable mountain plover habitat has been 

defined under ‘critical habitat’ for the mountain plover in the Biological Opinion. The 

actual measurement of disturbed habitat can be the responsibility of the BLM, its 

agent (consultant, contractor, etc) with a written summary provided to the FWS’ 

Montana Field Office upon completion or immediately if the anticipated impact area 

is exceeded relative to the estimated surface disturbances defined in the SEIS.

• If suitable mountain plover habitat is present, surveys for nesting mountain plovers 

will be conducted prior to ground disturbance activities, if ground disturbing activities 

are anticipated to occur between April 10 and July 10. Disturbance occurring outside 

this period is permitted, but any loss of mountain plover suitable habitat must be 

documented. Sites must be surveyed 3 times between the April 10 and July 10 period, 

with each survey separated by at least 14 days. The earlier date will facilitate 

detection of early-breeding plovers. A disturbance-free buffer zone of 1/4 mile will be 

established around all mountain plover nesting locations between April 1 and July 31. 

If an active nest is found in the survey area, the planned activity should be delayed 37 

days, or seven days post-hatching. If a brood of flightless chicks is observed, 

activities should be delayed at least seven days (FWS 2002). Exceptions and/or 

waiver to stipulations can be made by the BLM through consultation with the FWS.
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• Roads will be located outside of nesting plover habitat where possible. Apply 

mitigation measures to reduce mountain plover mortality caused by increased vehicle 

traffic. Construct speed bumps, use signing or post speed limits as necessary to 

reduce vehicle speeds near mountain plover habitat.

• Creation of hunting perches will be minimized within 1⁄2 mile of occupied nesting 

areas. Utilize perch inhibitors (perch guards) to deter predator use.

• Native seed mixes will be used to re-establish short grass vegetation during 

reclamation. 

• There will be No Surface Occupancy of ancillary facilities (e.g., compressor stations, 

processing plants) within 1/4 mile of known nesting areas. Variance may be granted 

after consultation with the FWS.

• In habitat known to be occupied by mountain plover, no dogs will be permitted at 

work sites to reduce the potential for harassment of plovers.

• The FWS will provide operators and the BLM with educational material illustrating 

and describing the mountain plover, its habitat needs, life history, threats, and 

development activities that may lead to incidental take of eggs, chicks, or adults. This 

information will be required to be posted in common areas and circulated in a 

memorandum among all employees and service providers.

Programmatic Guidance for the Development of Project Plans

Guidance for developing Project Plans and/or conservation measures applied as COAs provide a 

full range of practicable means to avoid or minimize harm to wildlife species or their habitats. 

Operators will minimize impacts to wildlife by incorporating applicable WMPP programmatic 

guidance into project plans. Not all measures may apply to each site-specific development area 

and means to reduce harm are not limited to those identified in the WMPP. This guidance may 

change over time if new conservation strategies become available for Special Status Species or if 

monitoring indicates the measure is not effective or unnecessary. 

BLM and MFWP will work together to collect baseline information about wildlife and sensitive 

habitats possibly containing special status species. During the project development phase, 

operators will identify potentially sensitive habitats and coordinate with BLM to determine 

which species or habitats are of concern within or adjacent to the project area. In areas where 

required site-specific wildlife inventories have not been completed, operators and BLM will 

work cooperatively to achieve this. BLM’s responsibilities under NEPA and ESA essentially are 

the same on split estate as they are with federal surface. BLM and operators will seek input from 

the private surface owner to include conservation measures in split estate situations.

The following guidance and conservation measures are considered “features” or project “design 

criteria” to be used during Project Plan preparation. The design of projects can incorporate 

conservation needs for wildlife species or measures can be added as COAs. These types of 
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Appendix D D-29 September 2015

conservation actions offer flexibility for local situations and help minimize or eliminate impacts 

to the species of interest.

1. Use the best available information for siting structures (e.g., storage facilities, 

generators and holding tanks) outside the zone of impact in important wildlife 

breeding, brood-rearing and winter habitat based on the following considerations:

a. size of the structure(s),

b. level/type of anticipated disturbance

c. life of the operation, and

d. extent to which impacts would be minimized by topography.

2. Concentrate energy-related facilities when practicable.

3. Encourage development in incremental stages to stagger disturbance; design 

schedules that include long-term strategies to localize disturbance and recovery 

within established zones over a staggered time frame.

4. Prioritize areas relative to their need for protection, ranging from complete 

protection to moderate to high levels of energy development.

5. Develop a comprehensive Project Plan for a single activities in one area or for 

multiple activities in one or several areas, to minimize road densities. Project Plans 

would be required in areas where multiple separate and distinct land disturbing 

activities may be taking place at different times on different schedules but under one 

plan. Also, these areas would typically be larger scale and longer term project 

proposals with potentially signigicant resource impacts as determined through NEPA 

analysis. Smaller scale projects with minimal resource impacts would not require 

Project Plans.

6. To reduce additional surface disturbance, existing roads and two-tracks on and 

adjacent to the project area will be used to the extent possible and will be upgraded 

as necessary.

7. Minimize stream channel disturbances and related sediment problems during 

construction of road and installation of stream crossing structures. Do not place 

erodible material into stream channels. Remove stockpiled material from high water 

zones. Locate temporary construction bypass roads in locations where the stream 

course will have minimal disturbance. Time construction activities to protect 

fisheries and water quality.

8. Design stream-crossings for adequate passage of fish (if potential exists). Minimize 

impacts on water quality and, at a minimum, the 25-year frequency runoff. Consider 

oversized pipe when debris loading may pose problems. Ensure sizing provides 

adequate length to allow for depth of road fill.

9. Use corridors to the maximum extent possible: roads, power, gas and water lines 

should use the same corridor whenever possible.
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10. Avoid, where possible, locating roads in crucial sage-grouse breeding, nesting and 

wintering areas and mountain plover habitats. Develop roads utilizing topography, 

vegetative cover, site distance, etc. to effectively protect identified wildlife habitats. 

11. Conduct all road and stream crossing construction and maintenance activities in 

accordance with agency approved mitigation measures and BMPs.

12. Utilize remote monitoring technologies whenever possible to reduce site visits 

thereby reducing wildlife disturbance and mortalities.

13. All new roads required for the proposed project will be appropriately constructed, 

improved, maintained, and signed to minimize potential wildlife/vehicle collisions 

and facilitate wildlife movement through the project area. Appropriate speed limits 

will be adhered to on all project area roads, and operators will advise employees and 

contractors regarding these speed limits.

14. Road closures may be implemented during crucial periods (e.g., extreme winter 

conditions, and calving/fawning seasons). Personnel will be advised to minimize 

stopping and exiting their vehicles in big game winter range.

15. Roads no longer required for operations or other uses will be reclaimed if required 

by the surface owner or surface management agency. Reclamation will be conducted 

as soon as practical.

16. Operator personnel and contractors will use existing state and county roads and 

approved access routes, unless an exception is authorized by the surface management 

agency.

17. Use minimal surface disturbance to install roads and pipelines. Reclaim sites of 

abandoned wells to restore native plant communities.

18. Reclamation of disturbed areas will be initiated as soon as practical. Native species 

will be used in the reclamation of important wildlife habitat. Wildlife habitat needs 

will be considered during seed mix formulation.

19. Locate storage facilities, generators, and holding tanks outside the line of sight and 

sound of important sage-grouse breeding habitat.

20. Minimize ground disturbance in sagebrush stands with documented use by sagegrouse: 

a. breeding habitat – the lek and associated sagebrush;

b. nesting habitat – sagebrush within 4 miles of a lek; and

c. wintering habitat – sagebrush with documented winter use by sage-grouse.

21. Site new power lines and pipelines in disturbed areas wherever possible; remove 

overhead powerlines when use is complete.
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22. Minimize the number of new overhead power lines in sage-grouse or mountain 

plover habitat. Use the best available information for siting powerlines in important 

sage-grouse breeding, brood-rearing, and winter habitat. Bury lines in sage-grouse 

and mountain plover habitat, when feasible.

23. Restrict timing for powerline installation to prevent disturbance during critical sagegrouse periods (breeding March 1 – June 15; winter December 1 –March 31).

24. If above ground powerline siting is required within 2 miles of important sage-grouse 

breeding, brood-rearing, and winter habitat, emphasize options for preventing raptor 

perch sites utilizing Avian Powerline Action Committee 2006 guidelines.

25. Encourage monitoring of avian mortalities by entering into a Memorandum of 

Understanding with FWS and the state agencies to establish procedures and policies 

to be employed by the parties to lessen industry’s liability concerns about the “take” 

of migratory birds. 

26. Remove unneeded structures and associated infrastructure when project is 

completed.

27. Restrict maintenance and related activities in sage-grouse breeding/nesting 

complexes; 15 March -15 June, between the hours of 4:00-8:00 am and 7:00-10:00 

pm. 

28. Restrict noise levels from production facilities to 50 decibels (10 dBa above 

background noise at the lek).

29. Restrict use of heavy equipment that exceeds 50 dBa within 2 miles of a lek from 4-

8am and 7-10pm during April 1 – June 30.

30. Protect, to the extent possible, natural springs from disturbance or degradation.

31. Design and manage produced water storage impoundments so as not to degrade or 

inundate sage-grouse leks, nesting sites and wintering sites, prairie dog towns or 

other Special Status Species habitats.

32. Produced water should not be stored in shallow, closed impoundments or playas. 

Impoundments designed as flow through systems will lessen the likelihood selenium 

will bio-accumulate to levels adversely affecting other wildlife.

33. Develop offsite mitigation strategies in situations where fragmentation or 

degradation of Special Status Species habitat is unavoidable.

34. Protect reserve, workover, and production pits potentially hazardous to wildlife by 

netting and/or fencing as directed by the BLM to prevent wildlife access and 

minimize the potential for migratory bird mortality.
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35. Reduce potential increases in poaching through employee and contractor education 

regarding wildlife laws. Operators should report violations to BLM and MFWP.

36. Operator employees and their contractors will be discouraged from possessing 

firearms while working.
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Table 1. Summary of General Wildlife Reporting, Inventory, and Monitoring, Billings Resource Management Plan

Action Dates Responsible Entity

Project plans for outcoming years, showing general location of proposed 

development

Annually Team (BLM, FWS, MFWP, operators)

Annual reports summarizing findings and presenting necessary protection 

measures

Annually BLM with reviews MFWP, FWS, operators, and other 

interested parties

Meeting to finalize future year’s inventory, monitoring, and protection 

measures

Annually BLM with participation by FWS, MFWP, operators, and 

other interested parties

Inventory and Monitoring

Big game use monitoring When Applicable BLM with assistance

Determine mountain plover habitat suitability Prior to permit approval BLM & operator assistance

In areas of suitable mountain plover habitat, conduct nest surveys in project 

area, plus a .5 mile buffer

Prior to ground 

disturbing activities

BLM & operator assistance

In areas of suitable mountain plover habitat, map active black-tailed prairie 

dog colonies on federal mineral estate.

Prior to permit approval BLM & operator assistance

Active prairie dog colonies within .5 mile of a specific project area will be 

identified, mapped and surveyed

Prior to permit approval BLM with operator assistance

Raptor nest inventories (POD areas plus 1 mile buffer; burrowing owls 

excluded)

Every 5 years during 

April and May but prior 

to permit approval

BLM with operator assistance

In areas with potential bald eagle winter roost sites/territories, conduct surveys 

within one mile of project area

Prior to ground 

disturbing activities

BLM & operator assistance

Conduct bald eagle nest inventories within one mile buffer of project area Between March 1 and 

mid-July

BLM & operator assistance

Monitor productivity at active bald eagle nests within one mile of projectrelated disturbanceBetween March 1 and 

mid-July

BLM & operator assistance

Raptor next productivity monitoring at active nests within one mile of project 

disturbance area

Annually March to midJulyBLM with operator assistance

Sage-grouse lek inventories (project area plus three mile buffer) Every 5 years BLM with operator assistance

Sage-grouse lek attendance monitoring on and within 3miles of the POD 

boundary

Annually BLM with operator assistance will visit selected leks each 

year so that all leks will be visited annually

Threatened, Endangered & Sensitive species inventory/monitoring within 

selected CBNG development areas 

When Applicable BLM with operator assistance
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Table 1. Summary of General Wildlife Reporting, Inventory, and Monitoring, Billings Resource Management Plan

Action Dates Responsible Entity

Other wildlife species inventory/monitoring within selected CBNG 

development areas 

When Applicable BLM with operator assistance

Monitor high priority bat populations for White-Nose Syndrome When applicable BLM with assistance

Table 2. Summary of Survey and Protection Measures, for Development within the Billings Resource Management Plan

Protection Measure Dates

Bald eagle nest surveys within 1 mile of project area Yearlong

Bald eagle nest avoidance within 0.5 mile of active nests No Surface Use or Occupancy

Bald Eagle Winter Roost surveys within 1 mile of project area December 1 to April 1

Bald Eagle Winter Roost avoidance within 0.5 miles of roost site No Surface Use or Occupancy

Black-footed ferret surveys Prairie dog colonies > 80 acres

Mountain plover surveys within 0.5 miles of project area May 1 to June 15

Active prairie dog colonies on federal surface in mountain plover habitat BLM & operator assistance

Mountain plover nest/brood avoidance within .25 miles of project area April 1 to July 31

Peregrine falcon nest avoidance within 1 mile of active nest No Surface Use or Occupancy

Threatened, Endangered & Sensitive species surveys As necessary

Threatened, Endangered & Sensitive species avoidance As necessary

Big game crucial winter range avoidance December 1 – March 31

Elk Parturition Range avoidance April 1 – June 15

Big Horn Sheep – Powder River Breaks No Surface Use or Occupancy

Prairie dog colony mapping and burrow density determinations Yearlong

Raptor next survey/inventory within 0.5 miles of project area Yearlong

Raptor nest avoidance within 0.5 miles of active nests March 1 – August 1
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Table 2. Summary of Survey and Protection Measures, for Development within the Billings Resource Management Plan

Protection Measure Dates

Sage-grouse nesting habitat avoidance on areas within 4.0 miles of a lek April 1 – June 30

Sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse lek avoidance within 0.6 miles of a lek No Surface Use or Occupancy

Sharp-tailed grouse nesting habitat avoidance on areas within 2 miles of a lek March 1 – June 15

Western burrowing owl surveys (prairie dog colonies within 0.5 miles of disturbance) June – August

General wildlife avoidance/protection As necessary

NOTE:

In areas of higher or more intensive development, the frequency and timing of inventory and monitoring may need to be increased or expanded to address potential resource 

impacts. Additional monitoring, inventory, or studies may need to be conducted on areas of development and selected undeveloped comparison or control areas.
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References

Atkinson, E. C. 1995. Survey and monitoring guidelines for ferruginous hawks in Montana. 

USDI, Bureau of land Management and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. 42pp.

Avian Power Line Interaction Committee. 1994. Mitigating bird collisions with power lines: 

The state of the art in 1994. Edison Electric Institute, Washington, D.C. 78pp. +append

Avian Power Line Interaction Committee. 2006. Suggested practices for avian protection on 

power lines: The state of the art in 2006. Edison Electric Institute and California Electric 

Commission, Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, CA. 207pp. 

Biggins, D.E., B.J. Miller, L.R. Hanebury, B. Oakleaf, A.H. Farmer. 1993. A technique for 

evaluating black-footed ferret habitat. Pp 73-87 In Proceedings of the Symposium on the 

Management of Prairie Dog Complexes for the Reintroduction of the Black-footed Ferret. U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.

Call, M. W. 1978. Nesting habitats and surveying techniques for common western raptors. U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Technical Note No. 316. 115pp.

Grier, J.W., and R.W. Fyfe. 1987. Preventing research and management disturbance. Pages 

173-182 In B.A.G. Pendleton, B.A. Milsap, K.W. Kline, and D.M. Bird editors. Raptor 

management techniques. Institute of Wildlife Research, National Wildlife Federation, Scientific 

and Technical Series No. 10 420 pp.

Montana Sage-grouse Work Group. 2005. Management Plan and Conservation Strategies for 

Sage-grouse in Montana – Final. Revised February 1, 2005.

USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1983. Final Environmental Impact Statement, Resources 

Management Plan, Billings Resource Area. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 

Management. November 1983. BLM-MT-ES-84-002-4410.

USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1984. Powder River Resource Area, Resource 

Management Plan, Miles City District, Final Environmental Impact Statement, December 1984, 

United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Miles City District Office, 

BLM-MT-ES-85-0014410.

USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1992. Final Oil and Gas RMP/EIS Amendment for the 

Billings, Powder River and South Dakota Resource Areas. U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Bureau of Land Management, Miles City District.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1989. Black-footed ferret survey guidelines for compliance with 

the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver Colorado, and 

Albuquerque, New Mexico (April 1989). 10pp. +append

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2002c. Mountain Plover survey guideline. U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado. 7pp. 
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D.4. Requirements and/or Guidelines for Wildlife Controlled 

Surface Use Stipulations or Exceptions to No Surface 

Occupancy Stipulations

Plans that are required by controlled surface use (CSU) stipulations or exceptions to no surface 

occupancy stipulations for crucial winter range, greater sage-grouse habitat, bighorn sheep range, 

and other Special Status Species areas will be subject to the following requirements and/or 

guidelines. These requirements and guidelines may be modified based on the best available 

science and research, and best management practices.

The plan shall address:

• Mitigation or methods that would be used to abate continuous noise (related to longterm operations and/or activities) or temporary noise (related to installation, 

maintenance, one-time use, emergency operations, etc.) to minimize disruption to 

wildlife.

• The management of water developments to reduce the spread of West Nile virus 

within greater sage-grouse habitat areas. The placement of linear rights-of-way 

(ROW) to reduce disturbance to wildlife.

• The placement of new utility developments (powerlines, pipelines, etc.) and 

transportation routes in a manner that does not impact wildlife such as through 

eliminating the need for powerlines or burying powerlines.

• The design and placement of high profile structures exceeding 10 feet in height in a 

manner that does not impact wildlife.

• The reduction of the frequency of human visitation at wells sites such as through 

remote monitoring of production facilities.

• Interim reclamation on long-term access roads and well pads including reshaping, 

topsoiling and revegetating cut and fill slopes to maximize the habitat restoration.

• Restoration of disturbed areas at final reclamation to pre-disturbance conditions or 

desired plant community.

• Placement of permanent (longer than 2 months) structures which create movement to 

minimize impacts to wildlife. 

The plan shall consider:

• The use of off-site mitigation, (e.g., creation of sagebrush habitat or conservation 

easements) with proponent dollars to offset habitat losses.

• The creation of a “Mitigation Trust Account” when impacts cannot be avoided, 

minimized, or effectively mitigated through other means. If approved by the BLM, 

the proponent may contribute funding to maintain habitat function based on the 

estimated cost of habitat treatments or other mitigation needed to maintain the 

functions of impacted habitats. Off-site mitigation should only be considered when no 

feasible options are available to adequately mitigate within and immediately adjacent 

to the impacted site, or when the off-site location would provide more effective 

mitigation of the impact than can be achieved on-site.
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D.5. Crucial Areas Planning System (CAPS)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Crucial Areas Planning System User’s Guide

Version 1.0 –April 2010

In 2008, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MTFWP) took the lead in conducting a Crucial Areas 

Assessment. The Assessment evaluated the fish, wildlife and recreational resources of Montana 

in order to identify crucial areas and fish and wildlife corridors. The result, in part, is a Webbased Crucial Areas Planning System (CAPS), a new MTFWP mapping service aimed at 

future planning for a variety of development and conservation purposes so fish, wildlife, and 

recreational resources can be considered earlier.

The Crucial Areas Planning System (CAPS) is intended to provide useful and non-regulatory 

information during the early planning stages of development projects, conservation 

opportunities, and environmental review. 

CAPS is not intended to replace consultation with MTFWP staff. In cases where 

federally threatened or endangered species occur, CAPS does not replace a federal 

consultation under the Endangered Species Act.

Finest data resolution is at the square mile section scale or waterbody, and use of these 

data layers at a more localized scale is not appropriate and may lead to inaccurate 

interpretations. The classification may or may not apply to the entire section. Consult 

the local MTFWP biologist for more localized information.

How Data Are Used in This RMP:

CAPS data used in this RMP are from the “Big Game Winter Range Habitat” CAPS Score 1 &

2. Big game data is for the protection of big game winter ranges. Refer to maps 15-20 for a 

current map of habitat within the Billings Field Office. 

Attached are descriptions of the assessment process used by MTFWP. In the future, changes, 

revisions, or elimination of this data will be coordinated and agreed upon with MTFWP. 
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Appendix E: 

PFC – Proper Functioning Condition

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E. PFC – PROPER FUNCTIONING CONDITION

E.1 WHAT IT IS - WHAT IT ISN’T

PFC is: A methodology for assessing the physical functioning of riparian and wetland 

areas. The term PFC is used to describe both the assessment process, and a 

defined, on-the-ground condition of a riparian-wetland area. In either case, PFC 

defines a minimum or starting point.

The PFC assessment provides a consistent approach for assessing the physical

functioning of riparian-wetland areas through consideration of hydrology, 

vegetation, and soil/landform attributes. The PFC assessment synthesizes 

information that is foundational to determining the overall health of a riparianwetland area.

The on-the-ground condition termed PFC refers to how well the physical

processes are functioning. PFC is a state of resiliency that will allow a riparian

wetland system to hold together during a 25 to 30 year flow event, sustaining that

system's ability to produce values related to both physical and biological 

attributes.

PFC isn’t: The sole methodology for assessing the health of the aquatic or terrestrial

components of a riparian-wetland area.

PFC isn’t: A replacement for inventory or monitoring protocols designed to yield

information on the "biology" of the plants and animals dependent on the riparianwetland area.

PFC can: Provide information on whether a riparian-wetland area is physically functioning 

in a manner which will allow the maintenance or recovery of desired values, e.g., 

fish habitat, neotropical birds, or forage, over time.

PFC isn’t: Desired (future) condition. It is a prerequisite to achieving desired condition.

PFC can’t: Provide more than strong clues as to the actual condition of habitat for plants and 

animals. Generally a riparian-wetland area in a physically nonfunctioning

condition will not provide quality habitat conditions. A riparian wetland area that 

has recovered to a proper functioning condition would either be providing quality 

habitat conditions, or would be moving in that direction if recovery is allowed to 

continue. A riparian-wetland area that is functioning-at-risk would likely lose any 

habitat that exists in a 25 to 30 year flow event.

Therefore: To obtain a complete picture of riparian-wetland area health, including the

biological side, one must have information on both physical status, provided

through the PFC assessment, and biological habitat quality. Neither will provide a 
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complete picture when analyzed in isolation. In most cases proper functioning 

condition will be a prerequisite to achieving and maintaining habitat quality.

PFC is: A useful tool for prioritizing restoration activities. By concentrating on the “at 

risk” systems, restoration activities can save many riparian-wetland areas from

degrading to a non functioning condition. Once a system is non functional the

effort, cost, and time required for recovery is dramatically increased. Restoration 

of non functional systems should be reserved for those situations where the 

riparian wetland has reached a point where recovery is possible, when efforts are 

not at the expense of "at risk" systems, or when unique opportunities exist. At the 

same time, systems that are properly functioning are not the highest priorities for 

restoration. Management of these systems should be continued to maintain PFC 

and further recovery towards desired condition.

PFC is: A useful tool for determining appropriate timing and design of riparian-wetland

restoration projects (including structural and management changes). It can 

identify situations where instream structures are either entirely inappropriate or 

premature.

PFC is: A useful tool that can be used in watershed analysis. While the methodology and

resultant data is "reach based", the ratings can be aggregated and analyzed at the

watershed scale. PFC, along with other watershed and habitat condition

information helps provide a good picture of watershed health and the possible

causal factors affecting watershed health. Use of PFC will help to identify

watershed scale problems and suggest management remedies and priorities.

PFC isn’t: Watershed analysis in and of itself, or a replacement for watershed analysis.

PFC is: A useful tool for designing implementation and effectiveness monitoring plans. 

By concentrating implementation monitoring efforts on the “no” answers, greater

efficiency of resources (people, dollars, time) can be achieved. The limited

resources of the local manager in monitoring riparian-wetland parameters can be

prioritized to those factors that are currently “out of range” or at risk of going out 

of range. The role of research may extend to validation monitoring of many of the

parameters.

PFC wasn’t: Designed to be a long term monitoring tool but it may be an appropriate part of a 

well designed monitoring program.

PFC isn’t: Designed to provide monitoring answers about attainment of desired conditions. 

However, it can be used to provide a thought process on whether a management 

strategy is likely to allow attainment of desired conditions.

PFC can: Reduce the frequency and sometimes the extent of more data and labor intensive

inventories. PFC can reduce process by concentrating efforts on the most

significant problem areas first and thereby increasing efficiency.
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PFC can’t: Eliminate the need for more intensive inventory and monitoring protocols. These 

will often be needed to validate that riparian-wetland area recovery is indeed 

moving toward or has achieved desired conditions, e.g., good quality habitat; or 

simply establish what the existing habitat quality is.

PFC is: A qualitative assessment based on quantitative science. The PFC assessment is

intended for individuals with local, on-the-ground experience in the kind of

quantitative sampling techniques that support the checklist. These quantitative

techniques are encouraged in conjunction with the PFC assessment for individual

calibration, where answers are uncertain, or where experience is limited. PFC is

also an appropriate starting point for determining and prioritizing the type and

location of quantitative inventory or monitoring necessary.

PFC isn’t: A replacement for quantitative inventory or monitoring protocols. PFC is meant to 

complement more detailed methods by providing a way to synthesize data and 

communicate results.

E.2 PFC Checklist

The following section contains the PFC checklist as used by BLM staff and others in the field.

Immediately following are the general instructions, and then the two pages of the checklist itself.
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E.3 General Instructions

1) The concept "Relative to Capability" applies wherever it may be inferred.

2) This checklist constitutes the Minimum National Standards required to determine Proper

Functioning Condition of lotic riparian-wetland areas.

3) As a minimum, an ID Team will use this checklist to determine the degree of function of a

riparian-wetland area.

4) Mark one box for each element. Elements are numbered for the purpose of cataloging

comments. The numbers do not declare importance.

5) For any item marked "No," the severity of the condition must be explained in the

"Remarks" section and must be a subject for discussion with the ID Team in determining

riparian-wetland functionality. Using the "Remarks" section to also explain items marked

"Yes" is encouraged but not required.

6) Based on the ID Team’s discussion, "functional rating" will be resolved and the checklist’s 

summary section will be completed.

7) Establish photo points where possible to document the site.

Standard Checklist

Name of Riparian-Wetland Area: _________________________________________________

Date: ________ Area/Segment ID: ________________________ Miles: _______________________

ID Team Observers: _________________________________________________________________

HYDROLOGIC (circle one)

Yes /No/ N/A 1) Floodplain inundated in "relatively frequent" events (1-3 years)

Yes/ No /N/A 2) Active/stable beaver dams

Yes/ No /N/A 3) Sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in balance with the landscape setting 

(i.e., landform, geology, and bioclimatic region)

Yes/ No/ N/A 4) Riparian zone is widening or has achieved potential extent

Yes /No /N/A 5) Upland watershed not contributing to riparian degradation

VEGETATIVE (circle one)

Yes /No/ N/A 6) Diverse age-class distribution (recruitment for maintenance/recovery)

Yes/ No/ N/A 7) Diverse composition of vegetation (for maintenance/recovery)

Yes /No/ N/A 8) Species present indicate maintenance of riparian soil moisture characteristics

Yes /No/ N/A 9) Streambank vegetation is comprised of those plants or plant communities that have 

root masses capable of withstanding high streamflow events

Yes/ No/ N/A 10) Riparian plants exhibit high vigor

Yes /No /N/A 11) Adequate vegetative cover present to protect banks and dissipate energy during high 

flows

Yes/ No/ N/A 12) Plant communities in the riparian area are an adequate source of coarse and/or large 

woody debris

SOILS-EROSION DEPOSITION (circle one)

Yes/ No /N/A 13) Floodplain and channel characteristics (i.e., rocks, overflow channels, coarse and/or 

large woody debris) adequate to dissipate energy
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Yes /No /N/A 14) Point bars are revegetating

Yes /No/ N/A 15) Lateral stream movement is associated with natural sinuosity

Yes/ No /N/A 16) System is vertically stable

Yes /No /N/A 17) Stream is in balance with the water and sediment being supplied by the watershed 

(i.e., no excessive erosion or deposition)

Remarks:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Summary Determination Functional Rating:

Proper Functioning Condition ______________________

Functional – At Risk ______________________

Nonfunctional ______________________

Unknown ______________________

Trend for Functional – At Risk:

Upward ______________________

Downward ______________________

Not Apparent ______________________

Are factors contributing to unacceptable conditions outside BLM’s control or

management?

Yes ______________________

No ______________________

If yes, what are those factors?

____ Flow regulations

____ Mining activities

____ Upstream channel conditions

____ Channelization

____ Road encroachment

____ Oil Field water discharge

____ Augmented flows

____ Other (specify) __________________________________________________
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Appendix F: 

Implementation and Monitoring

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F. Implementation and Monitoring

Plan implementation is a continuous process occurring over the life of the resource management 

plan that will consider changing circumstances and new information through monitoring. The 

goal is to maintain a dynamic resource management plan that is evaluated and amended if 

necessary on an issue-by-issue basis. 

The implementation and monitoring process for the Billings Field Office and Pompeys Pillar 

National Monument (NM) involves four major steps: planning, implementation, monitoring, 

evaluation, and adjustments, as necessary. Planning involves a great amount of time and 

resources to identify issues and management opportunities to address those issues. During the 

planning process, the scope of the issue is identified and management goals, objectives and

actions are defined to address the issues. Once the planning process is completed, decisions are 

implemented, monitored, and evaluated over a period of time to determine if goals are being met 

and if management actions are achieving the desired objective or standard. Results of 

monitoring are documented and communicated to appropriate parties, and management 

objectives and actions are modified based on results, if necessary.

Planning

The Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS) is approved once the Record of Decision (ROD) is signed. An Approved Plan will also be 

available that will include all the approved decisions from the RMP.

The BLM regulation in 43 CFR 1610.5-4 provides that land use plan decisions and supporting 

components can be maintained to reflect minor changes in data. Maintenance is limited to 

further refining, documenting, or clarifying a previously approved decision incorporated in the 
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plan. Maintenance must not expand the scope of resource uses or restrictions or change the 

terms, conditions, and decisions of the Approved Plan.

Land use plan decisions are changed through either a plan amendment or a plan revision. The 

process for conducting plan amendments is essentially the same as the land use planning process 

used in developing RMPs. The primary difference is that circumstances may allow for 

completing a plan amendment through the environmental assessment (EA) process, rather than 

through an EIS. Plan amendments (43 CFR 1610.5-5) change one or more of the terms, 

conditions, or decisions of an approved land use plan. Plan amendments are most often 

prompted by the need to consider a proposal or action that does not conform to the plan; 

implement new or revised policy that changes land use plan decisions; respond to new, 

intensified, or changed uses on BLM land; and consider significant new information from 

resource assessments, monitoring, or scientific studies that change land use plan decisions.

Implementation

Implementation of the resource management plan (RMP) begins once the Record of Decision 

and Approved Plan for the Proposed RMP/Final EIS is signed. 

Decisions made through the RMP planning process are implemented over a period of time. 

Some of the decisions are immediate and go into effect with the Record of Decision. These 

include decisions such as the road designations and lands available for disposal through 

exchange. Some decisions would be implemented after a site-specific environmental review is 

completed. Examples include range improvements, recreation sites, or approval of an 

application for permit to drill a natural gas well. Other decisions include guidance that would be 

applied during site-specific analysis or activity planning.

Any future proposals or management actions will be reviewed against the Approved Plan to 

determine if the proposal would be in conformance with the RMP. While the Final EIS for the 

Billings and Pompeys Pillar NM RMP provides the compliance with NEPA for the broad-scale 

decisions to be made in the Record of Decision, it does not replace the requirement to comply 

with NEPA for implementation actions. Proposed actions fall into one of five categories: (1) 

actions that are exempt from NEPA; (2) actions that are categorically excluded; (3) actions that 

are covered by an existing NEPA environmental document; (4) actions that require preparation 

of an environmental assessment (EA) to determine if an environmental impact statement (EIS) is 

needed; or (5) actions that require preparation of an EIS. The NEPA procedural, documentation, 

and public involvement requirements are different for each category. 

Activity level planning will address any proposed new activities and long-term permitted 

activities that need to be brought into compliance with plan decisions, subject to valid existing 

rights. Monitoring of these activities will then determine the effectiveness of applying the land 

use plan direction. Where land use plan actions or best management practices are not effective, 

modifications could occur without amendment or revision of the plan as long as assumptions and 

impacts disclosed in the analysis remain valid and broad-scale goals and objectives are not 

changed. This approach uses on-the-ground monitoring, review of scientific information, and 

consideration of practical experience and common sense to adjust management and modify 

implementation of the plan to reach the desired outcome.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-3 September 2015

As part of this process, the BLM will review management actions and the plan periodically to 

determine whether the objectives set forth in this document are being met. Where they are not 

being met, the BLM will consider adjustments of appropriate scope. Where the BLM considers 

taking or approving actions which will alter or not conform to overall direction of the plan, the 

BLM will prepare a plan amendment and environmental analysis of appropriate scope.

In addition, during the life of the Approved Plan, the BLM expects that new information 

gathered from field inventories and assessments, research, other agency studies, and other 

sources will update baseline data or support new management techniques, best management 

practices, and scientific principles. To the extent that such new information or actions address 

issues covered in the plan, the BLM will integrate the data through plan maintenance. 

Monitoring

Monitoring is the repeated measurement of activities and conditions over time. Monitoring data 

gathered over time is examined and used to draw conclusions on whether management actions 

are meeting stated objectives, and if not, why. Conclusions are then used to make 

recommendations on whether to continue current management or what changes need to be made 

in management practices to meet objectives.

Monitoring determines whether planned activities have been implemented in the manner 

prescribed by the plan. This monitoring documents BLM’s progress toward full implementation 

of the land use plan decision. There are no specific thresholds or indicators required for this type 

of monitoring.

Monitoring also is used to determine if the implementation of activities has achieved the desired 

goals and objectives. This requires knowledge of the objectives established in the RMP as well 

as indicators that can be measured. Indicators are established by technical specialists in order to 

address specific questions, and thus avoid collection of unnecessary data. Success is measured 

against the benchmark of achieving desired future conditions established by the plan.

Monitoring is also used to ascertain whether a cause-and-effect relationship exists among 

management activities or resources being managed. It confirms whether the predicted results 

occurred and if assumptions and models used to develop the plan are correct. This type of 

monitoring is often done by contract with another agency, academic institution, or other entity, 

and is usually expensive and time consuming since results are not known for many years.

Regulations at 43 CFR 1610.4-9 require that the proposed plan establish intervals and standards, 

as appropriate, for monitoring and evaluation of the plan, based on the sensitivity of the resource 

decisions involved. Progress in meeting the plan objectives and adherence to the management 

framework established by the plan is reviewed periodically. CEQ regulations implementing 

NEPA state that agencies may provide for monitoring to assure that their decisions are carried 

out and should do so in important cases (40 CFR 1505.2(c)). To meet these requirements, the 

BLM will prepare periodic reports on the implementation of the RMP.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-4 Appendix F

Evaluation

Evaluation is a process in which the plan and monitoring data are reviewed to see if management 

goals and objectives are being met and if management direction is sound. 

Land use plan evaluations will be used by BLM to determine if the decisions in the RMP, 

supported by the accompanying NEPA analysis, are still valid. Evaluation of the RMP will 

generally be conducted every five years, unless unexpected actions, new information, or 

significant changes in other plans, legislation, or litigation triggers an evaluation. Land use plan 

evaluations determine if decisions are being implemented, whether mitigation measures are 

satisfactory, whether there are significant changes in the related plans of other entities, whether 

there is new data of significance to the plan, and if decisions should be changed through 

amendment or revision. 

Based on a Record of Decision and Approved Plan released in the spring of 2014, the following 

evaluation schedule would be followed for the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument

RMP/EIS: 

Fall 2019

Fall 2024

Fall 2029

Fall 2034

Evaluations will follow the protocols established by the BLM Land Use Planning Handbook 

H-1601-1 in effect at the time the evaluation is initiated.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-5 September 2015

INTRODUCTION

For each resource, there are a series of items that will be monitored. Each item is evaluated by

location, technique for data gathering, unit of measure, frequency, remedial action trigger, and

management option (Table 1). The monitoring and evaluation plan states the event that will be

evaluated and lists the key resources that will be managed in the planning area. If an adverse

impact can be corrected by a management action within the scope of this plan, the change will

be implemented. If the adverse impact can be corrected only by a management action that is

outside the scope of this plan, the management change will be a formal amendment.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-6 Appendix F

TABLE 1. MONITORING TABLE

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

AIR RESOURCES AND CLIMATE

Air Resources

and Climate

Gaseous and

particulate

regulated air

pollutants and air

quality related

values(AQRVs),

such as acid

deposition, lake

acidification, and

visibility

Area-wide

Air quality

photochemical

grid modeling

Micrograms/cubic

meter (μg/m3) and

parts per million

(ppm)

concentrations(as

μg/m3

)

Modeling will

be performed

when adequate

data are

available to

validate model

performance

(see the Air

Resources and

Climate

Appendix)

Predicted

exceedances

of National

Ambient Air

Quality

Standards

(NAAQS) or

Montana

Ambient Air

Quality

Standards

(MAAQS) or

unacceptable

impacts to

AQRVs

Implement

additional

emission

controls or

operating

limits

Gaseous and

particulate

regulated air

pollutants

Area-wide

Continued

automated

sampling and

analysis

μg/m3 and ppm

concentrations(as

μg/m3

)

Continuous

Measured

exceedances of

NAAQS or

MAAQS

Implement

additional

emission

controls or

operating

limits

Climate

indicators

including

temperature,

precipitation,

precipitation

timing and

intensity,

snowfall,snow

pack, albedo,

greenhouse gas

Area-wide

Analysis of

existing climatic

data and climate

change data

available from

the National

Oceanic and

Atmospheric

Administration,

the Western

Degrees

Fahrenheit (°F),

degrees Celsius

(°C), inches, feet,

unitless(albedo),

ppm, parts per

billion

Annual

None (actions

triggered based

on resourcespecific

concerns)

Provide annual

updates

summarizing

recent climate

trends to

Bureau of Land

Management

(BLM)

resource

management
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-7 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

(GHG)

concentrations

Regional

Climate Center,

United States

Environmental

Protection

Agency

(USEPA), and

other reliable

sources of

information

personnel

SOILS

Soils Soil erosion,

uplands

Area-wide

where

management

activities are

occurring or

expected to

occur

Visual

observation,

photo point,

rangeland

health

assessment,

surface

aggregate

stability test,

silt fence, and

surveyed

erosion pins

Soil loss in tons per

acre

Site will be

visually

examined

quarterly.

Where erosion

is considered

excessive,

measurements

of site

characteristics

will be taken to

determine rate

of soil loss.

Visual 

evidence of

pedestal, wind

scour, rill

greater than 3

inches, active

headcutting

gully, or sheet

erosion. Soil or

site stability

indicators are

not similar to

reference

rangeland

health

conditions.

Change in

surface

aggregate

stability to a

lower class.

Loss of soil

exceeding 10

Report

exceedance to

the BLM,

Montana

Department of

Environmental

Quality

(MDEQ), or

USEPA.

Enforcement

action would

be taken.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-8 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

tons per acre

per year

Soils

(cont’d)

Soil erosion,

streambanks,

riparian areas,

and floodplains

Area-wide

along rivers and

tributaries

where

management

activities are

occurring or

expected to

occur

Visual

observation,

photo point,

rangeland

health or proper

functioning

condition

assessments,

silt fence, and

surveyed

erosion pins

Area affected in

square feet or

acres

Site would be

visually

examined

quarterly.

Where

streambank

erosion is

considered

excessive,

measurements

of site

characteristics

will be taken to

determine soil

loss.

Visual

evidence of

active

headcutting,

channelization

beyond natural

conditions, or

bank slump.

Proper

functioning

condition

(PFC) rated

functional-atrisk with a

downward

trend or

nonfunctional.

A 10%

increase in

streambank

loss.

Report

exceedance to

the BLM,

MDEQ, or

USEPA.

Enforcement

action would

be taken.

Soilsalinization

and sodification

Area-wide

where

management

activities were

occurring or

expected to

occur

Visual

observation,

measurement of

soil

characteristics

such as

(electrical

conductivity

(EC), sodium

adsorption ratio

(SAR),

Area affected in

square feet or

acres

Site would be

visually

examined

quarterly.

Where impacts

to soil or

vegetation were 

observed,

measurements

of site

A 20%

increase in

levels in EC,

SAR, or

exchange

sodium

percentage

(EC greater

than 8, SAR

greater than 8,

exchangeable

Report

exceedance to

the BLM,

MDEQ, or

USEPA.

Enforcement

action would

be taken.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-9 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

exchange

sodium

percentage, and

pH

characteristics

would be taken

to determine

salinity and

sodicity levels.

sodium

percentage

greater than

10, or pH

greater than

8.5)

Soils

(cont’d)

Compaction

Area-wide

where

management

activities were

occurring or

expected to

occur

Visual

inspection,

penetrometer, or

ratio of

penetration

resistance or

bulk density to

that of the

reference area

Lbs. per square

inch, mass per

volume

Site would be

visually

examined 1 to

2 times yearly;

where

compaction is

considered

excessive,

measurements

would be taken.

When an area

has a 10%

increase in

density or

ratio of

penetration

resistance or

bulk density

to that of the

reference area

greater than 1

and the

compacted

area exceeds

10% of surface

disturbance

Decompact or

close access to

compacted site

until area

recoversfrom

compaction

Rutting

Area-wide

where

management

activities were

occurring or

expected to

occur

Visual

observation and

measured depth

of rut

Inches

Site would be

visually

examined 1 to

2 times yearly.

Where rutting is

considered

excessive,

measurements

would be

taken.

Ruts exceed 4

inches in depth

Close access to

rutted site until

soil conditions

are not

susceptible to

rutting and are

repaired.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-10 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Soils

(cont’d)

Subsidence of fill

material

Areas where

management

activities

required fill

material

Visual

observation and

measured depth

of subsidence

Feet

Site would be

visually

examined 1 to

2 times yearly.

Where

slumping or

piping is

considered

excessive,

measurements

would be taken.

10% increase

in slumping or

piping depth

Close access to

site until area is

reclaimed

WATER

Water

Surface water

quality and

quantity

In watersheds

expected to be

affected,

potentially

affected, or

down gradient

from CBNG

surface

discharge points

or regionally at

the monitoring

stations

identified by the

interagency

working group

(refer to Final

Supplement to

the Montana

Statewide Oil

and Gas

Environmental

Impact

As determined

by the

interagency

working group

(refer to the

FSEIS) or

water quality

parameters,

temperature,

and discharge

or stage

measurements

As determined by

the interagency

working group

(refer to the

FSEIS) or feet,

cubic feet per

second (cfs), and

standard

quantitative

measurements of

water quality (e.g.,

milligrams per liter

[mg/L], pH,

μS/cm, and

°C)

As determined

by the

interagency

working group

or based on

activity plan

schedule (refer

to the FSEIS)

Exceedance of

any parameter

above the State

of Montana

surface water

quality

standards or

identified

BLM

thresholds

(refer to the

FSEIS)

Report 

exceedancesto

the MDEQ,

which would

determine cause

and take

appropriate

actions if

monitoring

indicatesthat

BLM thresholds

were met or

exceeded, 

Untreated 

discharge of

CBNG water

from federal

wells would no

longer be

allowed 

upstream from

that station.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-11 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Statement and 

Proposed 

Amendment of the

Powder River and

Billings Resource

Management

Plans [FSEIS]).

Note that the

10% of 7Q10 

criteria for

untreated

CBNG water

would apply

unless stations

upstream and

downstream

from proposed

outfalls are

monitored

(refer to the

FSEIS).

Previous 

approvals may be

modified.

Water

(cont’d)

Groundwater

drawdown

Regionally at

locations

determined by

the interagency

working group

(refer to the

FSEIS)

Monitoring

wells would be

finished in

bedrock units;

especially coal

seams expected

to be developed

for CBNG.

Depth to water

reported in

hundredths of feet

Depth to water

measurements

would be made

approximately

monthly to

establish an

initial baseline.

Measurements

would be

A 20-foot

decrease in

static water

level from

seasonally

adjusted mean

static water

level

(determined

from baseline

data) (refer to

If falling water

levels were

determined to

be caused by

CBNG

activity,

operators must

offer water well

mitigation

agreements to

all landowners
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-12 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

made

approximately

quarterly

thereafter

unless a greater

frequency was

determined to

be necessary.

Monitoring

would continue

until at least

80% recovery

of static water

level was

achieved.

the FSEIS) with water

sources in the

defined

drawdown area

(20 feet or

greater

drawdown) of

their

development.

Hydrologic

barriers, such as

injection wells,

may be an

option in some

cases to prevent

drainage of

American

Indian gas and

water resources.

Water

(cont’d)

Groundwater

quality and

quantity

Alluvial

groundwater

would be

monitored in

stream valleys

topographically

down gradient

from CBNG

surface

discharge points.

Since discharge

to ephemeral

streams would

not be allowed,

Monitoring

wells would be

finished in the

alluvium. Depth

to water

measurements

and water

quality

parameters,

including (but

not limited to)

pH, EC, water

temperature,

common ions

(Na, Mg, Ca,

Standard

quantitative

measurements of

water quality and

static water level

(mg/L, °C,

μS/cm, and

hundredths of

feet)

Depth to water

measurements

would be made

approximately

monthly to

establish an

initial baseline.

Depth to water

would then be

collected

approximately

quarterly

thereafter.

A change in

groundwater

chemistry that

affects its class

of use or rise in

static

groundwater

levels of 5 feet

or more that

may cause

impacts at the

ground surface

(refer to the

FSEIS)

If impacts

were

determined to

result from

CBNG

development,

direct discharge

of CBNG water

into waterways

in the watershed

may be

discontinued

until modified
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-13 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

these wells

would be along

larger streams

(refer to the

FSEIS).

K, HCO3, CI,

SO4) would be

obtained.

Water quality

samples would

be taken

approximately

annually unless

more frequent

monitoring is

needed.

Monitoring

would continue

until at least

80% recovery

of static water

level was

achieved.

water

management

plans were

submitted and

approved (refer

to the FSEIS).

Water

(cont’d)

Groundwater

quality and

quantity

Operators

would install

monitoring

wells adjacent

to

impoundments

(refer to the

FSEIS).

A monitoring

well would be

installed within

the first

permeable unit

and within the

first

groundwater

encountered (up

to 50 feet total

depth) to

determine

effectiveness of

infiltration; if

evaporation

basins were

leaking, a water

quality sample

of the

Depth to water

(feet to water

reported in

hundredths of

feet). Water

quality samples

would be collected

if rises in

groundwater were

observed or if

water were

observed in a

previously dry

zone.

Wells would

be gauged

monthly for the

first year and

quarterly

thereafter

unless a rise

was observed.

If a rise were

observed,

monitoring

would be

monthly. Water

quality samples

would be

collected

whenever the

water level is

above

A rise of 1 foot

or more in

static water

levels above

seasonally

adjusted mean

water levels

(determined

from the first

year of data) or

a change in the

class of use in

the

groundwater

(refer to the

FSEIS).

Any change in

class of use

would be

reported to the

MDEQ.

Operators may

be required to

install

additional

monitoring

wells further

downgradient,

or discharge

into

impoundments

may be required

to cease until a

revised water
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-14 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

first

groundwater (if

encountered)

would be

collected to

determine class

of use.

baseline.

Monitoring

would continue

at least until the

end of CBNG

water discharge

into the

impoundment.

management

plan is

submitted and

approved (refer

to the FSEIS)

Water

(cont’d) Springs

A network of

springs

determined to

be fed by the

regional flow

system would

be identified

along coal

outcrops in the

CBNG

development

area (refer to

the FSEIS)

Spring

discharge and

water quality

parameters,

including (but

not limited to)

pH, EC, water

temperature,

and common

ions (Na, Mg,

Ca, K, HCO3,

CI, SO4),

would be

determined

from existing

springs.

Discharge cubic

feet per second

(cfs), pH, EC

(μS/cm), and water

temperature (°C)

would be

determined in the

field. Standard

quantitative

measurements of

water quality also

would be used

(mg/L).

Field

measurement of

discharge, pH,

EC, and water

temperature

would be

determined

approximately

quarterly. An

initial water

quality sample

would be

collected;

additional

samples would

be analyzed if

substantial

changes in the

field parameters

were observed.

A 50%

decrease in

spring

discharge

below

seasonally

adjusted mean

(determined in

the first 3

years) or a

significant

change in water

quality that

affects its

beneficial use

(refer to the

FSEIS).

If decreased

spring

discharges or

water quality

were

determined to

result from

CBNG

activity,

operators must

offer spring

mitigation

agreements to

landowners

who use the

spring. If the

affected spring

were identified

as important

wildlife habitat,

adaptive

management

practices would

be used at the
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-15 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

landscape level

to improve

spring

ecosystems.

Hydrologic

barriers, such as

injection wells,

may be an

option in some

cases to prevent

drainage of

American

Indian gas and

water resources

(refer to the

FSEIS).

Water

(cont’d)

Streambank or

channel

alteration

Any federal

area-wide action

in which

potential

impacts from

management

activities are

occurring or

expected to

occur

Monumented

crosssections,

longitudinal

profile, visual

inspection,

photo point,

PFC,surveyed

erosion pins,

and any suitable

methods as

described in

Grazing

Management

Processes and

Strategiesfor

Riparianwetland Areas

Area affected in

square feet or

acres

Based on

activity plan

schedule and a

minimum of

once every 10

years

Trend away

from

objective, a

10%

increase in

streambank or

channel

alteration,

exceedance of

any parameter

above the State

of Montana

surface water

quality

standards for

sediment, total

Activities

would be

required to be

altered or

discontinued in

order to provide

environmental

factors for

increasing

functionality or

conditions of the

streams.

Exceedance

would be

reported to

BLM, MDEQ,

or USEPA and
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-16 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

(Wyman et al.

2006), Bureau

of Land

Management

Prairie Stream

Surveys: Study

Plan (BLM

2010k), and

Stream

Channel

Reference

Sites: An

Illustrated

Guide to Field

Technique

(Harrelson,

Rawlins, and

Potyondy

1994).

suspended

solids, or

turbidity

without a

variance.

enforcement

action would

be taken.

Water

(cont’d)

Surface water

quality and

quantity

Any federal

area-wide action

in which

potential

impacts from

management

activities are

occurring or

expected to

occur

Water quality

parameters,

temperature,

discharge, or

stage

measurements

Feet, cfs, or

standard

quantitative

measurements of

water quality (e.g.,

mg/L, pH,

μS/cm, °C)

Based on

activity plan

schedule

Exceedance of

any parameter

above the State

of Montana

surface water

quality

standards

Activities would

be required to be

altered or

discontinued.

Exceedance

would be 

reported to

BLM, MDEQ,

or USEPA and

enforcement

action would be

taken.

Water,Indian

trust

Groundwater

Adjacent to the

Northern

Cheyenne and

Sampling of

dedicated

monitoring

Standard

quantitative

measurements of

Field

measurements

six times

Where sitespecific studies

show a

The BLM

would require

the operators
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-17 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Crow Indian

Reservations

wells in the

zones of

extraction and

zones above and

below the

expected

activity; wells

are to be placed

in the affected

areas to areas

unaffected by

management

activities

water quality and

measurement of

depth in feet

annually prior

to production

activities and

continued

throughout the

activity period

and for the

duration of

95% of the

recovery of predevelopment

conditions

potential to

affect

Reservation

groundwater,

the tribe would

be consulted as

to appropriate

protection

measures and

where

continuous

monitoring

showed a

drawdown of

groundwater

attributed to

CBNG

production.

to modify

federal CBNG

production.

Mitigation

options would

include

reducing

production

rates, shutting

in the well or

wells,

establishing a

hydrologic

barrier, or

providing

compensation

to the affected

tribe.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-18 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

VEGETATION

Trees and

shrubs

Functional

habitat within

desired

conditions

Site-specific

and landscapelevel

Visual

observation,

photos,

utilization,

browseevaluation,

trend

Cover, diversity, and

composition.

Varies and

designed to

address

objectives

Failure to

meet

Rangeland

Health

Standards.

Trend moving

away from

management

objectives.

Change in

livestock

season-of-use,

timing,

intensity,

frequency, and

duration

Herbaceous

Functional

habitat within

desired

conditions.

Site-specific

and landscapelevel

Utilization,

visual

observation,

photos, and

trend

Cover, diversity, and

composition.

Varies and

designed to

address

objectives

Failure to

meet

Rangeland

Health

Standards or

trend moving

away from

management

objectives

Change in

livestock

season-of-use,

timing,

intensity,

frequency, and

duration

Riparian and

Wetland

Functional rating

and trend

Priority

allotments with

allotment

management

plans and areas

rated as nonfunctional or

functional-at

risk with

downward trend

Lotic and lentic

standard PFC

checklist and

multiple

indicators

monitoring

techniques(see

Riparian Area

Management, A

User Guide to

Assessing

Proper

Functioning

Condition and

the Supporting

Science for

Miles or acres

based on

functional rating

and trend

Once every 5

to 10 years

based on

priority of

non-functional

and

functional-at

risk with

downward

trend areas

Trend away

from objective

or when no

improvement

occurs in areas

rated as nonfunctional and

functional-at

risk with

downward

trend

Management

changes would

address causes

of degradation.

If impacts to

management

changes did not

maintain or

improve

riparian and

wetland

functionality,

additional

monitoring or

project revision

would
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-19 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Lotic Areas,

TR 1737-15

[Prichard 1998]

and Riparian

Area

Management A

User Guide to

Assessing

Proper

Functioning

Condition and

the Supporting

Science for

Lentic Areas,

TR 1737-16

[Prichard et al.

1999])

be required.

Oil and gas

operators would

be required to

alter activities in

order to provide

environmental

factors for

maintaining or

improving

functionality of

riparian and

wetland areas.

Noxious and 

Invasive Species Infestations

Inventoried

infestation

Photo points,

geographic

information

systems(GIS)

data, mapping,

and National

Invasive

Species

Information

Management

System

Infestation size,

presence or

absence

Annually or

every 3 to 5

years and

prioritized by

species

location and

treatment

method.

Expansion of

weeds, Early

Detection

Rapid

Response, new

infestationsin

areas of high

public use,

and public

accessible

areas

Change in

control method

or combine

multiple control

methods and

strategies

FISH AND WILDLIFE

Fisheries and

aquatic

wildlife in

prairie

streams

Habitat conditions

and index of

biological integrity

All locations 

within Miles City

Field Office 

(MCFO)

Bureau of Land

Management

Prairie Stream

Surveys: Study

Plan (BLM

300 meter stream

study reaches

Every 5 years

(all sites or

streams)

As needed: as

Decrease in 

index of 

biological

integrity score,

habitat

Management 

changes would 

address causes of

degradation. If

impacts to
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-20 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

prairie stream

survey protocol

and

locations as

needed due to

degraded

habitat,

allotment

inspections,

pre- and postdevelopment,

or as other

needs arise

2010k) and

index of

biological

integrity

approach

following

Development

and evaluation

of a fish

assemblage

index of biotic

integrity for

Northwestern

Great Plains

streams

(Bramblett,

Johnson, Zale,

and Heggem

2005) and Fish

and Habitat

Sampling

Protocol for

Prairie Streams

(Bramblett

2003)

determined by

a decrease in

riparian 

conditions

(e.g. declining

PFC rating),

water quality or

water resource

parameters

indicate a

decline in

habitat

conditions, or

land-use or

development

plansindicate a

potential for

deleterious

impacts to

habitat

parameters,

decreased

riparian

function, or

allotment

failing to meet

Standardsfor

Rangeland

Health

management

changes did not

maintain or

improve prairie

stream aquatic

wildlife habitat,

additional

monitoring or

project revision

would be

required. Oil

and gas

operators would

be required to

alter activities in

order to provide

environmental

factors for

maintaining or

improving

prairie stream

aquatic wildlife

habitat.

Fisheries and

aquatic

wildlife in

sport-fish

reservoirs

Habitat

conditions and

surveys by

Montana Fish,

Wildlife, and

Parks(MFWP)

Designated

sport-fish

reservoirs

Gill netting and

trapping

conducted by

MFWP

Acres of reservoir

1 to 5 years or

determined by

MFWP

Decrease in

population

sizes due to

factorsrelated

to resource use

Management

changes would

address causes

of degradation.

If impacts of

management

changes did not

maintain or

improve sport-
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-21 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

fish reservoir

habitat,

additional

monitoring or

project revision

would be

required. Oil

and gas

operators would

be required to

alter activities

to provide

environmental

factors for

maintaining or

improving

sport-fish

reservoir

habitat.

Upland game

birds and

migratory bird

species

Use and trend

Sharp-tailed and

sage- grouse

leks or winter

grounds and

migratory bird

species habitats

Field inspect

leks/breeding

bird surveys

and strategies

outlined in the

Wildlife

Appendix

Number of

males/numbers

and species of

migratory birds

Monitoring will

be tied to

yearly (varies

per species, 1-

5 years for

migratory bird

species)

planning with

MFWP or

based upon

project specific

need or

existing

requirements

Varies and is

projectspecific (i.e.,

downward

trend in lek

attendance)

Extension of

timing or project 

location or relocation,

stipulations or

COAs, and offsite mitigation
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-22 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Threatened and

Endangered

species and

other special

status wildlife

species habitat

Habitat use and

trends

Black-tailed

prairie dog

colonies,

interior least

terns, and

special status

speciesraptor

nests

Field surveys

that include

aerial, boat, or

ground survey

methodologies

Acres and number

of prairie dog

colonies, least tern

numbers and

nesting sites, and

raptor nest site

surveys

Monitoring

will be tied to

yearly planning

with MFWP or

based upon

projectspecific need or

existing

requirements

Varies and is

project- specific

Extension of

timing or

project location

re- location;

stipulations or

COAs; off-site

mitigation

Upland game

bird: sage and

sharp-tailed

grouse

Habitat condition

or baseline data

collection

Sage-grouse

nesting, broodrearing, winter

grounds, and

sharp-tailed

grouse habitats

Methodologies

such as line

point intercept

and other

methodologies

as outlined in

the Management

Plan and

Conservation

Strategiesfor

Sage Grouse in

Montana-Final

(Montana Sage

Grouse Work

Group 2005)

Existing habitat

conditions, height

of residual

vegetation, cover,

species diversity,

and potential

habitat trends

Monitoring

will be tied to

grazing permit

renewals,

existing

conditions, and

allotments that

contain a high

percentage of

BLMadministered

lands and other

actions that

cause direct or

indirect habitat

loss

Varies and is

project- specific

Mitigate

potential effects

of habitat

conditions or

loss or require

changes to

livestock

season-of-use

Wildland Fire Management and Ecology

Wildland Fire

Management

and Ecology

Fire Regime and

Condition Class

(FR/CC)

Area-wide

FR/CC

Standard

Landscape

Worksheet

Composition of

departure and

condition classes

compared to

reference

conditions

Field

measurements

evaluated on a

10-year cycle

A change in

the direction of

trend away

from

management

Implement

additional

vegetation or

habitat

treatments
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-23 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Cultural 

Resources

Random sample

of 10 additional

sites

Area-wide Site inspection Site,surrounding

area

Annually

Any noticeable

trend

indicating

increased

disturbance,

natural or

human-caused

For any

noticeable

trend 

indicating

increased

disturbance

(natural or 

humancaused), halt

activity affecting

sites, increase

frequency and

number of sites

monitored (if

sites are being

impacted),

increase

monitoring of

nearby sites,

and evaluate

damage to sites
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-24 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Cultural

Resources

(cont’d)

Site degradation

caused by human

activity

Significant

cultural sites

and area-wide

Inspection of

area disturbed

Site,surrounding

area

Annually

Any noticeable

trend indicating

increased

disturbance

(natural or

humancaused), such

as excavations

Closure of 

areas

surrounding site

to prevent

further 

disturbance to

significant

cultural

resources(may

require an RMP

amendment); for

any noticeable 

trend indicating

increased

disturbance

(natural or

human-caused),

halt activity

affecting sites,

increase

frequency and

number of sites

monitored (if

sites are being

impacted),

increase

monitoring of

nearby sites, and

evaluate

damage to sites
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-25 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Cultural

Resources

(cont’d)

Environmental

degradation,such

as erosion or

trampling

Significant

cultural sites

and area-wide

Inspection of

displaced or

altered area

Site,surrounding

area Annually

Accelerated

loss or

damage to

significant

cultural

material

Closure of

areas

surrounding site

to prevent

further

disturbance to

significant

cultural

resources(may

require an RMP

amendment; for

any noticeable

trend indicating

increased

disturbance

(natural or

human- caused),

halt activity

affecting sites,

increase

frequency and

number of sites

monitored (if

sites are being

impacted),

increase

monitoring of

nearby sites, and

evaluate damage

to sites
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-26 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES

Paleontological

Resources

Significant

paleontological

localities

Area-wide Inspection of

disturbed area

Degradation

caused by human

or natural activities

that lead to loss of

significant fossil

resources

Annually

Loss or

damage to

significant

fossil

resources

Closure of

areas

surrounding site

to prevent

further

disturbance to

significant fossil

resources (may

require an RMP

amendment)

Locality

degradation

caused by human

activity

Significant

paleontological

localities

Inspection of

area disturbed

Percentage of

locality

Annually

Any

noticeable

trend

indicating

increased

disturbance

such as

excavations

Closure of

areas

surrounding

site to prevent

further

disturbance to

significant

fossil resources

(may require

an RMP

amendment)
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-27 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

VISUAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (VRM)

VRM I (see Wilderness in this table)

VRM II VRM II See Map # Field visit Photo points Once every 1

to 5 years

Unanticipated

or

unacceptable

effects or

conflicts

occurring

Require

mitigation;

signing;

increase

enforcement

visits; and

replan for area

(may require an

RMP

amendment)

VRM III/IV

Large scalesurface

disturbing

project

Planning area

Field visit or

key

observation

points

Photos As the need

arises

Large-scale

surfacedisturbing

project on

landscape

Require

mitigation
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-28 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

FORESTRY AND WOODLAND PRODUCTS

Forestry and 

Woodland 

Products

(cont’d)

Reforestation BiFO

Site inspection

and stocking

surveys

Trees per acre and

visual evaluation

of tree vigor

Initialsurvey

10 years after

harvest or

wildfire;

subsequent

survey after 15

years to

determine if

artificial

regeneration is

necessary

Less than 150

trees per acre;

trees greater

than 4.6

inches

diameter at

breast height

Planting of

nursery stock

or broadcast

seeding

Silvicultural

treatments BiFO Site inspection

Trees per acre;

basal area per

acre; volume per

acre (thousand

board feet per

acre); and size

classes; visual

evaluation of

forest health

Pre- and posttreatment

Obtain current

stand data

information

and evaluate

effects of

treatments

Stocking

surveys, stand

exams, forest

inventory,

permanent

plots, and photo

points

Forest health BiFO

National

Agricultural

Imagery

Program

photography,

aerial detection

surveys, site

visits

Visual evaluation Annually

Evaluate insect

and disease

damage and

tree mortality

levels

Silvicultural 

treatments,

sanitation

harvest,

chemical

application 

(e.g.,

verbenone,

carbaryl)

Roads BiFO Site Inspection Visual Evaluation

Pre- and posttreatment

Damage to

road surface

(e.g., rutting,

erosion,

sediment

Culvert

replacement or

installation,

rolling dips,

proper
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-29 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

delivery, or

culvert

washouts)

drainage and

road placement,

reconstruction,

cut and fill

slope

stabilization,

surface blading,

grass seeding,

armoring, road

closures, timing

restrictions, and

other activities

(see Montana

BMPs in the

Forestry and

Woodland

Products

Appendix)

MINERALS

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Oil, Gas, and

Geothermal

Geophysical

notice of intent

(NOI)

Area-wide Line or area

inspection

Operations 

conducted in

compliance with

NOI

Minimum of

once during

operations

Violation of

regulations,

change from

approved NOI

Issue certified

letter with

corrective action

and timeframe;

bond release

cannot occur

until violations

are corrected
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-30 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Oil, Gas, and

Geothermal

(cont’d)

Application for

permit to drill

operations

(surface and

technical

inspections)

Area-wide Site inspection

Operations

conducted in

compliance with

applicationsfor

permit to drill

Surface

Inspections:

construction,

drilling, and

production –

Minimum of

once and as

necessary

Interim and

final

reclamation –

minimum of

once and until

reclamation is

complete

Technical

inspection:

drilling and

production –

minimum of

once and as

necessary

Violations of

regulations,

change from

approved

applications

for permit to

drill

Issue a written

order or an

incident of noncompliance

with timeframe

to correct

violations or

shut in

operations
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-31 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

Oil, Gas, and

Geothermal

(cont’d)

Sundry notice Area-wide Site inspection

Operations

conducted in

compliance with

approved sundry

notice

As necessary

Violations of

regulations,

change from

approved

sundry notice

Issue a written

order or an

incident of

noncompliance

with timeframe

to correct or

shut in

operations

Oil and gas

drainage Area-wide

Drainage

evaluation

Radius of

drainage

As necessary

The BLM

determines that

federal oil or

gas is being

drained

(physically

removed) by an

off-lease well.

Notify lessee of

drainage

situation.

Require lease

protection,

compensatory

royalty, or

relinquishment

Produced water

disposal

Area-wide Site inspection

Operations

conducted in

compliance with

permit

Minimum of

once annually

or as necessary

Violation of

regulations or

change from

approved

permit

Issue a written

order or an

incident of

noncompliance

with timeframe

to correct or

shut in operations

with timeframe

for correction
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-32 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

RECREATION

Recreation

General

recreation use

Area-wide with

emphasis on

dispersed use

of undeveloped

recreational

sites(extensive

recreation

management

areas)

Area inspection

to look for

vandalism and

resource abuse

and to install

photo points

Site condition

Twice a year

(e.g.,

once in June

and

once in

October) and

photograph

annually

User conflicts,

resource

degradation, or

safety hazards

Signing,

fencing or

other

mitigation

measures

Concentrated

recreation use

and demand

Special

recreation

management

areas

and sites with

recreation

facilities

Visitor

registration,

traffic counters,

estimates, and

photo

points

Visitor days and

site

condition

Visitor

registration

boxes and

counters

checked once

monthly (at the

minimum) and

weekly

or biweekly

during heavy

use periods;

photograph

annually

Increased

visitor use per

year or

sustained use

that requires

additional or

improved

facilities

Monitor more

frequently and

signing,

fencing, or

other mitigation

measures

Area-wide

commercial and

competitive

activities

(special

recreation

permits)

Administrative

review and

site

inspection or

reviews for

permittees with

permit

stipulations

Permit

stipulations,

resource

condition, and

success of

reclamation

On site during

competitive

events, periodic

site inspection

for commercial

operations, and

administrative

review

annually

Violation of

permit

stipulations,

irreparable

resource

damage, and

compromised

visitor safety

and

recreation

experience

Monitor more

frequently and

signing,

fencing, or

other mitigation

measures
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-33 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable

Energy

Rights-of-way

(ROWs) Area-wide Site inspection ROW

Minimum of once

during or for

construction

within 5 years of

issuance, then in

the 20th year after

issuance and every

10 years

thereafter; before

release or

collection of a

bond; before

renewal

termination or

relinquishment

acceptance; or as

required by

specific terms and

conditions

in the ROW grant

or the plan of

development

(POD) or

regulations

Nonuse of the

ROW or

violation of

ROW grant

stipulations,

the terms of the

POD, or

regulations

Require

compliance

with ROW grant

stipulations,

POD terms, or

regulations with

possible

suspension or

termination for

noncompliance or

nonuse
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-34 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

TRAVEL MANAGEMENT AND OHV 

Travel

Management

and OHV 

(cont’d)

Track progress

on

implementation or

planning signing,

and mapping

Planning-areawide

Field trips and

localized public

meetings

Verify minimized

resource damage,

user conflicts, and

new user-created

roads

Annual

Effects not

anticipated in

EIS or

unacceptable

effects

Require further

mitigation or

reclamation;

consider

replanning area

(may require

an RMP

amendment)

REALTY, CADASTRAL SURVEY, AND LANDS 

Realty, 

Cadastral 

Survey, and 

Lands

ROWs Area-wide Site inspection ROW

Minimum of

once during or

for construction

within 2 years

of issuance for

Mineral

Leasing Act

reviews and

within 5 years

of issuance for

Federal Land

and Policy

Management

Act reviews,

then in the 20th

year after

issuance and

every 10 years

thereafter;

before release

or collection

of a bond;

before renewal

termination or

Nonuse of the

ROW or

violation of

ROW grant

stipulations,

the terms of the

POD, or

regulations

Require

compliance

with ROW grant

stipulations,

POD terms, or

regulations with

possible

suspension or

termination for

noncompliance or

nonuse
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-35 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

relinquishment

acceptance; or

as required by

specific terms

and conditions

in the ROW

grant or the

POD or

regulations

Realty, 

Cadastral 

Survey, and 

Lands (cont’d)

2920 Land Use

Permits and

Leases

Area-wide Site inspection Lease or Permit

Minimum of

once during or

for construction

within 2 years

of issuance;

before release

or collection of

a bond; before

renewal

termination or

relinquishment

acceptance; or

as required by

specific terms

and conditions

in the lease or

permit or the

POD or

regulations

Nonuse of the

lease or permit

or violation of

lease or permit

stipulations,

the terms of the

POD, or

regulations

Require

compliance

with lease or

permit

stipulations,

POD terms, or

regulations with

possible

suspension or

termination for

noncompliance or

nonuse

Other Land Use

Authorizations

Area-wide Site inspection Use

Authorization

Minimum of

once during or

for

construction;

before release

or collection of

a bond;

Nonuse of the

authorization

or violation of

authorization

stipulations,

the terms of the

POD, or

Require

compliance

with

authorization

stipulations,

POD terms, or

regulations;
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-36 Appendix F

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

before renewal

termination or

relinquishment

acceptance; or

as required by

specific terms

and conditions

in the

authorization or

the POD or

regulations

regulations with possible

suspension or

termination for

noncompliance or

nonuse

Realty, Cadastral 

Survey, and 

Lands (cont’d)

Commercial film 

permits

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

SPECIAL DESIGNATION AREAS

ACECs Cultural ACECs Area-wide Site inspection

Sites receiving most 

public visitation,

surrounding area

Annually

Any

noticeable

trend

indicating

increased

disturbance,

natural or

human-caused

Increase

frequency of

monitoring to

ensure ACEC

values are not

being impaired
Billings Field Office 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix F F-37 September 2015

Element Item Location Technique Unit of Measure Frequency and

Duration

Remedial

Action

Trigger

Management

Options

National Historic 

Trails

Lewis & Clark 

NHT and Nez 

Perce NHT

Area wide

Area inspection

to look for

vandalism,

resource abuse,

and to install

photo points

Site condition Annually

User conflicts,

resource

degradation, or

safety hazards

Signing; site

mitigation;

more restrictive

management

(may require a

resource

management

plan [RMP]
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 F-38 Appendix F

This page intentionally left blank.
Appendix G: 

Pompeys Pillar Designations 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix G G-1 September 2015

Establishment of Pompeys Pillar National Monument

January 17, 2001
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

THE WHITE HOUSE 


Office of the Press Secretary 


For Immediate Release January 17, 2001 

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT 

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

A PROCLAMATION 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument is a ma%ive sand~tone outcrop that rises from an almost two-acre 

base on the banks of the Yellowstone River 150 feet toward Montana's Big Sky, east of Billings. Tite 

monument's premier location at a natural ford in the Yell owstone River, and its geologic distinction as 

the only major sandstone fonnation in the area, have made Pompeys Pillar a celebrated landmark and 

outstanding ob. ervation point for more than eleven thousand years of human occupation . Hundred of 

markings petroglyphs, and inscriptions left by visitors have transfonned this geologic phenomenon 

into a livingjoumal ofthe American West. 

Tite monument's most notable visitor, Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 

an·ived at Pompeys Pillar on July 25, 1806, on his retum trip from the Pacific coast. Clark's joumal 

recorded his slop at this "remarkable rock" wiUt its "extensive view in every direction. " He described 

an idyllic landscape of grassy plains, snow-capped mountains, and cliffs abutting the wandering river. 

Clark marked his presence by engraving his name and the date of his visit on the outcrop. Tllis simple 

inscription is the only remaining physical evidence of Lewis and Clark's epic joumey. In his joumal, 

Clark named the rock Pompy's Tower, Pompy being Clark's nickname for Sacagawea 's young son, 

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, who was bom at the expedition's winter camp at Fort Mandan on 

February 11, 1805. Tlte name was changed to Pompeys Pillar by author icholas Biddle when his 

account ofthe Expedition was published in 1814. 

Ethnographic and archaeological evidence indicates that the Pillar was a place of ritual and religious 

activity. Hundreds ofpetroglyphs on the face of the rock, noted by Clark in his joumal, reflect the 

importance of Ute monument to early peoples. Tite Crow people, Ute dominant residents of Ute region 

when Clark passed through, call the pillar the "Mountain Lions Lodge" in their language, and it figures 

prominently in Crow oral history. Pompeys Pillar also includes the markings and signature of a host of 

characters from the pioneer past, including fur trappers, Yellowstone River steamboat men, frontier 

mmy troops, railroad worke1 , missionaries, and early settlers. In 1873, Lieutenm1t Colonel George 

Annstrong Custer and his men camped at its base, where they came under attack from Sioux snipers. 

Section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C. 431 ), authorizes the President, in his 

discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric stmctures, a11d 

other object of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the 

Govemment of the United States to be national monuments, and tore e1ve as a pmt thereof parcels of 

land, the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper 

care and management of the objects to be protected. 

September 2015 G-2 Appendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

WHEREAS it appears that it would be in the public interest to reserve such lands as a national monument to be known as the Pompeys Pillar National Monument: 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTO , President ofthe nited States of America, by the 

authority vested in me by section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U .S.C. 431), do proclaim that there are hereby set apart and reserved as the Pompeys Pillar ational Monument, f<>r the 

purpose of protecting the objects identified above, all lands and interests in lands owned or controlled 

by the United States within the boundaries of the area described on the map entitled "Pompeys Pillar 

National Monument" attached to and forming a part of this proclamation. The Federal land and interests 

in land reserved consist of approximately 51 acres, which is the smallest area compatible with the 

proper care and management ofthe objects to be protected. 

All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of this monument are hereby appropriated 

and withdrawn from all fom1s of entry, location, selection, sale, or leasing or other disposition under the 

public land laws, including but not limited to withdrawal from location, entry, and patent under the 

mining laws, and from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothennalleasing. 

Lmds and interests in lru1ds within the proposed monument not owned by the United States shall be 

reserved as a part of the monument upon acquisition of title thereto by the United States. 

TI1e Secretary ofthe Interior shall manage the monument through the Bureau of Land Management, 

pursuant to applicable legal authorities, to implement the purposes of this proclamation. 

111e establishment ofthis monument is u~ject to any valid existing rights, including the mineral estate 

held by the nited States in trust for the Crow Tribe. 

othing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the jurisdiction of the State of 

Montana with respect to fish and wildlife management. 

'01is proclamation does not reserve wat rasa matt r ofF d rallaw. othing in tlus reservation shall b 

construed as a relinquishment or reduction of any water use or rights reserv d or appropriated by the 

United States on orb fore the date of this proclamation. l11e Secretary shall work with appropriate 

State authorities to ensure that ru1y water resources needed for monument purposes are available. 

Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke an existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the national monument shall be the dominant reservation. Warning is hereby 

given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any Jeature of this 

monument and not to locate or settle upon any ofthe lands thereof. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hru1d this seventeenth day of January, in the year of 

our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence of the nited States of America the two hundred 

and twenty-ftfth. 

WILLIAM J. CLI TO 

### 

Appendix G G-3 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Federal Register Notice of Establishment of 


Pompeys Pillar National Monument 


January 22, 2001 


September 2015 G-4 Appendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Federal Register I Vol. 66, No. 14 I Monday, January 22, 2001I Presidenti al DoCLLmenls 7351 

Presidential Documents 

Proclamation 7:1!16 of January 17, 21101 

Establishment of the Pompeys Pillar Nation a I Monument 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Pompeys Pillar ational Monument is a massive sandstone outcrop that 

rises from an almost two-acre base on the banks of the Yellowstone River 

150 fee t toward Montana's Big Sky. east of Billings. Tbe monument's premier 

location at a natural ford in the Yellowstone River. and its geologic distinction 

as the only major sandstone formation in tbe area, have made Pompeys 

Pillar a celebrated landmark and outstanding ob ervation point for more 

than eleven thousand years of human occupation. Hundreds of markings, 

petroglyphs, and inscriptions left by visitors have transformed this geologic 

phenomenon into a living journal of the American West. 

The monument's most notable visitor, Captain Willi am Clark of the Lewis 

and Clark Expedition, arrived at Pompey Pillar on Ju ly 25, 1806, on his 

return tri p from the Pacilic coast. Clark's journal recorded bis Lop at th is 

"remarkable rock" with its "extensive view in every direction." He described 

an idyllic landscape of grassy plains, snow-capped mountains, and cliffs 

abutting the wandering river. Clark marked his presence by engraving his 

name and the dale of his visit on the outcrop. This simple inscription 

is the only remaining physical evidence of Lewis and Clark's epic journey. 

In his journal, Clark named the rock Pompy's Tower, Pompy being Clark's 

nickname for acagawea's young son . Jean Baptiste harboooeau. who was 

born at the expedition's winter camp at Fort Mandan on February 11, 1805. 

The name was changed to Pompeys Pillar by author icbolas Biddle when 

his account of the Expedition was published in 1814. 

Ethnographic and archaeologica l evidence indicates that the Pillar was a 

place of ritua l and religious activity. Hundreds of petroglypbs on the face 

of the rock, noted by Clark in his journal, reflect the importance of the 

monument to early peoples. The row people, the dominant residents of 

the region when Clark passed through, call the pillar the "Mountain Lions 

Lodge" io tbeir la nguage, aod it fig ures prom inen tl y in Crow oral history. 

Pompeys Pillar also includes the markings and signature of a host of characters from the pioneer past, including fur trappers, Yellowstone River steamboat men, frontier army troops, railroad workers, missionaries, and early 

settlers. In 1873, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Gusler and his men 

camped at its base, where they came under attack from Sioux snipers. 

Sec tion 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C. 431), authorizes 

the President, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic 

landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic 

or scienti fic iotere l that are situated upon the la nds owned or controlled 

by the Government of the nited States to be national monuments. and 

to reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, tbe limits of which in all 

cases sha ll be con fined to the sma ll est area compatible with the proper 

care and management of tb e objects to be protected. 

WHEREAS it appears that. it would be in the public interest to reserve 

such lauds as a national monument to be known as the Pompeys Pillar 

at.iona l Monument: 

Appendix G G-5 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

7352 Federal Register / Vnl. 66, o. 14/ Monday. January 22, 2001/ Pr-csidcnlial Oocumcn Is 

NOW. THEREFORE, I. WILLIAM J. CL TO • President of the United States 

of America, by the authority vested in me by section 2 of the Act of 

June 8, 1906 (34 Sla t. 225, 16 U.S.C. 431), do proclaim tha t there are 

horoby sol apart and rosorvod as tho Pompeys Pillar a lional Monument, 

for l.hc purpose of prot1 l.in g the objects identified above, all lands a nd 

interests in lands owned or controlled by the United States within the 

boundaries of the area described on the map entitled "Pompeys Pillar ationa! Monument" attached to and forming a part of this proclamation. 

The Federal land and interests in land reserved consist of approximately 

51 acres, which is the smallest area compatible with the proper care and 

managemen t of the objects to be proleclod. 

All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of this monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from a ll forms of entry. location . selection , sale, or leasing or other d isposi ti on under the pub lic land 

laws, inclu d ing but not limited to withdrawal from location , en try. and 

patent under the mining laws. and from disposition under all laws relating 

to mineral and geothermal leasing. 

Lands and interests in lands within the proposed monument not owned 

by the United States shall be reserved as a part of the monument upon 

acquisition of title thereto by the United States. 

The Secretary of the lnterior shall manage the monument through the Bureau 

of Land Management, pursuant to applicable legal authorities, to implement 

the purposes of this proclamation. 

The establishment of this monument is subject to any valid existing rights, 

including the mineral estate held by the United States in trust for the 

Crow Tribe. 

Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the 

jurisdiction of the State of Montana with respect to fish and wildlife management. 

This proclamation does not reserve water as a matter of .Federal law. othing 

in this reservation shall be construed as a relinquishment or reduction 

of any water use or rights reserved or appropriated by the United States 

on or before the date of this p roclamation. The Secretary shal l work with 

appropriate State au th orities to ensure that any water resou rces needed 

for monument purposes are available. 

oLhing in Lhis p roc lamation shal l be et~ rn ed Lo revoke any existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however.the national monument sha ll 

be the dominant reservation. Warning is hereby given to a ll unauthorized 

persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy. or remove any feature of this 

monument and not to locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof. 

lN WlT ESS WlillHEOF. l have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth 

day of January. in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the 

Tndepenclenl:e of the Unilecl Slales o f America Lbe lwo hundred a nd lwenlyfiflh. 

BilUng coda 3195-01-P 

September 2015 G-6 Appendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix G G-7 September 2015
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Pompeys Pillar National Register of Historic Places 


September 20, 1983 


September 2015 G-8 Appendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

XI Advance of the Frontier, 1763 to 1830 

FHR-8-250 (10/78) Lewis an:d Clark -Expedition

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE 

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 

INVENTORY-NOMINATION FORM 

SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGIStER FORMS 

TYPE ALL ENTRIES--. COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS . 

HISTORIC Pompeys Pillar 

AND/OR COMMON 

- Pompeys Pillar( Pompy' s Tower 

fJLOCATION 

STREET l!t NUMBER 

about 2 mile$ east of Ni~be, Mijntana _ NOT-FOR PU8UCATION 

CITY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT . TOWN 

Nibbe, M~ntana 2q.d XX -VICINITY OF 

CODE COUNTY CODE STATE 

Montana 30 . Yellowstone lll 

IICLASSIFICA TION 

CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE 

_DISTRICT _ PUBLIC XJIDCCUPIED _AGRICULTURE _MUsEUM 

_ 8UILDING!SI ~RIVATE _ UNOCC!JPIEO _ COMMERCIAL .x:JfARK 

_STRUCTURE -BOTH -WORK IN PROGRESS - EDUCATIONAl ~PRIVATE RESIDENCE 

:!B(SITE - PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE _ENTERTAINMENT -REUGIOUS 

_ OBJECT _lN PROCESS ..JilES: RESTRICTED _GOVERNMENT. _SCIENTIFIC 

- BEING CONSIDERED _YES: UNRESTRICTED _.INDUSTRIAL -TRANSPORTAliON 

_NO . _MILITARY _OTHER : 

DOWNER OF PROPERTY 

NAME 

Stella Foote 

STREET l!t NUMBER 

1207 Hillhayen Way 

CITY. TOWN STATE

Billings, VICINITY OF Montana 

IJLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION 

COURTHOUSE. 

REGISTRY OF .DEEDS, ETC. Yellowstone County Courthouse 

STREET l!t NUMBER 

CITY, TOWN STATE 

· Billings Montana 

IIREPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS 

TITLE 

none known 

DATE 

JEOERAL _STATE _COUNTY -LOCAL 

DEPOSITORY FOR 


SURVEY RECORDS 


CITY . TOWN STATE

Appendix G G-9 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

IIDESCRIPTION . 

CONDITION • CHECK ONE CHECK ONE 

-EXCELLENT -DETEIIIORATEO _UNALTERED -ORIGINAL SITE 

XJGOOO _RUINS ~LTERED -MOVED OAT~--

_FAIR _UNEXPOSED 

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT.ANO ORIGINAL UF KNOWNI PHYSICAL APPEARANCE 

Pompeys Pillar is located on. the south bank of the Yellowstone ·' River, in 

Yellowstone County, Montana, about one mile north of U.S. 10, one mile · 

east of Nibbe in south central MOJttana.. As viewed from the west and south, 

the vertical stone ·face .of the pillar juts abruptly above ·the level floor 

of the valley, which measures more · than a mile across at this point. From 

its top both the Beartooth and Big Horn Mountains can be se.en. ·Contrary to most 

written descriptions, the overall height of the pillar, including a thick cap 

of earth, is probably not more: than 120 feet above its base. 

The northeast sid~ 9f the. rock gradually slopes downward to ground level. 

Diameter of the long axis running east and west is about 350 feet. · A strip 

of land, 300 feet wide, separates the pillar from the .river bank •. The 

1~ vatinn of the adjacent valley floor is about 2800 .feet above sea level. 

Pompeys Pillar is composed of thick beds of fine~grained sandstone separated 

by narrower layers of sandstone breccia. The material. probably corresponds 

to the Parkman sandstone formation laid down as marine sediment during the 

upper Cretaceous period more ·than 60 million years ago. At one time in the 

far distant geological past the pillar obviously ..was ·part of the same 

formation now exposed in .the bluff only a few hundred yards north across 

the river. ·1he action of the river probably eroded through a protruding 

headland and effectively isolated .the tip which is seen today as the pillar. 

Evidence of Indian occupation was obvious both to Clark and· later travelers 

who report~d..t"tte . -p-resence of, pi,ctographs. inscribed on.. the rock . . ' Although the 

Indian carvings are barely noticeable today, and in only one place, 

a number o; . tplt;l~tion!".J.. ~tories about the . pillar still circulate in the Crow 

tribe. The Crow were the pr.incipal occupants of the area during the 1800's, 

with occasional visits by Gros Ventres, Blackfeet; and Assiniboine, and later 

the Sioux. 

St,uart W. Conner, a Billings archeologist, . studied and copied the petroglyphs 

recently (ca. 1970) . They are located just southeast of the Clark signature 

and can only be faintly distinguished . as red markings on the rock as the area 

is also covered with hundreds of more recent carved· signatures. One pictograph 

is the figure of an animal with an arrow in its back, and there is .also a series 

of stick figures, apparently . scratched into the rock through a .coating of red 

stain (believed to be Shoshone, A.D. 1200-1800). 

Clark's signature is on· the face of an overhanging ·wall of rock, just below 

the top and on the east end and riverside of the pillar, about· .seven .feet 

above a short path running along the ·base. of the wall. The signature· can be 

plainly seen through the glass-fronted bronze case,· and a11 around -it, 'for at 

September 2015 G-10 Appendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Form No. 10-300a 

(Rev. 10-74) 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 


NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 


NATIONAL REGISTER OF IDSTORIC PLACES 


INVENTORY-- NOMINATION FORM 


Pompeys Pillar 

CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 1 

least 15 feet, are h\!_ri,d~eds o:£j,~itials, namesan~ at~cS . Ca.rved into the flat 

stone area. Most of the older inscriptions date around tne turn of the century, 

although one 1875 date is still prominent. 

The Northern Pacific Railway Company acquired a 400 foot right-of-way through 

this area in 1882, located about a half mile south of Pompeys Pillar, which 

would be plainly seen from passing trains. The railroad seemed to take a 

protective interest in the landmark and had a heavy iron grate made and 

sunk firmly into the rock to protect Clark's signature. Although this grate 

provided partial protection against vandals, the eroding action of the wind 

and weather continued to dim the signature. 

In 1926, at the instigation of the local DAR group, the railroad authorized 

the Billings Marble and Granite Works to cut the letter deeper into the stone. 

There is a possibility that the inscription may have been cut more deeply 

by a member of the Josephine crew in 1875 also. In 1928 the Billings chapter 

of the DAR erected a bronze plaque commemorating Lewis and Clark, in 1938 the 

Masons placed another plaque honoring both explorers as Masons, and in 1968 

a plaque commemorating the efforts of Don Foote in the preservation of 

Pompeys Pillar, w~$-P~a~eg_ ta~re. ·--A1I-.-,tl¢ae :t!lei hioA:"ie pl'li"qlieif·a-te. -~'ffixed 

to the face of the cllff w1th1n a f~~:.feet ~~&St o.f ·tne ·t1a:Pk in-seti~t!ons ' . and on the same flat .surface as other carving.s and t he petroglyphS. Th'e ' 

national historic landmark plaque is mounted on a large rock at the base of 

the pillar. 

Pompeys Pillar and 105 surrounding: acres were purchased in 1956 by the Foote 

family of Billings, who presently own it , and extensive plans were made to 

develop the site as a privately operated historical area th.en. called "Pompeys 

Pillar Monument Park. 11 Trails··-.up the north side of the pillar were graded, 

steps and railings were installed to assist the climber. Interpretive markers 

were erected and a road was built from the highway to the river bank and then 

around the base of the pillar itself. The Clark signature was encased in 

a bronze casement sunk into the rock, with inch-thick shatterproof glass 

protecting the carving. 

The Footes planned a rather large-scale development of the site including a 

Western frontier town and possibly a musetim to nouse the family's extensive 

collection of western Americana. They moved three old buildings to the area 

including a turn-of-the century country store from Nibbe, Montana, a log 

structure from the Billings suburb of Lockwood, and a homesteader's cabin 

from Livingston. These buildings, plus a fourth structure intended for a 

livery stable and now used for a ticket booth, and a mobile home used by 

. '~ .... ... ... . 

Appendix G G-11 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Form No. 1 0-300& 

IRev. 10-74) 

UN ITED STATES DEPARTME ·r Or THE I TERIOR 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 

INVENTORY·· NOMINATIONFORM 

Pompeys Pillar 

CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 2 

the owners, are all located in a wooded area just east of the pillar. They are 

non-historic and do not contribute to the national significance of the site. Plans 

for the frontier town have been curtailed, but the area has been improved for 

recreational use and paths have been cleared through the cottonwood trees 

which line the river bank. An unpaved parking area has been made just 

northeast of the pillar, and picnicking facilities have been installed. 

A number of miscellaneous objects associated with western history, though 

not necessarily with Pompeys Pillar, are displayed around the base of the 

rock formation, including a number of old wagons which line the road south 

of the pillar, a display of petrified wood, a case of Indian relics and a 

dugout canoe built by a local group. Since the original purchase of lOS 

acres, the Foote family has purchased approximately 80 more acres of 

adjacent property, which is used for farming and-cattle raising, managed by a 

tenant whose house and farm buildings are located to the south, nearer route 312. 

Much of the data from special NPS study by Andrew M. Loveless, 1965. 

September 2015 G-12 Appendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Ill SIGNIFICANCE 

PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE ·- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW 

_PREHISTORIC DRCHEOLOGV-PREHISTORIC -COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _REUGION 

-1400-1499 -ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION _LAW -SCIENCE 

_1500·1599 -AGRICULTURE _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE -SCULPTURE 

-11100· 1699 -ARCHITECTURE - EDUCATION _MIUTARY _SOOAL/HUMANITARlAN 

-1100·1799 -ART -ENGINEERING -MUSIC _'fMEATER 

JCIIII00-1899 _COMMERCE XltXPLORATIONISETTLEMENT ·· .o:.PHILOSOPHV _TRANSPORTATION 

-1900· -COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY JOUllCSIGOVERNMENT -OTHER ISPECIFYl 

_JNVENllON 

r 

SPECIFIC DATES BUILDER/ABCHITECT , .July 25 ; J:BO& : 

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 

Pompeys Pillar is an isolated block of light-yellow sandstone that abruptly 

rises more than 100 feet above the level plain and south bank of the · 

Yellowstone River, near Nibbe, Montana. On its upper east surface is carved 

"Wm Clark July 25, 1806", probably the only extant physical evidence of the 

entire Lewis and Clark expedition. 

The pillar's primary .historic significance is its association with the Lewis 

and Cl~rk expedition of 1804-1806. However, it was evidently used by the 

Indians as a signal tower, and the walls bear Indian petroglyphs, ~hich 

were noted by Clark in his journal. . Also noted by Clark was the location of 

the rock tower near the intersection of the 46th parallel and the 108th 

meredian,-;which made the pillar a natural landmark for many later expeditions 

and surveys. 

It was while on a side trip during the expedition's return east in 1806, following 

the Yellowstone River. easterly, that explorer William-Clark's party, which 

included Sacajawea and her child, noticed the pr£minent rock formation, which 

from that direction does resemble a tower. Clark-recorded that he climbed 

the tower, carved his name and date on its surface, and. named the rock formation 

for Sacajawea's infant son. 

On . their return from. the Pacific, William Clark and Meriwether Lewis had 


divided the expedition, at Travellers Rest . to explore various routes, and 


Clark and his men set out· for the caches on Beaverhead. From there they 


proceeded down the river to Three Forks, and at that point the party again 


subdivided . Clark and his group crossed over Bozeman Pass to the Yellowstone 


and descended that stream. 


Clark described the visit to the sandstone tower as follows: 

•.• at 4PM arrived at the remarkable rock situated in an extensive 

bottom on the Stard. Side of the river and 250 paces from it. 

thick rock I ascended and from it's top had a most extensive 

view in every direction. This rock which I shall call Pompy's 

Tower is 200 feet high and 400 paces in secumpherance and 

only axcessible on one Side which is from the N.E. the 

other parts of it being a perpendicular clift of lightish 

coloured gritty rock •• . •Tile native~ have ingraved on the face .­

Appendix G G-13 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Form No. 10·300a 

(Rev. 10· 74) 

UNITEDSTATESDEPARTME T OFTHt:.l lERIOR 


NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 


NATIONAL REGISTER OF lDSTORIC PLACES 


INVENTORY-· NOMINATION FORM 


-. ,;:-r:~<"', . , .. 

OAtEerneREOG,.. ·. 

Pompeys Pillar 

CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 1 

of this rock the figures of animals 6c; ·near which I marked my 

name and the day of the month &year •••. 

After reviewing the countryside and noting the "emence" rd~. :Of buffalo ,. --- - ·--·- -. ::..::..--' and elk nearby, Clark took the last look he would ever have of the Rockies 


and returned to the canoes. Continuing downriver, the party rejoined 


Meriwether Lewis, and the expedition reached St. Louis September 23, 1806. 


Most later expeditions and surveys through southern Montana either passed by 


or terminated at Pompeys Pillar. In 1860, members of an exploration party 


climbed to its summit in order to observe scientifically a solar eclipse. 


The survey for the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed near 
 · the pillar in 1873 and here George A. Custer, an officer in the accompanying 

military escort, arrived at the pQint farthest west he would ever reach. 

A mining party under James Stuart in Spring 1863 noticed not only Clark's 

inscription, but the names of two of his men as well. Anumber of these 

early reports described the large numbers of wildlife, particularly buffalo 

also noted by Clark near the site. On June 3, 1875 an exploratory expedition 

along the Yellowstone river with several Smithsonian professors and a 

military escort reached Pompeys Pillar on board the Josephine, and the captain 

carved the name of the ship and the date on the .pillar and flew the Stars and 

Stripes from the top of the rock tower. The next year a force of about 450 men ti..• · 

under Colonel John Gibbon camped near the site and inscribed their names in 

the rock, and several noted Clark's signature in their journals. 

No writer has ever seriously challenged the authenticity of the Clark 


signature; and on the basis of the known records and present condition of the 


carving, it appears most probable that the inscription .is Clark's. It 


would be most unlikely that an early nineteenth century visitor could 


perpetrate such a hoax. 


The name "Pomp" was the nickname Clark gave to-Sacajawea's infant son, Baptiste 


Charboneau, according to a 1806 letter of Clark's. Nicholas Biddle, one of 


the later editors of the Lewis and Clark journals has been accused of 


substituting the name of a Roman column for Clark 1 s simple name "Pompy 1 s 


Tower". 


September 2015 G-14 Appendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

form No. 10·300a 

(Rev. 10· 74) . 

U ITED STATES DEPARTME TOFTHE I TERIOR 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

NATIONAL REGISTER OF IDSTORIC PLACES 


INVENTORY·· NOMINATION FORM 


Pompeys Pillar 

CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 9 PAGE 1 

Reuben G. Thwaites, The Original Journals of Lewis and Clark .(New York, 

1905). 

James Stuart, "The Yellowstone Expeii.ition of 1863," Contributions to the 

Historical Society of Montana (Helena, 1902). 

Joseph M. Hanson, The Conquest of the Missouri (New York, 1946) . 

Lt. James H. Bradley, The March of the Montana Column · (Norman, 1961) ·, 

Andrew M. Loveless, "Report on the Historical Investigation of Pompeys 

Pillar, Yellowstone County, Montana," National Park Service 

report: February 1965. 

Robert G. Ferris, editor, Lewis and Clark: Historic Places Associated with 

Their Transcontinental Exploration, (1804-1806) (Washington, D.C.: 

National Park Service, 1975). 

Appendix G G-15 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

FHR-8- 250A ( 10/78) 

UN ITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE 

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 


INVENTORY-NOMINATION FORM 


CONTINUATION SHEET ITEMNUMBER 10 PAGE 1 

This boundary is marked by the contour line 2890 on the USGS 7.5 minute map, 

Nibbe, Montana, where the butte rises from the nearly level surrounding 

terrace . This boundary is marked by a dirt road on the southeast and extends 

to the dirt road on the west at one spot. The boundary does not include the 

roads. No more area is included because there have been certain developments 

(discussed earlier) in the tree grove around the pillar. · These tourist 

trade improvements, while they do not detract from Pompeys Pillar, are 

not associated with the significance of the National Landmark, and therefore 

have been excluded from the Landmark boundaries. 

11 1 

Andrew M. Loveless 1965. 

Ray H. Mattison 1958 

Ann M. Johnson 1982 

Rocky Mountain Regional Office 

National Park Service 

P..O.Box 25287 

Denver, Co. 80225 

GPO no-ooe 

September 2015 G-16 A ppendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

IJMAJOR BIBUOGRAPIUCAL REFERENCES 

see contin~tion sheet 

DIGEOGRAPHICALDATA 

ACREAGE OF IIIOMINATEO PROPERTY -~6....;a;:..:c:..::r..:;;.e.;;..S- -­

UTM REFERENCES ' · ,.. 

aW F I jlr,2 )8! IS ,019 ,7!6,4,01 

ZONE EASTIN NORTHING · ol!:2J. 17 13 ,119 jz ,o) ·Is ;o 19 ,7p ,6,ol 

see continuation sheet 

LiST ALL STATES ANO 'COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE QR COUNTY BOUNDARIES 

STATE CODE COUNTY CODE 

CODE COUNTY CODE STATE 

mFORM P~EPARED BY 

NAMEfnTLE 

6/lS/76 Blanche Hiaains, ~nqmark Review Project 

ORGANIZATION DATE

Hjstorjc Sites Survey, Natiqnal Park Seruice 

STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE

ClTYORTOWN STATE

ISSTATE HI~T~R.ICPRESERVATION OFFiCER CERTIF-ICATION ' ·THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE·STATE IS: 

NATIONAL_· STATE __ LOCAL __ 

As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I 

hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register·and certify 'that it has been evaluated according to the 

criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. 

STATE HISTORIC P~ESER.Vt.TI ON OFFICER SIGNATURE 

TITLE DATE

Appendix G G-17 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark Designation 


February 25, 1965 


September 2015 G-18 Appendix G 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

. '. • •. ··• ..• . ·l ., • , ':·. . .·--...., i .. 	 . . !, 

·..~ ., ·-.U'Nife:c·~-St~ l ~$ ·-·: ; : ..--·• 
 tii::~=»ARtM'Ef\rf·oF 'rHE: tNrtRioR ..{ 


. ; AATJ6NAl~: 'PAJn{~-SiR\dcie: ;"r. :· 

.. ··: 

·-· NATIONAL slni\tv>oi:14Mr6Rk: sirEs AND-BUILDINGs . . •	. ...'• ' ' · .:;;,== ========:;;========·==.· . ·.

t. STATE 	 : · I?..THEME(S)._ IF \RCHEO!.OGICAL sm:.•wRi-1~ ." ARCH" e~ORE THEM: No. 

_......!_~X::::I:... _The Adva'Clce of. the F;ront1.e~~ 17b3-·l830

3. 111\ME(S) 0~ SITE . . 	 I 4. AI'P~OX, ACREJGE 

_P_9~s Fillar _ -.:.. . "' _ _ I 185 acres 


·s. D<ACT LOCATION (CI>•uilu. kl1cnJMp, roo)ll, <1<. 1! df_D!..U to f,nd, •kt:<il on. l>'u.p;>ltmmtar~ Sht.lf), 


Yello,7:>tone C01.ip.ty) 33 miles .northeas:t of Billings and 1/2 mile TLorth of .us 10. 

6. N~:.tE AND ADDT<ESS OF PRESENT OWNER (Aboadmln!tlrulor lfdlf/nci-.tflv"' ""'"") 

Hr. Den C. Foo~_ l207 . Hillhaven Way, 	 ~illings; Monta~· na=­-­ 7. !MrORTfll'ICf AND DESCRIPTION (JI~· ~rltflp <i>~ar_ mck., tU< hnt>O!"II!If. <.11d wh~ rtma lnt art ulunt) 

_ . Pon~?eys Pillar is· an isulated blqck of light- yellow sandstone. t:bat 


· ribntptly· rfses l20 .feet. above the floor uf the Yel:lm~stone Valley. · 


It measu::::·es som.e ·350 feet · across. -at its ~1'idest point and. is locat'ed 


·· just sout.h o.£ the Yellowstone River. -On its ltpper east surface, 


pro·~ected by a -giass-fronte~J bronze case, is carved "l-i'm Clark 


July 25 ~B06. "·­

. . The pillarI s ·pr:iJaary his i:orica l sig~ificance . is centered ori its 


associiit:i.on -vTi~th tbe Lewis . anJ Clark Expedition of 1804-09 . It_· ale? 


. repr~sented a nrJta b l e lan.:l~ark for · 1.9.ter expeditions and survey's along 


the Yeli.o 1stone River; 


..·· 

v7hil e on·a l':ide .trip during the re_turn . eas·t in 1806, ·explorer _Hilliam 

-Clark noted -in-. his journal the dtscovery ··of ·a prominent tower of ro-ck ·-­ .'::.. near the . Y_el l owst:one-· whl.ch he named for Sacaja-v/ea'_s · infant_son . . He 
 de;;~r ibed '.cl.il!lbing tli.e rock and c_arv:Lng hts name <tri:d .<the date on its 
 .. surface. ·-The loc:.~tion of t)le· pl:..I.ar, near the' int_ei:s.ect'ion qf th~ . ·.... ... 

_., ~6tn parallel a·nd the :!.Ooth IT!er~ Han,- lvas reco::::ded by Clark~ and his 

. ac.~o ;nt ~as eventually publishq .1long with' the edited ourn~ ls _uf ' 

the exp;:•dition. . ' ' 

~lost la.ter · e.'<:peditions .Rnd surveys through southern Montarin. eithe1: 

pass~d by -or tenninated at . P~mpeys Pillar: In· 1860, members of· an .· 

explora don .[Jarty ~l~bed t:o its . su~mnit fn .orc1e~ to obs~rve ..Jc:ientifica lly . 

ii. so ar ·· ~cll.pse . · The survey for .th{ line of the -No::-thern · Pa.ci.fic .Rail­

-;:oad •.;oas comp i eteci near· the pillar in 1873 and he re George A~ ::uster, 


· _aa officer in. the accompanying 111ili'ta·ry escor~ ' arz-ived at the point 


-- --------·-· a. eiSUOGRJ\PHICAL ~EFEOENCES {Cite bet: nuru4: 9iellUMliwt of n:~amt:criplt! «»« UUt wOr.U) 

. i:l.c\t'Jen . G. _Ttma.ites, The: Origi.nai Journa<ls ·of Lewis· and Clark (Ne1-1 York, 1904-05) . . 

_	J aines St:uart, '~The YelJ.m,stone. Expedition of .1863 , " con"~tions t;.o the Historical 

Society o'- _i'iontana (H.e l 'ena, 1902)"". . · 

Joseph M. ){anson, The Conquest of the Missouri (N~H York, -1946) . 

_ Lt_....James H. : Brad l ey, . The Mar~ h of· the _M.ou-tana Cotuinn (Norma.n, 196n. 

-· Hi s!:ori_t:_ !)ite Study o{ February; . 1965, .by ·ll,narew H. _Loveless, P..iGto:d.an, ­

· CUster B?t~lefield · 


10. PnOTOGnAI'HS • 111. CONOJTION -- Ii2. PRESE~T. USE CM<"'-"'f!",f~rm;;;;,----- - --Is.. DATE oF.:\i,srr:--.--:. :·

ATIACHEo;· veg! NOD · . E"cellent _ Furm · . •el:'rua 18, _1-965. ' 

14. UA~IE OF R~C~RDER (Silinaluf<)· . .d ff · q,j;, ./.:' I. 5. 'TiTI.E • •1' • .. le6.b_DrAuTEa.ry . /' 

.O..ndre'ir M·: Lovele_ss tr.~~///- ~ .Historian F 23, . 1965 \ 

· ' OR'f :.OO!<lh''Oif'IJI-1-X IC!S, SHrrT-cili:rAiRLY,:.HEJ.VY ..PAP,.R. IN:ilfi!'Y: bY .•VIEW r..~D NA!I.F. OF Tll ~lni; DAT~ OF- PHOTOGRAPH, ~NO I<AME OF MIOTOORAPHE!l C~. · ~ 1.oc Tt~ o~ tt;?AYtvE. •:: \U¥!.tEO. EN~~; :! !' ~~ ~EFATIVE El't\!O.CP .. . · : · 	 . . I. ;j._ 

- . - ·. Qf- ,o>;i:>tiiTrOI\1~1. $>ACEiS' NEEDED-- U~'.': SUPP.!-;EMENl'ARY Sl-i.~ZET, 107'317a, AND P.Ef.E~ TO ITEM NUMBf:ii) : ·;-:: 

::·· .:..'-,:·.. .:'.:,' ~; :.- .:: ~~j>,"~> ':\·:~;:i\.f: ,-: :· _.~· •·•••:~·~n;,.,:•••m« lHfO!fr! · · 	 . ; j · 

Appendix G 	 G-19 September 2015 
Pompeys Pillar National M onument 

Approved Resource Management Plan 

.. , ) ... . . ..... ' . -· .·. 


· . .:· ~~~~~ .. -. ··-:. :.,:. -:::_;·· ...., ~;; ~~ :llh~.:.' :·;< .: ~ .·;;:~:~ ,, ':.• ·. 


. . ~ . - . ~L., l i.:.W.l ~~n -· . .. .-~ . ·: ·· t,J~PA~1¥ t: 9f'; ~Ht.~· N~R OR ~· : --..... . · ·... NATIGi\iAJ.i·.p,A-fn< ~vic!L .· ·. ..... : .. .~ .. :1: ·. :: ·. ' . .-~- :-., . . .:· . 

·NATlONAt s~~y~~}?f ~ls]q~~t . $.JTis.: ANI) auitD.I ~s -.' ··. 

· . . ·· $tJr, ~~~~T~~Y, SH~ · .· , ·... . .. 

. · TI,is sheet is to be 1· :r. giVin~ ~~ditipn :~~~i;~ti .. r ®~~ll.t.S, for m~re spa{)e·ior.!Uly i~em ~n th{.. ·. 


r.eguln.r forn1, n.nd for reeording pertlf ~t ~~iiil. from · : stildies;: viaita#ons, e:tc• . ·Bo:· ~clef/but . use : ~ fuim ·.\. 
 . Supplement Sh~ts as .necess.,~ty. ·.When 1tems•a ro colitmued they'sho' ··u1d· ~:_ ; !j :-t. . · p··

0··9' 'bl .- · •..;. ..... ..·1 -:.:::;,;{::··.,
 · f th :t • n · ~: . .. • . · .. x . · . · . . ·. ~.; v - .>tJU, if

• BI e, lll w.u snc~~~~. 01-uar:.. :. 

O. C " ~u_s . =.! llllO!DlatlOI,>. giVen shOWU be h~;adeo by the item IlUiniJer,:}ts 'Jll'.r.tne. and the woro ., ,! ;. :i ~ ~;~ .:r... 6. D cscnptiOll and Importance (cont'd) .. . . · · · \C<uw " ~":· 

-_:. STATE I!lAM>; : (S) OF. SITE . 


__. :.-_L_>il_t-:-an_a '7"'"""-~ ·--':--.:.......,...._ 
 _..__ Po_m...!p_:.:eys ~ill<'ir_ ~~~----~ -- ----

f<J rthest ~~est he : wou l d e•-rer· ' re~.c. ci1 • · 

T~e Northern P-a c~~ic , ~~ l8S2, in sta ~iecl an iroa .screen to pr~ ect Clar k =·s ·­ . ~ 13n:t u:e ..· I n 19 , t~ e iJi Hings chapter 6 £ t _he DAR erected a bronz~ iaa ~ ·· ' .contrn.::..'llo... a t ,J.ng Le~n. s ana· (;J.arl< and J.'n 1:93·0 ·t·l·

1e u. · · d h • . : . , - . c, · ~sons . p1ace ano~er 

nonorJ.ngl>o th ex lo r.ers who ;.~ere\Iasor . The.. · :...~ t · b · ·tl · .. _., . , · ·. .. _. ...· . _ •: . . . • · •-s en . owner :n.e )' mau~ ged 

:h:,~: ;l ~s a '!Hl.Va tely ~eJ'at ? h.:Ls.toricBl park in 1S56.·. Nos t of the l85 ~·C~ l! ract P.resently co<, tlnu_eo _unde r· cul~ivat {o ; 

• I~ t " 

I ,~~ 

..~·

Notes: 

The 1965 "National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings" survey form was the documentation 

for the designation of Pompeys Pillar as a National Historic Landmark (NHL). These short 

forms, which were generally 1-2 pages in length, served as the NHL documentation forms in 

these early days ofthe NHL Program. Years later, after the National Park Service developed 

actual National Register nomination forms, then those forms were used to create updated 

documentation forms for NHLs. The 1983 National Register nomination form is the most 

updated NHL nomination form for Pompeys Pillar. 

National Historic Landmark status is different than National Monument status. It wasn't until 

2001 that Pompeys Pillar was declared a National Monument by President Bill Clinton. The 

authority for that designation was through the Antiquities Act (Section 2), which authorizes the 

President to make national monuments out of sites that are "historic landmarks, historic and 

prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" on land that is already 

managed by the federal government. 

September 2015 G-20 A ppendix G 
Appendix H: 

Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands 

Appendix H H-i September 2015

Table of Contents

H. Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands............................................................................................H-1

H.1 General Information Pertaining to Land Ownership Adjustments............................................H-1

H.1.1 Land Exchanges................................................................................................................H-1

H.1.2 Land Exchanges vs. Other Methods of Disposal/Acquisition...........................................H-2

H.1.3 Sales..................................................................................................................................H-2

H.1.4 Conveyance of Federally-Owned Mineral Interests – Section 209(b), FLPMA...............H-3

H.2 Land Ownership Adjustment Criteria .......................................................................................H-4

H.2.1 General Criteria.................................................................................................................H-4

H.2.2 Retention Criteria..............................................................................................................H-4

H.2.3 Acquisition Criteria...........................................................................................................H-6

H.2.4 Access Criteria ..................................................................................................................H-8

H.2.5 Disposal Criteria ...............................................................................................................H-9
September 2015 H-ii Appendix H

This page intentionally blank. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-1 September 2015

H. Realty, Cadastral Survey, and Lands

Section 102(a)(1) of the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) provides that Congress 

declares that it is the policy of the United States that... “the public lands be retained in Federal 

ownership, unless as a result of the land use planning procedure provided for in this Act, it is 

determined that disposal of a particular parcel will serve the national interest;...” 

H.1 General Information Pertaining to Land Ownership 

Adjustments

H.1.1 Land Exchanges 

This type of real estate transaction is typically processed under the authority of the FLPMA and 

involves the discretionary, voluntary exchange of lands or interests in lands between the Federal 

government and a non-Federal party. It is required that: 

Sec. 206(b) - the Federal and non-Federal lands involved be located in the same state 

Sec. 206(b) - the Federal and non-Federal lands be of equal value, or in certain 

circumstances, approximately equal in value

Sec. 206(a) - exchanges be completed only after a finding that the public interest would 

be well served 

In considering whether an exchange is in the public interest, the BLM policy is to give 

consideration to the following (43 CFR 2200.0-6): 

• achieve better management of Federal lands,

• meet the needs of state and local residents and their economies, and 

• secure important objectives, including but not limited to, protection of fish and 

wildlife habitats, cultural resources, watersheds, wilderness and aesthetic values; 

enhancement of recreation opportunities and public access; consolidation of lands 

and/or interests in lands; consolidation of split estate; expansion of communities; 

accommodation of land use authorizations; promotion of multiple-use values; and 

fulfillment of public needs.

In making the public interest determination, there needs to be a finding that: the resource values 

and the public objectives that the Federal lands or interests to be conveyed may serve if retained 

in Federal ownership are not more than the resource values of the non-Federal lands or interests 

and the public objectives they could serve if acquired, and the intended use of the conveyed 

Federal lands will not significantly conflict with established management objectives on adjacent 

Federal lands and Indian trust lands.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 H-2 Appendix H

H.1.2 Land Exchanges vs. Other Methods of Disposal/Acquisition 

To help assure the integrity of state and local tax bases, land exchange would be the first priority 

for both acquisition of non-Federal land and the conveyance of Federal lands into non-Federal 

ownership of those parcels identified for disposal, except under the following circumstances: 

1. where there is a competitive market situation and multiple entities are interested in a 

parcel of land, land sale may be considered, or 

2. where one of the following situations apply, a disposal method other than exchange 

may be considered: 

a) resolving inadvertent unauthorized use or occupancy, 

b) providing for community expansion and development,

c) meeting obligations completing state indemnity selections, and 

d) creating facilities or service for public health, safety and welfare. 

H.1.3 Sales 

Sales of public lands are authorized under section 203 of FLPMA and offered at not less than fair 

market value. Public lands determined suitable for sale are offered only on the initiative of the 

BLM. Such sales have to meet at least one of the following FLPMA sales criteria: 

Sec. 203(a)1) – such tract because of its location or other characteristics is difficult and 

uneconomic to manage as part of the public lands, and is not suitable for management by 

another Federal department or agency; or 

Sec. 203(a)(2) – such tract was acquired for a specific purpose and the tract is no longer 

required for that or any other Federal purpose; or 

Sec. 203(a)(3) – disposal of such tract will serve important public objectives, including 

but not limited to, expansion of communities and economic development, which cannot 

be achieved prudently or feasibly on land other than public land and which outweigh 

other public objectives and values, including, but not limited to, recreation and scenic 

values, which would be served by maintaining such tract in Federal ownership. 

The preferred method of sale of public lands is by competitive bidding at public auction. 

However, modified competitive bidding may be used to protect on-going uses, to assure 

compatibility of the possible uses with adjacent lands, or to avoid dislocation of existing users. 

Direct sale may be used when the public lands offered for sale are completely surrounded by 

lands in one ownership with no public access, or where the lands are needed by state or local 

governments or non-profit corporations, or where necessary to protect existing equities in the 

lands or resolve inadvertent unauthorized use or occupancy. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-3 September 2015

H.1.4 Conveyance of Federally-Owned Mineral Interests – Section 209(b), 

FLPMA 

Section 209(b) of FLPMA provides for the conveyance of mineral interests owned by the United 

States where the surface is or will be in non-Federal ownership. There must be a finding that: 1) 

there are no known mineral values in the land, or 2) that the reservation of the mineral rights in 

the United States is interfering with or precluding appropriate non-mineral development of the 

land and that such development is a more beneficial use of the land than mineral development. 

Such conveyance of mineral interests can only be made to the existing or proposed record owner 

of the surface upon payment of administrative costs and the fair market value of the interests 

being conveyed. 

H.1.4.1 Purchases 

Purchases of lands or interest in lands would be limited to cases where no practical alternatives 

exist, high public values would be obtained, and purchase funds are appropriated. Such actions 

would need to meet the acquisition criteria for the particular alternative being considered. 

H.1.4.2 Methods of Acquisition 

Acquisition of lands or interests in lands would be by methods such as exchange, purchase, 

and/or donation.

H.1.4.3 Methods of Disposal 

Disposal methods to implement land ownership adjustment actions would not vary by 

alternative, and generally would include the following: a) exchanges b) sales c) Recreation and 

Public Purposes Act conveyances d) airport grants e) state indemnity grants.

Mineral patents are not considered a land ownership adjustment for the purposes of this plan. 

Three adjustment categories (defined below), will be established and utilized, based on the BLM 

land tenure adjustment classes. These three categories are:

Category I: Lands managed in Category I – Retention would include all ACECs, WSAs, 

Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, archeological sites/historic districts, and lands 

acquired through LWCF, National Historic Trails, National Monuments or other 

congressionally-designated areas. Lands within Category I would not be transferred from 

BLM management by any method for the life of the plan.

Category II: Retention/Limited Land Ownership Adjustment (no land disposals through 

sale). Public lands within Category II would not be available for sale under section 203 

of FLPMA. However, lands within this category could be exchanged for lands or interest 

in lands. Some public lands in Category II may contain resource values protected by law 

or policy. If actions cannot be taken to adequately mitigate impacts from disposal of 

those lands, those parcels would be retained. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 H-4 Appendix H

Category III (Disposal – land ownership adjustments, including sale): These lands 

generally have low or unknown resource values or are isolated or fragmented from other 

public land ownerships making them difficult to manage. Public land parcels in this 

category are relatively smaller in size (typically 160 acres or less). A listing of the legal 

descriptions of these disposal parcels can be found at the end of this Appendix (under 

Legal Descriptions of Disposal Tracts by Alternative). These parcels have been found to 

potentially meet the sale criteria of section 203(a)(1) of FLPMA and could be made 

available for sale, however, exchange could have priority over disposal by FLPMA sale.

H.2 Land Ownership Adjustment Criteria 

Three types of land ownership adjustment criteria will be adopted (retention, disposal, and 

acquisition) to provide guidance in categorizing BLM administered land, and in making 

decisions concerning specific actions. 

H.2.1 General Criteria 

1. Requirements of applicable laws, executive orders and regulations will be followed. 

2. Priority will be determined by the area directly impacted and the significance of the 

resources in descending order of National, regional, statewide and local. Both 

economic and non-economic values will be considered in assessing resource 

significance. 

3. A critical level of significance will be assigned to resource values if they are 

adversely impacted over an area larger than the specific tract being considered for any 

land ownership adjustment action. 

4. Public value losses which cannot be mitigated will be assigned a higher level of 

significance than those which can be mitigated. 

5. A higher level of significance will be assigned to public values which are associated 

with solving chronic management problems. 

H.2.2 Retention Criteria 

Lands identified in Category I (Retention) would remain in public ownership. Lands managed in 

Category I (Retention) would include all ACECs, WSAs, National Historic Trails, National 

Monuments, and other special designations, Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, 

archeological sites/historic districts, and lands acquired through LWCF. Lands within Category I 

would not be transferred from BLM management by any method for the life of the plan. 

Lands identified in Category II would likely remain as BLM administered land. Although the 

underlying philosophy is long-term public ownership, adjustments in retention areas involving 

exchanges and/or sales may occur when the public interest is served. Some public lands in 

Category II may contain resource values protected by law or policy. If actions cannot be taken to 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-5 September 2015

adequately mitigate impacts from disposal of those lands, those parcels would be retained. 

Considerations for retention of public lands include:

1. Areas containing moderate to high resource values and/or characteristics. These 

include but are not limited to: 

► Land along rivers, streams, lakes, dams, ponds, springs, and trails 

► Riparian areas, community watersheds and/or flood plains 

► Areas that contain T&E species of wildlife or aquatic or vegetation 

► Areas with special status wildlife species, or aquatic species or vegetative 

species 

► Important general wildlife habitat areas 

► Recreation sites and areas with high recreational values 

► Significant cultural resource sites 

► Geologic areas containing unique or rare features or formations 

► Areas with important or unique forest/woodland values (consider the value of 

the forest type and potential for carbon sequestration and habitat diversity).

► Lands with vegetation characteristics that exhibit moderate or higher value 

carbon sequestration potential.

► Other areas containing moderate to high resource values and/or characteristics 

2. Lands with a combination of moderate to high multiple-use values which dictate 

retention in public ownership. 

3. Areas of National environmental significance: These include but are not limited to: 

► Wilderness

► Wilderness Study Areas and former WSAs being studied for protective 

management 

► Wild & Scenic Rivers 

► National Scenic & Historic Trails and Study Trails 

► Lands containing nationally significant cultural resource sites nominated to or 

eligible for the National Register of Historic Places 

► National Conservation areas and National Monuments 

► Wetlands and Riparian Areas under Executive Order 11990 

► Other Congressionally Designated Areas and Study Areas 

► Areas of Critical Environmental Concern 

4. Areas of National economic significance. These include but are not limited to: 

► Designated Mineral Resource Areas where disposal of the surface would 

unnecessarily interfere with the logical development of the mineral estate, 

e.g., surface minerals, coal, phosphate, known geologic structures, etc. 

► Lands containing strategic minerals needed for National defense. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 H-6 Appendix H

5. Lands which provide public access and contain previously mentioned public values 

which, when considered together, warrant their retention

6. Lands used in support of National defense: These include but are not limited to U.S. 

Military and National Guard maneuver areas. 

7. Areas where future plans will lead to further consolidation and improvement of land 

patterns and management efficiency. 

8. Areas which the general public, state and local government consider suitable for 

public ownership. 

9. Lands withdrawn by the BLM or other Federal agencies for which the purpose of the 

withdrawal remains valid and the resource uses can be managed concurrently by 

BLM. 

10. Lands that contribute significantly to the stability of the local economy by virtue of 

Federal ownership. 

11. Lands acquired through LWCF funding and donations.

12. Guidelines for the retention of the mineral estate are fairly well described and are 

mandated under FLPMA. These require that the mineral estate be reserved by the 

U.S. in all land disposals except in some cases where exchanges are involved. In 

exchanges, the mineral estate may be reserved by both parties presuming there will be 

no material interference with development of the mineral resource due to disposal of 

the surface estate. If values are equal, mineral estate title may pass with the surface 

estate. 

H.2.3 Acquisition Criteria 

The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals which would result in the acquisition of 

non-Federal lands and/or interest in lands through exchange, fee purchase, donation or other 

transactions. Priority will be determined on the basis of multiple-use analysis. The greater the 

number of resource programs and public values served, the higher the priority for acquisition. All 

proposals will be evaluated to determine if the non-Federal lands meet any of the following 

specific criteria: 

1. Contain moderate to high resource values and/or characteristics. 

► Land along rivers, streams, lakes, dams, ponds, springs, and trails 

► Riparian areas, community watersheds and/or flood plains 

► Areas that contain T&E species of wildlife or aquatic or vegetation 

► Areas with special status wildlife species, or aquatic species or vegetative 

species 

► Important general wildlife habitat areas 

► Recreation sites and areas 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-7 September 2015

► Significant cultural resource sites 

► Geologic areas containing unique and/or scarce features 

► Areas with important or unique forest/woodland values (consider the value of 

the forest type and potential for carbon sequestration and habitat diversity).

► Lands with vegetation characteristics that exhibit moderate or higher value 

carbon sequestration potential.

► Other areas containing moderate to high resource values and/or characteristics 

2. Have the potential for enhancement, manageability or investment opportunity of 

existing BLM administered lands, particularly lands within or adjoining special 

designations units (NM, NHT, ACEC, etc.).

3. Facilitate access to BLM administered land retained for long-term public use. 

4. Enhance congressionally designated areas, rivers, or trails. 

5. Primarily focused in the "retention" areas. (Acquisition outside of retention areas may 

be considered if the action leads to and/or facilitates long-term needs or program 

objectives). 

6. Facilitate National, state and local BLM priorities or mission statement needs. 

7. Will enhance existing or future activity plans on BLM administered land. 

8. Stabilize or enhance local economies or values. 

9. Meet long-term BLM land management goals as opposed to short-term BLM land 

management goals. 

10. Are of sufficient size to improve use of adjoining BLM administered land or, if 

isolated, large enough to allow for the identified potential public land use. 

11. Allow for more diverse use, more intensive use, or a change in uses to better fulfill 

the Bureau's mission. 

12. Enhance the opportunity for new or emerging BLM administered land uses or values. 

13. Contribute to a wide spectrum of uses or large number of public land users. 

14. Secure for the public significant water related land interests. These interests will 

include lake shore, dam shore, river front, stream, and pond or spring sites. 

15. Consolidate mineral estates with surface estates to improve potential for development 

while improving resource management and economic values of existing BLM 

administered lands. 

16. Avoid the following when considering acquisition proposals:
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 H-8 Appendix H

► Acquiring lands or interests in lands that present management problems that 

outweigh the expected benefits of such an acquisition, including but not 

limited to: 

► presence of hazardous materials 

► abundance of noxious weeds 

► access situation is inadequate for managing the property for the purpose(s) for 

which it would be obtained, etc. 

► acquisition of small, isolated tracts 

► split estates, structures, water rights, unacceptable third party rights 

(outstanding rights)

► uncertainty as to ownership, boundary location, gaps or overlaps without 

certainty of location

H.2.4 Access Criteria

The BLM shall endeavor to maintain existing access, provide future access, mark public access 

on the ground and document geospatially public access in the land tenure records system to BLM 

administered lands in coordination with other Federal agencies, state and local governments, and 

private landowners. 

H.2.4.1 Specific Access Criteria 

1. Obtain access to BLM administered lands in retention areas. (Acquisition of access 

outside of retention areas may be considered if the action leads to and/or facilitates 

long term needs or program objectives). 

2. Protect, maintain, mark on the ground, and document geospatially existing access to 

BLM administered lands. 

3. Manage access to BLM administered lands within BLM's multiple-use mandate. 

4. Acquire access on the basis of the following considerations: 

Where there are moderate to high resource values on existing BLM administered 

land. 

Where there is public demand which is closely tied to resource values. 

Access to larger blocks or parcels of BLM administered land have priority. The 

presence of important resource values may justify acquiring access to smaller 

tracts. 

For those projects on BLM administered lands in which substantial public monies 

have been spent, and in which continuing diverse public use is expected, 

permanent exclusive access for the general public should be obtained. For lesser 

investment projects and/or those to which general public use will need to be 

limited, nonexclusive easements should be obtained. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-9 September 2015

Although the Bureau is not required to provide access to mineral resources, the 

acquisition of such access could be useful in controlling the construction of 

multiple and unnecessary access routes within the same general area. 

Priority would be placed on acquiring easements on roads where landowners are 

willing to allow public access through their lands. 

Priority would be placed on acquiring easements where landowners or third 

parties are willing to contribute to the on the ground marking, land description 

preparation, gathering of associated geospatial data, and documentation on BLM 

land tenure records system.

H.2.5 Disposal Criteria

These are lands identified for potential removal from BLM administration through transfer to 

other Federal agencies, or by exchange, sale or R&PP Patent to state, county or local public 

entities, or by exchange or sale to private entities, private groups, private organizations or 

individuals. Disposal decisions will be made in the public interest based upon the following 

criteria: 

1. Widely scattered parcels which are difficult and uneconomical to manage with 

anything beyond minimal custodial administration and have no significant public 

values. 

2. Lands acquired for a specific Federal purpose which are no longer required for that or 

any other Federal purpose.

3. Lands with high public values proper for management by other Federal agencies, or 

state or local governments. 

4. Lands which will serve important public objectives (such as community expansion) 

as provided in FLPMA.

5. Small parcels of BLM administered land contiguous to National Forest land may be 

considered for transfer to the U.S. Forest Service through a Public Land Order. Other 

BLM administered land may be considered for transfer where appropriate. 

6. Small parcels of BLM administered lands contiguous to State land may be considered 

for transfer to the State of Montana. Other BLM administered land may be considered 

for transfer where appropriate. 

7. Lands of limited public value and no public access. 

8. Lands where disposal would aid in aggregating or repositioning other BLM 

administered lands or land resource values in retention areas to facilitate National, 

state and local objectives, unless purchased with LWCF funds.

9. Lands with general unauthorized use problems, if the lands are not required for public 

purposes. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 H-10 Appendix H

10. Lands with unauthorized occupancy use where permanent structures are involved. 

H.2.5.1 Potential Disposal Parcels 

The following lands are identified for disposal through sale under section 203(a) of FLPMA if 

important recreation, wildlife, watershed, threatened or endangered species habitat, and/or 

cultural values are not identified during an intensive inter-disciplinary review process. These 

lands would also be available for transfer to another agency or to local governments, as needed, 

to accommodate community expansion and other public purposes. Detailed information on each 

tract, including legal description, acreage, and rationale for categorization, is contained in the 

Land Tenure table below. Tracts identified from the original 1984 Billings RMP ROD (FLTFA

tracts) are identified within the table.

Any federal surface managed by the BLM within the BiFO, which was not specifically evaluated 

in the land tenure adjustment analysis is considered to be classified as a Category II, unless they 

fall within the definition of Category I lands.

Under the current planning process an additional 194 tracts were analyzed for tenure adjustment 

criteria for a total of 331 tracts analyzed for the current RMP. Acreages are derived from Master 

Title Plat information or GIS shape files and are approximate. An effort has been made to ensure 

that the table is correct; however errors may still exist in legal description, or acreage, and will 

be again reviewed through detailed project level proposals.

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative A*

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 1 N., R. 15 E., 

sec. 33, SESE 

40.00

T. 2 N., R. 26 E., 

sec. 8, NE 

160.00

T. 2 N., R. 26 E., 

sec. 8, SW

160.00

T. 2 N., R. 26 E., 

sec. 10, NE

160.00

T. 2 N., R. 26 E., 

sec. 14, N2NE 

80.00

T. 3 N., R. 25 E.,

sec. 26, NE, E2SW, N2SE 

320.00

T. 3 N., R. 27 E.,

sec. 4, SW 

160.00

T. 3 N., R. 27 E.,

sec. 18, E2 

320.00

T. 3 N., R. 27 E.,

sec. 24, SWSE, N2SESE, SWSESE 

70.00

T. 3 N., R. 28 E.,

sec. 2, N2NE, SENE, NENW, SESW, NESE, S2SE 

320.00

T. 3 N., R. 28 E.,

sec. 4, NENE 

40.00
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-11 September 2015

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative A*

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 3 N., R. 28 E.,

sec. 4, NWNW 

40.00

T. 3 N., R. 28 E.,

sec. 10, N2 

320.00

T. 3 N., R. 28 E.,

sec. 14, SWSW 

40.00

T. 4 N., R. 28 E.,

sec. 34, E2 

320.00

T. 4 N., R. 29 E.,

sec. 24, W2 

320.00

T. 4 N., R. 29 E.,

sec. 34, SWNE, W2SW, SESW, SE 

320.00

T. 4 N., R. 30 E.,

sec. 19, lots 1, 2, 3, 4 

sec. 19, E2, E2W2

583.84

T. 4 N., R. 31 E.,

sec. 24, NENE 

40.00

T. 4 N., R. 31 E.,

sec. 24, E2SE 

80.00

T. 4 N., R. 32 E.,

sec. 22, N2NW, SWNW, W2SW 

200.00

T. 4 N., R. 32 E.,

sec. 30, lots 1, 2, 3, 4

141.96

T. 5 N., R. 33 E.,

sec. 32, SWNW, N2SW, SESW 

160.00

T. 1 S., R. 12 E.,

sec. 24, NENW, S2NW, N2SW, SWSW 

240.00

T. 1 S., R. 13 E.,

sec. 18, SESW 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 14 E.,

sec. 6, lot 7

sec. 6, SESW

73.74

T. 1 S., R. 14 E.,

sec. 6, SENW 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 14 E.,

sec. 8, W2NW 

80.00

T. 1 S., R. 14 E.,

sec. 18, lots 3, 4

sec. 18, SESW 

109.45

T. 1 S., R. 15 E.,

sec. 1, S2SENW 

20.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E.,

sec. 2, SENE, N2SE 

120.00

T. 1 S., R. 16 E.,

sec. 4, SENE, NESE 

80.00

T. 1 S., R. 16 E.,

sec. 12, lots 9, 10, 11, 12

159.62
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015H-12 AppendixH

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative A*

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 1 S.,R. 16 E.,

sec. 18, NWNE, NENW 

80.00

T. 1 S.,R. 16 E.,

sec. 29, NW, E2SW, NWSE 

280.00

T. 1 S.,R. 17 E.,

sec. 29, SWSE 

40.00

T. 1 S.,R. 18 E.,

sec. 24, NWNE, NW, NWSE 

240.00

T. 1 S.,R. 18 E.,

sec. 24, SWSW 

40.00

T. 1 S.,R. 18 E.,

sec. 26, NWNW 

40.00

T. 1 S.,R. 18 E.,

sec. 26, SE 

160.00

T. 1 S.,R. 19 E.,

sec. 32, N2NE 

80.00

T. 1 S.,R. 25 E.,

sec. 25, lot 3

10.10

T. 2 S.,R. 18 E., 

sec. 9, SESE 

40.00

T. 2 S.,R. 18 E., 

sec. 10, NESW 

40.00

T. 2 S.,R. 19 E., 

sec. 8, SENE 

40.00

T. 2 S.,R. 19 E., 

sec. 8, N2SW 

80.00

T. 2 S.,R. 23 E., 

sec. 20, N2NE 

80.00

T. 3 S.,R. 19 E., 

sec. 23, SWNE, NESW, NWSE 

120.00

T. 3 S., R. 22 E.,

sec. 1, W2SW 

sec. 2, E2SE 

160.00

T. 3 S., R. 22 E.,

sec. 9, NENE 

40.00

T. 3 S., R. 22 E.,

sec. 10, SWNE 

40.00

T. 3 S., R. 22 E.,

sec. 14, NESW 

40.00

T. 3 S., R. 23 E.,

sec. 9, NWNE 

40.00

T. 3 S., R. 23 E.,

sec. 22, S2NW 

80.00

T. 4 S.,R. 16 E., 

sec. 2, SWNW, NESW, NWSE 

120.00

T. 4 S.,R. 17 E., 

sec. 5, NESW, N2SE 

120.00
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-13 September 2015

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative A*

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 4 S., R. 17 E., 

sec. 8, SESW 

sec. 17, NENW, S2NW

160.00

Total 7,528.71

*Denotes 1984 RMP ROD (FLTFA tracts)

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative B

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 10 N., R. 13 E., 

sec. 21, lots 7, 9

sec. 25, lots 1, 2, 3

sec. 26, lots 1, 2

sec. 27, lots 4, 5, 6, 7

sec. 31, lots 8, 9

sec. 34, lots 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

49.89

Total 49.89

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative C

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 1 N., R. 15 E., 

sec. 33, SESE 

40.00

T. 1 N., R. 16 E., 

sec. 14, N2NW 

80.00

T. 2 N., R. 13 E., 

sec. 34, SWSW 

40.00

T. 2 N., R. 15 E., 

sec. 20, NWNW 

40.00

T. 2 N., R. 16 E., 

sec. 4, SWSW 

40.00

T. 2 N., R. 17 E., 

sec. 22, NENE

40.00

T. 2 N., R. 17 E., 

sec. 24, NWNE 

40.00

T. 2 N., R. 17 E., 

sec. 30, lots 3, 4

sec. 30, NESW 

77.70
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 H-14 Appendix H

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative C

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 2 N., R, 29 E., 

sec. 9, NENE 

40.00

T. 3 N., R. 14 E., 

sec. 20, lot 5

40.15

T. 3 N., R. 16 E., 

sec. 20, N2NE 

80.00

T. 3 N., R.16 E., 

sec. 22, NESE

40.00

T. 3 N., R. 16 E., 

sec. 30, SESE 

40.00

T. 4 N., R. 16 E., 

sec. 32, W2NW 

80.00

T. 4 N., R. 17 E., 

sec. 26, NENE 

40.00

T. 4 N., R. 19 E., 

sec. 2, SESW 

40.00

T. 4 N., R. 19 E., 

sec. 8, NWNW 

40.00

T. 4 N., R. 32 E., 

sec. 10, NE

80.00

T. 5 N., R. 14 E., 

sec. 8, SWSE 

40.00

T. 5 N., R. 16 E., 

sec. 20, SWNE 

40.00

T. 6 N., R. 13 E., 

sec. 2, SESE 

40.00

T. 6 N., R. 13 E., 

sec. 10, NENE 

40.00

T. 6 N., R. 13 E., 

sec. 10, SWNW 

40.00

T. 6 N., R. 13 E., 

sec. 14, NENW

40.00

T. 6 N., R. 14 E., 

sec. 22, S2SW

80.00

T. 6 N., R. 20 E., 

sec. 24, S2N2 

160.00

T. 7 N., R. 14 E., 

sec. 24, SWSW

40.00

T. 8 N., R. 17 E., 

sec. 4, NWSE 

40.00

T. 9 N., R. 12 E., 

sec. 12, NENW 

40.00
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-15 September 2015

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative C

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 10 N., R. 13 E., 

sec. 21, lots 7, 9

sec. 25, lots 1, 2, 3

sec. 26, lots 1, 2

sec. 27, lots 4, 5, 6, 7

sec. 31, lots 8, 9

sec. 34, lots 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

49.89

T. 10 N., R. 14 E., 

sec. 6, lot 2 

sec. 6, SWNE 

79.07

T. 10 N., R. 15 E., 

Sec. 8, SWSW 

40.00

T. 10 N., R. 17 E., 

sec. 34, SESW 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 14 E., 

sec. 12, NESW 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 14 E., 

sec. 23, SWNE 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 14 E., 

sec. 26, NWNE 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 2, SENE, N2SE 

120.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 6, lot 7

32.43

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 6, NESW 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 9, SWSE, SESW 

80.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 18, lot 3

33.52

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 18, SENE 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 21, NESW 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 23, E2SW 

80.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 27, S2SE 

80.00

T. 1 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 33, S2SW 

80.00

T. 1 S., R. 16 E., 

sec. 4, SENE, NESE 

80.00

T. 1 S., R. 16 E., 

sec. 18, NWNE, NENW 

80.00

T. 1 S., R. 17 E., 

sec. 29, SWSE 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 17 E., 

sec. 31, lot 1

34.31
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 H-16 Appendix H

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative C

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 1 S., R. 18 E., 

sec. 24, SWSW 

40.00

T. 1 S., R. 18 E., 

sec. 26, NWNW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 13 E., 

sec. 14, NWNE 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 13 E., 

sec. 21, SWNW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 13 E., 

sec. 34, NENW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 13 E., 

sec. 34, NWSE 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 2, NWSE 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 3, SESW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 4, SESE 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 11, NWNW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 16 E., 

sec. 10, NWNW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 16 E., 

sec. 12, SESW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 16 E., 

sec. 17, N2SW 

80.00

T. 2 S., R. 16 E., 

sec. 20, NESE 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 17 E., 

sec. 10, SWSW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 17 E., 

sec. 24, SWSW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 17 E., 

sec. 28, SWNW

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 17 E., 

sec. 30, lot 2

36.55

T. 2 S., R. 18 E., 

sec. 9, SESE 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 18 E., 

sec. 10, NESW 

40.00

T. 2 S., R. 23 E., 

sec. 20, N2NE 

80.00

T. 3 S., R. 22 E., 

sec. 1, W2SW

sec. 2, E2SE 

160.00

T. 3 S., R. 22 E., 

sec. 10, SWNE 

40.00
Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix H H-17 September 2015

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative C

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 3 S., R. 22 E., 

sec. 14, NESW 

40.00

T. 3 S., R. 23 E., 

sec. 22, S2NW 

80.00

T. 4 S., R. 15 E., 

sec. 31, SESE 

40.00

T. 4 S., R. 19 E., 

sec. 35, SENE 

40.00

T. 4 S., R. 20 E., 

sec. 12, SENW

40.00

T. 4 S., R. 21 E., 

sec. 28, NWNE

40.00

T. 4 S., R. 23 E., 

sec. 6, lot 3

39.87

T. 5 S., R. 19 E., 

sec. 5, SESE 

40.00

T. 5 S., R. 20 E., 

sec. 6, SWSE 

40.00

Total 4,223.49

*Denotes 1984 Billings RMP ROD (FLTFA tracts)

Land Tenure Disposal Tracts By Alternative

Alternative D

Legal Description

Principal Meridian, Montana Acres

T. 4 S., R. 19 E., 

sec. 35, SENE 

40.00

T. 5 S., R. 19 E., 

sec. 5, SESE 

40.00

T. 5 S., R. 20 E., 

sec. 6, SWSE 

40.00

T. 10 N., R. 13 E.,

sec. 21, lots 7, 9

sec. 25, lots 1, 2, 3

sec. 26, lots 1, 2

sec. 27, lots 4, 5, 6, 7

sec. 31, lots 8, 9

sec. 34, lots 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

49.89

Total 169.89

*Denotes 1984 Billings RMP ROD (FLTFA tracts)
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Appendix I: 

Land Health Standards

Appendix I I-i September 2015

Table of Contents

I. Land Health Standards ................................................................................................................... I-1

I.1 Preamble .................................................................................................................................. I-1

I.2 Standards for Rangeland Health .......................................................................................... I-2

MILES CITY STANDARD #1: Uplands are in proper functioning condition. .............. I-2

MILES CITY STANDARD #2: Riparian areas and wetlands are in proper 

functioning condition............................................................................................................. I-3

MILES CITY STANDARD #3: Water quality meets Montana State standards. ............ I-4

MILES CITY STANDARD #4: Air quality meets Montana State standards. ................. I-4

MILES CITY STANDARD #5: Habitats are provided for healthy, productive, 

and diverse native plant and animal populations and communities. Habitats 

are improved or maintained for special status species (federally threatened, 

endangered, candidate or Montana species of special concern)...................................... I-4

I.3 Guidelines ................................................................................................................................ I-5

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #1:............................................................................................... I-5

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #2:............................................................................................... I-5

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #3:............................................................................................... I-6

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #4:............................................................................................... I-6

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #5:............................................................................................... I-6

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #6:............................................................................................... I-6

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #7:............................................................................................... I-6

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #8:............................................................................................... I-6

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #9:............................................................................................... I-6

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #10:............................................................................................. I-7

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #11:............................................................................................. I-7

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #12:............................................................................................. I-7

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #13:............................................................................................. I-7

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #14:............................................................................................. I-7
September 2015 I-ii Appendix I

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Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix I I-1 September 2015

I. Land Health Standards

(derived from: Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management for Public 

Lands Administered by the Bureau of Land Management for Montana and the Dakotas)

I.1 Preamble 

Rangeland health can be defined as the degree to which the integrity of the physical and ecological processes of the 

rangeland ecosystems are sustained. 

The capacity of rangelands to produce commodities and satisfy values on a sustained basis depends upon the 

internal, self-sustaining ecological processes such as soil development, nutrient cycling, energy flow, and the 

structure and dynamics of plant and animal communities. 

Rangeland health is the minimum ecological standard, independent of the rangeland's use and how it is managed. If 

rangeland health is protected, a variety of uses could be appropriate for any particular rangeland. 

Standards apply to rangeland health and not to the important by-products of healthy rangelands such as more fish, 

higher livestock weaning weights, regional social and cultural values, increased timber production, economic 

viability of livestock operations or higher numbers of game animals. It is sustainability of the processes, of 

rangeland health, that produces these social values and commodities. 

The Bureau of Land Management is committed to grazing as an appropriate use of public rangelands and to 

maintaining healthy and productive rangelands that support stable western communities. This is a commitment that 

began with the Taylor Grazing Act, which reversed the decline in the health of the range, is reiterated in the Federal 

Land Policy Management Act that ensures public lands are managed for multiple use and guarantees grazing as an 

activity on the public lands. 

Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management are intended to maintain healthy 

and productive public rangelands that are essential to support long-term grazing and stable communities that rely on 

the land. 

Standards apply to the health of the land. All uses of public rangeland need to be conducted in such a manner that 

standards are achieved. Standards are measurable levels of resource quality, condition, or function upon which 

management decisions are based. It is BLM's policy to achieve rangeland health standards through management of 

existing uses when feasible. 

Standards provide the technical and scientific basis for measuring progress towards healthy productive rangelands. 

Disturbance regimes such as fire, climatic events, geology, the natural and historic range of variability and the 

potential of the area are considered when assessing rangeland health. 

Standards are not expected to recreate theoretical "pristine" rangeland conditions that may have existed before 

livestock grazing began. It is assumed that most areas will be grazed unless there is no way to graze them and still 

achieve standards or the area is dedicated to other uses such as campgrounds, mining, and cultural or historical sites, 

like Pompeys Pillar. 

At a minimum, State or regional standards must address: 

• watershed function; - nutrient cycling and energy flow; - water quality; - habitat for endangered, 

threatened, proposed, Candidate 1 or 2 or special status species; and - habitat quality for native 

plant and animal populations and communities. 

Guidelines for grazing management are the types of grazing management methods and practices determined to be 

appropriate to ensure that standards can be met or that significant progress can be made toward meeting standards. 
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September 2015 I-2 Appendix I

Guidelines are best management practices (BMP), treatments, and techniques and implementation of range 

improvements that will help achieve rangeland health standards. Guidelines are flexible and are applied on site 

specific situations. 

Field managers must determine if standards are being met, consider what factors are causing standards not to be met, 

and take appropriate action to deal with those factors. If livestock grazing is preventing achievement of standards, 

then guidelines would be applied through terms and conditions. If an area is not meeting standards due to conditions 

that are not related to livestock grazing then the grazing management may not need to be adjusted. 

Guidelines may be adapted or changed when monitoring or other information indicates the guidelines are not 

effective or a better means of meeting applicable standards exist. 

The new grazing regulations under 43 CFR 4180.2(e) require that minimum, state or regional guidelines developed 

must address a list of attributes: 

• maintain or promote adequate amounts of vegetative ground cover; 

• maintain or promote subsurface soil conditions; 

• maintain, improve or restore riparian-wetland functions; 

• maintain or promote stream channel morphology;

• maintain or promote appropriate kinds and amounts of soil organisms, plants and animals; 

• promote the opportunity for seedling establishment;

• maintain, restore, enhance water quality; 

• restore, maintain or enhance T&E habitat; 

• restore, maintain, enhance T&E candidate and special status species habitat; 

• maintain or promote native populations and their communities; 

• emphasize native species in the support of ecological function; and 

• only incorporate the use non-native plant species when native species are not available or are 

incapable of achieving proper functioning condition. 

Terms and conditions of permits and leases are specific actions in the permit or lease that implement the spirit and 

intent of the standards and guidelines. 

Terms and conditions are site specific. They are determined by an interdisciplinary team in consultation with 

permittees and interested parties for each individual allotment. Terms and conditions are a tool to achieve resource 

conditions in the standard. They are meant to be modified if monitoring data shows those terms and conditions 

currently being applied are not achieving desired results. 

I.2 Standards for Rangeland Health 

Standards are statements of physical and biological condition or degree of function required for healthy sustainable 

rangelands. Achieving or making significant progress towards these functions and conditions is required of all uses 

of public rangelands. Historical data, when available, should be utilized when assessing standards. 

MILES CITY STANDARD #1: Uplands are in proper functioning condition. 

This means that soils are stable and provide for the capture, storage and safe release of water appropriate to soil 

type, climate and landform. The amount and distribution of ground cover (i.e., litter, live and standing dead 

vegetation, microbiotic crusts, and rocks/gravel) for identified ecological site(s) or soil plant associations is 

appropriate for soil stability. Evidence of accelerated erosion in the form of rills and/or gullies, erosional pedestals, 

flow patterns, physical soil crusts/surface sealing and compaction layers below the soil surface is minimal. 

Ecological processes including hydrologic cycle, nutrient cycle and energy flow are maintained and support healthy 

biotic populations. Plants are vigorous, biomass production is near potential and there is a diversity of species 

characteristic of and appropriate to the site. 
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As indicated by: 

• Physical Environment 

► erosional flow patterns; - surface litter; - soil movement by water and wind; - infiltration; -

soil crusting and surface sealing; - compaction layer; - rills; - gullies; - cover amount; and -

cover distribution. 

• Biotic Environment 

► community diversity; - community structure; - exotic plants; - photosynthesis activity; - plant 

status; - seed production; - recruitment; and - nutrient cycle. 

MILES CITY STANDARD #2: Riparian areas and wetlands are in proper 

functioning condition. 

This means that the functioning condition of riparian-wetland areas is a result of the interaction among geology, soil, 

water, and vegetation. Riparian-wetland areas are functioning properly when adequate vegetation, landform, or large 

woody debris is present to dissipate stream energy associated with high waterflows, thereby reducing erosion and 

improving water quality; filter sediment, capture bedload, and aid flood plain development; improve flood water 

retention and ground water recharge; develop root masses that stabilize streambanks against cutting action; develop 

diverse ponding and channel characteristics to provide the habitat and the water depth, duration, and temperature 

necessary for fish production, waterfowl breeding, and other uses; and support greater biodiversity. 

The riparian/wetland vegetation is controlling erosion, stabilizing streambanks, shading water to reduce stream 

temperature in the summer and provide thermal protection in the winter, stabilizing shorelines, filtering sediment, 

aiding flood plain development, dissipating energy, delaying floodwater, and increasing recharge of ground water 

where appropriate to landform. 

The stream channels and flood plain dissipate the energy of high water flows and transport sediment appropriate for 

the geomorphology (e.g., gradient, size, shape, roughness, confinement, and sinuosity), climate, and landform. Soils 

support appropriate riparian-wetland vegetation, allowing water movement, filtering sediment, and storing water for 

later release. Stream channels are not entrenching and water levels maintain appropriate riparian/wetland species. 

Riparian Areas are defined as an area of land directly influenced by permanent water. It has visible vegetation or 

physical characteristics reflective of permanent water influence. Lake shores and streambanks are typical riparian 

areas. Excluded are such sites as ephemeral streams or washes that do not exhibit the presence of vegetation 

dependent upon free water in the soil. 

Proper functioning condition of riparian areas are Indicated by: 

• Hydrologic 

► floodplain inundated in relatively frequent events; 

► amount of altered streambanks; 

► sinuosity, width/depth ratio, and gradient are in-balance with the landscape setting (i.e., 

landform, geology, and bioclimatic region); 

► riparian zone width; and 

► upland watershed not contributing to riparian degradation. 

• Erosion Deposition 

► floodplain and channel characteristics, i.e., rocks, coarse and/or woody debris adequate to 

dissipate energy; 

► point bars are vegetating; 

► lateral stream movement is associated with natural sinuosity; 

► system is vertically stable; 

► stream is in-balance with water and sediment being supplied by the watershed (i.e., no 

excessive erosion or deposition); and

► bare ground. 

• Vegetation 

► reproduction and diverse age structure of vegetation; 

► diverse composition of vegetation; 
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► species present indicate maintenance of riparian soil moisture characteristics; 

► streambank vegetation is comprised of those plants or plant communities that have deep 

binding root masses capable of withstanding high streamflow events; 

► utilization of trees and shrubs; 

► healthy riparian plants; and 

► adequate vegetative cover present to protect banks and dissipate energy during high flows. 

MILES CITY STANDARD #3: Water quality meets Montana State standards. 

This means that surface and ground water on public lands fully support designated beneficial uses described in the 

Montana Water Quality Standards. 

As indicated by: 

• dissolved oxygen concentration; 

• pH; 

• turbidity; 

• temperature; 

• fecal coliform; 

• sediment; 

• color; 

• toxins; and 

• others: ammonia, barium, boron, chlorides, chromium, cyanide, endosulfan, lindane, nitrates, 

phenols, phosphorus, sodium, sulfates, etc. 

MILES CITY STANDARD #4: Air quality meets Montana State standards. 

This means that air quality on public lands helps meet the goals set out in the State of Montana Air Quality Control 

Implementation Plan. Efforts will be made to limit unnecessary emissions from existing and new point or non-point 

sources. 

Bureau of Land Management management actions or use authorizations do not contribute to air pollution that 

violates the quantitative or narrative Montana Air Quality Standards or contributes to deterioration of air quality in 

selected class areas. 

As indicated by: 

Section 176(c) Clean Air Act which states that activities of all Federal agencies must conform to the intent 

of the appropriate State Air Quality Implementation Plan and not: 

• cause or contribute to any violations of ambient air quality standards; 

• increase the frequency of any existing violations; and 

• impede the State's progress in meeting their air quality goals. 

MILES CITY STANDARD #5: Habitats are provided for healthy, productive, 

and diverse native plant and animal populations and communities. Habitats 

are improved or maintained for special status species (federally threatened, 

endangered, candidate or Montana species of special concern). 

This means that native plant communities will be maintained or improved to ensure the proper functioning of 

ecological processes and continued productivity and diversity of native plant lifeforms. Where native communities 

exist, the conversion to exotic communities after disturbance will be minimized. Management for native vegetation 

is a management priority. 

Ecological processes including hydrologic cycle and energy flow are maintained and support healthy biotic 

populations. Plants are vigorous, biomass production is near potential and there is a diversity of species 

characteristic of and appropriate to the site. The environment contains all the necessary components to support 
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viable populations of a sensitive/threatened and endangered species in a given area relative to site potential. Viable 

populations are wildlife or plant populations that contain an adequate number of reproductive individuals distributed 

on the landscape to ensure the long-term existence of the species. 

As indicated by: 

• plants and animals are diverse, vigorous and reproducing satisfactorily, noxious weeds are absent 

or insignificant in the overall plant community; 

• an effective weed management program is in place; 

• spatial distribution of species is suitable to ensure reproductive capability and recovery; - a variety 

of age classes are present (at least two age classes); 

• connectivity of habitat or presence of corridors prevents habitat fragmentation 

• diversity of species (including plants, animals, insects and microbes) are represented; and 

• plant communities in a variety of successional stages are represented across the landscape. 

This will be accomplished by allowing progression of succession in conjunction with livestock grazing. 

The following table lists the number of allotments assessed to date and the number of acres by category in the 

planning area:

Table AC-1: Rangeland Conditions

Rangelands 

meeting all 

Standards

Rangelands 

making significant 

progress toward 

meeting 

Standards

Rangelands not 

meeting Standards, 

but changes have 

been made

Rangelands not 

meeting Standards 

and no changes 

have been made

Rangelands not 

meeting Standards 

due to causes other 

than livestock 

grazing

No Assessment 

Completed

Allotments Acres* Allotments Acres* Allotments Acres Allotment Acres* Allotments Acres* Allotments Acres*

309 309,658 34 41,153 8 3,675 1 80 2 80 16 6,835 

Figures listed below represent Land Health Standards for lands/allotments located within Priority Sage-Grouse habitat

85 194,762 12 33,251 2 1,501 0 0 0 0 3 1,135

Note:

Source: 2012 year end rangeland monitoring report.

* Due to acreage accounting differences in the PMWHR, the administrative pastures are double counted as an allotment and as 

part of the HMA.

I.3 Guidelines 

Guidelines for grazing management are preferred or advisable approaches to grazing management practices 

determined to be appropriate to ensure that standards can be met or that significant progress can be made toward 

meeting the standard(s). 

Guidelines are provided to maintain or improve resource conditions in upland and riparian habitats available to 

livestock grazing. In both riparian and upland habitats, these guidelines focus on establishing proper functioning 

conditions. The application of these guidelines is dependent on individual management objectives. Desired future 

conditions in plant communities and streambank characteristics will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #1: 

Grazing will be managed in a manner that will maintain the proper balance between soils, water, and vegetation over 

time. This balance varies with location and management objectives, but acceptable levels of use can be developed 

that are compatible with resource objectives. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #2: 

Manage grazing to maintain watershed vegetation, biodiversity, and flood plain function. Maintain riparian 

vegetative cover and structure to trap and hold sediments during run-off events to rebuild streambanks, 
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restore/recharge aquifers, and dissipate flood energy. Promote deep-rooted herbaceous vegetation to enhance 

streambank stability. Where potential for woody shrub species (willows, dogwood, etc.) exists, promote their growth 

and expansion to aid in controlling animal access to streambanks, and to provide wildlife cover. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #3: 

Pastures and allotments will be identified based on their sensitivity and suitability for livestock grazing. Unsuitable 

or potentially unsuitable areas may be fenced into separate management areas, or managed more intensively. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #4: 

Based on long-term monitoring, management strategies for livestock grazing will ensure that long-term resource 

capabilities can be sustained over time. Natural and management induced streambank alteration, end of season 

stubble heights, and utilization of herbaceous and woody vegetation are critical factors which must be evaluated in 

any grazing strategy. These considerations are essential to achieving long-term vegetation or stream channel 

objectives. 

Where appropriate, acceptable levels of streambank alteration and herbaceous/woody utilization should be identified 

on a site-specific basis, and used as terms and conditions. Compatible seasons and duration of use, rest periods, 

stocking rates, structural facilities, and management activities can then be designed to ensure that standards are 

achieved. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #5: 

Frequency of grazing and extent of defoliations will be managed to promote desired plants and plant communities, 

based on the rate and physiological conditions of plant growth. To meet these plant growth considerations, the 

following could be applied: No grazing unit should be grazed for more than half the growing season of key plant 

species. Periods of use throughout the growing season (early, mid, late) should be alternated from year to year. 

Defer each field from grazing until seeds set at least once every 3 years. The season of use should be alternated from 

year to year to allow for regeneration of woody and herbaceous species. Stages of plant growth, length of grazing 

period, target utilization levels, and frequency of grazing should be used to determine when livestock are ready to be 

moved to another grazing unit, instead of calendar dates. Caution should be used with early spring grazing use when 

soils and streambanks are wet and susceptible to compaction and physical damage that occurs with animal 

trampling. Likewise, late summer and fall treatments in woody shrub communities can result in excessive 

utilization. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #6: 

Monitoring is essential to determine if management guidelines and terms and conditions are meeting standards or 

making significant progress towards achieving standards. Monitoring data over time shall be used to make 

adjustments to grazing management as needed. In monitoring standards, Bureau of Land Management will consider 

the impacts of all multiple uses on public rangelands. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #7: 

The development of springs and seeps or other projects affecting water and associated resources shall be designed to 

protect the ecological functions and processes of those sites. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #8: 

Locate new facilities (e.g., corrals, water developments) away from riparian-wetland areas. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #9: 

When provided, supplemental salt and minerals should not be placed adjacent to watering locations or in riparianwetland areas so not to adversely impact streambank stability, riparian vegetation, water quality, or other sensitive

areas. Generally, salt and minerals should be placed in upland sites to draw livestock away from watering areas or 

other sensitive areas and to contribute to more uniform grazing distribution. 
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MILES CITY GUIDELINE #10: 

For guidelines for noxious weed management refer to "Guidelines for Coordinated Management of Noxious Weeds 

in the Greater Yellowstone Area." These guidelines provide a unified effort in developing a public awareness 

program; a prevention program; and a common inventory, mapping, monitoring, and reporting procedure. An 

overall management plan and specific action plans can be developed for logical units of land called weed 

management areas. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #11: 

Grazing management practices should maintain or promote the interaction of the hydrologic cycle, nutrient cycle 

and energy flow that will support the appropriate types and amounts of soil organisms, plants, and animals 

appropriate to soil type, climate and landform. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #12: 

Livestock management should utilize management practices for livestock grazing that meet or exceed those best 

management practices approved by the State of Montana in order to maintain, restore or enhance water quality. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #13: 

Grazing management practices should maintain or improve habitat for federally listed threatened, endangered, and 

special status plants and animals. 

MILES CITY GUIDELINE #14: 

Grazing management practices should maintain or promote physical, ecological and biological functions and 

conditions to sustain native plant and animal communities.
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Appendix J: 

Visual Resource Management Program

Appendix J J-i September 2015

Table of Contents

J. Visual Resource Management Program ....................................................................................... J-1

J.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... J-1

J.2 Inventory .............................................................................................................................. J-2

J.3 Analysis................................................................................................................................. J-3

J.4 Design Techniques .............................................................................................................. J-3
September 2015 J-ii Appendix J

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Appendix J J-1 September 2015

J. Visual Resource Management Program

J.1 Background

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is entrusted with the care of 264 million acres of public 

lands containing many outstanding scenic landscapes. By law, BLM is responsible for managing 

these public lands for multiple uses. But BLM is also responsible for ensuring that the scenic 

values of these public lands are considered before allowing uses that may have negative visual 

impacts. BLM accomplishes this through its Visual Resource Management (VRM) system, a 

system which involves inventorying scenic values and establishing management objectives for 

those values through the resource management planning process, and then evaluating proposed 

activities to determine whether they conform to the management objectives. BLM has 

established VRM coordinators in each state and provides training in VRM so that this system is 

implemented effectively and consistently throughout the Bureau. The Bureau’s VRM system 

helps to ensure that the actions taken on the public lands today will benefit the landscape and 

adjacent communities in the future.

Responsibility

Over the past several years, the Western States have experienced rapid growth and development, 

and the public lands have been increasingly used for outdoor recreation and tourism. Many rural 

communities are reliant on tourism to sustain their economies. As a result, the management of 

the scenic values of public lands has become a much more important aspect of natural resource 

management to BLM.

BLM’s responsibility to manage the scenic resources of the public lands is established by law:

• The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) states, 

“...public lands will be managed in a manner which will protect the quality of the 

scenic (visual) values of these lands.” 

• The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires that 

measures be taken to “...assure for all Americans...aesthetically pleasing 

surroundings....” 

This responsibility is reinforced by BLM’s mission statement:

• “It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, 

diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of 

present and future generations.” 

BLM’s policy is that it has a basic stewardship responsibility to identify and protect visual values 

on all BLM lands. This policy is described in BLM Manual Section 8400 - Visual Resource 

Management. BLM has reemphasized this policy in various other internal directives as well, 

including Information Bulletin No. 98-135 and Instruction Memorandum No. 98-164.
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In order to meet its responsibility to maintain the scenic values of the public lands, BLM has 

developed a VRM system that addresses the following:

• Different levels of scenic values require different levels of management. For 

example, management of an area with high scenic value might be focused on 

preserving the existing character of the landscape, and management of an area 

with little scenic value might allow for major modifications to the landscape. 

Determining how an area should be managed first requires an assessment of the 

area’s scenic values. 

• Assessing scenic values and determining visual impacts can be a somewhat 

subjective process. Objectivity and consistency can be greatly increased by using 

the basic design elements of form, line, color, and texture, which have often been 

used to describe and evaluate landscapes, to also describe proposed projects. 

Projects that repeat these design elements are usually in harmony with their 

surroundings; those that don’t create contrast. By adjusting project designs so the 

elements are repeated, visual impacts can be minimized. 

BLM’s VRM system provides a way to identify and evaluate scenic values to determine the 

appropriate levels of management. It also provides a way to analyze potential visual impacts and 

apply visual design techniques to ensure that surface-disturbing activities are in harmony with 

their surroundings.

Basically, BLM’s VRM system consists of two stages:

• Inventory (Visual Resource Inventory) 

• Analysis (Visual Resource Contrast Rating) 

J.2 Inventory

The inventory stage involves identifying the visual resources of an area and assigning them to 

inventory classes using BLM’s visual resource inventory process. The process involves rating 

the visual appeal of a tract of land, measuring public concern for scenic quality, and determining 

whether the tract of land is visible from travel routes or observation points. The process is 

described in detail in BLM Handbook H-8410-1, Visual Resource Inventory. The results of the 

visual resource inventory become an important component of BLM’s Resource Management 

Plan (RMP) for the area. The RMP establishes how the public lands will be used and allocated 

for different purposes, and it is developed through public participation and collaboration. Visual 

values are considered throughout the RMP process, and the area’s visual resources are then 

assigned to management classes with established objectives:

• Class I Objective: To preserve the existing character of the landscape. The level 

of change to the characteristic landscape should be very low and must not attract 

attention 

• Class II Objective: To retain the existing character of the landscape. The level of 

change to the characteristic landscape should be low 
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Appendix J J-3 September 2015

• Class III Objective: To partially retain the existing character of the landscape. 

The level of change to the characteristic landscape should be moderate. 

• Class IV Objective: To provide for management activities which require major 

modification of the existing character of the landscape. The level of change to the 

characteristic landscape can be high. 

J.3 Analysis

The analysis stage involves determining whether the potential visual impacts from proposed 

surface-disturbing activities or developments will meet the management objectives established 

for the area, or whether design adjustments will be required. A visual contrast rating process is 

used for this analysis, which involves comparing the project features with the major features in 

the existing landscape using the basic design elements of form, line, color, and texture. This 

process is described in BLM Handbook H-8431-1, Visual Resource Contrast Rating. The 

analysis can then be used as a guide for resolving visual impacts. Once every attempt is made to 

reduce visual impacts, BLM managers can decide whether to accept or deny project proposals. 

Managers also have the option of attaching additional mitigation stipulations to bring the 

proposal into compliance

J.4 Design Techniques

There are numerous design techniques that can be used to reduce the visual impacts from 

surface-disturbing projects. The techniques described here should be used in conjunction with 

BLM’s visual resource contrast rating process wherein both the existing landscape and the 

proposed development or activity are analyzed for their basic elements of form, line, color, and 

texture (FLCT).

This discussion of design techniques is broken down into two categories:

• Design fundamentals are general design principles that can be used for all forms 

of activity or development, regardless of the resource value being addressed. 

Applying these three fundamentals will help solve most visual design problems:

► Proper siting or location

► Reducing unnecessary disturbance

► Repeating the elements of form, line, color, and texture

• Design strategies are more specific activities that can be applied to address visual 

design problems. Not all of these strategies will be applicable to every proposed 

project or activity:

► Color selection

► Earthwork
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► Vegetative manipulation

► Structures

► Reclamation/restoration

► Linear alignment design considerations

The fundamentals and strategies are all interrelated, and when used together, can help resolve 

visual impacts from proposed activities or developments.

The techniques presented here are only a portion of the many design techniques available to help 

reduce the visual impacts resulting from surface-disturbing activities or projects. Further research 

into planning and design references and/or consultation with professional designers and 

engineers will help to further reduce the visual impacts of any development.
Appendix K: 

Biological Opinion
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BLM

Billings Field Office and Pompeys Pillar 

Resource Management Plan and 

Environmental Impact Statement

Biological Assessment

May 2015
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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Appendix K K-i September 2015

Contents

APPENDIX K: BIOLOGICAL OPINION......................................................K-1

ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................K-V

K. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................K-1

K.1 Overview of the Project................................................................................................ K-1

K.2 Purpose of the Biological Assessment ......................................................................... K-1

K.3 Organization of the Document ..................................................................................... K-2

K.4 METHODS................................................................................................................... K-3

K.4.1 Effects Analysis Methodology ............................................................................... K-4

K.4.2 Black-footed ferret:............................................................................................... K-8

K.4.3 Grizzly Bear:......................................................................................................... K-8

K.4.4 Effects Determinations for Threatened and Endangered Species ........................ K-9

K.4.5 Coordination / Conservation Measures................................................................ K-9

K.5 Species Accounts........................................................................................................ K-12

K.5.1 Black-Footed Ferret – Endangered (Nonessential Experimental Population) .. K-12

K.5.2 Canada Lynx – Listed Threatened ...................................................................... K-15

K.5.3 Grizzly Bear –Threatened................................................................................... K-17

K.5.4 Whooping crane - endangered............................................................................ K-19

K.5.5 Red Knot– Threatened ........................................................................................ K-21

K.6 Analysis of Management Actions and Effects Determinations ................................. K-23

K.6.1 Whooping Crane and Red Knot Effects Determinations.................................... K-23

K.7 Air Quality.................................................................................................................. K-25

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-25

K.7.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-25

K.7.2 Endangered and Threatened Species.................................................................. K-25

K.8 Climate ....................................................................................................................... K-26

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-26

K.8.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-26

K.8.2 Endangered or Threatened Species.................................................................... K-26

K.9 Geology ...................................................................................................................... K-26

K.10 Soil Resources........................................................................................................ K-27

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-27

K.10.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-28

K.10.2 Canada Lynx ....................................................................................................... K-28
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September 2015 K-ii Appendix K

K.10.3 Grizzly Bear........................................................................................................ K-28

K.11 Water Resources..................................................................................................... K-29

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-29

K.11.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-30

K.12 Vegetation Communities........................................................................................ K-31

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-31

K.12.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-37

K.13 Wildlife Habitat and Special Status Species (Wildlife).......................................... K-38

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-38

K.13.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-42

K.14 Fisheries Habitat and Special Status Species (Fish)............................................... K-43

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-43

K.14.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-45

K.15 Wild Horses and Burros ......................................................................................... K-46

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-46

K.15.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-47

K.16 Fire Ecology and Management............................................................................... K-48

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-48

K.16.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-49

K.17 Cultural/Heritage Resources................................................................................... K-50

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-50

K.17.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-54

K.18 Paleontological Resources...................................................................................... K-54

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-54

K.18.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-56

K.19 Visual Resources.................................................................................................... K-56

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-56

K.19.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-57

K.20 Lands With Wilderness Characteristics.................................................................. K-57

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-57

K.20.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-58

K.21 Cave and Karst Resources...................................................................................... K-58

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-58

K.21.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-59
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K.22 Energy and Mineral Resources – Oil and Gas........................................................ K-60

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-60

K.22.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-63

K.23 Energy and Mineral Resources – Solid Leasable Minerals.................................... K-64

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-64

K.23.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-65

K.24 Energy and Mineral Resources – Salable Minerals................................................ K-66

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-66

K.24.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-67

K.25 Energy and Mineral Resources – Locatable Minerals............................................ K-68

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-68

K.25.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-69

K.26 Livestock Grazing................................................................................................... K-70

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-70

K.26.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-73

K.27 Recreation/Visitor Services.................................................................................... K-74

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-74

K.27.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-76

K.28 Trails and Travel Management............................................................................... K-77

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-77

K.28.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-82

K.29 Forest and Wood Products...................................................................................... K-83

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-83

K.29.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-84

K.30 Lands and Realty – Land Tenure Adjustment and Access..................................... K-86

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-86

K.30.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-87

K.31 Lands and Realty – Rights-Of-Way, Leases, and Permits ..................................... K-89

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-89

K.31.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-90

K.32 Lands and Realty - Withdrawals ............................................................................ K-91

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-91

K.32.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-91

K.33 Transportation Facilities and Access...................................................................... K-92
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• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-92

K.33.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-93

K.34 Renewable Energy.................................................................................................. K-94

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-94

K.34.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination........................................................ K-95

K.35 Special Designations (Including National Monuments, ACECs, WSAs, 

Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Historic Trails, and Wild Horse Ranges)........................ K-96

• Activity Description ................................................................................................... K-96

K.35.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination...................................................... K-109

K.36 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS .................................................................................. K-110

K.37 Summary of Effects Determinations .................................................................... K-111

K.38 Literature Cited..................................................................................................... K-113

K.39 Appendix A........................................................................................................... K-116

List of Tables

Table 1: Listed Species in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS Biological Assessment ............................................................................................... K-3

Table 2: Black-tailed Prairie Dog Acreage in the Planning Area............................................. K-13

Table 3: White-tailed Prairie Dog Acreage in the Planning Area ............................................ K-13

Table 4: Determination of Effects of Resource Programs for Listed Species....................... K-111

Table 5: Overall Determination of Effects for Listed Species................................................ K-112

List of Figures

Figure 1: Billings Field Office Planning Area Boundary Map................................................ K-11

Figure 2: Lynx Critical Habitat on USFS lands within Planning Area*................................ K-119

Figure 3: Grizzly Bear Habitat – Billings Field Office........................................................... K-120

Figure 4: Yellowstone Grizzly Bear DPS Boundary and Suitable Habitat ........................... K-121

Figure 5: Whooping Crane Migration Corridor...................................................................... K-122
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ACRONYMS

ACEC Area of Critical Environmental Concern

AML Abandoned Mine Lands

APD Application for Permit to Drill

APHIS U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service

APLIC Avian Power Line Interaction Committee

AUM Animal Unit Month

BA Biological Assessment

BI Beneficial Impact

BIFO Billings Field Office

BLM U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management

BMPs Best Management Practices

BO Biological Opinion

CFR Code of Federal Regulation

COE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

CSU Controlled Surface Use 

DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement

DFC Desired Future Condition

EA Environmental Assessment

EIS Environmental Impact Statement

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended

FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act

FR Federal Register

ft Foot or feet

GHMA Greater Sage-Grouse General Habitat Management Area

GIS Geographic Information System

GRSG Greater Sage-Grouse

HMP Habitat management plans

IDT Interdisciplinary Team

km Kilometers

LAA May affect, likely to adversely affect

LCAS Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy

MA May Affect

Mbf Thousand Board feet of timber

MDEQ Montana Department of Environmental Quality

MFWP Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

mi Miles

mm Millimeter(s)

MOA Memorandum of Agreement

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

NE No Effect

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

NI No impact

NLAA (NL) May affect, Not Likely to Adversely Affect

-b due to beneficial effects

-d due to discountable effects
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-i Insignificant effects

NOI Notice of Intent

NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service

NSO No surface occupancy

OHV Off-highway vehicle

PA Planning Area

PFC Proper Functioning Condition (Riparian Areas)

RA Greater Sage-Grouse Restoration Area

RCA Restoration/Conservation Area

RMP Resource Management Plan 

RMZ Riparian Management Zone

ROD Record of Decision

ROS Recreation Opportunity Spectrum

ROW Right-of-way 

RUP Recreation Use Permit

PHMA Greater Sage-Grouse Priority Habitat Management Area

SRA Sensitive Resource Area 

SRMA Special Recreation Management Area

T&E Threatened or endangered species

TL Timing Limitation

TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load

USDA United States Department of Agriculture

USDI U.S. Department of Interior 

USFS U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 

USFWS U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

VRM Visual Resource Management

WS Wildlife Services (USDA)

WSA Wilderness Study Area

WUI Wildland Urban Interface
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K. Introduction

K.1 Overview of the Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP) to provide management direction to prevent or address 

potential conflicts between resource uses and resource conservation. Decisions made as a result of the 

Record of Decision on the RMP will result in a revision of the Billings RMP (1984).

Two areas of analysis are discussed. They include the Planning Area, defined as all the land 

within the boundary of the Billings Field Office administrative unit regardless of ownership, and 

the Decision Area, which includes only the BLM-administered land (surface and mineral) within 

Carbon, Yellowstone, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Musselshell, Wheatland, Golden Valley, and 

portions of Big Horn counties, Montana, as well as Pompeys Pillar National Monument. The 

Decision Area is approximately 427,290 acres of BLM-administered public lands and 906,084 

acres of federal mineral estate in south-central Montana. The area also includes administration of 

4,298 acres of public land inside the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range in Big Horn County, 

Wyoming. Effects determinations will be made only on the BLM-administered lands (surface and 

mineral). The Billings Field Office Planning Area boundary map is illustrated on page 11.

Past Consultations/RMP Amendments

The Billings Resource Management Plan was approved September 1984, and was amended with T 

& E Consultations by the following plans: June 1988, for Wilderness designation; November 

1996, to include Montana/Dakotas Standards and Guidelines; August 1998, for Areas of Critical 

Environmental Concern (ACEC) designation; February 1994, Miles City District Oil and Gas 

RMP/EIS Amendment; Off-Highway Vehicle use and area designations, July 2003; Montana and 

Dakotas Fire/Fuels Management Plan, October 2005; Vegetation Treatment on Bureau of Land 

Management Lands in 17 Western States, November 2005 , and BLM, Billings Field Office, 

Backlog Consultation, 2007.

K.2 Purpose of the Biological Assessment

Under provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 

Section 1531 et seq.), federal agencies are directed to conserve threatened and endangered species 

and the habitats in which these species are found. Federal agencies are also required to ensure 

actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of 

endangered and threatened species or their critical habitat. The ESA requires action agencies, such 

as the BLM, to consult or confer with the U.S. Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS) and/or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) when there is discretionary federal 

involvement or control over the action. Formal consultation becomes necessary when the action 

agency requests consultation after determining the proposed action is likely to adversely affect 

listed species or critical habitat, or the aforementioned federal agencies do not concur with the 

action agency’s finding (USFWS 1998).

Under the 1994 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the 2000 Memorandum of Agreement 

(MOA) among the BLM, USFWS, USDA Forest Service (USFS), and NMFS, all four agencies 
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agreed to promote the conservation of candidate and proposed species and streamline the Section 7 

consultation and coordination process.

This programmatic biological assessment provides documentation for the proposed action to meet 

federal requirements and agreements set forth among the federal agencies listed above. It 

addresses federally listed threatened or endangered species that have the potential to occur within 

the Planning Area and has been prepared under the 1973 ESA Section 7 regulations, in accordance 

with the 1998 procedures set forth by USFWS and NMFS, and in accordance with the 1994 and 

2000 MOU and MOA, respectively. Site-specific evaluations will be conducted for activities 

authorized under the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS at the time they 

are proposed, and consultation or conference would occur with the Service for activities that may 

affect Threatened or endangered species. 

K.3 Organization of the Document

• A list of acronyms used is included for ease of reference. 

• The Species Accounts section follows, which includes current habitat and use in the Planning 

Area, population distribution, and threats. Species accounts are organized into mammals, 

birds, fish and plants. 

• The Methods section describes information used in the analysis, discloses how effects 

determinations were made, and defines the possible effects determinations. 

• The Analysis of Management Actions and Effects section is organized by resource 

management program as described in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS. Resource programs are discussed in the same order in the biological assessment as 

they are in the EIS, with the five issues (soil, water, vegetation, wildlife and special status 

species, and fish and special status species,) first, followed by the remaining resource 

programs. The Analysis of Management Actions and Effects section has a summary of the 

management action proposed, followed by the effects analysis (direct and indirect) and a 

determination for each species, with rationale. This organization results in an effects 

determination for each species for each resource program area. The end of the section includes 

with the determination for each program by species (Table 5), along with a summary of the 

determinations by species for the RMP as a whole (Table 6). Cumulative Effects are discussed 

at the end of the document.

• Based on the effects determinations, mitigations required to be included in the RMP are 

described. These mitigations are to be adopted and included in the RMP as part of the Record 

of Decision and implemented during program planning and evaluation. The mitigations 

identified result in reduced impacts on species or methods to ensure species effects are not 

greater than those stated.

• Finally, the References section provides full citations for literature and information sources 

used throughout the Biological Assessment.
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Table 1 below summarizes the species considered, their status, presence and habitat in the

Planning Area. 

Table 1: Listed Species in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS Biological Assessment

Common Scientific 

Name Status*

Documented 

in Planning 

Area

Habitat

Mammals

Blackfooted 

ferret 

Mustela 

nigripes

Endangered 

and 

Nonessential 

Experimental 

population

No Prairie habitats with large prairie 

dog colonies. 

Canada 

Lynx

Lynx 

canadensis

Threatened, 

Critical 

Habitat

Yes**

Mesic coniferous forests that have 

cold, snowy winters and provide a 

prey base of snowshoe hare

Grizzly 

Bear

Ursus arctos 

horribilis Threatened Yes Remote forested habitats

Birds

Red Knot Calidris 

canutus rufa Threatened No Wetlands and shorelines

Whooping 

crane

Grus 

americana Endangered Yes Wetlands and Croplands

*Status refers to federal status in accordance with the Endangered Species Act (as of February 2013). 

**Lynx Critical habitat is available within the planning area, although it is not present within the decision area. Refer to description of “planning 

area” and “decision area” on page 4.

K.4 METHODS

Under provisions of the ESA, federal agencies are directed to conserve threatened and endangered 

species and the habitats in which these species are found. Federal agencies also are required to 

ensure actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence 

of threatened and endangered species or their critical habitat. The ESA requires action agencies, 

such as the BLM, to consult or confer with the USFWS and/or NMFS when there is discretionary 

federal involvement or control over the action. Formal consultation becomes necessary when the 

action agency requests consultation after determining the Proposed Action is likely to adversely 

affect listed species or critical habitat, or the aforementioned federal agencies do not concur with 

the action agency’s finding (USFWS 1998). A BA is required under Section 7(c) of the ESA, if 

listed species or their critical habitat may be present in the area affected by land management 

activities.
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The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS was reviewed to identify actions 

with the potential to affect the listed species. Available occurrence and habitat data for the listed 

species were requested. Occurrence data was obtained from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, 

Montana Natural Heritage Database, Universities, research and other professional sources. 

Information was evaluated and potential impacts from the management actions were analyzed. 

Management actions were evaluated in terms of their potential to directly and indirectly affect the 

listed species. State, private, local, and tribal activities were also evaluated to assess their potential 

to cumulatively affect the listed species. Species recovery plans also were reviewed for further 

information on habitat, occurrences, life histories, and conservation measures.

The BA analyzes the impacts of a proposed, discretionary federal action. A federal action is 

defined as anything authorized, funded, or carried out by the federal agency. Direct impacts are 

those effects on the species or its habitat which are caused by an action, and occur at the same time 

and place as the action. Indirect impacts are those effects on the species or its habitat caused by an 

action, occurring later in time or further removed in distance than direct impacts, but which are 

still reasonably foreseeable. The analysis of all impacts includes the effects of interrelated and 

interdependent actions.

For the purposes of effects analysis under the ESA, cumulative effects are defined as effects on a 

species from future state or private activities not involving federal activities, which are reasonably 

certain to occur within the action area of the federal action subject to consultation. Future federal 

actions will be subject to the consultation requirements established in Section 7 of the ESA, and 

therefore, are not considered cumulative to the proposed action.

Factors considered when analyzing impacts include, among others, proximity of the action to the 

species or habitat of concern, geographic distribution of the action disturbance, timing of the 

action, nature of the action effect, action disturbance frequency, duration of the affecting action, 

action disturbance intensity, and action disturbance severity.

The BA process is focused primarily on adverse impacts to the species of concern. Even though 

impacts may have both a beneficial and detrimental effect on the subject species in either the long 

or short term, the effects determination of the assessment will be based on and controlled by the 

likelihood of adversely affecting the species. In other words, the impacts analysis for a BA is not 

an averaging process.

K.4.1 Effects Analysis Methodology

The BLM staff has reviewed potential actions associated with each program and the impacts to the 

individual species or their critical habitats to determine the impact to the species or their critical 

habitats, if those actions were to occur within suitable habitat for those species. 

Collectively, the lands that BLM administers (surface and mineral estate) are considered the 

“decision area.” RMP decisions apply only to BLM-administered public lands and resources, with 

the exception being Bureau of Reclamation lands where the oil and gas is under federal jurisdiction 

then the oil and gas decisions made in this RMP/EIS do apply. In this document, the term 

“planning area” applies to all lands within the nine-county area, regardless of surface ownership 

(Figure 1). It is important to note that the BLM may only make decisions that affect public lands 

and resources, but it is responsible for collaborative planning with the public and adjacent 

jurisdictions so as to consider the impacts of its actions on all resources in the region.
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This BA will describe in detail those potential actions within the decision area that may affect a 

listed species or its critical habitat. Other potential actions that have been determined to have no 

effect on a species or its critical habitat will not be further discussed in detail. No actions were 

determined to be likely to adversely affect listed species.

Programs that do not have actions located within the habitat of a listed species, or have no impact 

on that species, have been identified as having “No Effect” on that species or its critical habitats.

Cumulative Effects are summarized at the end of the document.

K.4.1.1 Description of the Billings and Pompeys Pillar RMP/EIS Preferred 

Alternative

The BLM’s Preferred Alternative is Alternative D in the Draft RMP. Alternative D is the 

alternative for which the BLM has requested to consult pursuant to section 7 of ESA. There are 

numerous sections to Alternative D; the BLM will present conservation protective measures 

applicable to some or all listed species found in the BIFO planning area. Additional Conservation 

Measures unique to each grizzly bear and Canada lynx are addressed in Appendix A.

K.4.1.2 Conservation Measures Common to All Management Actions

The following general conservation measures for all listed threatened and endangered species will 

be applied under all resource programs and are not repeated in this BA under each management 

program. Conservation measures specific to species are identified in several appendices 

including Best Management Practices, Wildlife Resources, Monitoring, Mitigation Measures 

and Conservation Actions for Greater Sage-grouse Habitat” of the RMP. 

Tentative RMP Appendices numbers are BMP’s-Appendix B, Wildlife Resources-Appendix H, 

and Greater Sage Grouse Appendices are AA. The appendices will not change, although the 

designations may change in the Final RMP.

Resource Program “Goals and Objectives” and “Management Common to All Alternatives” are 

summarized on Tables 2.10 through Table 2.13, as proposed management actions under the 

preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS (refer to 

RMP Chapter 2, Alternatives Table 2-6.1 on pages 2-112 through 2-128 for Wildlife Habitat and 

Special Status Species):

K.4.1.2.1 OTHER CONSERVATION MEASURES SPECIFIC TO THE BILLINGS/ 

POMPEYS PILLAR NATIONAL MONUMENT RMP/EIS INCLUDE:

• BLM rangeland health will be evaluated to meet the Standards for Healthy Rangelands and 

Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management for Public Lands; Grazing Allotments 

within greater sage-grouse PPH habitat will be classified as “I” Intensive Allotment 

Category.

• Coordination between BLM specialists and BLM biologists during the planning and 

implementation phases of all projects and actions to ensure adequate exchanges of 

knowledge relative to T&E species.

• Develop and implement stipulations to avoid or minimize disturbance of T&E species.
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• Surveys for T&E species will be conducted prior to project initiation.

• To avoid collision and electrocution of raptors and other avifauna, power-lines will 

continue to be constructed in accordance with the latest standards outlined in the Avian 

Protection Plan Guidelines (APLIC and USFWS 2005). Where wildlife conflicts exist, 

overhead powerlines and tall structures would follow the recommendations in the APLIC 

guidelines. When possible, perch, collision, and electrocution preventions would be used.

• Wetland and riparian habitats will be maintained, enhanced, or preserved to provide 

wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and enhance forage conditions. When planting or 

seeding vegetation in areas identified as threatened and endangered or special status species 

habitat, only native species will be selected.

The BLM goals for the management of riparian areas within the Billings Field Office decision area 

center on promoting healthy wetland ecosystems, supporting physical processes and natural 

combinations of vegetation that work together to create stable stream banks, functional 

floodplains, complex fish and wildlife habitat and high water quality within site potential. 

Management actions ensure consistency with achieving or maintaining the Standards for 

Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management for Montana, North Dakota, 

and South Dakota (BLM 1997a) and as a minimum, all riparian areas with natural capability would 

be in proper functioning condition (PFC). The PFC is a method for assessing the condition of 

riparian wetland areas through a consistent approach, considering hydrology, vegetation, and 

erosion/deposition attributes and processes. The term PFC refers to how well the physical 

processes of the riparian area are functioning. In addition, Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) 

would be developed in some alternatives to help enhance riparian conditions beyond PFC. The 

DFCs can include, but are not limited to, riparian characteristics such as native species diversity 

and abundance, important in enhancing fish and wildlife habitat as well as riparian functionality.

Invasive species management would focus on restoring native and desired non-native communities 

of riparian areas to attain DFCs.

Special status species include federally listed, proposed, or candidate species; state protected 

species; and BLM sensitive species. The BLM must follow the requirements of the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973, as amended, and BLM policy to conserve federally listed threatened and 

endangered species and the habitat on which they depend. The BLM policy also states, “...ensure 

that actions requiring authorization or approval by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM or 

Bureau) are consistent with the conservation needs of special status species and do not contribute 

to the need to list any special status species, either under provisions of the ESA or other provisions 

of this policy.” The Billings Field Office would manage special status species following the 

direction and guidance identified in BLM Manual 6840; recovery plans; biological opinions; 

conservation agreements, plans, and strategies; habitat conservation plans; and the 

recommendations from interagency recovery implementation teams. Special status and T & E 

species designations and lists are dynamic and subject to change based on population changes, 

habitat improvements and protections, and new data.

Please refer to the RMP Appendices for definitions, descriptions of laws, regulations, policies, and 

guidance, Best Management Practices (BMPs), Oil and Gas leasing notices, stipulations, and CSU 

guidelines, Wildlife Monitoring and Protection Plan, and T&E and Special Status Species lists. 

The appendices are intended to clarify the content of the RMP.
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Manage terrestrial habitat to provide native species diversity and viability, and to sustain 

ecological, economic, and social values while providing for multiple uses of public lands.

Manage for no net loss and connectivity of priority habitats on BLM-administered lands. The 

necessary habitat would be present to maintain, enhance, or restore priority native species 

populations. Sagebrush, native grasslands, seasonal or crucial wildlife ranges, special status 

species habitat, fisheries, cottonwood galleries, and riparian/wetlands would be priorities.

Manage all BLM actions or authorized activities to sustain wildlife populations and their habitats 

and to avoid contributing to the listing of or jeopardizing the continued existence or recovery of 

special status species and their habitats.

Manage or restore habitat on BLM-administered lands within the planning area to facilitate the 

conservation, recovery, and maintenance of populations of native, desirable non-native, and special 

status species consistent with appropriate local, state, and federal management plans.

BLM-authorized activities would address habitat for migratory and non-migratory birds, non-game 

and game mammals, and reptiles, and amphibians.

Implement conservation actions identified in Executive Order 13186 – “Responsibilities of Federal 

Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds.” 

Implement the North American Bird Conservation initiative to restore, enhance, and maintain 

habitats for migratory birds. Include USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern for Bird 

Conservation Regions 10 and/or 17 where appropriate through project level NEPA analysis. 

Emphasize maintenance and restoration of habitats that sustain special status species with 

minimum disturbance during the breeding season. Enhance or restore habitat composition and 

structure beyond PFC in riparian habitats, where and when appropriate, for migratory bird habitat.

Management techniques, including but not limited to prescribed and managed wildfire, 

prescriptive livestock grazing, planting, exclusion to intense disturbance, timber harvest and other 

mechanical methods would be used to restore, maintain or improve the desired ecological 

conditions of vegetation communities for the purpose of improving forage, nesting, breeding, and 

security habitat, hiding cover and travel corridors for a wide diversity of terrestrial and aquatic 

species.

Management actions would emphasize providing habitat of sufficient quantity and quality, 

including connectivity and wildlife movement corridors, habitat complexity, forest openings, 

edges, and ecotones, to enhance biological diversity and provide quality, sustainable habitat for 

native wildlife species.

When potential wildlife conflicts are identified, the BLM would require a current year wildlife 

survey of the project area from the project proponent.

All federally listed and BLM special status species and their habitats would be considered priority 

species and habitats.

Identify distribution, key habitat areas, and special management needs for development of 

management plans and conservation measures, consistent with restoration, conservation and 

recovery plans upon designation of threatened, endangered, and other special status species, 

riparian/ wetland areas, native grasslands, sagebrush steppe, coniferous and deciduous forests, and 
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seasonal ranges supporting life cycle requirements for wildlife (i.e., winter, breeding, parturition, 

etc.).

Timing restrictions would be used in special status species habitat. Surface disturbing and 

disruptive activities that impact special status species habitats during their seasons of use, 

particularly during critical life cycles would be avoided or minimized.

Oil and gas surface occupancy and use is subject to the following operating constraints:

The lease area may now or hereafter contain plants, animals, or their habitats determined to be 

threatened, endangered, or other special status species. The BLM may recommend modifications 

to exploration and development proposals to further its conservation and management objective to 

avoid BLM approved activity that will contribute to a need to list such a species or their habitat. 

The BLM may require modifications to or disapprove proposed activity that is likely to result in 

jeopardy to the continued existence of a proposed or listed threatened or endangered species or 

result in the destruction or adverse modification of a designated or proposed critical habitat. The 

BLM will not approve any ground-disturbing activity that may affect any such species or critical 

habitat until it completes its obligations under applicable requirements of the Endangered Species 

Act as amended, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq., including completion of any required procedure for 

conference or consultation.

Assist in the restoration, reintroduction, augmentation, or re-establishment of threatened, 

endangered, and other priority or special status species populations and (or) habitats in 

coordination with MFWP and USFWS.

K.4.2 Black-footed ferret:

Black-footed ferret habitat is defined as prairie dog colonies within 1.5 km of each other and 

comprising of 1,500 acres. Surface occupancy and use for oil and gas leasing, development, and 

exploration and geophysical operations would be prohibited within 1⁄4 mile of black-footed ferret 

habitat (No Surface Occupancy-NSO).

Oil and gas surface occupancy and use is prohibited within 1⁄4 mile of prairie dog colonies active 

within the past 10 years. (No Surface Occupancy-NSO).

Management of prairie dog colonies on public lands would be subject to the Conservation Plan for 

Black-tailed and White-tailed Prairie Dogs in Montana. White-tailed prairie dogs would be 

considered a priority for management due to limited and declining populations in Montana. 

K.4.3 Grizzly Bear:

Weed control using domestic sheep and/or goats in potential grizzly bear habitat would only be 

authorized after consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Roads / Travel Management:

The BLM would manage to reduce open road densities in big game winter and calving ranges 

where they exceed 1.0 mile/square mile. 

There would be no net increase in permanent roads built in areas where open road densities are 1 

mi/mi2 or less in big game winter range habitat and parturition ranges, unless not possible due to 
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Appendix K K-9 September 2015

conflicts with valid existing rights. All practicable measures would be taken to assure that 

important habitats with low road densities remain in that condition.

Roads would be gated during crucial seasons, closed and/ or reclaimed. Temporary roads would 

be reseeded with a native seed mixture.

K.4.4 Effects Determinations for Threatened and Endangered Species

Determination categories considered as part of this BA include the following:

No effect (NE) – The appropriate conclusion when the BLM determines its proposed action will 

not affect listed species. The principle factor for this determination is that “suitable habitat” does 

not exist for the species in the analysis area. In this situation, further consultation with the USFWS 

will be conducted on a case-by-case basis. 

May affect, but is not likely to adversely affect (NLAA-b, -i, -d) – The appropriate conclusion when 

effects on listed species are expected to be completely beneficial (-b), or insignificant (-i), or 

discountable (-d). This type of effect requires informal Section 7 consultation with the USFWS 

and concurrence with the determination. 

May affect, is likely to adversely affect (LAA) – The appropriate conclusion if any adverse effect to 

the listed species may occur as a direct or indirect result of the proposed action or its interrelated or 

interdependent actions, and the effect is not beneficial, insignificant, or discountable. In the event 

the overall effect of the proposed action is beneficial to the listed species, but also is likely to cause 

some adverse effects, then the proper effect determination for the proposed action is “likely to 

adversely affect” the listed species. A “likely to adversely affect” determination requires formal 

Section 7 consultation with the USFWS.

A summary of the Effects Determinations of this BA is shown in Tables 5 and 6.

K.4.5 Coordination / Conservation Measures

Section 7(a)(1) of ESA requires the federal agency (i.e., BLM) to use all of its authorities in 

furthering the purposes of the Act by implementing programs for the conservation of listed 

threatened and endangered species. To meet the requirements of Section 7(a)(1), the BLM needs 

to consider conservation programs for the management of listed threatened and endangered species 

separate from any consultation requirements for actions affecting other special status species. 

Those conservation programs that are adopted need to be incorporated into the approved RMP.

Conservation recommendations serve several purposes. They can: 1) present ways the BLM can 

assist species conservation in furtherance of statutory responsibilities; 2) minimize or avoid the 

adverse impacts of a proposed action on a special status species; and 3) identify and recommend 

studies aimed at improving the understanding of a species biology or ecology.

Listed threatened and endangered species management can be addressed in four primary ways:

• Through Conservation Actions identified as part of a species listing package, as Reasonable 

and Prudent measures recommended in the biological opinion (BO) from the USFWS in 

response to a BA, and through species protection measures determined through collaborative 
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September 2015 K-10 Appendix K

interagency and multidiscipline efforts, i.e., Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy 

(LCAS);

• Measures may include seasonal or activity limitations, or other surface management and 

occupancy constraints;

• The Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management (Land 

Health Standards). As stated, the “Standards apply to all resource uses on public lands.” 

While the Guidelines, “apply specifically to livestock grazing management practices on the 

BLM-administered public lands.” The development and application of these standards and 

guidelines are intended to achieve the following four fundamentals of rangeland health: 1) 

proper functioning of air and watersheds; 2) proper cycling of air, water, soil nutrients, and 

energy; 3) attainment of state water quality standards; and 4) sustained maintenance and 

management of the native fauna and flora of the area, including special status species. These 

fundamental goals are achieved through inventory of the natural resources, appropriate 

management actions aimed at these resources, monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness 

of these management actions, and land management adjustments as necessary.

• Special Status Species Management, BLM Manual 6840, directs field office managers to 

implement special status species programs within their area of jurisdiction by: 1) conducting 

and maintaining current inventories for special status species on public lands; 2) providing for 

the conservation of special status species in the preparation and implementation of recovery 

plans with which BLM has concurred, interagency plans and conservation agreements; 3) 

ensuring that all actions comply with the ESA, its implementing regulations, and other 

directives associated with conserving special status species; 4) coordinating field office 

activities with federal, state, and local groups to ensure the most effective program for special 

status species conservation; 5) ensuring actions are evaluated to determine if special status 

species objectives are being met; 6) ensuring all actions authorized, funded, or carried out by 

the BLM follow the interagency consultation procedures as outlined in 50 CFR, Part 402; and 

7) ensuring results of formal Section 7 consultations including terms and conditions in 

incidental take statements are implemented.
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Appendix K K-11 September 2015

Figure 1: Billings Field Office Planning Area Boundary Map
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K.5 Species Accounts

As per the species list sent to the BLM by USFWS for the RMP, and recent listing of the red knot, 

the federally listed species that must be considered in the BA include: black-footed ferret, Canada 

lynx, grizzly bear, whooping crane, and red knot. 

K.5.1 Black-Footed Ferret – Endangered (Nonessential Experimental 

Population)

K.5.1.1 Species Description

• Status

The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) was federally listed as endangered on March 11, 1967 

(32 FR 4001) under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 926; 

16 United States Code [U.S.C.] 668aa(c)). Historically, the range of the black-footed ferret 

coincided closely with that of the prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) throughout the Great Plains and 

Rocky Mountain States of the US and two Canadian Provinces (Fitzgerald et al. 1994). The blackfooted ferret was considered extinct by the middle of the last century until it was documented in 

South Dakota in August 1964 (Fortenbery 1972; Hillman 1968; Henderson et al. 1969; Linder et 

al. 1972) and again in 1981 near Meeteetse, Wyoming (Fitzgerald et al. 1994; USFWS 1988). 

However, the South Dakota population subsequently disappeared and the Wyoming population 

declined to only a few remaining individuals. Consequently, these animals were captured and 

provided the basis for the ongoing captive breeding program (USFWS 1988). 

• Life History

Black-footed ferrets are primarily nocturnal, solitary carnivores that are obligate associates of 

prairie dogs (Fitzgerald et al. 1994). Over 90 percent of the black-footed ferret’s diet is composed 

of prairie dogs, and ferrets use prairie dog burrows as their sole source of shelter (Fitzgerald et al. 

1994). Therefore, black-footed ferrets may occur where prairie dog densities and distributions are 

relatively high. 

Black-footed ferrets typically breed from March to May (USFWS 1988). The gestation period 

ranges from 41 to 45 days, with as many as 5 young born in late May and early June. The kits 

remain underground until late June or early July; upon emerging, they may accompany the female 

during nocturnal foraging. Male ferrets are not active in rearing the young and live a solitary life 

except during the breeding season. Ferrets are most commonly observed in late summer or early 

fall (Hillman and Carpenter 1980).

• Habitat Requirements

Black-footed ferrets are almost exclusively associated with prairie dogs and prairie dog towns 

(USFWS 1988). The size and density of prairie dog towns may be the most important factors 

comprising suitable habitats for black-footed ferrets (BLM 2008). According to the USFWS 1989 

Black-footed Ferret Survey Guidelines, clearance surveys for ferrets are required within active 

black-tailed prairie dog colonies or complexes that exceed 80 acres in size and meet or exceed 

burrow densities of at least 8 burrows per acre (20 burrows per hectare) (USFWS 1989).
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• Distribution

Historically, black-footed ferrets ranged throughout the non-mountainous portion of Montana in 

areas that supported prairie dogs, their primary prey. No black-footed ferrets are currently known 

to occur outside of reintroduced populations in Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, 

Arizona, Kansas, and Utah. However, undocumented remnant ferret populations may exist in 

portions of its former range (Hillman and Carpenter 1980).

• Planning Area Distribution

Reintroduced populations do not occur in the Planning Area; the closest populations are in the 

Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. The introduction sites are about 85 miles east of Billings 

or about 65 miles southeast of Pompeys Pillar. As shown in Table 2 and Table 3, prairie dog town 

concentrations or complexes large enough to support black-footed ferret populations are not 

present in the Planning Area. Additionally, black-footed ferrets are not documented in this area.

In the Planning Area, black-tailed prairie dogs occur in grassland habitats, which cover 

approximately 12,159,081 acres (all ownerships) or about 47 percent of the area. There are 166 

known prairie dog towns in the Planning Area; 69 (41.6 percent) of which occur on public lands 

(Table 2). Long term trends in prairie dog abundance in the area are unknown.

Table 2: Black-tailed Prairie Dog Acreage in the Planning Area

Year/Source BLM State Private / 

Other

National 

Wildlife 

Refuges

Total

2004 Survey 7,098 3,364 15,412 1,399 27,273

* Percent of 2004 Survey Data Taken 

from ARCGIS data 26% 12% 57% 5% 100%

*The values listed for the BiFO (updated with 2004 surveys) were derived from ARCGIS software to intersect each prairie dog 

colony map with land ownership maps supplied by Montana’s Natural Resource Information System. Surveys from 1999 and 2000 

were compared to the 2004 black-tailed prairie dog mapping.

White-tailed prairie dog towns located during surveys from 1975-1977 and in 2003 and 2005 are 

shown in Table 3. The list for each survey year is in no particular order. 

Table 3: White-tailed Prairie Dog Acreage in the Planning Area

Colony ID

Colony* Size (acres)

1975-1977

(Acres)

2003

(Acres)

2005

(Acres)

1 5-10 40.5 40

2 2 13 12

3 74-84 15 23

4 20 22.5 10

5 Undocumented 18.5 18.5

6 2.5 10 14.6
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Colony ID

Colony* Size (acres)

1975-1977

(Acres)

2003

(Acres)

2005

(Acres)

7 69-99 - 4.2

8 10-20 - 72

9 79 - 6

10 49-79 - 53

11 39.5-59 - -

12 20-9 - -

13 2.5 - -

14 1-2.5 - -

15 2.5-10 - -

Total Colonies

Total Acres

15 colonies

692

6 colonies

120

10 colonies

253

*”Colony” is used interchangeably with “town” when referring to prairie dog locations and size.

Sources: 1984 RMP and Backlog Consultation dated May 8, 2008 with the USFWS.

• Threats

The black-footed ferret was thought to be extirpated from virtually its entire range by the 1970s. 

The main causes of the species decline included habitat conversion for farming, intentional efforts 

to eliminate prairie dogs, and disease (USFWS 2000). 

Black-footed ferret decline and virtual extirpation in the last century stemmed from impacts to 

prairie dog complexes included habitat conversion for farming, prairie dog eradication efforts, 

sylvatic plague, recreational shooting, and distemper (BLM 2005a). These same threats, in 

addition to urbanization, remain today (USFWS 2000).

Agricultural land use expansion included funding allocated by the U.S. Government to eliminate 

prairie dogs, seen as rodent pests during the twentieth century (BLM 2008). These massive prairie 

dog eradication efforts succeeded in eliminating prairie dogs from the vast majority of their 

historic range and therefore, reducing colony size and the potential to support black-footed ferrets 

(BLM 2008).

The sylvatic plague kills black-footed ferrets and reduces prey abundance, reducing large numbers 

of prairie dogs (BLM 2008). Black-footed ferrets also are susceptible to canine distemper, which 

can be fatal to infected individuals (BLM 2008). 
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K.5.2 Canada Lynx – Listed Threatened 

K.5.2.1 Species Description

• Status

The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) was proposed for listing as threatened under the ESA in 1998 

(Federal Register Volume 63, No. 130). On March 24, 2000, the final rule listing the lynx as 

threatened within the contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment (DPS) was issued 

(Federal Register Volume 65, No. 58). The status of lynx in Montana is as a furbearer with no 

harvest allowed and a protected nongame species. The BLM committed to mapping Lynx Analysis 

Units (LAUs), which are management areas that contain suitable lynx habitat and approximate the 

size of a female home range, as well as key linkage areas. BLM also coordinates with USFWS on 

approaches to the programmatic planning process for lynx management.

• Life History

The lynx is a carnivore with a primary diet of snowshoe hares (35-97%) supplemented with other 

small mammals, such as squirrels, porcupines, beavers, muskrats, mice, voles, and shrews (BLM 

2008). Other occasional food sources are larger mammal carrion and fish.

Movement between suitable habitats is essential, but poorly understood. In the southern portion of 

the species’ range, the complexity of metapopulation dynamics, a set of local populations that 

interact via dispersal of individuals moving among populations and where local extinctions and 

recolonizations occur, are assumed to function in lynx populations (BLM 2005b). Movement 

between habitat patches occurs as dispersal of subadults and in response to low hare abundance 

and functioning metapopulations require such occasional movements of individuals between 

subpopulations for species persistence (BLM 2008). Smaller scale movements occur as animals 

travel between hunting grounds within a home range (BLM 2008). Because of the patchiness of 

lynx habitats in the southern portion of the distributional range, lynx may include travel corridors 

within their home ranges (BLM 2005b).

Multiple natal dens are typically used for Canada lynx breeding (BLM 2008). Not much is known 

about lynx breeding habits; however, the season usually occurs from April or May into July (BLM 

2005b). 

• Habitat Requirements

In Montana, lynx are found in mountain and forest regions. Snow conditions and vegetation types 

are important habitat factors (Ruediger et al. 2000). Primary vegetation that contributes to lynx 

habitat is lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce (Ruediger et al. 2000). East of the 

Continental Divide, the subalpine forests inhabited by lynx occur at higher elevations (5,413 to 

7,874 feet) and are mostly species of fir. Secondary habitat is intermixed Englemann spruce and 

Douglas-fir with lodgepole pine as a major seral species (Ruediger et al. 2000). Dry forest types 

(e.g., ponderosa pine, climax lodgepole pine) do not provide lynx habitat (Ruediger et al. 2000). 

Throughout their range, shrub-steppe habitats may provide important linkage habitat between the 

primary habitats described above (Ruediger et al. 2000). The common component of natal den 

sites appears to be large woody debris, either down logs or root wads, located within older 

regenerating stands or in mature conifer or mixed conifer deciduous (typically spruce/fir or 

spruce/birch) forests (Ruediger et al. 2000). Additionally, studies show stand structure appears to 

be of more importance than forest cover type (Ruediger et al. 2000).
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• Distribution

The distribution of lynx in North America is direct correlated with the abundance of snowshoe 

hare (Ruediger et al. 2000). In the western US, most lynx occupy Rocky Mountain conifer forests 

(Ruediger et al. 2000). In Montana, lynx have been documented, historically and currently, 

throughout the Rocky Mountains from the Canadian border through the Yellowstone area 

(Ruediger et al. 2000).

• Planning Area Distribution

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Trapping Records from 1977-1990, indicated 8 records during 

the 1980s to 1990. Four records were at the headwaters of the Main Boulder River in Park and 

Sweet Grass Counties; one near Black Butte (Sweet Grass County); one between Bridger and Deer 

Creeks in Sweet Grass County, one each in Musselshell County in the Little Snowy Mountain area 

and one in Yellowstone County north of Pompeys Pillar. The last 4 outlying locations from 

tracking records from the early 1980s could have been caused by drastic changes in prey base 

(decline in snowshoe hare populations) or large increases in lynx populations where younger lynx 

were forced by territorial competition to expand their ranges in search of new habitat or territories 

( Brian Giddings, personal communication, MTFWP, 2014). There are no Lynx Analysis Units 

(LAUs) or critical habitat designated on BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although 

lynx may occasionally occur in the area. Although Canada lynx critical habitat occurs in the 

general planning area, none occurs on BLM-administered lands or the decision area. Therefore, 

critical habitat will not be further analyzed in the BA. However, there is some potential secondary 

habitat above the 6,000 foot elevation in the Meeteetse Spires, Beartooth Front, and Pryor 

Mountain areas adjacent to the USFS lands. The lynx habitat area is identified on Figure 2.

• Threats

Alteration of natural disturbance regimes, some forest management practices, road building, and 

some recreational activities may affect Canada lynx habitat suitability (BLM 2008). These 

activities threaten the patchiness and distribution of Canada lynx habitats that is essential for 

dispersal and lead to the vulnerability of the species (BLM 2008). The southern populations of 

Canada lynx in the United States in general are not large, and some may function as sources, 

whereas others function as sinks, with the necessity of dispersal potential between them (BLM 

2008). If a source population is put at risk, extinction in both the source and adjacent sink 

populations can occur (BLM 2008).

Threats to snowshoe hare and alternate prey habitat may directly impact Canada lynx. In aspen 

stands and high-elevation riparian willow communities, extensive grazing by domestic livestock or 

wild ungulates may reduce forage and cover availability for snowshoe hares (BLM 2008). This 

may also be true for high elevation shrub-steppe habitat that support white-tailed jackrabbits and 

other alternate prey in sagebrush habitats that lynx may need and use in highly fragmented forest 

stands (BLM 2008). 

Forest management activities may impact habitat for snowshoe hares and their prey. Retention of 

live and dead trees and coarse woody debris are important factors for maintenance of lynx, and 

habitats for lynx and their prey species (e.g., early successional habitat for snowshoe hares) (BLM 

2005b). Timber harvest practices could increase edges and openings within forest stands, which 

may improve foraging conditions for predators and (or) competitors, such as mountain lions, 

coyotes, bobcats, and great-horned owls that compete with lynx for prey (BLM 2008). Wildfire 

suppression in the west has resulted in forests that are more homogeneous and composed of shade 
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tolerant species with more canopy layers compared to historic conditions resulting in current 

forests that are more susceptible to severe fires, insects, and disease and provide unsuitable lynx 

habitats (BLM 2008). 

Recreation and other human activities impact lynx habitat and vulnerability. Recreational trails 

created by snowmobiles and even cross-country skiers create packed snow conditions that allow 

other predators and competitors into what would otherwise be exclusive lynx habitat (BLM 2008). 

Even though lynx may show some tolerance to human activities, there may be impacts during 

crucial seasonal periods. For example, during denning in the spring, lynx are more vulnerable and 

require more secure habitats and fewer disturbances than might be tolerated at other times of year 

(BLM 2008). Additionally, disturbance also may be exacerbated during periods when food is 

scarce; starvation is not uncommon (BLM 2008).

Roads into areas occupied by lynx may pose a threat to lynx from incidental harvest or poaching, 

increased access during winter for competing carnivores, especially coyotes, disturbance or 

mortality from vehicles, and loss of habitat (BLM 2005b). However, lynx are also known to 

follow road edges for considerable distances and have home ranges that encompass roads or 

sometimes use them to define the boundary (BLM 2008). The size, type, and amount of use of the 

road are all likely factors affecting the degree and types of impacts on lynx, as well as the 

increased vulnerability during denning (BLM 2008). Infrastructure associated with mineral 

extraction can be harmful to lynx, mostly as a consequence of new roads created to access areas 

for exploration and development (BLM 2005b).

K.5.3 Grizzly Bear –Threatened 

K.5.3.1 Species Description

• Status

On July 28, 1975, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) was designated as threatened on the 

conterminous (lower 48) United States (40 FR 31734-31736). On March 29, 2007, the USFWS 

establishment of a distinct population segment (DPS) of the grizzly bear for the Greater 

Yellowstone Area and surrounding area and removed this DPS from the List of Threatened and 

Endangered Wildlife (72 FR 14866). On September 21, 2009, the Montana District Court issued 

an order that vacated the delisting and remanded it to the USFWS. As a result, the March 26, 2010 

final rule required the correction of the Yellowstone grizzly bear population’s listing status. Thus, 

all grizzly bears in the lower 48 States are again listed as threatened (50 CFR 17.11(h)).

• Life History

Grizzly bears are opportunistic feeders and will prey or scavenge on almost any available food incl

uding ground squirrels, ungulates, carrion, and garbage (Dood et al. 2006). Roots, bulbs, tubers, 

fungi, and tree cambium are also utilized as important protein sources (Dood et al. 2006). 

High quality foods such as berries, nuts, and fish are important in some geographic areas (Dood et 

al. 2006). 

The breeding season occurs from late May through mid-July, with the peak in mid-June (USFWS 

1993). Litter sizes vary from one to four cubs with two being the average (USFWS 1993). 
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Typically, females breed every three years (USFWS 1993). This limited reproductive activity may 

be a limiting factor for the species.

During late summer and fall, grizzlies gain weight rapidly, primarily as fat, as they prepare for 

hibernation (Dood et al. 2006). Winter denning is triggered by reduction in food source, air 

temperature, and snow depth (USFWS 1993). Generally, grizzly bears den by late October to midNovember and emerge in mid-March to Late April, spending on average five to six months in the 

den (Dood et. al 2006).

Grizzly bears are solitary species with the exception of when caring for young or during breeding. 

Social interactions occur when individuals congregate at plentiful food sources, establishing a 

social hierarchy (USFWS 1993). However, males and females only tolerate each other during the 

breeding season. Family groups consist of a mother and her offspring, with siblings usually 

remaining together for several years (USFWS 1993).

Grizzly bear density is directly correlated to the habitat condition and food availability and 

abundance. Territory sizes are unknown, but home ranges can overlap (USFWS 1993). The size 

of a home range includes factors such as food availability, weather conditions, and interactions 

with other bears (USFWS 1993). Home ranges can vary from year to year or to accommodate 

seasonal movements.

• Habitat Requirements

► In general, grizzly bear habitat requires large spatial needs for omnivorous foraging, winter 

denning, behavior, and security cover (Dood et al. 2006). Grizzly bears prefer remote forest 

habitats with low road density and minimum human disturbance. Forested habitat, closed timber, 

rock, prairie grassland, and aspen stands have all been documented as habitat with important 

elements for cover. Grizzly bears excavate their den sites at higher elevations on steep slopes 

where topography and wind allow for deep snow cover in places where it is unlikely to melt in 

warm conditions (USFWS 1993).

• Distribution

Grizzly bear distribution within North America is primarily within but not limited to the areas 

identified as Recovery Zones including--the Yellowstone area in northwest Wyoming, eastern 

Idaho, and southwest Montana (9,200 square miles (sq. mi.)) at more than 580 bears; the Northern 

Continental Divide Ecosystem of north central Montana (9,600 sq. mi.) at more than 400 bears; the 

North Cascades area of north central Washington (9,500 sq. mi.) at less than 20 bears; the Selkirk 

Mountains area of northern Idaho, northeast Washington, and southeast British Columbia (2,200 

sq. mi.) at approximately 40 to 50 bears; and the Cabinet-Yaak area of northwest Montana and 

northern Idaho (2,600 sq. mi.) at approximately 30 to 40 bears.

• Planning Area Distribution

The planning area is not in the grizzly bear Recovery Zone, as designated by the USFWS in the 

1993 Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan (USFWS 1993); however the perimeter of the grizzly bear range 

is adjacent to public lands along the Beartooth Mountain foothills. Grizzly bears may be present as 

migrants throughout the planning area. Numerous sightings have occurred since 2010 along the 

Beartooth Mountain front, particularly near the area south of Red Lodge to the Wyoming state line. 

Grizzly bear presence and depredation issues had been rare previous to 2011, however, there has 

been a marked increase in depredation, with subsequent bear removals and relocations from 

private lands, in the last two years (2011 and 2012). In 2013, in late May and early June, 
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livestock depredation occurred twice on private lands within the analysis area. In 2014, Wildlife 

Services captured two male grizzlies (220 lb. and 300lb.) on one Carbon County private ranch due 

to bear damage. Both bears were transferred live to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and 

subsequently relocated. Refer to Figure 3and Figure 4 for maps of the “distribution or Range 

Extent” of grizzly bears in the Billings Field Office.

• Threats

Natural threats to grizzly bears are not well known. Bears do kill each other, but disease and 

parasites are not significant causes of mortality (USFWS 1993). Human caused mortality 

including direct confrontation, the attraction of bears into areas of available food sources (e.g., 

camps, towns, garbage dumps), livestock management conflicts, habitat degradation, and hunting 

provide greater threats to grizzly bear populations (USFWS 1993).

Currently, BIFO only authorizes domestic sheep grazing in one grazing allotment north of Lavina, 

Montana. All remaining livestock grazing permits are either cattle or horses.

K.5.4 Whooping crane - endangered

K.5.4.1 Species Description

The adult whooping crane (Grus americana), North America’s tallest bird, has a white plumage 

with contrasting black wingtips visible only when wings are extended. Males weigh as much as 15 

pounds, have a wingspan of 87 inches and a height of 52 inches, and are larger than females. A 

reddish-black patch of bristly feathers are visible on the top and back of head. The neck is long, as 

is the bill, which is dark and pointed. Juveniles are similar to adults but largely cinnamon-brown in 

color. White feathers begin to appear on the neck and back at about 4 months of age. Plumage is 

predominately white and adult-like by the following spring. 

• Status

Amid concerns with diminished populations and deteriorating habitat, in 1970 (CWS and USFWS 

2007) the whooping crane was designated as Endangered by the USFWS. This designation still 

remains for the Wood Buffalo/Aransas population. The Florida non-migratory population was 

designated “Endangered – experimental nonessential” in 1993, as was the Wisconsin-Florida 

migratory population in 2001. In 1997 the Rocky Mountain population was also designated as 

“Endangered – experimental nonessential”; however, this designation is no longer relevant since 

the population no longer exists.

Great declines in population occurred in the second half to the 19th century, with the bird reported 

as extirpated from the United States portion of the historic breeding range by 1890 (Allen 1952, 

McNulty 1966). By the late 1930s, only two small breeding populations remained: a remnant nonmigratory population in southwest Louisiana and a migratory population that nested in Canada and 

wintered in coastal Texas. Birds in the Louisiana population last nested in 1939. A hurricane the 

following year reduced that number from 13 to 6 individuals. The last member of this population 

was taken into captivity in 1950 (Travsky and Beauvais 2004). 
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Wild whooping cranes currently exist in 3 populations: Aransas/Wood Buffalo, Florida nonmigratory, and Wisconsin-Florida migratory. An experimental population in the Rocky Mountains 

was recently extirpated. The only self-sustaining wild population is the Aransas/Wood Buffalo 

Population. These birds winter in coastal Texas and travel to Wood Buffalo National Park in the 

Northwest Territories, Canada. The wintering population reached a low of 15 birds in the winter 

of 1941 to 42 (Boyce 1985). Birds nest almost exclusively within the Wood Buffalo National 

Park, where inaccessibility affords a level of protection. Increased protection of the wintering 

grounds and widespread public education has helped increase this population to 278 as of August 

2011 (http://www.bringbackthecranes.org/technicaldatabase/recovery/wcrane-nos2011.html). 

• Life History

Traveling either as individuals, pairs, family groups or small flocks, the migration from wintering 

grounds in east central Texas to Alberta, Canada, may take 2 to 6 weeks. Migration occurs in the 

daytime and the birds take regular stops for the night to feed and rest. These stopover sites may last 

for 1 night or up to 4 weeks (Travsky and Beauvais 2004). Autumn migration normally begins in 

mid-September, with most birds arriving on the Texas wintering grounds between late October and 

mid-November. Spring migration departure dates are normally between March 25 and April 15, 

with the last birds usually leaving by May 1. Refer to Figure 5, “Migration Corridor Map”.

While still on the wintering grounds, pairs engage in courtship displays and vocalizations. 

Breeding pairs, which are monogamous, quickly establish nesting territories once arriving on the 

breeding grounds. Nest building occurs shortly after territories have been established and two eggs 

are laid. Incubation, which both sexes participate in, lasts 33 to 35 days. Eggs hatch in late May 

or early June, with eggs hatching at different times. The second hatchling is often pushed out of the 

nest or starved. Young, which are attended by both parents, leave the nest within a day of 

hatching, can fly at roughly 3 1⁄2 months and remain with adults until the following year (Baicich 

and Harrison 2005). Three year-old birds occasionally nest but the average age of first egg 

production is 4 years and older (Travsky and Beauvais 2004).

• Habitat Requirements

Whooping cranes use a variety of habitats during migration (Howe 1987, 1989; Lingle 1987; 

Lingle et al. 1991). They have been observed feeding in a variety of croplands and roosting in 

marshy wetlands (Howe 1987, 1989). Whooping cranes also roost in riverine habitat, most notably 

the Platte River, Middle Loup River, and Niobrara River in Nebraska; the Cimarron River in 

Oklahoma; and the Red River in Texas. Cranes roost on submerged sandbars in wide unobstructed 

channels that are isolated from human disturbance (Armbruster 1990). Large palustrine wetlands 

are used for roosting and feeding during migration.

The principal wintering grounds (salt flats on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and adjacent 

islands) consist of marshes dominated by salt grass, saltwort, smooth cordgrass, glasswort, and sea 

ox-eye. Inland margins of the flats are dominated by Gulf cordgrass. Whooping cranes are 

omnivorous probing the soil subsurface with their bills and taking foods from the soil surface or 

vegetation. Young chicks are fed by their parents, and gradually become more independent in 

their feeding until they separate from the parents preceding the next breeding season. Summer 

foods include large nymphal or larval forms of insects, frogs, rodents, small birds, minnows, and 
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Appendix K K-21 September 2015

berries. Foods utilized during migration are poorly documented, but include frogs, fish, plant 

tubers, crayfish, insects, and waste grains in harvested fields. Animal foods and the plant 

wolfberry predominate in the winter diet. Most foraging occurs in brackish bays, marshes, and salt 

flats lying between the mainland and barrier islands.

• Distribution

The Aransas/Wood Buffalo Population migrates through northeastern Alberta and southwestern 

Saskatchewan, northeastern Montana, the western half of North Dakota, central South Dakota, 

Nebraska and Oklahoma, and east-central Texas, a distance of roughly 2400 miles. This corridor 

accounts for 95 percent of confirmed sightings.

• Planning Area Distribution

According to the Montana Natural Heritage Program, there have been 4 observations of whooping 

cranes since 1985 within the BIFO area. These included two observations of 2 birds, one 

observation of 1 bird, and one observation of 10-15 birds primarily along the Yellowstone River. 

One observation was north of Roundup, Montana. There is no known whooping crane stop-over, 

roosting or nesting habitat within the Planning Area, nor is the planning area within the whooping crane’s 

principle migration corridor.

• Threats

It is thought that populations declined as a result of the destruction of wintering and breeding 

habitat, collisions with power-lines and fences, shooting, specimen collection, and human 

disturbance. Current threats are similar, and include the loss of wetlands, collisions, poaching, and 

poor reproductive success.

K.5.5 Red Knot– Threatened

K.5.5.1 Species Description

Calidris canutus rufa is the palest subspecies. The chin, throat, breast, flanks, and belly are 

characteristically brick red or salmon red, sometimes with a few scattered light feathers mixed in. 

The under-tail is white, often including scattered brick-red or salmon-red feathers, marked with 

dark, terminal chevrons (V-shaped markings) laterally. The crown (top of head) and nape (back of 

neck) are streaked with black and gray and/or salmon; prominent superciliary (above eye) stripe is 

brick red or salmon red, auricular (ear) region and lores (area between eyes and base of beak) are 

colored as in the crown, but with finer streaks. Back-feathers and scapulars have dark brown-black 

centers edged with faded salmon. Scapulars and tertials (innermost flight feathers) are unevenly 

colored, with broad, dark, irregular-shaped centers, widely edged in notched patterns to variable 

degrees, some with faded salmon and others with bright salmon-red color. The lower back and 

upper tail-coverts are barred black and white, with scattered rufous. Primary feathers (main flight 

feathers on the outer half of wing) are dark brown to black, secondaries (feathers along trailing 

edge of inner segment of wing) and remiges (longest feathers on wing) are gray. Younger males 

tend to be less brightly colored dorsally (on the back) and have greater numbers of light feathers 

scattered among ventral (on the belly) feathering. The underwing is duller than in other Calidris 

subspecies (Tomkovich 1992, p. 20; Harrington 2001, p. 4).
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September 2015 K-22 Appendix K

Length: 25-28 cm. (9-11”) Adults in spring: Above finely mottled with grays, black and light 

ochre, running into stripes on crown; throat, breast and sides of head cinnamon-brown; dark gray 

line through eye; abdomen and undertail coverts white; uppertail coverts white, barred with black. 

Adults in winter: Pale ashy gray above, from crown to rump, with feathers on back narrowly 

edged with white; underparts white, the breast lightly streaked and speckled, and the flanks 

narrowly barred with gray. Adults in autumn: Underparts of some individuals show traces of the 

"red" of spring. 

• Status

On December 11, 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Rufa red knot as threatened.

• Life History

Each year red knots make one of the longest distance migrations known in the animal kingdom, 

traveling approximately 30,000 kilometers (km (18,641 miles (mi)) annually between wintering 

grounds in southern South America and breeding areas within the Canadian Arctic. Although small 

populations overwinter in Florida and northern Brazil, most red knots winter in southern South 

America along the coast of Patagonia, from approximately San Antonio Oeste, Argentina, 

southward to the eastern coast of Tierra del Fuego in Chile and Argentina (Harrington 2001, p. 6; 

Baker et al. 2004, p. 876; Morrison et al. 2001, p. 62). 

• Habitat Requirements

In wintering and migration habitats, red knots commonly forage on bivalves, gastropods, and 

crustaceans (Harrington 2001, pp. 9-11). During migration, red knots undertake long flights that 

may span thousands of kilometers without stopping. At some stages of migration, high 

proportions of entire populations may use a single migration staging site (stop along the journey 

where birds congregate) to prepare for long flights. Migrating red knots are principally found in 

marine and estuarine (partially enclosed tidal area where fresh and salt water mixes) habitats 

(Harrington 2001, pp. 8-9). Protection of these and other wetlands, especially larger wetlands rich 

with invertebrate prey, is of value to this rarely documented visitor as well as other migratory and 

nonmigratory species (Harrington 2001).

• Distribution

The range of C. c. rufa during migration extends along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of 

North, Central, and South America, from the Canadian arctic to the southernmost extent of South 

America. With the exception of a few key wintering areas in South America and the spring 

migratory stopover site in Delaware Bay, little comparative information is available regarding the 

historical versus current distribution of the subspecies throughout its range.

• Planning Area Distribution

According to Montana Bird Distribution, 7th Edition, 2012, P.D. Skaar, there is no evidence of 

breeding in Montana. There has been three observations in northern and western Montana from 

2003-2011, 9 observations from 1991-2002 in the same general areas, and 6 observations in 

southern and eastern Montana prior to 1991. According to the Montana Natural Heritage Program, 

there have been 3 observations within the Billings Field Office (BIFO). Observations include one 

in Golden Valley Co. in 1995, and two in Yellowstone Co. in 1974 and 1975. 
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Appendix K K-23 September 2015

• Threats

Commercial harvest of spawning horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay, which results in reduced 

availability of horseshoe crab eggs, is a modification of habitat associated with the decline of the 

red knot. Sea level rise and shoreline erosion have reduced availability of intertidal habitat that is 

used for horseshoe crab spawning and red knot foraging within the principal migration stopover 

area of the Delaware Bay. In addition, erosion has also led to loss of sites used by red knots for 

roosting (Niles et al. 2007, pp. 154-155). Oil spills are a serious threat to red knot habitat. Human 

disturbance can have an adverse effect on foraging by shorebirds at available suitable habitats. 

Climate change and warming trends may benefit Arctic shorebirds in the short term by increasing 

both survival and productivity, whereas in the long term habitat changes, both on the breeding 

grounds and non-breeding areas, may put Arctic nesting shorebirds under considerable pressure, 

bringing some to near extinction.

K.6 Analysis of Management Actions and Effects Determinations

This section is organized by resource program. A summary of the RMP management actions for 

the program is followed by the effects and determinations for each species considered. Detailed 

information on the management actions included in the RMP can be found in Chapter 2 of the 

Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS. 

K.6.1 Whooping Crane and Red Knot Effects Determinations

Due to limited observations and habitat within the BIFO, Whooping cranes and red knots will 

only be discussed in this section and will not be analyzed further in each resource program. Both 

species appear to be occasional migrants through central Montana.

Riparian/Wetland Conservation Measures related to whooping crane and red knot habitat:

1) Manage riparian communities to meet Health Standards to ensure riparian areas and 

wetlands are in Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) and water quality meets State of Montana 

standards. 

2) Surface disturbing activities would not be allowed within riparian areas and wetlands, 

designated 100 year flood plains and on water bodies and streams, except to benefit watershed 

health. Those activities that are not in conflict with the desired outcomes for this resource 

would be allowed. 

3) (NSO –No Surface Occupancy) Surface occupancy and use for oil and gas exploration 

(including geophysical operations) would be prohibited in riparian areas and wetlands, 

designated 100 year flood plains, water bodies and streams.

4) (CSU-Controlled Surface Use) Surface occupancy and use would be controlled within 300 

feet of riparian and/or wetland areas. Surface-disturbing activities would require a plan with 

design features that demonstrate how all actions would maintain and/or improve the 

functionality of riparian/wetland areas.
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September 2015 K-24 Appendix K

K.6.1.1 Whooping crane

According to the Montana Natural Heritage Program, there have been four observations of 

whooping cranes since 1985 within the BIFO area. There is no known whooping crane stop-over, 

roosting or nesting habitat within the Planning Area, nor is the planning area within the whooping crane’s 

principle migration corridor.

K.6.1.1.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

The status of the whooping crane is expected to be maintained as a result of implementation of the 

RMP/EIS. Protective measures, BMPs, NSO stipulations, and CSU stipulations identified for 

programs related to whooping cranes and their habitat and the prohibition of surface-disturbing and 

disruptive activities within whooping crane habitat would minimize impacts to the species. Any 

future wind energy projects will have conservation measures to be determined through 

consultation with USFWS. Power-lines, communication lines, and towers with guy-lines 

constructed over or near wetlands will have bird flight diverters installed. Compliance with 

APLIC guidelines will reduce whooping crane strikes as APLIC guidelines are provided to utilities 

to reduce avian mortality. 

Based on these conservation measures, the occasional migratory presence of whooping cranes, and 

their limited habitat within public lands of the planning area (an estimated 18 miles of BLM 

shoreline within the BIFO Yellowstone River total of 160 miles or 11 percent), the BLM has 

determined that implementation of the RMP/EIS Preferred Alternative may affect, but is not likely 

to adversely affect, whooping cranes due to discountable effects (NLAA-d).

K.6.1.2 Red Knot

There is no evidence of breeding in Montana. According to the Montana Natural Heritage 

Program, there have been 3 observations within the Billings Field Office (BIFO) in the past 30 

years. Observations include one in Golden Valley Co. in 1995, and two in Yellowstone Co. in 

1974 and 1975. 

K.6.1.2.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

The status of the red knot is expected to be maintained as a result of implementation of the 

RMP/EIS. Protective measures, BMPs, NSO stipulations, and CSU stipulations identified for 

programs related to red knot and habitat and the prohibition of surface-disturbing and disruptive 

activities within riparian/ wetland habitat would minimize impacts to the species. Power-lines, 

communication lines, and towers with guy-lines constructed over or near wetlands will have bird 

flight diverters installed.

Based on these conservation measures, the occasional migratory presence of red knots, and their 

limited habitat within public lands of the planning area, the BLM has determined that 

implementation of the RMP/EIS Preferred Alternative may affect, but is not likely to adversely 

affect, red knots due to discountable effects (NLAA-d).
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Appendix K K-25 September 2015

K.7 Air Quality

• Activity Description

In general air quality management ensures authorizations and management activities comply 

with local, state, and federal air quality regulations and requirements. The Billings and Pompeys 

Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS focuses on managing all BLM-authorized activities to 

maintain air quality within the thresholds established in the National Ambient Air Quality 

Standards under the Clean Air Act (amended 1977), and the Montana Air Quality Standards and 

the State of Montana Implementation Plan. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS would minimize the impact of management actions in the planning area on air quality 

by complying with all applicable air quality laws, rules and regulations and managing BLMauthorized activities to meet or exceed visual standards.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Utilize methods and mitigations as practicable that reduce fugitive dust and help meet or 

exceed Federal and Montana and Wyoming State Standards where applicable. 

• Coordinate smoke management with the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group and Montana 

Department of Environmental Quality.

• Coordinate with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Air Quality 

Division, along the Montana Wyoming boundary.

• Coordinate smoke management with the Yellowstone County Air Quality Unit in 

Yellowstone County. 

• Management of the non-attainment area(s) within the Planning Area would be the 

responsibility of the State of Montana.

• Land uses would not be permitted or authorized if the land uses would cause or contribute to 

violation of ambient air quality standards; increase frequency of existing violations, and/or 

impede the State progress in meeting air quality goals.

K.7.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

Measures taken by the BLM to ensure air quality standards will not have an adverse effect on 

any listed species. As air quality affects all habitats, the appropriate determination is “may 

affect, not likely to adversely affect” rather than “no effect” for listed species. 

K.7.2 Endangered and Threatened Species 

Actions associated with air quality management will not directly impact threatened, endangered, 

or any potential habitats. Air quality management will exclude some actions and structures from 

designated viewsheds and may have a beneficial impact of limiting disturbance in habitats 

suitable for threatened or endangered species. Implementing air quality management actions 

may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the threatened or endangered species due to 

beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This determination is based on the potential of these management 

actions to preserve or minimize disturbance to habitats suitable for threatened and endangered 

species.
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September 2015 K-26 Appendix K

K.8 Climate

• Activity Description

In general, climate management would maintain or improve the ability of BLM lands to reduce 

(sequester) atmospheric greenhouse gases. Under the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument RMP/EIS, no activities would be authorized that would result in the Billings Field 

Office becoming a net greenhouse gas emitter.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Promote vegetative capture and storage of carbon, with consideration for resource objectives, 

by using Rangeland Standards and Montana Forestry/Rangeland BMP guidelines at the 

project planning and implementation level.

• Identify opportunities for geophysical carbon sequestration on federal lands where federal 

mineral ownership exists as outlined in national guidance. 

• BLM authorized actions would consider reductions of GHGs.

• Priority would be placed on actions that reduce or mitigate GHG emissions by actions such 

as: enhanced energy efficiency, use of lower GHG-emitting technologies, or renewable 

energy, planning for carbon capture and sequestration, and the capture or beneficial use of 

fugitive methane emissions.

K.8.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

The BLM will implement appropriate management decisions to ensure climate management 

standards are met and in turn will not have an adverse effect on any listed species. As climate 

affects all habitats, the appropriate determination is “may affect, not likely to adversely affect” 

rather than “no effect” for listed species. 

K.8.2 Endangered or Threatened Species 

Actions associated with climate management will not directly impact threatened or endangered, 

species or any potential habitats. Climate management will exclude some actions and structures 

from designated areas and may have a beneficial impact of limiting disturbance in habitats 

suitable for threatened or endangered species. Implementing climate management actions may

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Threatened or endangered species due to 

beneficial effects (NLAA). This determination is based on the potential of these management 

actions to preserve or minimize disturbance to habitats suitable for threatened and endangered 

species.

K.9 Geology

See Energy and Minerals section.
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Appendix K K-27 September 2015

K.10 Soil Resources

• Activity Description

In general, soil management focuses on maintaining soil integrity, reclaiming disturbed soils, 

minimizing erosion and, in some cases, improving soil health. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar 

National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize maintaining or improving soil health and 

productivity (e.g., chemical, physical, and biotic properties) by implementing Standards for 

Rangeland Health and other soil protection measures. Management actions would focus on 

minimizing accelerated soil erosion and compaction and maintain surface soil water infiltration 

based on site specific conditions. BLM-authorized activities would be managed to minimize soil 

mass movement (primarily from accelerated water/wind erosion) resulting from burned areas, 

above-ground disturbances and accelerated stream bank erosion and to prevent or minimize flood 

and sediment damage, as needed, to creeks, streams and standing bodies of water (lakes, ponds, 

reservoirs, etc.). Finally, soil management actions would be utilized to establish desirable plant 

communities, maintain existing desirable vegetative ground cover composition consistent with 

the ecological site characteristics, and sustain other ground cover including biotic soil crusts and 

litter to increase or maintain surface soil stability and nutrient cycling.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• BLM-authorized surface-disturbing activities would include plans for reclamation. Sitespecific reclamation actions should reflect the complexity of the project, environmental 

concerns and the reclamation potential of the site, giving consideration to soils susceptible to 

erosion and compaction when assessing projects. 

• The Standards for Rangeland Health would be used to assess compaction and erosion issues.

• Respond in a timely manner to assess soil and mitigate potential soil damage after wildland 

or management ignited fire, in accordance with BLM Emergency Stabilization and 

Rehabilitation standards.

• Identify opportunities to construct water flow, sediment control and watershed stabilization 

projects in partnership with local, state and federal programs.

• Authorization would be allowed in areas where erosion would be effectively controlled or 

mitigated with a BLM approved design plan.

• Surface disturbing activities would not be allowed soils with steep slopes >35% and soils 

with low reclamation potential and highly erodible characteristics. A mitigation plan would 

be required (399,215 acres). Use Rangeland Health Standards and BMPs to assess and 

mitigate disturbance of soils (e.g., erosion, re-vegetation, fiber mats and other restoration 

measures, etc.).

• No surface occupancy on slopes >30% for oil and gas development and leasing (NSO). 

47,784 acres.

• Use BMPs and Rangeland Health Standards at the project level to assess and mitigate 

impacts to fragile and unstable soils prone to slumping.
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September 2015 K-28 Appendix K

K.10.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.10.1.1 Black-footed ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Additionally, soil resource 

activities are not likely to affect black-footed ferrets due to the site specific nature of soil 

management activities. Some disturbance may occur if surface disturbing activities were to 

occur within suitable black-footed ferret habitat. Surface disturbing activities, including 

reclamation activities, and human disturbance may result in short-term impacts to black-footed 

ferret habitat. However, the proposed soil management activities will likely result in the 

maintenance of soil health and improved habitat quality in the long term. Therefore, soil 

management activities may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret 

due to discountable effects (NLAA-d). This determination is based on the current absence of 

black-footed ferrets; presence of suitable habitat within the planning area; and the 

implementation of conservation measures for ferrets that will preclude any adverse effects to the 

species or its habitat. 

The following is a summary of the stipulation to protect black-footed ferret habitat: Blackfooted ferret habitat is defined as prairie dog colonies within 1.5 km of each other and 

comprising of 1,000 acres. Surface occupancy and use for oil and gas leasing, development, and 

exploration and geothermal operations would be prohibited within 1⁄4 mile of black-footed ferret 

habitat (No Surface Occupancy -NSO).

K.10.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Lynx may be an occasional migrant on higher elevation public lands near the U.S. Forest Service 

boundary. Suitable linkage habitat exists and soil management activities may include short term 

impacts including human disturbance and some surface disturbance. However, the proposed soil 

management activities will likely result in the maintenance of soil health and improved habitat 

quality in the long term. Therefore, soil management activities may affect, but are not likely to 

adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to discountable effects (NLAA-d). This determination is 

based on the current absence of lynx and the presence of occasional migratory lynx habitat 

within the planning area.

K.10.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Suitable habitat exists and soil management activities may include short term impacts including 

human disturbance and some surface disturbance. However, the proposed soil management 

activities will likely result in the maintenance of soil health and improved habitat quality in the 

long term. Therefore, soil management activities may affect, but are not likely to adversely 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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Appendix K K-29 September 2015

affect, the grizzly bear due to discountable effects (NLAA-d). This determination is based on the 

current activity of grizzly bears; presence of limited suitable grizzly habitat within the planning 

area; and the implementation of conservation measures for grizzly bears that will preclude any 

adverse effects to the species or its habitat. Weed control using domestic sheep and/or goats in 

potential grizzly bear habitat would only be authorized after consultation with U.S. Fish Wildlife 

Services.

K.11 Water Resources

• Activity Description

The BLM is responsible for managing surface lands and federal mineral estate in a manner that 

maintains or enhances water quality and quantity for other uses and complies with state and 

federal water quality standards. The BLM coordinates with state and other federal agencies to 

ensure compliance with required water resource management responsibilities. The Billings and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize maintaining and/or improving 

surface water and groundwater resources, maintain compliance with applicable federal and state 

water quality standards, and improve water quality where practical within the scope of the 

BLM’s authority. Management actions would include restoring and/or maintaining the chemical, 

physical, and biological integrity of water resources to protect designated beneficial uses and 

achieve water quality standards. This includes minimizing erosion and subsequent sedimentation 

for improved stream and watershed health, maintaining or improving morphological conditions 

to a stable state that can fully support beneficial uses, and protecting water quality for municipal, 

industrial, agricultural, recreation, and residential purposes by adopting protective measures to 

meet federal, tribal, state, and local water quality requirements. The BLM management activities 

are aimed at ensuring floodplains are properly functioning allowing for aquifer recharge, wildlife 

habitat, and flood water retention; and that stream channel conditions are representative of the 

site capacity and dimension and moderate flows to allow floodplain aquifer recharge and 

safeguard floodplains.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• BLM would participate in the development, implementation, and monitoring of water quality 

restoration plans/TMDL plans.

• Use rangeland Health guidelines and other management strategies to meet the Standards for 

Rangeland Health (Standards 2, 9 &12).

• Use BMPs and other practical management strategies to meet water quality standards set 

forth by the above agencies and rules/laws.

• Acquire in-stream water rights where appropriate, to ensure water availability for multipleuse management and proper functioning riparian and upland areas.

• Cooperate with Montana State DEQ and local communities to implement Source Water 

Protection Programs (SWPPs) and preserve source water.

• Restrict or limit BLM-authorized activities that contribute to deteriorating watershed 

conditions and/or excessive erosion. Use Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines and 

BMPs to mitigate impacts from activities that are contributing to excessive erosion.
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September 2015 K-30 Appendix K

• Monitor route conditions and temporarily/permanently close roads, and/or apply mitigation 

measures where runoff contributes to accelerated decline in water quality and/or habitat, 

and/or reclaim route conditions.

• Avoid the discharge of oil and gas- produced water from point sources to public lands, 

including stream channels and uplands, as a means of disposal. Any allowed discharge 

would be in compliance with Montana DEQ requirements.

• Surface disturbing activities would not be allowed within riparian areas and wetlands, 

designated 100 year flood plains and on water bodies and streams, except to benefit 

watershed health and those activities that are not in conflict with the desired outcomes for 

this resource. 

• Surface occupancy and use for oil and gas exploration (including geophysical operations) 

would be prohibited within 300 feet of riparian areas and wetlands, water bodies, perennial 

streams, and flood plains of perennial streams. (no surface occupancy stipulations - NSO 

stipulations)

K.11.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.11.1.1 Black-footed ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Additionally, water 

resource management activities do not generally occur within potential black-footed ferret 

habitat. Buffers for surface disturbing activities within riparian areas, wetlands, and 100 year 

floodplains could benefit prairie dog towns located in close proximity to these features. 

Additionally, actions that include the stabilization of watershed conditions may benefit 

grasslands adjacent to riparian areas. Impacts associated with surface disturbing activities within 

prairie dog towns may be limited to a small component of these habitats. Therefore, water 

management activities may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret 

due to discountable effects (NLAA-d). This determination is based on the current absence of 

black-footed ferrets and management activities not occurring with potential habitat or limited to 

a small portion of suitable habitat within the planning area.

K.11.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Additionally, water resource management activities would occur in a small portion of suitable 

lynx habitat and actions that include the stabilization of watershed conditions may benefit lynx 

habitat. Impacts could include adverse short term affects such as disturbance caused by human 

presence, noise, and vehicle traffic. Long term impacts to riparian and wetland areas from oil 

and gas leasing are possible within suitable lynx habitat, but leases are subject to no surface 

occupancy (NSO) stipulations. Therefore, water management activities may affect, but are not 

likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to discountable effects (NLAA-d). This 

determination is based on the current absence of lynx and lynx habitat in the field office area.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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Appendix K K-31 September 2015

K.11.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Additionally, water resource management activities would occur in a small portion of suitable 

grizzly habitat and actions that include the stabilization of watershed conditions may benefit 

grizzly bear habitat. Impacts could include short term affects such as disturbance caused by 

human presence, noise, and vehicle traffic. Long term impacts to riparian and wetland areas 

from oil and gas leasing are possible within suitable grizzly habitat, but leases are subject to no 

surface occupancy (NSO) stipulations. Therefore, water management activities may affect, but 

are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to discountable effects (NLAA-d). This 

determination is based on the current occurrences of grizzly bear, the minimal public lands 

occurring in the Beartooth foothills, and the implementation of conservation measures that will 

preclude any adverse effects to the species or its habitat.

K.12 Vegetation Communities

• Activity Description

There are numerous vegetation cover types in the BiFO planning area. These broad vegetation 

types are an expression of the wide range of climatic and soil conditions found throughout the 

planning area. Vegetation cover types in the planning area consist primarily of shrubland and 

rangeland communities and cover approximately 320,691 acres (87 percent) of the total BLM 

managed surface acreage. Forest/woodlands and riparian/wetland vegetation cover types, 

comprise approximately 47,035 acres (11 percent) and are a biologically diverse and important 

resource in the planning area. Urban and agricultural cover types comprise the remaining 8,552 

acres (two percent) in the planning area. 

The desired outcome of management activities for vegetative communities include the 

restoration, maintenance or enhancement of vegetation community health, habitat, composition 

and diversity to provide a mix of successional stages that incorporate diverse structure and 

composition in the desired vegetation types. Additionally, BLM management actions strive to 

maintain, improve, enhance, or restore habitat to facilitate the conservation, recovery, and 

maintenance of populations of native and desirable nonnative plant and animal species. 

• Forests and Woodlands

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize the restoration 

and/or maintenance of the health and productivity of public forests and woodlands, to provide a 

balance of forest and woodland resource benefits to present and future generations. Forests and 

woodlands management goals and objectives would consider factors such as species, density, 

basal area, canopy cover, age class, stand health and understory components, to restore vitality, 

health and diversity. The BLM management actions for forests and woodlands would promote 

forest vegetation recovery on forested lands after wildland fire events and use fire and fuels 

treatments as an integrated approach to meet forest health objectives. To return forests toward a 

more natural forest condition class and fire regime, the implementation of treatments that move 

the forest conditions toward condition class I would be utilized. Natural disturbance regimes 

would be maintained or mimicked so that plant communities are resilient to climate change and 

periodic outbreaks of insects, disease, and wildland fire. 
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September 2015 K-32 Appendix K

Management of forest and woodland resources includes management of a wide range of 

ecological system communities within the planning area. Quaking aspen stands would be 

managed to promote vigor and resilience and to promote expansion within its historic range. 

Rocky Mountain juniper and limber pine would continue to be managed to promote vigor and 

resilience. Currently, Douglas fir forests are healthy and contain site appropriate species. 

Lodgepole pine and spruce/fir stands are represented by a diversity of age classes and structure 

and exhibit health and vigor. Ponderosa pine stands occupy historic range and are in stable or 

improving condition. Ponderosa pine stands contain multi-aged stems and occur in association 

with vigorous understory shrubs and grasses. Low intensity fire can be accommodated without 

excessive loss of trees and insect and disease occurrences are at endemic levels. 

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• An inventory and health assessment of stands within the forested areas in the planning area 

would be completed during the life of the plan.

• Monitoring forest health indicators, including populations of insects, and apply forest 

management methods which promote the appropriate level of stocking and function based on 

the forest type.

• Managing vegetation structure, density, species composition, patch size, pattern, and 

distribution in a manner which reduces the occurrence of unnaturally large and severe 

wildland fires and forest insect outbreaks. The amount of vegetation to be treated may vary 

and would be based on inventory and monitoring to meet the objectives.

• Treatment of stands with characteristics indicating a substantial risk of developing epidemic 

levels of forest insects and/or disease as a high priority to reduce risk.

• Conducting forest and woodland health management activities using a prescription based on 

the best available science. At a minimum, prescriptions would require current stand 

descriptions and desired future conditions.

• Maintaining the health of curl leaf mountain mahogany and promote expansion within its 

historic range, with an emphasis on the appropriate stocking level, structure and understory.

• Managing stands of limber pine to maintain and promote stand composition, age class, vigor 

and understory diversity.

• Emphasis on forest structures with large trees appropriate to the forest type, snag 

management, and large diameter trees for cavity nesters where appropriate.

• Use of adaptive management strategies that address climate change in order to maintain or 

enhance forest based ecosystems.

• Wheeled and tracked vehicle operation would not be allowed on sustained slopes greater

35%.

• Emphasis would be placed on retention and acquisition of forested lands. Disposal, retention 

or acquisition of forested lands would consider the value of the forest type, habitat diversity 

and potential for carbon sequestration.

• Cutting for density management, forest health and fuels reduction would be allowed unless 

otherwise restricted. Large trees would be retained in numbers and species as appropriate for 

the forest type and successional stage, consistent with wildlife requirements and other 

resource values.
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Appendix K K-33 September 2015

• Rangelands

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS, rangeland management actions 

would manage vegetative resources to maintain a diversity of ecological conditions on 

rangelands while providing for a variety of multiple uses that are economically feasible, and 

based on sound biological principles and the best available science. BLM management actions 

would be designed to promote recovery and restoration of sagebrush communities after wildland 

fire events.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Manage rangelands to meet health standards consistent with the Standards for Rangeland 

Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management and apply appropriate guidelines 

where not meeting the standards.

• Treatment methods, including prescribed burning and mechanical treatments, would be used 

to eliminate conifer encroachment and stimulate vegetative re-growth in grassland/shrubland 

habitats; and to reduce fuels, thin under-stories, recycle nutrients, and create small openings 

in forested vegetation types.

• Identify and maintain areas containing high quality native vegetation for use as seed 

collection sites.

• Identify priority treatment areas for conifer encroachment, including big game winter range, 

WUIs, current and historic sagebrush habitat, forest meadows and bighorn sheep habitat. 

• To manage cheatgrass and annual bromes, use the best available vegetation treatments, 

including but not limited to early spring grazing, prescribed fire, interim farming practices, 

and herbicide use.

• A variety of treatment methods, including mechanical, chemical, biological and prescribed 

fire (including wildland fire), would be used if the treatment would achieve a diversity of age 

classes in sagebrush communities.

• Eight percent (12,000 acres) of crested wheatgrass acreage would be converted to native 

sagebrush/ grassland over the life of the plan. Preferred treatment areas would be areas that 

are not currently being used in a grazing system to provide early spring grazing and reduce 

grazing pressure from other areas within a grazing allotment. 

• Riparian and Wetlands

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS, riparian and wetlands 

management actions would promote healthy wetland ecosystems, supporting physical processes 

and natural combinations of vegetation that work together to create stable streambanks, 

functional floodplains, complex fish and wildlife habitat and high water quality within site 

potential. Riparian vegetation would be managed to achieve or sustain desired future conditions 

(DFCs). The DFCs would be developed by an interdisciplinary team, giving consideration to 

restoring and/or promoting natural communities and complex riparian conditions valuable to 

water quality and wildlife habitat. Invasive species management would focus on restoring native 

and desired non-native communities to riparian areas to attain DFCs.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Forest treatments would comply with the Montana Streamside Management Zone law to 

protect riparian resources.
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September 2015 K-34 Appendix K

• Manage riparian communities on a prioritized basis, to meet Standards or Desired Future 

Conditions (DFCs).

• Manage riparian communities to meet Health Standards to ensure riparian areas and wetlands 

are in Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) and water quality meets State of Montana 

standards. 

• Restrict or limit BLM-authorized activities in riparian areas not rated as PFC or FAR- UP. 

Riparian Areas not rated as PFC, would be monitored and managed to ensure movement 

towards PFC. 

• The following priority recovery areas would be established:

• High priority areas would include riparian areas adjacent to perennial streams. Existing 

cottonwood galleries would be designated priority recovery areas.

• Moderate priority areas would include intermittent drainages with riparian habitat.

• Project planning and monitoring efforts would emphasize recovery of high priority areas, 

followed by moderate priority areas.

• High priority riparian areas would be managed towards DFCs.

• Surface disturbing activities would not be allowed within riparian areas and wetlands, 

designated 100 year flood plains and on water bodies and streams, except to benefit 

watershed health. Those activities that are not in conflict with the desired outcomes for this 

resource would be allowed. 

• (NSO –No Surface Occupancy) Surface occupancy and use for oil and gas exploration 

(including geophysical operations) would be prohibited in riparian areas and wetlands, 

designated 100 year flood plains, water bodies and streams.

• (CSU-Controlled Surface Use) Surface occupancy and use would be controlled within 300 

feet of riparian and/or wetland areas. Surface-disturbing activities would require a plan with 

design features that demonstrate how all actions would maintain and/or improve the 

functionality of riparian/wetland areas. (NSO/CSU Combined = 15,653 acres)

• (NSO- No Surface Occupancy) Surface occupancy and use for oil and gas exploration 

(including geophysical operations) would be prohibited within 1/2 mile of class 1 (Blue 

Ribbon) streams and Yellowstone Cutthroat trout populations. (8,441 acres)

• Invasive Species and Noxious Weeds

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS, invasive species and noxious 

weeds management actions would manage for healthy native plant communities by reducing, 

preventing expansion of, or eliminating the occurrence of undesirable invasive, nonnative 

species, undesirable, nonnative, or noxious weeds (predatory plant pests or disease) by 

implementing management actions consistent with national guidance, state and local weed 

management plans. The BLM management actions would use Integrated Weed Management to 

make progress towards a healthy plant community, while meeting multiple land use objectives. 

Baseline data would be maintained to evaluate effectiveness of management actions and assess 

progress toward meeting invasive species management goals/objectives. Buffer zones would be 

created to protect and/or restore fish and wildlife habitat and neighboring agricultural fields. 

Invasive and non-native weed species would be controlled to and prevent the introduction of new 

invasive species, including aquatic nuisance species, by implementing a comprehensive weed 

program including: coordination with key partners, prevention and early detection, education, 

inventory and monitoring, and using principles of Integrated Weed Management (IWM) and 

creating weed management areas (WMAs).
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Appendix K K-35 September 2015

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Reclamation/stabilization and maintenance materials used would be from weed free seed 

source.

• Invasive species, including aquatic invasives, would be managed in cooperation with other 

agencies, organizations and landowners in accordance to EO 13112 (1999).

• Biological control would be applied where appropriate and approved by APHIS. The BLM 

would consider adapting new or updated biological control techniques, as supported by 

research.

• Domestic sheep and goats used for weed control would only be authorized where 

mechanisms are in place to achieve effective separation from wild sheep. 

• Visitor protection during herbicide treatments at developed recreation areas would include 

posting signs to prevent public entry. To the extent practicable, herbicide treatments would 

occur only during low recreation use.

• Require the use of certified weed free seed forage and feeds to prevent establishment of new 

weed species. Forage subject to this rule would include hay, grains, cubes, pelletized feeds, 

straw and mulch.

• Require the use of weed free seed and mulch for BLM-authorized activities and projects.

• Treatment priorities would be established consistent with State of Montana Noxious Weed 

guidance. 

− High Treatment Priority: eradication of new species; new infestations, areas of special 

concerns, riparian corridors or sensitive plant populations where there is a high threat to 

species of concern (such as Russian olive and salt cedar treatments); areas where 

partnership/cooperative agreements are in place; treatment and prevention in special 

designations and weed management areas.

− Moderate/Low Treatment Priority: areas that contain existing large infestations with a 

focus on boundaries of infestations, travel routes, trails, trailheads, and access points 

leading to areas of concern, control existing large infestations and suppression of existing 

large infestations when eradication/control or containment is likely not to be successful. 

• Remove invasive species from cottonwood galleries and take actions to maintain the 

appropriate stand composition, structure and understory diversity to promote the expansion 

of galleries.

• Aerial application of non-aquatic label herbicides would not be allowed within 500 feet of 

wetlands, riparian areas, and aquatic habitats. Specific buffer strip widths indicated on 

pesticide labels or by state regulations must be followed. This also applies to cropland and 

ornamentals. Exceptions would be applied when managing riparian noxious/invasive species 

and following aquatic approved herbicide labels. 

• Land base application methods would not be allowed within 25 feet (by vehicle) or 10 feet 

(by hand) of fish-bearing water bodies during periods when fish are in life stages most 

sensitive to the herbicide(s) used. Exceptions would be applied when managing riparian 

noxious/invasive species and following aquatic approved herbicide labels.

• Vehicle and hand application of herbicides would not be allowed within 25 feet (by vehicle) 

or 10 feet (by hand) of wetlands, riparian areas, aquatic habitats, dwellings and cropland. 

Exceptions would be applied when managing riparian noxious/invasive species and 

following aquatic approved herbicide labels.
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September 2015 K-36 Appendix K

• Mix herbicides with non-aquatic label at a minimum of 500 feet away from riparian areas, 

water sources, floodplains, and known special status plant species populations.

• Aerial application of herbicides would not be allowed within 1⁄2 mile of special status plant 

species. Vehicle and hand application of herbicides near special status plant species would 

be allowed only when the treatment would benefit special status plant species (to be 

determined during site-specific analysis).

• Native plant species common to the site’s natural plant community would be used to restore 

disturbed ground. Introduced species would be considered based on site-specific analysis 

where difficult site stabilization or wildlife concerns prevail. 

• Special Status Plants

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS, special status plant management 

actions would conserve and recover special status plant species and the ecosystems on which 

they depend to prevent the need to list any of these species as threatened or endangered. The 

BLM management actions would be aimed at protecting or enhancing areas of ecological 

importance for special status plant species; managing for no net loss of habitat for any special 

status plant species; conserving and recovering special status plant species by determining and 

implementing strategies, restoration opportunities, use restrictions, and management actions; and 

managing specific environmental hazards, risks, and impacts in a manner compatible with 

special status plant species health.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• BLM-authorized activities should maintain or improve habitat for federally listed threatened, 

endangered, and special status plants.

• Conduct inventory and monitoring to determine extent and trend of special status plant 

populations.

• Habitats of special status plants would be managed to meet or exceed the Montana Standard 

for Rangeland Health (Standard 5). 

• Increase public awareness of special status plants through outreach, tours, and brochures.

• Consider the high public value of special status plants and their habitat in land exchanges, 

purchases or disposals in which public ownership of such habitat would be affected.

• Evaluate all BLM-authorized activities for potential effects on special status plants. Conduct 

on-site inventory if potential special status plant habitat is present.

• On-site examination would be required prior to oil and gas leasing, exploration and/or 

development surface disturbing activities (CSU).

• Mineral material sales would be allowed on a case-by-case basis by permit only. Mitigation 

may be required as appropriate. 

• No supplement or salt placement within 1⁄4 mile of known special status plant sites, unless 

livestock is otherwise excluded (fence or barrier).
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Appendix K K-37 September 2015

K.12.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.12.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Vegetation treatments 

within rangelands and to manage invasive species and noxious weeds that include the use of 

biological controls (insects and livestock grazing), chemical controls, mechanical control 

(including cutting and thinning with hand tools and machinery), and prescribed fire are not 

expected to adversely impact potential black-footed ferret habitats. Where used, the long-term 

goal of these programs would be to improve habitat quality. Implementing vegetative 

management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due 

to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This determination is based on the potential for improvements to 

prairie dog and potential ferret habitats if vegetative treatments are used and existing 

conservation measures.

K.12.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Implementing actions associated with vegetation management programs would include habitat 

disturbance or loss. Habitat manipulations would include temporary, localized surface 

disturbance. However, improvements to vegetation would have long-term beneficial impacts on 

Canada lynx habitat. Implementing vegetation management actions may affect, but are not likely 

to adversely affect, the lynx due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This determination is based on 

the potential for improvements to potential lynx habitats if vegetative treatments are used and 

existing conservation measures are applied. In the long term, vegetation management actions 

will benefit the lynx by improving habitats for prey species.

K.12.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Implementing actions associated with vegetation management programs would include habitat 

disturbance or loss. Habitat manipulations would include temporary, localized surface 

disturbance Vegetation treatments that may occur in suitable grizzly bear habitat would be 

expected to improve habitat in the long term. Implementing vegetation management actions may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). 

This determination is based on the potential for improvements to grizzly bear habitats if 

vegetative treatments are used and existing conservation measures in place to protect the species. 

In the long term, vegetation management actions will benefit the grizzly by improving suitable 

habitats.
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September 2015 K-38 Appendix K

K.13 Wildlife Habitat and Special Status Species (Wildlife)

• Activity Description

Wildlife species in the planning area include big game animals, raptors, upland game birds, and 

other species. These populations are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 

and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP). The BLM works cooperatively with these 

agencies to manage wildlife habitats on public lands. Therefore, the BLM is directly responsible 

for managing fish and wildlife habitat on public lands and is indirectly responsible for the health 

and well-being of fish and wildlife populations supported by habitats on public lands. 

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize managing 

terrestrial habitat to provide native species diversity and viability, and sustain their ecological, 

economic, and social values while providing for multiple uses of public lands. Wildlife program 

actions would manage for no net loss and connectivity of priority habitats on BLM-administered 

lands. The necessary habitat would be present to maintain, enhance, or restore priority native 

species populations. Sagebrush, native grasslands, seasonal or crucial wildlife ranges, special 

status species habitat, fisheries, cottonwood galleries, and riparian/wetlands would be priorities. 

All BLM actions or authorized activities would be managed to sustain wildlife populations and 

their habitats and to avoid contributing to the listing of or jeopardizing the continued existence or 

recovery of special status species and their habitats. 

The BLM-administered lands within the planning area would be managed or restored to facilitate 

the conservation, recovery, and maintenance of populations of native, desirable non-native, and 

The BLM actions would support MFWP in the attainment of big game herd unit objectives and 

well-distributed, healthy populations of wildlife species consistent with the MTFWP’s Strategic 

Habitat Plan, Montana’s Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy, and strategic 

population plans, and to achieve the stated purpose of designated State of Montana Wildlife 

Management Areas.

Other wildlife management actions include minimizing fragmentation of wildlife habitat; 

managing environmental risks such as, parasites, diseases, insect outbreaks, catastrophic fires, 

contamination, pesticides, rodenticides, herbicides, climate, and other hazards; providing for the 

long-term conservation, enhancement, and restoration of the sagebrush steppe/mixed-grass 

prairie complex in a manner that supports sustainable sage grouse populations and a healthy 

diversity and abundance of wildlife species; and coordinating with other agencies to prevent or 

control diseases, pests and species that threaten the health of humans, wildlife, livestock, and 

vegetation.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• The BLM-authorized activities would address habitat for migratory and non-migratory birds, 

non-game and game mammals, and reptiles and amphibians. 

• Implement conservation actions identified in the Executive Order Executive Order 13186 –

“Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory Birds”. Implement the North 

American Bird Conservation initiative to restore, enhance, and maintain habitats for 

migratory birds. Include USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern for Bird Conservation 

Regions 10 and/or 17 where appropriate through project level NEPA analysis. Emphasize 

maintenance and restoration of habitats that sustain sensitive species with minimum 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-39 September 2015

disturbance during the breeding season. Enhance or restore habitat composition and structure 

beyond PFC in riparian habitats, where and when appropriate, for migratory bird habitat.

• Retaining important blocks of hiding, security, and thermal cover for big game would be 

considered during project planning. The BLM would emphasize habitat improvements in 

areas where there is limited or fragmented security habitat through vegetation treatments and 

route limitations (including seasonal closures).

• Assist in the restoration, reintroduction, augmentation, or re-establishment of priority species 

and other populations and (or) habitats in coordination with MFWP.

• Fences identified as barriers to wildlife movement on BLM-administered lands would be 

modified to accommodate wildlife passage, unless the fences were built specifically to keep 

native ungulates out of an area. Fence indicators or markers would be added to the top wire 

of new fences near sage-grouse concentration areas or where mortality has occurred.

• Conditions of Approval (COAs) would be applied to all Applications for Permit (APDs) to 

Drill for all species of concern.

• Utilize appropriate offsite compensatory mitigation to reduce impacts to wildlife habitat. 

This would be necessary if (1) all onsite mitigation has been accomplished and adverse 

effects have not been mitigated; or (2) if onsite mitigation is not feasible. Off –site 

mitigation would be applied as close to the affected area as possible and for the same or 

similar impacted species or habitats.

• Manage siting of facilities to minimize impacts on wildlife habitat function and quality, to 

minimize impacts on vegetation resources for all uses, and to minimize wildlife mortality 

during the life of the facility.

• Management actions are subjected to Waivers, Exceptions and Modifications (WEMs) and 

are available for use on any surface disturbing or disruptive activity (Refer to Appendix D, 

page D-5 for WEM definitions).

• Overhead powerlines, where authorized, would follow the recommendations in Avian 

Protection on Powerlines, State of the Art in 2006 (APLIC). Power poles and other tall 

structures would be designed to prevent raptors from perching on the poles and reflectors 

attached.

• Functional wildlife escape ramps would be installed on all water tanks on BLM-administered 

public lands.

• Management techniques, including but not limited to prescribed and managed wildland fire, 

prescriptive livestock grazing, planting, exclusion to intense disturbance, timber harvest and 

other mechanical methods would be used to restore, maintain or improve the desired 

ecological conditions of vegetation communities for the purpose of improving forage, 

nesting, breeding, and security habitat, hiding cover and travel corridors for a wide diversity 

of terrestrial and aquatic species.

• Management actions would emphasize providing habitat of sufficient quantity and quality, 

including connectivity and wildlife movement corridors, habitat complexity, forest openings, 

edges, and ecotones, to enhance biological diversity and provide quality, sustainable habitat 

for native wildlife species.

• When potential wildlife conflicts are identified, the BLM could require a current year 

wildlife survey of the project area from the project proponent.

• Caves and abandoned mines would be inventoried for bat habitation. The BLM would 

determine the need for closures or seasonal closures for activities affecting caves and 
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Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-40 Appendix K

abandoned mines. Hibernacula and maternity cave closure dates would be determined when 

the inventory is completed. 

• Bat gates or other suitable measures would be used to protect bat habitat. Public health and 

safety could take precedence over protection of bat habitat if hazardous mine openings 

cannot be remediated.

• Clearing of vegetation, would not be allowed within 250 feet of the entrance of caves and 

abandoned mines with populations of bats except for public safety. Vegetation would be 

removed for installing bat gates, noxious weed control, or when it becomes an obstruction to 

bat movement.

• Areas that would be targeted for conversion from crested wheatgrass to native 

sagebrush/grasslands would be areas that have high wildlife habitat value, particularly for 

sage grouse, big game, and other sagebrush obligate species, and are currently monocultures 

with little vegetation diversity. 

• Predator control would be permitted subject to the stipulations outlined in the annual Animal 

Damage Control (ADC) Memorandum of Understanding between BLM and USDA-Animal 

Plant Health Inspection Service. Predator control in non-USDA ADC areas would be subject 

to the same stipulations as applied to those counties where predators are managed by USDAAPHIS.

• Raptor timing restrictions would be dependent on the species according to BLM Tech. Note 

TN-316, Nesting Habitats and Surveying Techniques for Common Western Raptors, Mayo 

W. Call, 5/78. Nesting phenology can vary from year to year based on elevation, climate, 

and nesting attempt. The BLM could seasonally limit/close rock climbing activities in areas 

with active raptor nests and would educate the public about the importance of avoiding such 

locations.

• Where environmental analysis and monitoring demonstrate a continued need for mitigation 

or insufficient mitigation measures are present for impacts to wildlife, stipulations would be 

applied to the operation and maintenance of production facilities or other projects. 

• BLM would not authorize above-ground power-lines, unless burying the power-line is 

technologically unfeasible, then power-lines would be authorized in a manner that ensures 

habitat is maintained (e.g. line location) (CSU).

• Oil and gas leasing, development and exploration would be allowed with NSO in designated 

State Wildlife Management Areas, Fishing Access Sites, and State Parks (NSO). 

• Surface disturbance and disruptive activities would be prohibited from April 1 to June 15 

within established big game parturition habitat would be prohibited from December 1 to 

March 31 within big game winter range with a CAPS Score of 2 as designated by MFWP. 

• Within big game winter range with a CAPS Score of 1, a Lease Notice would be issued 

requiring the proponent to conduct big game inventories in the project area prior to 

conducting any operations. If big game concentrations are found, the operator would be 

required to submit a plan of development to maintain the habitat, avoid habitat loss, and 

minimize disturbance. The mitigation plan would be approved by the authorized officer. 

• Surface disturbance and disruptive activities would be prohibited within 1⁄2 mile of raptor nest 

sites that have been active in the past two years and from March 1 to June 15 in sharp-tailed 

grouse nesting habitat within two miles of a lek. 

• Activity in bighorn sheep habitat would be allowed if the activity does not conflict with the 

desired outcomes for this resource and would require mitigation.
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Appendix K K-41 September 2015

• Oil and gas leasing and development and geophysical exploration would be prohibited with 

NSO in designated WMAs. Oil and gas leasing and development and geophysical 

exploration in big game parturition areas would be allowed with the exception that the 

operator may submit a plan of development to maintain the habitat, avoid habitat loss and 

minimize disturbance. Oil and gas leasing and development (including geophysical 

exploration) and geothermal operations would be prohibited from December 1 to March 31 

within big game winter range with a CAPS Score of 2 as designated by MFWP. Within big 

game winter range with a CAPS Score of 1, a Lease Notice would be issued requiring the 

proponent to conduct big game inventories in the project area prior to conducting any 

operations. If big game concentrations are found, the operator would be required to submit a 

plan of development to maintain the habitat, avoid habitat loss, and minimize disturbance. 

The mitigation plan would be approved by the authorized officer. 

• Oil and gas leasing and development and geophysical exploration would be prohibited within 

designated bighorn sheep range (approximately 15,621 acres), within 1⁄4 mile of sharp-tailed 

grouse leks (approximately 1,964 acres), from March 1 to June 15 in sharp-tailed grouse 

nesting habitat within 2 mile of a lek (approximately 67,101 acres), and from March 1 to 

August 1 within 1⁄2 mile of raptor nests that have been active within the past two 

(approximately 25,967 acres). 

• Manage road densities at 1 mile/square mile or less compared to 0.5 mile/square mile and 

within big game winter range designated with a MFWP CAPS Score of 2. 

• 1⁄4 mile buffer would be maintained around unoccupied nests for 5 years.

• Oil and gas leasing, development and exploration and geothermal activities would be 

prohibited within 1⁄4 mile of prairie dog colonies and control measures would be permitted in 

areas impacting public lands. 

• No surface disturbing and oil and gas activities would be implemented from April 1 through 

July 31 in mountain plover habitat within 1⁄4 mile of a nest. 

• A timing restriction of March 1 and July1 would be implemented for peregrine falcon nests, 

unless the activity does not conflict with the desired outcomes for this resource. 

• A timing restriction of February 1 to August 15 would be implemented for bald eagle nest 

sites with a 1⁄2 mile around active nests. 

• A 1/8 mile buffer around lek sites for continuous noise restrictions and a 1⁄4 mile buffer 

around lek sites for temporary noise would be implemented.

• All power-lines within 3 miles of a lek and winter occurrence points and in sage-grouse 

winter concentration areas would be buried unless the power-lines could be sited or designed 

in a manner that maintains suitable habitat, reducing adverse impacts from avian predators 

perching on power-lines. 

• Vegetation treatments would be conducted in areas of medium to high sage grouse 

populations to convert crested wheatgrass to native sagebrush/grassland habitat over the life 

of the plan. 
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September 2015 K-42 Appendix K

K.13.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.13.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Wildlife habitat 

management may influence potential habitats for black-footed ferrets. Protection of greater 

sage-grouse breeding areas and big game crucial winter range could benefit ferret prey by 

protecting associated prairie dog habitats. Limiting access to specific areas for OHVs, horseback 

riding, and pedestrians; prohibiting surface development; and imposing road closures would 

benefit by protecting prairie dog habitats and reducing human access, which could in turn reduce 

recreational shooting. Implementing wildlife management actions may affect, but are not likely 

to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This 

determination is based on the potential for improvements to prairie dog and potential ferret 

habitats.

K.13.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Actions associated with wildlife habitat management have potential impacts that depend on 

several factors, including the number of people involved with each habitat enhancement effort, 

the time of year, duration of field activities, use of heavy machinery versus hand tools, and type 

of Canada lynx habitat affected. Canada lynx have a reasonable tolerance for human presence 

and, as a consequence, may not alter how they use the landscape. Precautionary measures for 

endangered species should provide additional protection. The implementation of these actions 

will likely have positive effects by maintaining or improving existing habitat conditions, 

especially riparian areas, which will benefit lynx and their prey. In some cases, however, lynx 

will likely avoid areas where activities are taking place due to the temporary disturbance created 

by these activities. Implementing of wildlife habitat management actions may affect, but are not 

likely to adversely affect, the lynx due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is 

based on the low probability that lynx will be disturbed by specific management actions, the low 

potential for these actions to alter lynx behavior, and the fact that many of these actions may 

actually improve lynx habitat.

K.13.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Wildlife management actions that may occur in suitable grizzly bear habitat would include 

habitat disturbance or loss. Habitat manipulations would include temporary, localized surface 

disturbance. However, wildlife habitat improvements would have long-term beneficial impacts 

on grizzly bear habitat. Implementing appropriate wildlife management actions may affect, but 
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Appendix K K-43 September 2015

are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This 

determination is based on the potential for improvements to grizzly bear habitats if wildlife 

habitat management actions are used and existing conservation measures are in place to protect 

the species. 

K.14 Fisheries Habitat and Special Status Species (Fish)

• Activity Description

In general, fisheries habitat management includes managing aquatic habitat to provide native and 

desirable non-native species diversity and viability, and sustain ecological, economic, and social 

values while providing for multiple uses of public lands. This includes managing fisheries 

habitat to support Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park’s Strategic Habitat Plan and the Montana 

Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Management activities would 

emphasize restoration and/or maintenance of riparian structure, composition, and processes, 

including physical integrity of riparian ecosystems, amount and distribution of woody debris to 

sustain physical and biological complexity, adequate summer and winter thermal regulation, 

water quality and hydrologic processes, distribution and diversity of riparian vegetative 

communities and source habitats for riparian dependent species.

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize using 

cooperative efforts to minimize negative impacts to, or enhance aquatic ecosystems on adjacent 

private lands, while coordinating with other agencies to prevent or control diseases, pests and 

species that threaten the health of humans, wildlife, livestock, and vegetation.

Lastly, the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS is designed to manage or 

restore habitat on BLM-administered lands within the planning area to facilitate the 

conservation, recovery and maintenance of populations of native and special status species 

(BLM sensitive species, Candidate species, USFWS listed, proposed, or petitioned species) 

consistent with appropriate local, state, and federal management plans. Yellowstone Cutthroat 

Trout bearing waters and associated riparian habitat would be managed to protect all ecological 

values necessary to maintain or enhance YCT populations (using guidelines outlined in 

the Conservation Strategy for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in the States of Idaho, Montana, 

Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming).

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Manage riparian areas and wetlands supporting fisheries toward PFC, as required through 

Standards and Guidelines.

• Roads would be located, designed and maintained, to the extent practical, to reduce 

sedimentation, identify and remove unnatural barriers, eliminate fish passage barriers (when 

desired), and restore or maintain riparian vegetation.

• Manage siting of facilities to minimize impacts on fish habitat function and quality, to 

minimize impacts on vegetation resources for all uses, and to minimize fish mortality during 

the life of the facility.

• If natural barriers cannot be used, in-channel barriers (including selective barriers) would be 

constructed downstream of the native fish populations at risk from invasion.
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September 2015 K-44 Appendix K

• Management activities would consider the guidelines listed in the Inland Native Fish Strategy 

as they relate to timber, road, grazing, recreation, minerals, fisheries, riparian, watershed, and 

fish and wildlife management, to enhance and maintain habitat.

• Impacts beyond the riparian zone would be considered as part of YCT habitat management. 

Project-level activities would mitigate impacts on water quality, in-stream habitat, channel 

morphology, and riparian areas to benefit YCT populations.

• Habitat-improvement techniques would be used where appropriate to provide missing habitat 

components or improve existing habitats. 

• The BLM will continue to partner with MTFWP in the establishment of fishing access sites.

• Land and water management decisions likely to affect YCT populations would include both 

pre- and post-project evaluation and monitoring to ensure that the habitat elements for YCT 

are protected. 

• Use restoration to enhance YCT habitat and riparian function where habitat conditions are 

determined to be degraded. 

• Opportunistically enhance or restore habitat for and populations of YCT.

• Establish high priority YCT habitat zones and increase monitoring on YCT bearing streams 

to ensure no significant degradation to water quality and fish habitat. 

• Develop and maintain a prairie fish and fish habitat inventory and identify potential or 

suitable habitat.

• Surface disturbing activities would not be allowed within riparian areas and wetlands, 

designated 100 year flood plains and on water bodies and streams, except to benefit 

watershed health, except those activities that are not in conflict with the desired outcomes for 

this resource would be allowed. 

• Oil and gas leasing, exploration and/or development would be closed within riparian areas 

and wetlands, designated 100 year flood plains and on water bodies and streams, except to 

benefit watershed health (NSO) (6,002 acres)

• Oil and gas leasing, exploration and/or development would be closed within 1⁄2 mile of Class 

I (Blue Ribbon) streams, WSR- eligible segments and YCT habitat (NSO). 

• Oil and gas leasing, exploration and/or development would not be allowed within 1⁄2 mile of 

streams with High Restoration Potential for native fish species (NSO).

• New spring developments would be authorized and fenced if the development would 

maintain the integrity and functionality of the associated riparian area/wetland. 

• Habitat conditions would be monitored on fish-bearing streams (approx. 7 miles) with 

existing or potential threats, where grazing or human-caused impacts are likely. 

• Livestock grazing would be excluded from YCT- bearing or other T&E or candidate species 

streams/riparian habitat. 

• Fencing around the riparian zone, or at least 50’ from the water’s edge or using drift fence to 

exclude livestock from the riparian zone.

• Development of existing or potential reservoirs would be considered to promote recreational 

fisheries and riparian/aquatic habitat enhancement.
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Appendix K K-45 September 2015

K.14.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.14.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Fisheries management 

actions within black-footed ferret habitat (i.e., prairie dog colonies) are not expected to adversely 

impact potential black-footed ferret habitats. Where used, the long-term goal of these programs 

would be to improve habitat quality, which may in turn improve black-footed ferret habitat. 

Therefore, implementing fisheries management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely 

affect, the black-footed ferret due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This determination is based on 

the potential for improvements to prairie dog and potential ferret habitats if fisheries 

management actions are used in conjunction with existing conservation measures.

K.14.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Implementing actions associated with fisheries management programs would include habitat 

disturbance or loss. Habitat manipulations would include temporary, localized surface 

disturbance. However, improvements to fish habitats would have long-term beneficial impacts 

on Canada lynx habitat. In addition, management actions that protect YCT habitat through 

restrictions on road placement and maintenance as well as facility siting, would also protect 

habitat used by Canada lynx. Therefore, implementing fisheries management actions may affect, 

but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This 

determination is based on the potential for improvements to potential Canada lynx habitat as a 

result of fisheries habitat management in conjunction with existing conservation measures. 

K.14.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Implementing actions associated with fisheries management programs would include habitat 

disturbance or loss. Habitat manipulations would include temporary, localized surface 

disturbance. However, improvements to fish habitats would have long-term beneficial impacts 

on grizzly bear habitat. In addition, management actions that protect YCT habitat through 

restrictions on road placement and maintenance as well as facility siting, would also protect 

habitat used by grizzly bears. Therefore, implementing fisheries management actions may affect, 

but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This 

determination is based on the potential for improvements to potential grizzly bear habitat as a 

result of fisheries habitat management in conjunction with existing conservation measures.
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September 2015 K-46 Appendix K

K.15 Wild Horses and Burros

• Activity Description

In general, wild horse and burro management includes maintaining, protecting, and controlling a 

healthy wild horse herd inside the herd management area within the appropriate management 

level to ensure a thriving natural ecological balance while preserving multiple use relationships 

with other uses and resources and making progress towards standards for rangeland health. The 

Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize maintaining a wild 

horse herd that exhibits a diverse age structure, genetic diversity and any characteristics unique 

to the Pryor horses, while managing wild horse habitat within a balanced program which 

considers all values without impairment to the productivity of the land. 

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Initially, the wild horse population would be managed within a population range of 90 to 120 

wild horses.

• Unless otherwise specified, implementation level planning through a Herd Management Area 

Plan (HMAP) or other activity level plans would identify and set objectives for, but not 

limited to, the following: herd composition, animal characteristics, genetics and habitat 

development needs; soil, vegetation and watershed characteristics; and establishment and 

adjustment to appropriate management level (AML).

• Appropriate management levels would be adjusted as needed to ensure a thriving natural 

ecological balance through monitoring and data collection including but not limited to: 

forage utilization, trend, ecological condition, precipitation data, rangeland health 

assessments, population inventory, climate or habitat changes and range availability. 

• Herd Management Area Establishment

− Manage wild horses on approximately 27,094 acres of BLM-administered lands (39,994 

acres all ownerships). 

− Designate the closed portions of the Herd Area known as the administrative pastures to be 

included in the Herd Management Area. 

− Due to private property conflicts, the “buffer” area would remain closed. 

• Herd Characteristics

− Within an HMAP, herd structure would be managed for all representations in the herd, not 

allowing specific colors or bloodlines to dominate from management manipulation.

• Appropriate Management Levels

− AML determination would be made within the context of having the maximum amount of 

wild horses the range can sustain while preventing deterioration.

• Wild Horse Habitat

− Maximize the amount of acres available for vegetation treatments and/or water 

developments that potentially increase forage availability for wild horses that is compliant 

with other multiple-use decisions and restrictions.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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Appendix K K-47 September 2015

K.15.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.15.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Wild horse and burro 

management actions are not expected to adversely impact potential black-footed ferret habitats. 

Where used, the long-term goal of these programs would be to improve habitat quality. 

Adjusting AMLs to ensure a natural ecological balance would maintain sufficient forage levels 

so that competition among wild horses and burros, livestock, and prairie dogs can be reduced and 

habitat quality would be improved for the black-footed ferret. Implementing wild horse and 

burro management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed 

ferret due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This determination is based on the potential for 

improvements to prairie dog and potential ferret habitats if wild horse and burro management 

actions are used in conjunction with existing conservation measures.

K.15.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Wild horse and burro management actions that may occur in suitable Canada lynx habitat would 

be expected to improve habitat in the long term. Adjusting AMLs to ensure a natural ecological 

balance would maintain sufficient forage levels so that competition among wild horses and 

burros, livestock, and wildlife species would be reduced and habitat quality would be improved 

for the Canada lynx. Implementing wild horse and burro management actions may affect, but 

are not likely to adversely affect, the lynx due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This determination 

is based on the potential for improvements to potential Canada lynx habitat if wild horse and 

burro management actions are used in conjunction with existing conservation measures. In the 

long term, wild horse and burro management actions will benefit the Canada lynx by improving 

habitats for prey species.

K.15.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Wild horse and burro management actions that may occur in suitable grizzly bear habitat would 

be expected to improve habitat in the long term. Adjusting AMLs to ensure a natural ecological 

balance would maintain sufficient forage levels so that competition among wild horses and 

burros, livestock, and wildlife species would be reduced and habitat quality would be improved 

for the grizzly bear. Implementing wild horse and burro management actions may affect, but are 

not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This 

determination is based on the potential for improvements to potential grizzly bear habitat if wild 

horse and burro management actions are used in conjunction with existing conservation 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-48 Appendix K

measures. In the long term, wild horse and burro management actions will benefit the grizzly 

bear by improving habitats for prey species.

K.16 Fire Ecology and Management

• Activity Description

In general, fire ecology and management would focus on managing wildland fire and fuels for 

the protection of public health, safety, property, and resource values while managing hazardous 

fuels in areas of urban and industrial interface to reduce potential loss due to catastrophic fire. 

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize maintaining a 

desired mix of seral stages within vegetation communities, including desert shrublands, forest 

and woodlands, grasslands, mountain shrublands, sagebrush (all sub-species), riparian/wetlands 

and aspen. In addition, the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would 

manage vegetation communities through cooperative efforts by restoring natural fire regimes and 

frequency to the landscape, where appropriate and maintaining partnerships with the public and 

interagency cooperators to strengthen coordination of all fire management activities and 

encourage the creation of fire-safe communities. Lastly, fire ecology and management would

utilize an integrated management technique unless otherwise restricted (defined as prescribed 

fire, mechanical, chemical, or biological, followed by desired reseeding) to reduce fuels to 

protect high priority areas or resource values. 

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• National fire suppression guidelines and the current Fire Management Plan would be utilized 

to guide fire suppression techniques on public lands.

• In the course of fire suppression, a resource advisor would be consulted or assigned to 

wildland fires that involve or threaten public lands.

• The use of fire suppression chemicals would be limited around areas with rock art and 

standing structures and other areas with significant cultural resources (including ACECs). 

• Use of wildland fire suppression chemicals within 300 feet of waterways would be 

prohibited. 

• Fuels treatments would be designed to protect or improve resource values. 

• Emergency stabilization and rehabilitation of burned areas would be conducted according to 

current policy to protect and sustain ecosystems, public health and safety.

• Response to wildfires will be based on ecological, social, economic and legal consequences 

of the wildfire.

• Fire management strategies and tactics would be determined by (but not limited to) the 

following:

− Firefighter and public safety

− Resource values at risk

− Proximity to private land

− Firefighting resource availability

• Heavy equipment would not be used to construct fire lines in crucial winter range, habitat of 

listed, proposed, candidate or sensitive species, riparian/wetlands or in areas of cultural 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-49 September 2015

resource sensitivity or other designated areas (e.g., ACECs, WSAs). Exceptions would be 

permitted for protection of human life, property or other resource values. 

• Cultural Resource Specialists or Resource Advisors would be consulted for locations of 

identified areas before use of or anticipated use of heavy equipment.

• If heavy equipment is used, rehabilitation work on lines would begin immediately after 

containment.

• Wildland fires (natural ignitions) that occur within or adjacent to an area identified for 

vegetation or fuels treatment would be managed to meet the desired management objectives.

• Wildland fire management (natural ignitions) for resource benefit would be considered for 

the following areas: 

− East Pryor ACEC (11,122 acres)

− Grove Creek ACEC (8,251 acres)

− Meeteetse Spires ACEC (1,523 acres)

− Pryor Foothills RNA ACEC (2,606 acres)

− Weatherman Draw ACEC (12,277 acres)

− Big Horn Tack-on WSA (2,689 acres)

− Burnt Timber Canyon WSA (3,516 acres)

− Pryor Mountain WSA 15,590 (acres)

− Twin Coulee WSA (6,836 acres) 

− Total 70,926 acres

• Prescribed fire would be allowed in Greater Sage-Grouse RAs if the activity would benefit 

sagebrush communities (ex: achieve a diversity of age class).

K.16.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.16.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Wildland fires are not 

expected to directly affect the black-footed ferret because such fires typically do not occur in 

prairie dog towns where vegetation and fuels to support a fire are limited. Heavy machinery 

associated with fire suppression and fire prevention could potentially destroy habitats and

burrows; however, because wildland fires in prairie dog towns are rare events, this type of 

impact is unlikely to occur. Implementing wildland fire management actions may affect, but are 

not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This 

determination is based on the current absence of ferrets in the planning area and the unlikely 

event of fire or fire suppression activities in prairie dog towns.

K.16.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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September 2015 K-50 Appendix K

Fire management actions, particularly actions associated with wildfire suppression and 

prescribed fire, whether planned or unplanned, have the potential to occur in habitats occupied 

by Canada lynx. Road construction associated with fire suppression can lead to increased access 

into higher altitude sites by generalist predators, such as coyotes, wolves, and bobcats. These 

species can be predators of and competitors with lynx. In addition, fire can result in removal of 

excess dead and dying trees, reducing hiding cover for prey species, potential thermal cover in 

the winter months, and lynx denning and rearing habitat. However, in the long term, fire would 

increase denning habitat by increasing horizontal cover with log and limb fall. Additional 

understory growth after a fire would generally improve habitat conditions for a variety of fish 

and wildlife species, including the Canada lynx’s main prey item, snowshoe hares. 

Implementing wildlife fire management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, 

the Canada lynx due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the 

implementation of conservation measures for Canada lynx that will preclude any adverse effects 

to the species or its habitat; and the potential for improvements to Canada lynx habitats if 

wildland fire management actions are used in conjunction with existing conservation measures.

K.16.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Fire management actions, particularly actions associated with wildfire suppression and 

prescribed fire, whether planned or unplanned, have the potential to occur in habitats occupied 

by the grizzly bear. Fire can result in removal of excess dead and dying trees, reducing hiding 

cover for prey species, potential thermal cover in the winter months, and grizzly bear denning 

and rearing habitat. However, in the long term, fire would increase denning habitat by increasing 

horizontal cover with log and limb fall. Additional understory growth after a fire would 

generally improve habitat conditions for a variety of fish, wildlife, and plant species. This in turn 

would cause an increase in food sources for the grizzly bear. Implementing wildland fire 

management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to 

insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the potential for improvements to 

grizzly bear habitats if wildland fire management actions are used in conjunction with existing 

conservation measures in place to protect the species. In the long term, wildland fire 

management actions will benefit the grizzly by improving suitable habitats.

K.17 Cultural/Heritage Resources

• Activity Description

In general, cultural/heritage resources are managed to identify, preserve, and protect significant 

cultural resources and ensure that they are available for appropriate uses by present and future 

generations (FLPMA, Section 103 (c), 201(a) and (c); National Historic Preservation Act, 

Section 110(a); Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Section 14(a)). The Billings and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS seeks to reduce imminent threats and resolve 

potential conflicts from natural or human-caused deterioration, or potential conflicts with other 

resource uses (FLPMA Section 203(c), NHPA 106, 110(a) (2)), by ensuring that all 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-51 September 2015

authorizations for land use and resource use would comply with the NHPA Section 106. 

Cultural resources on BLM-administered land would be protected and maintained in stable 

condition. Appropriate management actions would be determined after evaluation and allocation 

of cultural resource use categories through cultural resource project plans. The Billings and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would focus on maintaining viewsheds of 

important cultural resources whose settings contribute significantly to their scientific, public, 

traditional or conservation values and provide research opportunities that would contribute to our 

understanding of the ways humans have used and influenced the landscape. It would also focus 

on managing historic trails to realize their educational, recreational, and scientific values and 

enhance public understanding of, and appreciation for, cultural resources through educational 

outreach and heritage tourism opportunities.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Evaluate cultural resources according to National Register criteria (36 CFR Part 60.4) and 

assign cultural resources to appropriate use categories as the basis for management decisions.

• All sites determined eligible to the National Register of Historic Places would be allocated 

and managed for Scientific, Public, Traditional, Experimental, and/or Conservation for 

Future Use. However, if another use becomes evident or proposed after use allocation has 

occurred, the use allocation may be changed without a plan amendment.

• All sites determined not eligible to the National Register of Historic Places and not 

containing antiquities or archaeological resources would be allocated and managed as 

Discharged from Management Use.

• Cremains scattering would not be permitted on prehistoric or historic archaeological sites, 

buildings, or structures, Native American burials, sacred sites, or traditional cultural use 

areas.

• Implement protection measures to stop, limit, or repair damage to sites. A variety of 

protection measures described in BLM Manual 8140 may be used to protect the integrity of 

sites at risk , such as signs, fencing or barriers, trash removal, target shooting closures, 

erosion control, backfilling, repairing, shoring up, or stabilizing structures, restricting uses 

and access, and closures.

• Design and maintain facilities to preserve the visual integrity of cultural resources, settings, 

and cultural landscapes consistent with VRM objectives established in the RMP.

• Where feasible, acquire properties adjacent to public lands through donation, exchange, or 

purchase that contain significant cultural resources including, but not limited to, those 

properties eligible for inclusion on the NRHP.

• Nominate eligible sites, districts, landscapes and traditional cultural properties for inclusion 

on the National Register of Historic Places. 

• Encourage public/volunteer involvement in the management of cultural resources through 

participation of established site steward programs and other programs.

• Specific plans would be developed for each site type unless included in other integrated 

activity plans. Such plans would include protective measures, Native American consultation, 

and regulatory compliance. These plans would also include but not be limited to developing 

a site monitoring system; identifying sites in need of stabilization, restoration, and protective 

measures (e.g. fences, surveillance equipment,); developing research designs for selected 

areas/sites; designating sites/areas for interpretative development; identifying areas for 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-52 Appendix K

cultural inventory where federal undertaking are expected to occur; and developing specific 

mitigation measures. The plan would designate sites, districts, and landmarks that would be 

nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

• Conduct inventory according to professional standards commensurate with the land-use 

activity, environmental conditions, and the potential for cultural resources.

• Pro-actively reduce hazardous fuels or mitigate the potential hazard around archaeological 

and cultural sites that are susceptible to destruction by fire.

• Reduce or eliminate imminent threats from natural or human caused deterioration or conflict 

with other resource uses.

• Identify priority geographic areas for Section 110 cultural inventories based on a probability 

for unrecorded significant resources and/or resource need.

• Ensure that all authorizations for land and resource use would comply with Section 106 of 

the National Historic Preservation Act, consistent with and subject to the objectives 

established in the RMP for the proactive use of cultural properties in the public interest.

• Provide for legitimate field research by qualified scientists and institutions.

• Allow for reconstruction, stabilization, maintenance, and interpretation of selected sites for 

public enjoyment and education.

• Should National Register eligible cultural resources be found during an inventory, impacts to 

them would be mitigated, generally through avoidance. Should it be determined the cultural 

resources cannot be avoided; consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer would 

be initiated. A program on mitigation would be developed via consultation between the 

Billings Field Office, the SHPO, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

• Conduct regular monitoring of at-risk cultural sites to protect sites from conflicts with other 

resources uses and to document natural and human caused deterioration. 

• Establish and implement protective measures for sites, structures, objects, and traditional use 

areas that are important to Native American tribes with historical and cultural connections to 

the land, in order to maintain the viewshed, intrinsic values, and the auditory, visual, and 

aesthetic settings of the resources. Protection measures for undisturbed cultural resources 

and their natural setting would be developed in compliance with regulatory mandates and 

Native American consultation.

• Conduct consultation process to identify both the resource management concerns and the 

strategies for addressing them through an interactive dialogue with Native American tribes 

with affinity to the project area.

• Consult with affiliated Native American tribes for the protection of areas and items of 

traditional life-ways and religious significance that includes, but is not limited to burials, 

rock art, traditional use areas, religious active areas, and sacred sites.

• Limit surface disturbing activities within selected Native American traditional cultural and 

religious sites for continued use by tribes. Traditional cultural sites would be identified in 

consultation with affiliated Native American tribes.

• Protect burial sites, associated burial goods, and sacred items in accordance with the Native 

American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act.

• A lease notice (consistent with the Montana guidance for cultural resource protection related 

to oil and gas) would continue to be issued to ensure that leased lands are examined to 

determine if cultural resources are present and to specify mitigation measures.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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Appendix K K-53 September 2015

• NSO for oil and gas leasing, development and/or exploration on the following sites, districts, 

or areas:

− Steamboat Butte (803 acres) 

− Bruder-Janich Site (579 acres) 

− Paul Duke Site (40 acres) 

− Demi-John Flat NR District (1,925 acres) 

− Bighorn Mouth North Cliffs Rock Art Site (160 acres) 

− Gyp Springs Site (320 acres)

− Hoskins Basin Archaeological District (2,611 acres) total acres 6,538

• Oil and gas leasing, exploration and development would be allowed within 1⁄4 mile of the 

following historic trails with stipulations (CSU):

− Bridger Cut-Off Trail, Meeteetse Trail (Total acres =5,746 acres) 

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Rock Art Sites

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites for Conservation, Scientific, 

Traditional, and /or Public Use. 

− Interpretative sites would be developed as appropriate.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Rockshelter/Cave Sites

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites for Conservation, Scientific, 

Traditional, and /or Public Use. Interpretative sites would be developed as appropriate.

− Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Aboriginal Occupation Sites and 

Structures (prehistoric & protohistoric)

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Scientific Public, Traditional, 

and/or Conservation Use.

− Interpretative sites would be developed as appropriate.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Open Sites

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Conservation Use.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Buffalo Jumps/Buffalo Kill/Processing 

Areas

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Conservation, Scientific, and/or 

Public Use. Interpretative sites would be developed as appropriate.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Aboriginal trails

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Conservation, Traditional, 

and/or Public Use.

− Interpretative sites would be developed as appropriate.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Historic Industrial/Development (mines, 

oil/gas, etc.)

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Conservation and/or Scientific 

Use. 

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Historic Features

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Conservation and/or Scientific 

Use.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Historic Roads/Trails

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible resources for Scientific, Conservation, 

and/or Public Use. 
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September 2015 K-54 Appendix K

− Interpretative sites would be developed as appropriate.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Historic Structures and Homesteads

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Scientific, Conservation, and/or 

Public Use.

− Interpretative sites would be developed as appropriate.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Toolstone Sources.

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible toolstone sources to Conservation, 

Traditional, and/or Scientific Use.

• Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation – Vision Quest Sites/Sacred 

Sites/TCPs/Ethnohistoric Sites.

− Allocate and manage all National Register eligible sites to Conservation and/or Traditional 

Use.

K.17.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.17.1.1 Threatened or endangered species 

Actions associated with cultural/heritage resources management will not directly impact 

Threatened or endangered species or any potential habitats. Cultural/heritage resources 

management will exclude some actions and structures from designated areas and may have a 

beneficial impact of limiting disturbance in habitats suitable for Threatened or Endangered 

species. Implementing cultural/heritage resources management actions may affect, but are not 

likely to adversely affect, the Threatened or endangered species due to beneficial effects (NLAAb). This determination is based on the potential of these management actions to preserve or 

minimize disturbance to habitats suitable for threatened and endangered species.

K.18 Paleontological Resources

• Activity Description

In general, paleontological resources identifies, manages, and monitors at-risk paleontological 

resources (scientific values); and preserving and protecting vertebrate fossils through best 

science methods; and promoting public and scientific use of invertebrate and paleo-botanical 

fossils. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS focuses on managing 

fossil locales with high scientific value in a stable condition, while allowing appropriate 

scientific and public use and locating, evaluating, and managing paleontological resources and 

protecting them where appropriate. In addition, the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument RMP/EIS emphasizes facilitating suitable scientific, educational, and recreational 

uses of fossils and ensuring that significant fossils are not inadvertently damaged, destroyed, or 

removed from public ownership as a result of surface disturbance or land tenure adjustments.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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Appendix K K-55 September 2015

• The Potential Fossil Yield Classification (PFYC) system would be used to assess possible 

resource impacts and mitigation needs for Federal actions involving surface disturbance, land 

tenure adjustments, and land-use planning.

• Recreational collectors may collect and retain reasonable amounts of common invertebrate 

and plant fossils for person, non-commercial use. Surface disturbance must be negligible and 

mechanized tools may not be used.

• Vertebrate fossils may be collected only under a permit issued to qualified individuals. 

Vertebrate fossils include bones, teeth, eggs, and other body parts of animals with backbones, 

such as dinosaurs, fish, turtles, and mammals. Vertebrate fossils also include trace fossils 

such as footprints, burrows, gastroliths, and coprolites.

• Fossils collected under a permit remain the property of the federal government and must be 

placed in a suitable repository which would be identified at the time of permit issuance.

• Lands identified for disposal or exchange would be evaluated to determine whether such 

actions would remove significant fossils from federal ownership. 

• In areas where surface disturbance, either initiated by BLM or other land users, may threaten 

significant fossils, the BLM would follow its policy (see Manual and Handbook 8270-1) to 

assess any threat and mitigate damage. The BLM Washington Office IM-2008-009, 

Potential Fossil Yield Classification (PFYC) System for Paleontological Resources on Public 

Lands, dated October 15, 2007, revised the classification system of Handbook 82790-1.

• The BLM would work with local communities, interest groups, individuals, and other 

agencies to enhance the public’s understanding and enjoyment of paleontological resources.

• Where scientifically significant fossils are threatened by natural hazards or unauthorized 

collection, the BLM would work with permittees and other partners to salvage specimens and 

reduce future threats to resources at risk.

• Conduct regular monitoring to protect areas where unauthorized use may occur.

• Reports of theft or damage to fossil resources would be responded to by appropriate BLM 

personnel.

• For all surface disturbing activities occurring within PFYC Class 3 or higher units, a 

stipulation would be included on the permitting document. Assessment, inventory, and/or 

mitigation would be required based on PFYC class.

• Written and web-based information would be developed, maintained, and provided about 

fossils and to promote visitor education

• Paleontological Resource Use permits would be issued for scientific study.

• BLM would support investigations in lesser known areas and in areas where surface 

disturbance is occurring or anticipated.

• Collection of common invertebrate and plant fossils would be allowed for personal, noncommercial use. 

• Areas with vertebrate fossils would be closed to common invertebrate and plant fossil hobby 

collecting unless collection activity is authorized by the BLM.
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September 2015 K-56 Appendix K

K.18.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.18.1.1 Threatened or endangered species 

Actions associated with paleontological resources management will not directly impact 

Threatened or endangered species or any potential habitats. Paleontological resources 

management will exclude some actions and structures from designated areas and may have a 

beneficial impact of limiting disturbance in habitats suitable for Threatened or endangered 

species. Implementing paleontological resources management actions may affect, but are not 

likely to adversely affect, the Threatened or endangered species due to beneficial effects (NLAAb.) This determination is based on the potential of these management actions to preserve or 

minimize disturbance to habitats suitable for threatened and endangered species.

K.19 Visual Resources

• Activity Description

In general, visual resource management would emphasize managing public lands for their scenic 

values while providing for the overall multiple-use and quality of experience to visitors of public 

lands. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would establish visual 

management objectives to minimize adverse impacts to the visual resources on the landscape, as 

well as maintain the overall integrity of VRM classes, while allowing for modifications to 

landscapes in those classes, consistent with the established management objectives.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Manage visual resources according to established guidelines for VRM classes. 

• Use the visual resource contrast rating system during project level planning to determine 

whether or not proposed activities would meet VRM objectives. Identify mitigation 

measures to reduce visual contrasts.

• Manage WSAs under VRM Class I objectives to maintain an undeveloped landscape and 

preserve their natural values.

• Prepare rehabilitation plans to address landscape modifications on a case-by-case basis.

• Manage BLM public lands according to the following VRM class designations:

− VRM Class I 28,861 acres

− VRM Class II 13,648 acres

− VRM Class III 391,179 acres

− VRM Class IV 0 acres

− VRM Class I & II Total 42,509 acres

• Surface disturbing activities and construction of semi-permanent and permanent facilities in 

VRM Class II – IV areas would require special design including location, painting, and 

camouflage to blend with the natural surroundings and meet the visual quality objectives for 

each respective class (CSU).
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Appendix K K-57 September 2015

K.19.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.19.1.1 Threatened or Endangered Species 

Actions associated with VRM will not directly impact Threatened or endangered species or any 

potential habitats. VRM will exclude some actions and structures from designated viewsheds and 

may have a beneficial impact of limiting disturbance in habitats suitable for Threatened or 

endangered species. Implementing VRM actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely 

affect, the Threatened or endangered species due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). These 

determinations are based on the potential of these management actions to preserve or minimize 

disturbance to habitats suitable for Threatened or endangered species.

K.20 Lands With Wilderness Characteristics

• Activity Description

In general, lands with wilderness characteristic would be managed to protect, preserve and 

maintain wilderness characteristics in areas identified as non-WSA lands with wilderness 

characteristics. Areas managed for wilderness characteristics would be managed to maintain: a 

high degree of naturalness (where lands and resources are affected primarily by the forces of 

nature and where the imprint of human activity is substantially unnoticeable); outstanding 

opportunities for solitude (when the sights, sounds, and evidence of other people are rare or 

infrequent and where visitors can be isolated, alone or secluded from others), and outstanding 

opportunities for primitive and unconfined recreation: Where the use of the area would be 

through non-motorized, non-mechanical means, and where no or minimal developed recreation 

facilities are encountered. Lastly, areas managed for wilderness characteristics would be 

ecologically sustainable and resilient to natural and human caused disturbances.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Lands with Wilderness Characteristics would be managed according to the following 

management:

− VRM Class II

− Closed to motorized OHV use

− Closed to oil and gas leasing, exploration and development (NL)

− Closed to solid mineral leasing

− Closed to disposal of mineral materials

− Closed and recommend for withdrawal from mineral entry

− Exclusion area for ROWs

− Closed to permitted commercial and personal use wood cutting and seed collection

− Vegetation and fuel treatments using prescribed fire would be allowed

− Surface disturbing and disruptive activities would be allowed if the activity does not 

impair the resource values and/or wilderness characteristics.
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September 2015 K-58 Appendix K

• Manage 3,833 acres outside of the Bighorn Tack-on and Pryor Mountain WSAs as 

wilderness (this includes an additional 3,160 acres contiguous to the north - excludes Penn’s 

Cabin, an existing communications site and cherry-stemmed road to the site).

K.20.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.20.1.1 Threatened or Endangered

Actions associated with the management of lands with wilderness characteristics will not directly 

impact threatened or endangered species or any potential habitats. Managing lands with 

wilderness characteristics would also provide protection to wildlife and special status species 

through restrictions on surface disturbances and minerals developments as well as OHV use. 

This would have a beneficial impact of limiting disturbance in habitats suitable for Threatened or 

Endangered. Implementing management actions associated with lands with wilderness 

characteristics may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the threatened or endangered 

species due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b.) These determinations are based on the potential of 

these management actions to preserve or minimize disturbance to habitats suitable for threatened 

or endangered species.

K.21 Cave and Karst Resources

• Activity Description

In general, cave and karst resources management activities would manage significant cave 

resources as mandated by the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 to protect unique, 

nonrenewable and fragile biological, geological, hydrological, cultural, paleontological, 

scientific and recreational values for present and future users. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar 

National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize providing opportunities for scientific research, 

educational study, and recreational experiences which are compatible and consistent with 

protection of all biologic and non-biologic resources associated with caves and karst landforms.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Manage for non-impairment of natural cave features and conditions.

• Geo-caching would not be allowed in caves or at cave entrances.

• Manage recreational use of caves under a cave management plan and address: protecting and 

maintaining cave resources, including wildlife species and habitat in and around caves, by 

interpreting, restricting, and/or prohibiting nonconforming uses; enhancing user experiences 

and opportunities by managing use at levels compatible with resource carrying capacity and 

protection.

• Mystery Cave is located near the Big Horn Tack-On WSA and would be managed consistent 

with non-impairment criteria and recommended for withdrawal from mineral entry and NL 

for oil and gas leasing, exploration and/or development. 

• Mystery Cave would be managed as a significant cave. A cave management plan would be 

developed for Mystery Cave.
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Appendix K K-59 September 2015

• Surface disturbing or disruptive activities within 1⁄4 mile of cave entrances may be allowed if 

the activity benefits the desired outcome of this resource. 

• Cave and karst areas would be inventoried prior to oil and gas leasing, exploration and/or 

development. An approved mitigation plan would be required to avoid impacts to cave 

resources (CSU) (20,440 acres).

• Inventory of cave and karst areas would be required prior to surface-disturbing activities. 

Cave and karst resources would be open to mineral development with an approved mitigation 

plan that protects resource values. 

• Cave and karst areas would be managed as ROW avoidance areas. 

K.21.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.21.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Management of cave and 

karst resources would not adversely affect the black-footed ferret. Protection buffers or 

avoidance areas may be set up to protect cave or karst resources, which in turn may protect 

prairie dog and potential black-footed ferret habitat. Therefore, implementing cave and karst 

management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due 

to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This determination is based on the potential for protection of 

prairie dog and black-footed ferret habitats if avoidance areas are implemented around cave and 

karst resources.

K.21.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Management of cave and karst resources would not adversely impact the Canada lynx. 

Protection buffers or avoidance areas may be set up to protect cave or karst resources, which in 

turn may protect Canada lynx habitat. Implementing cave and karst management actions may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). 

This determination is based on the potential for protection of lynx habitat if avoidance areas are 

implemented around cave and karst resources along with existing conservation measures.

K.21.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Management of cave and karst resources would not adversely impact the grizzly bear. Protection 

buffers or avoidance areas may be set up to protect cave or karst resources, which in turn may 

protect grizzly bear habitat. Implementing cave and karst management actions may affect, but 

are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-60 Appendix K

determination is based on the potential for protection of grizzly bear habitat if avoidance areas 

are implemented around cave and karst resources along with existing conservation measures.

K.22 Energy and Mineral Resources – Oil and Gas

• Activity Description

In general, oil and gas management activities would provide opportunities for exploration and 

development of fluid mineral resources on available public lands. The Billings and Pompeys 

Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize providing opportunities for exploring, 

leasing, and developing conventional oil and gas, coal bed natural gas, and geothermal resources 

while applying the appropriate lease stipulations and conditions of approval to mitigate 

environmental impacts from development. These opportunities for geophysical (e.g. seismic) 

exploration for oil and gas would be subject to appropriate mitigating measures.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Federal oil and gas leasing authority for public lands is found in the Mineral Leasing Act of 

1920, as amended; and for acquired lands in the Acquired Lands Leasing Act of 1947, as 

amended. Leasing of federal oil and gas is affected by other acts such as the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, FLPMA 

(1976), the Wilderness Act of 1964, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and 

the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987. Regulations and other 

guidance governing federal oil and gas leasing and lease operations are contained in 43 CFR 

Group 3100, Onshore Operating Orders, Notices to Lessees, and BLM handbooks manuals 

and instruction memorandums. Regulations governing geophysical exploration are found at 

43 CFR 3150.

• All public lands available for oil and gas leasing would be offered first by competitive bid at 

an oral auction.

• Appropriate stipulations would be applied at the time of leasing. 

• Areas where oil and gas development would coexist with other resource uses would be open 

to leasing under standard lease terms or with added stipulations. Stipulations are a part of the 

lease only when environmental and planning records show the need for them. Three types of 

stipulations describe how lease rights are modified: no surface occupancy, timing limitation 

(seasonal restriction), and controlled surface use. (For descriptions, see Leasing Process in 

the Oil and Gas section of Appendix D – Fluid Minerals) Stipulations may be changed by 

application of waivers, exceptions, or modifications. The decision whether to grant waivers, 

exceptions, or modifications generally occurs during the Application for Permit to Drill 

approval process. If the authorized officer determines the change to be substantial, the 

preferred alternative would be subject to a 30-day public review period. Waivers are a 

permanent exemption from a lease stipulation. This occurs when the resource does not 

require the protection of stipulation. Exceptions are granted on a case-by-case basis. Each 

time the lessee applies for an exception, the resource objective of the stipulation must be met. 

Modifications are fundamental changes to the provisions of a lease stipulation either 

temporarily or for the term of the lease.
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Appendix K K-61 September 2015

• An oil and gas lease grants the lessee the right to explore for, extract, remove, and dispose of 

oil and gas deposits that may be found on the leased lands. The lessee may exercise the 

rights conveyed by the lease, subject to lease terms and any lease stipulations (modifications 

of the lease), and permit approval requirements.

• The terms of existing oil and gas leases cannot be changed by the decisions in this document. 

When the lease expires, the area would be managed for oil and gas according to the decisions 

reached in this document.

• For federal oil and gas where the surface is managed by another federal agency, the BLM 

would consult with that agency before issuing leases. In areas where oil and gas 

development may conflict with other resources, the areas may be closed to leasing in 

accordance with decisions made from this document. Regulations at part 43 CFR 3100.0-

3(d); the Secretary’s general authority to prevent the waste and dissipation of public 

property; and the Attorney General’s Opinion of April 2, 1941 (Vol. 40 Op. Atty. Gen 41) 

allow the BLM to lease lands that are otherwise unavailable for leasing if oil and gas is being 

drained from such lands. If the unavailable lands were under the jurisdiction of another 

agency, leasing of such lands would only occur following consultation, and consent if 

necessary, from the surface managing agency.

• On Bureau of Reclamation or Corps of Engineers lands, in addition to the resource specific 

stipulations under each alternative (e.g., wildlife, recreation); stipulations that are 

recommended by the Bureau of Reclamation or Corps of Engineers would be used (see Oil 

and Gas section in Appendix C – Fluid Minerals).

• Unavailable lands for this RMP (Table 2-4) would be leased only if a state or fee well is 

proposed or completed within the same spacing unit, or if the lands are within a producing 

unit. These lands would be leased with a no surface occupancy and no subsurface occupancy 

stipulation with no waiver, modification or exception provisions. There would only be a 

paper transaction with no physical impacts on the unavailable lands. There would be no 

exploration or development (drilling or production) within the unavailable lands. After 

issuance of a lease, the lease would be committed to a communitization agreement and the 

United States would then receive revenue in proportion to its acreage interest as it bears to 

the entire acreage interest committed to the agreements.

• Additional information can be provided to the lessee in the form of a lease notice. This 

notice does not place restrictions on lease operation, but does provide information about 

applicable laws and regulations, and the requirements for additional information to be 

supplied by the lessee.

• After lease issuance, the lessee may conduct lease operations with an approved permit. 

Proposed drilling and associated activities must be approved before beginning operations. 

The operator must file an Application for Permit to Drill or Sundry Notice that must be 

approved according to (1) lease stipulations, (2) Onshore Oil and Gas Order, and (3) 

regulations and laws. (See Permitting in the Oil and Gas section of Appendix D – Fluid 

Minerals).

• Follow interim management policy and guidance for mineral leasing in WSAs as appropriate. 

All WSAs would be closed to new oil and gas leases.

• Oil and gas geophysical activity which is administered by the BLM is governed by 

regulations found at 43 CFR Subparts 3150, 3151 and 3154. Additional guidance is found in 

BLM Manual Section 3150 and Handbook 3150. For additional information on geophysical 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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September 2015 K-62 Appendix K

operations and the BLM’s procedures and regulations see the Geophysical Operations 

portion of the oil and gas section of the Appendix D – Fluid Minerals.

• The BLM would review Notices of Intent to Conduct Geophysical Exploration in the 

planning area and develop appropriate mitigation measures so as not to create undue and 

unnecessary degradation. A site-specific environmental analysis would be prepared for each 

NOI filed.

• Lands in the planning area would be available for geothermal leasing, unless located within 

wilderness or WSAs or in instances where it is determined that issuing the lease would cause 

unnecessary or undue degradation to public lands or resources. Other areas that would be 

made unavailable are listed in the Record of Decision and RMP Amendments for Geothermal 

Leasing in the Western United States (December, 2008) which is incorporated in this RMP. 

A site-specific environmental analysis would be prepared as needed should interest be 

expressed in exploring for or developing geothermal resources in the planning area. This 

analysis would address the application of stipulations and develop any additional mitigating 

measures over and above the lease stipulations required.

• Stipulations developed in this document for oil and gas leases would be applied to any 

geothermal lease issued if appropriate. If geothermal exploration and production activity is 

sufficiently different from oil and gas, the stipulations developed would be modified. 

• Oil and Gas

− Manage 6,158 acres as open to leasing, subject to standard lease terms. 

− Manage 336,753 acres as open to leasing subject to moderate constraints (CSU/TL 

stipulations). 

− Manage 263,185 acres as open to leasing subject to major constraints (NSO). 

− Manage 65,891 acres as closed to leasing in the following areas (NL):

− Non-Discretionary (28,682 acres):

 Pompeys Pillar NM-51 acres, Big Horn Tack-on WSA-2,689 acres, Burnt Timber 

Canyon WSA-3,516 acres, Pryor Mountain WSA-15,590 , Twin Coulee-6,836 acres

− Discretionary (37,209 acres):

 East Pryor ACEC -11,122 acres, Four Dances ACEC-784 acres, Meeteetse Spires 

ACEC -965 acres, Weatherman Draw ACEC-4,986 acres, PMWHR-24,595 acres, 

Lands with Wilderness Characteristics-1,709 acres

• Geophysical Exploration

− Geophysical exploration would not be allowed in the following areas:

 Pompeys Pillar ACEC 432 acres, East Pryor Mountain ACEC 11,122 acres, Four 

Dances ACEC 784 acres, Meeteetse Spires ACEC 965 acres, Petroglyph Canyon 

ACEC 240 acres, Pryor Foothills RNA ACEC 2,606 acres, Stark Site ACEC 799 acres, 

Weatherman Draw ACEC 12,277 acres

 Within 1⁄2 mile of bald eagle nest sites which have been active within the past 7 years 

and within bald eagle nesting habitat in riparian areas.

 Within 1⁄2 mile of ferruginous hawk nest sites which have been active within the past 2 

years.

 Within 1 mile of peregrine falcon nesting sites (distance may be reduced if natural 

barriers reduces line of site).

 Within 1⁄2 mile of raptor nests (peregrine, ferruginous and bald eagles noted above) 

from March 1 to August 1 which have been active in the last 2 years (distance may be 

reduced).
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Appendix K K-63 September 2015

 Bighorn Sheep Habitat.

K.22.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.22.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. However, if prairie dogs 

and black-footed ferrets were present in an oil and gas development area, they may be displaced, 

or their habitats degraded by the extraction of these resources. It is conceivable that any blackfooted ferrets present could be run over by vehicles, though being nocturnal by nature decreases 

the chances of this event. A slight increase in avian predation is possible in developed areas 

where structures provide raptor perches near prairie dog colonies. Oil and gas development may 

result in the reduction of potential future reintroduction sites due to habitat loss and alteration 

and changes in prey abundance, thus compromising successful recovery of the black-footed 

ferret. Implementing management actions associated with oil and gas development may affect, 

but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to discountable effects (NLAAd). This determination is based on the current absence of black-footed ferrets in the planning 

area, the USFWS’ prairie dog colony pre-clearance requirements, overall project review, and 

existing conservation measures.

K.22.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Human activity associated with oil and gas development can adversely impact Canada lynx 

behavior by causing them to avoid or abandon these development areas. Construction of roads, 

pads, and other facilities associated with development or access by OHVs during exploration 

may alter or destroy existing terrestrial habitats that may be suitable for Canada lynx foraging or 

as travel linkages between suitable habitats. Increased vehicle traffic associated with mineral 

and geology exploration, development, and operation may lead to increases in vehicle collisions 

with Canada lynx and increased intrusion by competing predators, such as bobcats, coyotes, and 

wolves. Additional impacts are a consequence of increased human access into habitat and 

fragmentation, loss of snowshoe hare and red squirrel habitats, associated noise and human 

activity, associated hazards (such as chemical toxins), and temporal and spatial project 

considerations. However, by implementing Canada lynx conservation measures oil and gas 

management action may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to 

insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the conservation measures in place 

that will preclude, minimize, or remove adverse effects to the Canada lynx and its habitat.

K.22.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-64 Appendix K

Human activity associated with oil and gas development can adversely impact grizzly bear 

behavior by causing them to avoid or abandon these development areas. Construction of roads, 

pads, and other facilities associated with development or access by OHVs during exploration 

may alter or destroy existing terrestrial habitats that may be suitable for grizzly bear foraging or 

as travel linkages between suitable habitats. Increased vehicle traffic associated with mineral and 

geology exploration, development, and operation may lead to increases in vehicle collisions with 

grizzly bear and increased intrusion by competing predators, such as bobcats, coyotes, and 

wolves. Additional impacts are a consequence of increased human access into habitat and 

fragmentation, loss of prey/forage habitats, associated noise and human activity, associated 

hazards (such as chemical toxins), and temporal and spatial project considerations. However, by 

implementing grizzly bear conservation measures oil and gas management action may affect, but 

are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This 

determination is based on the conservation measures in place that will preclude, minimize, or 

remove adverse effects to the grizzly bear and its habitat.

K.23 Energy and Mineral Resources – Solid Leasable Minerals

• Activity Description

In general, solid leasable mineral management would make federal solid mineral resources 

available for exploration and acquisition consistent with other resource goals. The Billings and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would identify the public lands open to solid 

minerals leasing in accordance with existing laws and regulations (43 CFR 3400 and 3500).

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• The BLM would consider proposals for developing leasable minerals (coal, phosphate, 

sodium, potash, sulfur, oil shale, native asphalt, and solid and semi-solid bituminous rock) 

under the administration of the federal government on a case by case basis. Site specific 

environmental analysis would be required to lease these minerals.

• The BLM would allow exploration and development of solid minerals as authorized under 

the 1920 and 1947 Mineral Leasing Acts.

• Prospecting permits would be available for all land not closed to mineral leasing in 

conformance with 43 CFR 3500.

• The following areas would be closed to solid mineral leasing and development (200,539 

acres):

− Big Horn Tack-On WSA (2,689 acres), Burnt Timber Canyon WSA (3,516 acres), Pryor 

Mountain WSA (15,590 acres), Twin Coulee WSA (6,836 acres). If Twin Coulee WSA is 

released from further consideration, the area may be open for solid mineral leasing and 

development. Lands with Wilderness Characteristics ( 3,833 acres), Bridger Fossil Area 

ACEC (577 acres), East Pryor ACEC (11,122 acres), Four Dances ACEC (784 acres), 

Grove Creek ACEC (8,251 acres), Meeteetse Spires ACEC (965 acres), Petroglyph 

Canyon ACEC (240 acres), Pompeys Pillar NM and ACEC (432 acres), Pryor Foothills 

RNA/ACEC (2,606 acres), Weatherman Draw ACEC (4,986 acres).
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Appendix K K-65 September 2015

• Greater Sage-Grouse RPAs (60,165 acres). Leasable mineral development using surface 

methods would not be allowed. In situ mining may be allowed.

• Remainder of Planning Area: Process lease by application (LBAs) for new coal leases by 

applying the coal screening process to the application. The coal screening process results 

would determine which lands may be available for further consideration for coal leasing and 

development. Appropriate NEPA analysis would be required prior to leasing. If any of the 

existing RMP (BLM 1984) coal-screening management decisions are current and relevant to 

the application area, they would be applied.

K.23.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.23.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. However, if prairie dogs 

and black-footed ferrets were present in a solid leasable minerals development area, they may be 

displaced, or their habitats degraded by the extraction of these resources. It is conceivable that 

any black-footed ferrets present could be run over by vehicles, though being nocturnal by nature 

decreases the chances of this event. A slight increase in avian predation is possible in developed 

areas where structures provide raptor perches near prairie dog colonies. Solid leasable minerals 

development may result in the reduction of potential future reintroduction sites due to habitat 

loss and alteration and changes in prey abundance, thus compromising successful recovery of the 

black-footed ferret. Implementing management actions associated with solid leasable minerals 

development may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to 

discountable effects (NLAA-d). This determination is based on the current absence of blackfooted ferrets in the planning area, the USFWS’ prairie dog colony pre-clearance requirements, 

overall project review, and existing conservation measures.

K.23.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Human activity associated with solid leasable minerals development can adversely impact 

Canada lynx behavior by causing them to avoid or abandon these development areas. 

Construction of roads and other facilities associated with development or access by OHVs during 

exploration may alter or destroy existing terrestrial habitats that may be suitable for Canada lynx 

foraging or as travel linkages between suitable habitats. Increased vehicle traffic associated with 

mineral and geology exploration, development, and operation may lead to increases in vehicle 

collisions with Canada lynx and increased intrusion by competing predators, such as bobcats, 

coyotes, and wolves. Additional impacts are a consequence of increased human access into 

habitat and fragmentation, loss of snowshoe hare and red squirrel habitats, associated noise and 

human activity, associated hazards (such as chemical toxins), and temporal and spatial project 

considerations. However, by implementing Canada lynx conservation measures solid leasable 

minerals management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx 

due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the conservation measures 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

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September 2015 K-66 Appendix K

in place that will preclude, minimize, or remove adverse effects to the Canada lynx and its 

habitat.

K.23.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Human activity associated with solid leasable minerals development can adversely impact 

grizzly bear behavior by causing them to avoid or abandon these development areas. 

Construction of roads and other facilities associated with development or access by OHVs during 

exploration may alter or destroy existing terrestrial habitats that may be suitable for grizzly bear 

foraging or as travel linkages between suitable habitats. Increased vehicle traffic associated with 

mineral and geology exploration, development, and operation may lead to increases in vehicle 

collisions with grizzly bears and increased intrusion by competing predators, such as bobcats, 

coyotes, and wolves. Additional impacts are a consequence of increased human access into 

habitat and fragmentation, loss of prey/forage habitats, associated noise and human activity, 

associated hazards (such as chemical toxins), and temporal and spatial project considerations. 

However, by implementing grizzly bear conservation measures solid leasable minerals 

management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to 

insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the conservation measures in place 

that will preclude, minimize, or remove adverse effects to the grizzly bear and its habitat.

K.24 Energy and Mineral Resources – Salable Minerals

• Activity Description

In general, salable minerals management would provide land-use opportunities contributing to 

economic benefits and meet local infrastructure needs while protecting or minimizing adverse 

impacts to other resources and resource uses. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize identifying the public lands open to minerals materials 

disposal in accordance with existing laws and regulations (43 CFR 3600).

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• BLM would dispose of saleable minerals on unpatented mining claims only for a public 

purpose when no reasonable alternative exists. Saleable mineral sites would have an 

approved mining and reclamation plan and an environmental analysis prior to being opened. 

Mineral material would be sold at a fair market value to the public, but would be free to state, 

county, or other local governments when used for public projects. Mineral material sales 

would be processed on a case-by-case basis.

• Valid, existing mineral rights, within the planning area would not be changed by any decision 

in this document. None of the alternatives give BLM the discretion to prohibit mineral 

exploration or development on valid leases or mining claims.

• The BLM would continue to provide for the exploration and development of mineral 

materials unless withdrawn.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-67 September 2015

• New mineral material sites would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. With the exception 

of lands withdrawn from all mineral entry, the planning area would be available for 

establishment of future sites, pending site-specific analysis. Terms and conditions to protect 

public land and resource values would be applied on a case-by-case basis.

• The following areas are closed to mineral material disposals:

− Four Dances ACEC (784 acres), Petroglyph Canyon ACEC (240 acres), Pompeys Pillar 

NM and ACEC (432 acres), Pryor Foothills RNA/ACEC (2,606 acres), Stark Site ACEC 

(799 acres), Weatherman Draw ACEC (12,277 acres), Lands with Wilderness 

Characteristics (3,833 acres), Big Horn Tack-On WSA (2,689 acres), Burnt Timber 

Canyon WSA (3,516 acres), Pryor Mountain WSA (15,590 acres), Twin Coulee WSA 

(6,836 acres). If Twin Coulee WSA is released from further consideration, the area may 

be open to mineral material disposals. Shepherd Ah-Nei Recreation Area, Acton 

Recreation Area, Asparagus Point.

• Greater Sage-Grouse PHMAs (77,947 acres). Closed to new salable minerals; existing 

permits would be renewed with no increase in the permitted boundary.

K.24.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.24.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

Salable mineral mining actions, surface disturbance, and developing roads and ancillary facilities 

could occur in occupied prairie dog habitats. However, no black-footed ferrets are presently 

known to exist within the planning area. Mining actions could result in habitat loss and 

alteration. New road development could result in increased human access and, thereby, create a 

potential increase in recreational shooting and the probability of distemper being transferred 

from domestic dogs. An increase in avian predation on prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets 

could occur due to the use of extraction and ancillary facilities as perches by raptors. However, 

these impacts are anticipated to be minimal due to the stipulations and conservation measures 

that limit surface disturbing activities. Implementing salable mineral management actions may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to discountable effects 

(NLAA-d). This determination is based on the unlikely event for new or existing BLM-approved 

salable mineral development actions to impact black-footed ferrets directly by mortality from 

collisions with vehicles or mortality by distemper and the stipulations and conservation measures 

associated with surface-disturbing activities.

K.24.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Human activity associated with mineral development can adversely impact Canada lynx 

behavior by causing them to avoid or abandon habitats. Construction of roads and other facilities 

may alter or destroy existing suitable Canada lynx foraging habitats or travel linkages between 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-68 Appendix K

suitable habitats. Increased vehicle traffic associated with salable mineral development and 

operation may lead to increases in vehicle collisions with Canada lynx and increased intrusion by 

competing predators, such as bobcats, coyotes, and wolves. Additional impacts may result from 

increased human access into habitats and fragmentation, loss of snowshoe hare and red squirrel 

habitat, associated noise and human activity, associated hazards (such as chemical toxins), and 

temporal and spatial project considerations. Implementing salable mineral management actions 

may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to insignificant effects 

(NLAA-i). This determination is based on the conservation measures in place that will preclude, 

minimize or remove adverse effects to the Canada lynx or its habitat.

K.24.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Human activity associated with mineral development can adversely impact grizzly bear behavior 

by causing them to avoid or abandon habitats. Construction of roads and other facilities may 

alter or destroy existing suitable grizzly bear foraging habitats or travel linkages between suitable 

habitats. Increased vehicle traffic associated with salable mineral development and operation 

may lead to increases in vehicle collisions with grizzly bear and increased intrusion by 

competing predators, such as bobcats, coyotes, and wolves. Additional impacts may result from 

increased human access into habitats and fragmentation, loss of prey and foraging habitat, 

associated noise and human activity, associated hazards (such as chemical toxins), and temporal 

and spatial project considerations. Implementing salable mineral management actions may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). 

This determination is based on the conservation measures in place that will preclude, minimize 

or remove adverse effects to the grizzly bear or its habitat.

K.25 Energy and Mineral Resources – Locatable Minerals

• Activity Description

In general, locatable minerals management would encourage and facilitate development of 

locatable minerals in the manner to prevent unnecessary or undue degradation. Provide land use 

opportunities contributing to economic benefits while protecting or minimizing adverse impacts 

to other resources. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would 

emphasize identifying public lands open to locatable mineral entry in accordance with existing 

laws and regulations (43 CFR 3700 and 3800).

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Standard management practices in the public land administration of locatable minerals would 

continue across all alternatives. The BLM would coordinate with MT DEQ during the 

review, approval, inspection and reclamation of mining operations. At a minimum, conduct 

an annual compliance inspection on each active notice. Requirements of all state and federal 

laws would be met in the management of mining operations. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-69 September 2015

• In cases involving valid mining claims, exploration would occur under all alternatives. 

Administration of locatable minerals on public lands would continue as required by law and 

regulation (43 CFR 3809) by taking the following steps: 

− Review and process notices to ensure the proposed action does not create unnecessary or 

undue degradation of the environment. 

− Review and process plans of operation to ensure the proposed action does not create 

unnecessary or undue degradation of the environment. 

− Conduct at a minimum, annual compliance inspections on each active notice and plan of 

operation. 

− Allow casual use where work is done by hand and no explosives are used. Refer inquiries 

to appropriate agencies for further guidance on other permit requirements. 

• Terms and conditions would be applied to mining activities (within the constraints of the 

mining law) to meet land health standards for uplands, riparian and wetlands, water quality, 

air quality, and native plant and animal species. Note: All withdrawal actions (including 

mineral withdrawals) are processed in the lands and realty program.

• The following areas would be closed and recommended for withdrawal from mineral entry 

(54,761 acres): 

− Britton Springs Administrative Site ,Crooked Creek Natural Area (WY) , Bridger Fossil 

Area ACEC ,

5) East Pryor ACEC , Four Dances ACEC, Meeteetse Spires ACEC, Petroglyph 

Canyon , Pompeys Pillar NM and ACEC, Pryor Mountain RNA/ACEC, Stark Site 

ACEC, Weatherman Draw, Big Horn Tack-On WSA, Burnt Timber Canyon WSA, 

Pryor Mountain WSA, Twin Coulee WSA, and Lands with Wilderness Characteristics. 

K.25.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.25.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

Locatable mineral mining actions, surface disturbance, and developing roads and ancillary 

facilities could occur in occupied prairie dog habitats. However, no black-footed ferrets are 

presently known to exist within the planning area. Mining actions could result in habitat loss and 

alteration. New road development could result in increased human access and, thereby, create a 

potential increase in recreational shooting and the probability of distemper being transferred 

from domestic dogs. An increase in avian predation on prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets 

could occur due to the use of extraction and ancillary facilities as perches by raptors. However, 

these impacts are anticipated to be minimal due to the stipulations and conservation measures 

that limit surface disturbing activities. Implementing locatable mineral management actions may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to discountable effects 

(NLAA-d). This determination is based on the unlikely event for new or existing BLM-approved 

locatable mineral development actions to impact black-footed ferrets directly by mortality from 

collisions with vehicles or mortality by distemper and the stipulations and conservation measures 

associated with surface-disturbing activities.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-70 Appendix K

K.25.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Human activity associated with locatable mineral development can adversely impact Canada 

lynx behavior by causing them to avoid or abandon habitats. Construction of roads and other 

facilities may alter or destroy existing suitable Canada lynx foraging habitats or travel linkages 

between suitable habitats. Increased vehicle traffic associated with locatable mineral 

development and operation may lead to increases in vehicle collisions with Canada lynx and 

increased intrusion by competing predators, such as bobcats, coyotes, and wolves. Additional 

impacts may result from increased human access into habitats and fragmentation, loss of 

snowshoe hare and red squirrel habitat, associated noise and human activity, associated hazards 

(such as chemical toxins), and temporal and spatial project considerations. Implementing 

locatable mineral management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the 

Canada lynx due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the 

conservation measures in place that will preclude, minimize or remove adverse effects to the 

Canada lynx or its habitat.

K.25.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Human activity associated with locatable mineral development can adversely impact grizzly bear 

behavior by causing them to avoid or abandon habitats. Construction of roads and other facilities 

may alter or destroy existing suitable grizzly bear foraging habitats or travel linkages between 

suitable habitats. Increased vehicle traffic associated with locatable mineral development and 

operation may lead to increases in vehicle collisions with grizzly bear and increased intrusion by 

competing predators, such as bobcats, coyotes, and wolves. Additional impacts may result from 

increased human access into habitats and fragmentation, loss of prey and foraging habitat, 

associated noise and human activity, associated hazards (such as chemical toxins), and temporal 

and spatial project considerations. Implementing locatable mineral management actions may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). 

This determination is based on the conservation measures in place that will preclude, minimize 

or remove adverse effects to the grizzly bear or its habitat.

K.26 Livestock Grazing

• Activity Description

In general, livestock grazing management would provide opportunities for livestock grazing as a 

part of multiple-use that improves and/or maintains rangeland health standards. The Billings and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize maintaining existing desirable 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-71 September 2015

(allotment categorization) rangeland conditions or improve rangeland health utilizing best 

grazing management practices while monitoring and evaluating rangeland health to determine 

appropriate management actions. In addition, the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument RMP/EIS would identify strategies for implementation of vegetation improvements 

that maintain the number of AUMs available for livestock grazing to support and sustain local 

communities. Lastly, the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS would 

integrate livestock use and associated management practices with other multiple-use needs and 

objectives to maintain, protect, and improve rangeland health.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Monitor and evaluate grazing allotments to maintain or improve rangeland productivity.

• AUM levels would be sustained on an allotment-by-allotment basis for livestock grazing, 

providing Montana Standards for Healthy Rangelands are being met.

• Maintain current allotment categories (M, I and C – refer to glossary). Throughout the life of 

the plan, re-categorize allotments based on assessments and evaluations. 

• Adjust permit terms and conditions (e.g., increased/decreased permitted use, season of use, 

and kind and class of livestock) when grazing permits are renewed, transferred, or as 

otherwise deemed necessary by site-specific evaluation of monitoring data and 

environmental analysis. 

• Use livestock grazing to enhance ecosystem health, wildlife habitat, or mitigate resource 

issues (e.g., noxious/invasive weed control and hazardous fuel reduction) where supported by 

site-specific environmental analysis.

• During periods of drought, adjust livestock numbers based on estimates of the available 

forage.

• Exclude livestock grazing from small areas (such as springs) within allotments that cannot 

meet Rangeland Health Standards with livestock grazing.

• Site-specific management actions that protect riparian areas would be addressed at the project 

level.

• Grazing treatments and systems would be adaptive to new research, science and 

methodologies.

• Range improvements would be designed to meet rangeland health standards and not 

necessarily forage demand.

• Newly acquired lands would be evaluated for livestock grazing during the acquisition 

process, and subject to 43CFR 4110.1-1.

• Areas open to Grazing, AUM Allocation and Monitoring

− The planning area would be open to livestock grazing.

− PMWHR would be closed to livestock grazing (excluding the Bad Pass Trail allotment 

(149 acres)).

− The following areas would only be open to livestock grazing, on a temporary basis, for the 

treatment of noxious weeds, or as a prescription to meet site specific vegetation or other 

resource management goals: 

 Pompeys Pillar ACEC ( 432 acres)

 Bundy Island (78 acres)

 Sundance Lodge ( 387 acres)

 Four Dance Lodge ( 784 acres)
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-72 Appendix K

 Asparagus Point ( 158 acres)

 Meeteetse Spires (558 acre acquisition area)

− Maintain current available AUMs (up to 54,873). Adjustments to permitted use would be 

authorized, based on allotment specific standards and conformance reviews.

− Consider adjusting (increase or decrease) suspended AUMs, based on monitoring data and 

range conditions. 

− Priority Allotments for monitoring and evaluation would be allotments which:

 Are not meeting standards for rangeland health 

 Contain special status species habitat (including sage grouse PHMAs / RAs)

 Contain impaired streams

 Contain non-functional or functioning at risk downward trend riparian areas.

 Contain invasive plant species.

 Allotments that have established and implemented management plans during the life of 

the plan.

− Assess PFC on all fish bearing streams on a 3 year rotation, with the exception of areas 

that are free of existing or potential threats (approx. 30 miles). (ex: Piney and Crooked 

Creek are the current exceptions).

− If standards are not being met, and grazing is a causal factor, management actions would 

be taken to make progress toward meeting the standard before the next grazing season.

− No supplement or salt placement within 1⁄4 mile of known special status plant sites, unless 

livestock is otherwise excluded (fence or barrier).

• Permit and Lease Renewal and Relinquishments

− Grazing permits/leases would be transferred or renewed for C and M category grazing 

allotments where the new grazing authorization:

 (1)Contains the same mandatory terms and conditions (kind of livestock, the active use 

previously authorized is not exceeded, and grazing does not occur more than 14 days 

earlier or later than as specified on the previous permit/lease). 

 (2)Have evaluation reports documenting that they are meeting land health standards. A 

screening criteria checklist (Appendix PDQ) would be reviewed prior to renewal. If the 

answer to each of the questions is “NO”, the renewal is within scope and NEPA 

compliance can be achieved by preparing a Documentation of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) 

form which references this RMP/EIS. If the answer to any question is “YES”, the 

proposed action represents an exception, and site-specific analysis would be prepared.

− Category I allotments would not meet the criteria for this type of action.

− Relinquished AUMs would be transferred or managed as reserve allotments. 

− Areas with active surface disturbance would be available to livestock grazing. 

− The AUMs for these areas would be suspended during surface disturbance activities until 

at such time grazing would continue in a manner which supports the standards for 

rangeland health.

− No change in livestock conversions from cattle to domestic sheep or goats would be 

allowed in allotments within occupied wild sheep habitat.

− New sheep and goat allotments or conversions from cattle to sheep or goats would be 

permitted a minimum of 14.3 miles from known bighorn sheep habitat. This distance 

would be greater if deemed necessary through site specific analysis.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-73 September 2015

− Domestic sheep and goat grazing operators would be required to promptly notify the BiFO 

if interaction between wild sheep and domestic sheep/goats occur.

K.26.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.26.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. If an undiscovered 

population of black-footed ferrets is found on an allotment, the use of vehicles or OHVs for 

livestock management could result in a collision with a black-footed ferret; however, the 

nocturnal nature of black-footed ferrets will likely preclude such an event. Dogs used in 

livestock operations could carry distemper and potentially transmit the disease to an unknown 

black-footed ferret population. Fences used in livestock grazing could provide additional 

perches for raptors, which could prey on prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets. Livestock grazing 

generally is compatible with prairie dog habitats and can provide a positive effect if managed 

correctly. Grazing reduces vegetation height, thereby improving habitat for prairie dogs. 

Implementing livestock grazing management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely 

affect, the black-footed ferret due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based 

on the current absence of the black-footed ferret in the planning area, the unlikely event of a 

black-footed ferret colliding with a vehicle or becoming infected by canine distemper from a 

dog, the small number of prairie dogs that will be consumed by perching raptors, the potential 

benefit of livestock grazing in prairie dog habitats, and the incorporation of existing conservation 

measures.

K.26.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Domestic livestock grazing in riparian areas can alter the structure and composition of aspen and 

riparian shrubs that snowshoe hares—the primary prey of the Canada lynx—depend on. Cattle 

and sheep grazing in excess of the designated amount of forage may create competition for 

forage and reduction in escape cover for snowshoe hares and other small mammals. Grazing in 

shrubsteppe communities within the elevational range of Canada lynx also may have impacts on 

lynx prey species. Predator control activities conducted by permittees on the range they graze, 

such as shooting, trapping, and poisoning to control coyotes, mountain lion, bear, and bobcat, 

may lead to incidental Canada lynx mortality, especially in the higher-elevation allotments. 

Improper grazing also may lead to other adverse environmental effects, including increased soil 

erosion, degradation of stream bank conditions, and the introduction of invasive/noxious weeds. 

Modifications in grazing to improve riparian habitats, including a reduction in grazing, fencing 

of riparian areas, weed control, and other improvements in riparian ecological function, may 

benefit the Canada lynx. Implementation of livestock grazing management actions may affect, 

but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This 

determination is based on the small likelihood of improper grazing within the suitable Canada 

lynx habitat in this planning area, the low percentage of public land in lynx habitat, and the 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-74 Appendix K

conservation measures in place that will preclude adverse effects to the Canada lynx or its 

habitats.

K.26.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. Also, additional conservation measures for the protection of grizzly bears from 

livestock grazing influences are included in Appendix A.

Domestic livestock grazing in riparian areas can alter the structure and composition of vegetation 

communities that grizzly bears depend on. Cattle and sheep grazing in excess of the designated 

amount of forage may create competition for forage and reduction in escape cover for small 

mammals. Grazing in shrub-steppe communities within the elevational range of grizzly bears 

also may have impacts on forage and prey species. Predator control activities conducted by 

permittees on the range they graze, such as shooting, trapping, and poisoning to control coyotes, 

mountain lion, bear, and bobcat, may lead to incidental grizzly bear mortality, especially in the 

higher-elevation allotments. Improper grazing also may lead to other adverse environmental 

effects, including increased soil erosion, degradation of stream bank conditions, and the 

introduction of invasive/noxious weeds. Modifications in grazing to improve riparian habitats, 

including a reduction in grazing, fencing of riparian areas, weed control, and other improvements 

in riparian ecological function, may benefit the grizzly bear. Implementation of livestock 

grazing management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear 

due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the small likelihood of 

improper grazing within the suitable grizzly bear habitat in this planning area, and the 

conservation measures in place that will preclude adverse effects to the grizzly bear or its 

habitats.

K.27 Recreation/Visitor Services

• Activity Description

In general, recreation/visitor services management would manage recreation resources on BLM 

public lands to provide a diverse array of benefits to the public, including economic, 

environmental, personal, and social benefits. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument RMP/EIS would emphasize developing and maintaining cooperative relationships 

with national, state, and local recreation providers, tourism entities, and local recreational 

groups. In addition, it would develop and maintain appropriate recreational facilities, balancing 

public demand, protection of public land resources, and fiscal responsibility, while emphasizing 

and supporting collaborative public outreach, awareness events, and programs that promote 

public service and stewardship. Lastly, the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS would encourage sustainable travel and tourism development with local communities 

and provide community-based conservation support for visitor services. Emphasis would be 

placed on providing interpretive and informational signs and materials for public lands visitors, 

maintaining facilities to a high standard consistent with the recreational setting, and limiting 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-75 September 2015

development of additional facilities to those areas where public recreational use of surrounding 

public lands requires them.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Identify portions of the planning area not delineated as an SRMA as Extensive Recreation 

Management Area (ERMA). ERMAs would be provided custodial management to protect 

resources and visitor health and safety, and minimize user conflicts. Activity-level, 

interdisciplinary plans would be developed when and where necessary to address emerging 

issues affecting public lands users or resources. 

• Conduct periodic accessibility, safety, and condition assessments in accordance with Bureau 

policy at developed recreation sites. Prioritize available funds to resolve deferred and 

corrective maintenance needs.

• Allow non-commercial dispersed camping subject to length of stay limitations, without a 

permit on BLM-administered lands in the planning area, except where prohibited.

• Mineral exploration activities would be coordinated for timing to minimize conflicts during 

peak use periods (e.g., weekends, holidays, summer use season, etc.). 

• Cooperate with FWP, private landowners and other partners to improve hunter access and the 

availability of public lands for hunting in accordance with EO13443.

• Use off-site interpretation, education and outreach as a means to protect public resources. 

• NSO for oil and gas leasing, exploration and development within agency-designated fishing 

access sites.

• Special Recreation Management Areas

− The following areas would be managed as SRMAs (9 SRMAs - 117,832 acres): 

 Sundance Lodge Recreation Area (387 acres), Four Dances Natural Area ACEC (784 

acres), Shepherd Ah-Nei Recreation Area (4,680 acres), Acton Recreation Area (3,697 

acres), Yellowstone River Corridor (1/2 mile corridor from centerline) (13,281 acres), 

Asparagus Point (158 acres), South Hills TPA (1,357 acres), Pryor Mountain TPA 

(81,227 acres), Horsethief TPA (12,261 acres).

− Surface disturbing activities related to facility development and maintenance would be 

subject to mitigation guidelines.

− Oil and gas leasing, exploration and development would be allowed with an NSO 

stipulation in the following SRMAs:

 Sundance Lodge Recreation Area , Four Dances Natural Area ACEC , Shepherd AhNei Recreation Area, Acton Recreation Area, Yellowstone River Corridor: 1⁄2 mile 

corridor .

− Oil and gas leasing, exploration and development allowed with a CSU: 

 Asparagus Point (158 acres), Pryor Mountain TPA (81,227 acres), Horsethief TPA 

(12,261 acres), South Hills TPA (1,357 acres).

• Special Recreation Permits

− Establish a Mill Creek/Bundy Road Outfitter Permit Area (OPA) to meet public demand 

for guided hunting opportunities through an activity level plan. The plan would develop 

criteria and monitoring prescriptions to determine the allowable number of permitted 

guides and client participants (34,239 acres).

− An Outfitter Permit Area (OPA) would be established in the PMWHR in order to protect 

the wild horses and fragile resources within the range. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-76 Appendix K

− Visitor use days for both commercial and non-commercial permits would be analyzed and 

identified through site-specific analysis and would also consider other commercial 

permitted uses.

− Issue special recreation permits outside of Outfitter Permit Areas, as appropriate, in an 

equitable manner for specific recreational uses of public lands and related waters as a 

means to minimize user conflicts, control visitor use, protect recreation resources, and 

provide for private and commercial recreation use. “Activity level planning will be 

developed through an environmental review process with public involvement. This 

management approach will identify the necessary indicators to monitor all permit 

conditions of approval that include the standards and stipulations necessary to change 

operations in the future.” 

K.27.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.27.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Recreational sites, trails, and 

actions do not typically occur in or near prairie dog complexes. The BLM’s philosophy is that 

prairie dog shooting should not be encouraged and no SRPs will be issued for organized prairie 

dog shooting events (BLM 2006). Unorganized recreational shooting of prairie dogs is not a 

BLM discretionary action. Implementing recreation/visitor services management actions may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to discountable effects 

(NLAA-d). This determination is based on the current absence of the black-footed ferret in the 

planning area, the unlikely choice of prairie dog towns for recreation/visitor services 

development, and the conservation measures in place to protect the species.

K.27.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Actions associated with recreation/visitor services management have the potential to impact 

Canada lynx behavior and habitats. Activities that create compacted snow conditions, such as 

snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, reduce the special advantage that lynx have to move 

through deep snow with their large paws. This allows for the intrusion of less-specialized 

predators, such as bobcats, wolves, and coyotes, into areas that would otherwise be the exclusive 

domain of the Canada lynx. These other predators compete for prey and can prey on Canada 

lynx. An increase in human activity associated with management actions or use may cause 

Canada lynx to avoid or abandon otherwise suitable habitats. Recreational use is often 

concentrated in riparian areas. Impacts to these habitats may reduce or eliminate foraging 

habitats for snowshoe hares. Implementing recreation/visitor services management actions may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to insignificant effects (NLAAi). This determination is based on the conservation measures in place that will preclude adverse 

effects to Canada lynx or their habitat.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-77 September 2015

K.27.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Actions associated with recreation/visitor services management have the potential to impact 

grizzly bear behavior and habitats. An increase in human activity associated with management 

actions or use may cause grizzly bears to avoid or abandon otherwise suitable habitats. However, 

in some cases, grizzly bears may become habituated to humans and highly dangerous humanbear conflicts could result. Recreation/visitor services management actions would be designed to 

limit human-bear interactions while emphasizing safety and responsible recreation in grizzly 

bear habitat. Implementing recreation/visitor services management actions may affect, but are 

not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This 

determination is based on the conservation measures) in place that will preclude adverse effects 

to grizzly bear or their habitat.

K.28 Trails and Travel Management

• Activity Description

In general, trails and travel management activities are designed to manage access to balance 

public use, protect public land resources, promote safety for all public land users, and minimize 

conflicts among OHV users and other uses of public lands. In addition, these management 

activities promote the management the use of OHVs in partnership with other land-managing 

agencies, local governments, communities, and interest groups through a balanced approach, so 

as to protect public lands by minimizing impacts and resources while providing opportunities for 

the safe use and enjoyment of OHVs. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS emphasizes integrating concepts of habitat connectivity into OHV planning to 

minimize habitat fragmentation and the use of a systematic process that considers the unique 

resource issues and social environments within each individual TPA. Lastly, the Billings and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS promotes cooperation to develop public outreach 

programs to promote trail etiquette, environmental ethics and a responsible-use stewardship ethic 

(e.g., Tread Lightly, Leave No Trace, etc.).

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Motorized and mechanized modes of travel on BLM-administered land (outside of 

established TPAs) would be limited to existing roads and trails. Measureable limits of 

change that would occur to the resource as a result of these travel modes would include 

indicators based on Land Health Standards, accelerated soil erosion and/or other resource 

concerns and potential for natural rehabilitation. Site specific travel planning would be 

initiated if those limits are exceeded.

• Modifications to a transportation network (routes, re-routes or closures) in the planning area 

where travel is limited to existing roads and trails may be made through activity-level 

planning. 
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September 2015 K-78 Appendix K

• BLM would continue to coordinate with MFWP in the Block Management program, or other 

access agreements with other landowners, as appropriate. Designated motorized routes 

would conform with seasonal travel limitations, based on annual block management 

agreements, as determined by the authorized officer on a case-by-case basis. 

• Administrative access would limit motorized use to BLM-authorized use only. The BLM 

employees, permittees, contractors, personnel from other agencies and other motorized 

access needs authorized by the authorized officer, would be allowed for resource 

management, maintenance, inventory, monitoring, or compliance purposes. Public use on 

administrative access routes would be limited to non-motorized access. 

• Motorized wheeled cross-country travel to conduct BLM-authorized activities would require 

authorization. 

• Upon project completion, roads used for commercial or administrative access on BLMadministered lands would be reclaimed, unless the route provides specific benefits for public 

access, minimizes impacts to the resource and would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• The BLM may close or restore unauthorized, user created roads and trails to prevent resource 

damage.

• Motorized off-road travel would be allowed for any military, fire, search and rescue, or law 

enforcement vehicle for emergency operations. 

• Special recreation permits for motorized events, competitive events or organized group 

activities would be considered and addressed through site-specific analysis.

• Non-motorized recreational trails would be considered during the development of SRMA 

management plans (refer to Recreation/Visitor Services section). 

• Motorized off-road big game retrieval would be authorized for individuals with a disabled 

hunter access permit (issued by FWP). Stipulations or limitations would be included in the 

authorization.

• BLM would manage to reduce open road densities in big game winter and calving ranges 

where they exceed 1.0 Mile per square mile. 

• Snowmobile use in the planning area would be allowed, except where restricted, and would 

subject to the following restrictions: avoid locations where wind or topographic conditions 

may have reduced snow depth and create situations where damage to vegetation or soils 

would occur, or where vegetation is taller than the protective snow cover. Ecologically 

sensitive areas would be closed to snowmobiling if resource damage caused or exacerbated 

by snowmobile activity is found to be occurring in these areas.

• Where off-highway vehicles are causing or would cause considerable adverse effects upon 

soil, vegetation, wildlife, wildlife habitat, cultural resources, historical resources, Threatened 

or endangered species, wilderness suitability or other authorized uses, or other resources, the 

affected areas would be immediately closed to the type(s) of vehicle causing the adverse 

effect until the adverse effects are eliminated and measures implemented to prevent 

recurrence. 

• Dispersed Camping

− Motorized wheeled cross-country travel to a campsite would be limited to a maximum of 

100 feet from the centerline of an open route.

− Ecologically sensitive areas or other areas restricted to motorized use would be closed to 

dispersed camping if resource damage is found to be occurring in these areas.

• Game Retrieval
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Appendix K K-79 September 2015

− Motorized off-road big game retrieval would not be allowed for the general public.

• Travel Management Areas (TPAs)

− Establish 11 Travel Management Areas (TPAs) to minimize impacts and provide a 

spectrum of motorized and non-motorized recreational opportunities.

− Motorized and mechanized travel in TPAs would be limited to designated roads and trails, 

except in designated open areas (ex: South Hills OHV Area). 

− An implementation and monitoring plan would be initiated for the TPAs within 3-5 years 

of the ROD. The plan would include signing, mapping, information and education, and 

monitoring of impacts associated with continued use on designated open routes, etc. 

Implementation plan would also identified criteria for route variances specific to each 

TPA.

− Upon project completion, roads used for commercial or administrative access on BLMadministered lands would be reclaimed, unless the route provides specific benefits for 

public access, minimizes impacts to the resource and would be considered on a case-bycase basis.

− The BLM may close or restore unauthorized, user created roads and trails to prevent 

resource damage.

− Variances to travel plan or route designations may be issued based on essential agency 

administrative actions, data variances due to route inventory, boundary adjustments, etc., 

as determined by the authorized officer.

− Travel management planning is not intended to provide evidence bearing on or addressing 

the validity of any R.S. 2477 assertions. R.S. 2477 rights are adjudicated through a 

separate administrative process. The travel planning process analyzed resources, resource 

uses and associated access to public lands and waters. At such time as a decision is made 

on any R.S. 2477 assertions, the BLM would adjust its travel routes accordingly (refer to 

Appendix O – Travel Management). 

− The following route designations were used in each TPA (note: not every route 

designation code may appear in each TPA). Travel Management Areas -Route 

designation definitions –refer to RMP Glossary, pages 44 and 45.

 Open to All Vehicles –

 Open with Additional Management

 Open with Restrictions – Seasonal

 Open with Restrictions – Conditional

 Open to Technical 4WD by permit only

 Open to Motorcycles Only

 Open to Vehicles 50” or less

− Administrative Use Only: Administrative access routes designated in TPAs would limit 

motorized use to BLM-authorized use only. The BLM employees, permittees, contractors, 

personnel from other agencies and other motorized access needs authorized by the 

authorized officer, would be allowed for resource management, maintenance, inventory, 

monitoring, or compliance purposes. Public use on administrative access routes would be 

limited to non-motorized access. 

 Closed to All Vehicles

 Non-motorized use only

• Gage Dome/Colony Road TPA (35,894 acres) – 96 miles of routes
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Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-80 Appendix K

− Management objectives: reduce road density to minimize impacts to sage grouse habitat 

and other resource values. Manage the TPA to provide recreational opportunities and 

access while protecting sage grouse habitat.

− The following routes would be designated in the Gage Dome/Colony Road TPA:

 Open (additional mgmt): 67 miles

 Admin Use Only: 29 miles

• Horsethief TPA (12,261 acres) –38 miles of routes

− Management objectives: provide a range of recreational and access opportunities while 

minimizing impacts to cultural and heritage values and other resources. This TPA was 

expanded to include Stark Site ACEC.

− The following routes would be designated in the Horsethief TPA:

 Open: 8.4 miles

 Open (additional mgmt): 14 miles

 Admin Use Only: 14 miles

 Closed: 0.1 mile

− A rock crawl area would not be designated. Special recreation permits for motorized 

events or organized group activities would be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

• Acton TPA (3,697 acres) – 8.6 miles

− Management Objectives: provide a range of recreational and access opportunities while 

minimizing impacts to cultural properties and other resource values. 

− The following routes would be designated in the Acton TPA:

 Open (seas/cond restriction) 6.8 miles

 Admin Use Only: 1 mile

 Closed: 0.8 mile

• Shepherd Ah-Nei TPA (4,680 acres)

− This TPA is delineated into three sub-regions, based on landscape patterns, use and 

resource considerations. 

− Management objectives: minimize user conflicts and impacts to resources while 

providing opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized activities through three 

distinct management zones.

− The following routes would be designated in the Shepherd Ah-Nei TPA:

 Open (conditional and vehicle (less than 50” wide) restrictions apply): 53 miles

 Shepherd Ah-Nei Area II: Administrative Use only : 11 miles

 Shepherd Ah-Nei Area III: Limited to motorized use (by permit only).

• Mill Creek/Bundy TPA (34,239 acres) – 141 miles

− Management objectives: improve access and provide a range of recreational 

opportunities. Protect cultural and resource habitat values within the Castle Butte ACEC 

boundaries. Emphasis would be placed on minimizing impacts to cultural properties and 

other resource values while providing access for the public, permittees, non-federal 

landowners, and administrative needs.

− The following routes would be designated in the Mill Creek/Bundy TPA:

 Open: 8 miles

 Open (additional mgmt): 61 miles

 Admin Use Only: 67 miles

 Closed: 5 miles
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Appendix K K-81 September 2015

• South Hills TPA (1,357 acres)

− Management objectives: minimize user conflicts and impacts to resources while 

providing opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized activities.

− The following routes would be designated in the South Hills TPA:

 Open to cross country travel - Motorcycles only.

 982 acres Motorcycle Use only. 

 375 acres Buffer area - Closed to Motorized Use (adjacent to residential area).

• Tin Can Hill TPA(643 acres)-3 miles of routes

− Manage to provide a range of recreational and access (public and administrative) 

opportunities. Minimize impacts to cultural properties and other resource values and 

minimize conflicting uses.

− The following routes would be designated in the Tin Can Hill TPA:

 Open (seasonal restrictions): 1.5 miles

 Admin Use Only: 0.5 miles

 Closed: 1 mile

• Cottonwood/Weatherman Draw TPA (76,294 acres) – 309 miles of routes assessed

− This area would be delineated into three sub-regions to address varying resource issues, 

access and recreational opportunities. 

− Sub-Region I - Weatherman Draw/Castle Coulee. Management objectives: protect 

cultural values and resources within the ACEC. Minimize impacts to cultural values, 

fragile and erosive soils and other resources within the sub-region.

− Sub-Region II - Hollenbeck. Management objectives: provide recreational opportunities 

with emphasis on minimizing impacts to sage-grouse habitat, fragile and erosive soils, and 

other resource values.

− Sub-Region III - Silver Tip. Management objectives: provide for motorized recreational 

opportunities with emphasis on minimizing impacts to fragile and erosive soils, and other 

resource values.

− The following routes would be designated in the Cottonwood/Weatherman TPA:

 Open: 103 miles

 Open (to motorcycles only): 3 miles

 Open (vehicles 50” or less): 10 miles

 Open (additional management): 104 mi

 Admin Use Only: 75 miles

 Closed: 14 miles

• Warren TPA (12,170 acres)- 34 miles of routes

− Manage to provide recreational opportunities with emphasis on protecting key sage grouse 

habitat while minimizing impacts to other resources values. Maintain current level of 

access.

− The following routes would be designated in the Warren TPA:

 Open: 1 mile

 Open (additional mgmt): 9 miles

 Admin Use Only: 23 miles

• Pryor Mountains TPA (81,227 acres) – 225 miles of routes
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Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-82 Appendix K

− Protect wilderness values, cultural/heritage/paleontological resources, visual 

characteristics, sensitive plants, fragile and erosive soils, wild horses, and wild horse 

habitat.

− The following routes would be designated in the Pryor Mountains TPA:

 Open: 39 miles

 Open (vehicles 50” or less): 2.5 miles

 Open (additional mgmt): 88 miles

 Open (seasonal restrictions): 0.5 miles

 Admin Use Only: 60 miles

 Closed: 35 miles

• Grove Creek TPA (19,823 acres) – 73 miles of routes

− Minimize impacts to geologic and visual resources, sensitive plants, and cultural and 

wildlife values while providing casual, non-commercial public recreational access. 

− The following routes would be designated in the Grove Creek TPA:

 Open: 12 miles

 Open (additional mgmt): 25 miles

 Admin Use Only: 32 miles

 Closed: 4 miles

− Routes may provide non-commercial access to private property; however, even though 

route has been designated as part of the official BLM travel management network, such 

designation does not constitute or afford the rights of a legally or officially recognized 

easement or ROW.

K.28.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.28.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Closing roads would benefit 

black-footed ferrets by reducing access and associated disturbance, such as recreational shooting. 

Any new access roads, easements, or land exchanges through prairie dog colonies could provide 

additional human access. However, given the BLM-committed conservation measures prairie 

dog colonies would be avoided, thereby avoiding impacts to the black-footed ferret or potential 

recovery sites. Implementing travel management actions may affect, but are not likely to 

adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to discountable effects (NLAA-d). This 

determination is based on no black-footed ferrets existing within the planning area and the 

avoidance of prairie dog colonies as specified in the conservation measures.

K.28.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Additional roads can be a source of fragmentation of Canada lynx habitat resulting in reduced 

opportunity for dispersement and mobility and in increased mortality to Canada lynx from 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-83 September 2015

collisions with vehicles. Any improved access may open new areas to human activity that may 

cause Canada lynx to avoid or abandon otherwise occupied habitats. The degree of these 

impacts is correlated with traffic volume and speed, as well as road width. The construction of 

roads within established ROW decreases adverse effects. Implementing transportation 

management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to 

insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the unlikely event that actions 

associated with transportation would result in impacts to Canada lynx occupied habitat and the 

localized nature of the actions.

K.28.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Additional roads can be a source of fragmentation of grizzly bear habitat resulting in loss of 

security habitat, possible reduced dispersement and mobility and increased mortality to grizzly 

bears from collisions with vehicles. Any improved access may open new areas to human activity 

that may cause grizzly bears to avoid or abandon otherwise occupied habitats. The degree of 

these impacts is correlated with traffic volume and speed, as well as road width. The 

construction of roads within established ROW decreases adverse effects. Implementing 

transportation management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly 

bear due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on the unlikely event that 

actions associated with transportation would result in impacts to grizzly bear occupied habitat 

and the localized nature of the actions.

K.29 Forest and Wood Products

• Activity Description

In general, forest and wood products management promote the management of forestry resources 

to provide a sustained flow of local economic benefits and protect non-market economic values,

consistent with other resource objectives. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS emphasizes providing forest products while maintaining a balance between public 

demand and the health and productivity of native and desired vegetation communities. Forest 

product sales include over the-counter sales of firewood, Christmas trees or other products for 

personal use, small amounts of materials removed as a result of other authorizations such as 

rights-of-way, road use agreements, grazing leases or other land uses. Lastly, the Billings and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS is designed to provide management guidance on 

forest and woodland products (including, but not limited to, saw logs, pulp, post/poles, fuel 

wood, biomass and green biomass) on a sustainable basis.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Commercial harvest of forest products would normally be associated with vegetative 

restoration (including forest health) and fuels treatments and would be designed to meet 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-84 Appendix K

objectives for forest management, wildlife habitat management, fire hazard reduction, hazard 

tree removal, special status species management, visuals, recreation, and travel management.

• Provide forest products as practical, where forests have been damaged by wildland fire.

• Biomass and small diameter materials associated with forest/fuels treatments would be made 

available for use.

• Forest products would be managed according to sustainability limits and where consistent 

with other resource management objectives.

• Removal of dead or down trees would be allowed for firewood gathering for personal use, 

unless otherwise restricted (ACECs, riparian areas, etc.). Cutting of live trees for firewood 

gathering for personal use or commercial purposes would be authorized, on a case by case 

basis after review and compliance with NEPA. Personal, casual use allowed except where 

prohibited. 

• Accommodate the demand for forest products (PSQ) (125 mbf/year; (1,000 mbf short term (8 

years); 3,125 mbf long term (25 years)). (33 acres / year)

• PSQ values may be adjusted, based on monitoring evaluations, due to unforeseen events such 

as wildland fires, current inventories, disease or climate conditions.

• Restrict permits for other forest products (including commercial harvest of mushrooms), 

when other forest product use would conflict with other resource values. 

• Other forest products include, but are not limited to: Christmas trees, juniper, wildings and 

mushrooms. 

• New roads would be built where multiple entries would be necessary to meet objectives. 

• New road construction would be kept to a minimum. Some new roads would be left open to 

the public if travel plan objectives for the area are met. 

• Temporary road construction would be kept to a minimum and decommissioned and 

reclamation initiated within 1 year of project completion.

• When salvage is proposed in dead and dying forests, contiguous acres of undisturbed 

standing and down woody material would be retained, consistent with current scientific 

research to support wildlife species and forest health. 

K.29.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.29.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Actions associated with 

forest and wood products generally occur on forested lands. Black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs 

occur on lower-elevation short-grass prairie and semi-desert shrublands and, therefore, will not 

be disturbed by actions associated with forest and wood products management. Implementing 

forest and wood products actions management action has no effect (NE) on the black-footed 

ferret. This determination is based on the absence of the species in forested areas.

K.29.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-85 September 2015

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Forest and wood products management actions occur in all forest types, including the aspen and 

coniferous habitats used by Canada lynx. Forest management can reduce habitat quality and 

quantity for Canada lynx and their prey, and may reduce large woody debris, which may 

eliminate potential denning sites, reduce kitten survival, and reduce availability of snowshoe 

hares and red squirrels. Pre-commercial thinning has a direct adverse effect on snowshoe hare 

habitats, at least in the short-term. Clear-cutting, logging operations, road and landing 

construction, shearing, helicopter logging, and disease-treatment sprayings all have the potential 

to disturb Canada lynx by eliminating Canada lynx and snowshoe hare habitats and cover, or by 

causing heavy disturbance in habitats used by Canada lynx and their prey. Conservation 

measures in place include the assessment of habitats in suitable and unsuitable conditions and 

ensuing limitations on percentage of disturbance allowable to habitats, as well as restrictions on 

pre-commercial thinning, salvage, harvest prescriptions in aspen stands, improvement harvests, 

and the protection of linkages and connectivity. These measures will provide protection for 

Canada lynx and their habitats. Implementing forest and wood products management actions 

may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to insignificant effects 

(NLAA-i).

Also, additional conservation measures for the protection of Canada lynx from Forestry and 

Wood Practices are included in Appendix A.

K.29.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Forest and wood products management actions occur in all forest types, including the aspen and 

coniferous habitats used by grizzly bears. Forest management can reduce habitat quality and 

quantity for grizzly bears and their prey and forage by manipulating vegetation characteristics. 

Clear-cutting, logging operations, road and landing construction, shearing, helicopter logging, 

and disease-treatment sprayings all have the potential to disturb grizzly bears by eliminating 

foraging habitats and cover, or by causing heavy disturbance in habitats used by grizzly bears. 

Conservation measures in place include the assessment of habitats in suitable and unsuitable 

conditions and ensuing limitations on percentage of disturbance allowable to habitats, as well as 

restrictions on pre-commercial thinning, salvage, harvest prescriptions in aspen stands, 

improvement harvests, and the protection of habitat linkages and connectivity. These measures 

will provide protection for grizzly bears and their habitats. Implementing forest and wood 

products management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear 

due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i).
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-86 Appendix K

K.30 Lands and Realty – Land Tenure Adjustment and Access

• Activity Description

In general, lands and realty management actions promote the management of acquisitions, 

disposals, withdrawals, and use of public lands to meet the access needs of internal and external 

customers and to preserve important resource values. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument RMP/EIS emphasizes maintaining the availability of public lands to meet the 

habitation, cultivation, trade, mineral development, recreation, and manufacturing needs of 

external customers and the general public. In addition, it also emphasizes acquiring or retaining 

access to public lands to improve management efficiency, to facilitate multiple uses and public 

enjoyment of BLM public lands in coordination with private landownership, local, state or 

federal entities.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Newly acquired lands would be managed for the highest potential purpose and greatest 

public benefit for which they are acquired and would be managed similar to adjacent and/or 

surrounding lands. 

• Lands or interest in lands would be acquired by purchase, exchange, revocation of another 

agency’s withdrawals, administrative transfer from another agency, cooperative agreement, 

or donation, where they complement existing resource values. All land or mineral ownership 

adjustments would be based on a willing buyer, willing seller basis and would be managed as 

similar lands are under the approved RMP.

• Evaluate the proposed disposal tracts using the land tenure criteria (refer to Appendix X).

• Parcels of land administered by BLM and discovered through land status updates and 

corrections would be managed as similar lands are under the approved RMP. 

• Lands acquired within administratively designated special management areas, such as 

ACECs and SRMAs, which have unique or fragile resources, would be managed the same as 

the special management area.

• Acquisition of patented mining claims would be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Patented 

claims so acquired would be withdrawn from mineral entry.

• Use all methods available to acquire access: easements from land or land exchange with 

willing parties would be the preferred methods of access acquisition.

• Where BLM administrative access is held through a permanent easement, commercial use 

would require a ROW.

• Retain existing access to BLM-administered lands in conveyance documents.

• Upon project completion, roads used for commercial access on public lands would be 

reclaimed, unless, based on site-specific analysis, the route provides specific benefits for

public access and does not contribute to resource conflicts. 

• Pursue reciprocal rights for public access when granting a BLM right-of-way, as appropriate.

• ACECs, WSAs, Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, archeological sites/historic districts, 

and lands acquired through Land Water Conservation Funds would be managed as Category 

I – Retention.

• Land ownership adjustments would be considered through site-specific analysis, based on 

retention, acquisition and disposal criteria (Appendix X). 

• Establish three (3) adjustment categories based on BLM land tenure adjustment classes:
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-87 September 2015

− Category 1 – Retention: Lands managed in Category I – Retention would include all 

ACECs, WSAs, Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, National Register-eligible 

archeological sites/historic districts, and lands acquired through LWCF. Category I lands 

would not be transferred from BLM management by any method for the life of the plan.

− Category 2 - Retention/Limited Land Ownership Adjustment: Public lands within 

Category II would be considered for limited land ownership adjustments; however lands 

in Category II would not be available for sale under section 203 of FLPMA. Some public 

lands in Category II may contain resource values protected by law or policy. If actions 

cannot be taken to adequately mitigate impacts from disposal of those lands, those parcels 

would be retained. 

− Category 3 – Disposal (land ownership adjustments, including sales): These lands 

generally have low or unknown resource values or are isolated or fragmented from other 

public land ownerships making them difficult to manage. Public land parcels in this 

category are relatively smaller in size (typically 160 acres or less). A listing of the legal 

descriptions of these disposal parcels can be found by alternative in Appendix J. These 

parcels have been found to potentially meet the sale criteria of section 203(a)(1) of 

FLPMA and would be made available for sale, however, exchange would have priority 

over disposal by FLPMA sale. 

• Maintain the 1984 list of public lands identified for disposal – those lands still fall under the 

BLM’s sale authority of the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA) of 2000). 

• Manage 80,060 acres in Category I – Retention

• Manage 353,796 acres in Category II - Retention/Limited Land Ownership Adjustment (no 

land disposals through sale).

• Manage 302 acres in Category III – Disposal (land ownership adjustments, including sale).

• Consider applications for R&PP leases/patents and airport grants only in Category II and 

Category III (354,098 acres).

• BLM public lands would be available for state grants, agricultural entries, or Indian 

allotments only in Category III (302 acres).

K.30.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.30.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Lands and realty 

management may adversely impact black-footed ferret habitats if such actions occur near 

suitable prairie dog towns. Although possible, the BLM rarely conveys properties with high 

resource value, such as those with known threatened, endangered, or sensitive species. 

Conversely, land acquisitions and protective withdrawals may provide benefits to black-footed 

ferrets by acquiring additional land around prairie dog complexes that could contribute to 

reintroduction sites for black-footed ferrets. Implementing actions associated with lands and 

realty may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to 

discountable effects (NLAA-d). This determination is based on the low potential for land 

disposal of suitable prairie dog habitats, the existing safeguards in the conservation strategies for 

protection and avoidance of prairie dog towns, and the low potential for other land and realty 

management actions to disturb or remove black-footed ferret habitats. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-88 Appendix K

K.30.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Current BLM land holdings would be evaluated prior to disposal, including suitability and use by 

Canada lynx. Lands identified as important travel corridors would not likely be available for 

disposal. Lands not under BLM jurisdiction that are suitable or occupied Canada lynx habitats 

may be targeted for acquisition and subsequent management by BLM, which would provide 

benefits to Canada lynx that may not be afforded under nonfederal ownership. Disposal or 

transfer of public lands may affect the Canada lynx’s ability to utilize suitable habitats and travel 

corridors linking desirable habitats. The acquisition of access easements and issuance of ROWs 

and leases for utility corridors may affect the Canada lynx if the associated construction is within 

the vicinity of travel corridors. This may cause short-term behavioral avoidance of these areas 

by the Canada lynx due to the presence of human activity. The establishment of withdrawals, 

acquisition of conservation easements, and road closures/rehabilitation would close areas to 

certain activities that could have a beneficial effect on Canada lynx. Implementation of lands 

and realty management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx 

due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i).

K.30.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Current BLM land holdings would be evaluated prior to disposal, including suitability and use by 

grizzly bear. Lands identified as important travel corridors would not likely be available for 

disposal. Lands not under BLM jurisdiction that are suitable or occupied grizzly bear habitats 

may be targeted for acquisition and subsequent management by BLM, which would provide 

benefits to grizzly bears that may not be afforded under nonfederal ownership. Disposal or 

transfer of public lands may affect the grizzly bear’s ability to utilize suitable habitats and travel 

corridors linking desirable habitats. The acquisition of access easements and issuance of ROWs 

and leases for utility corridors may affect the grizzly bear if the associated construction is within 

the vicinity of travel corridors. This may cause short-term behavioral avoidance of these areas 

by the grizzly bear due to the presence of human activity. The establishment of withdrawals, 

acquisition of conservation easements, and road closures/rehabilitation would close areas to 

certain activities that could have a beneficial effect on grizzly bears. Implementation of land 

resource management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear 

due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i).
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-89 September 2015

K.31 Lands and Realty – Rights-Of-Way, Leases, and Permits

• Activity Description

In general, lands and reality management promotes the management of public lands to meet 

transportation and rights-of-way (ROW) needs while protecting resources. The Billings and 

Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS emphasizes addressing the needs of industry, 

utilities, the public, or government entities for land use authorizations while minimizing impacts 

to other resource values and maintain and/or acquire access across state/private lands to public 

lands for recreational opportunities and management of public land resources.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Analyze requests for land use authorizations and apply mitigation measures (Appendix X) as 

appropriate. 

• Land use authorizations would not be issued for uses that involve the disposal or storage of 

materials which would contaminate the land (hazardous waste disposal sites, landfills, rifle 

ranges, etc.). 

• New ROW facilities would be located within or adjacent to existing rights-of-way to the 

extent practical. 

• New communication site users would be encouraged to locate within existing communication 

site buildings or within boundaries defined by communication site plans. 

• Reclamation of sites would be required where documented resource damage has occurred 

from unauthorized use. 

• ROW exclusion or avoidance areas would be subject to valid existing rights.

• Terms and conditions for ROWs, corridors and development areas would incorporate best 

management practices.

• A lease notice for oil and gas would be provided so that operations can be planned to avoid 

the areas where interference with authorized surface uses may occur.

• Issues in connection with RS2477 roads would be subject to the current guidance

• The following four ROW areas are designated for communication sites: Wall Creek, north of 

Pompeys Pillar, Bridger, and Tin Can Hill. Applicants are encouraged to utilize existing 

communication site facilities to minimize disturbance.

• Carbon geo-sequestration would be allowed in the planning area in accordance with the goals 

and objectives for resources in the RMP. The BLM would comply with policy for issuing 

ROWs for the purpose of carbon geo-sequestration.

• Corridors

− A multi-modal (pipeline and electrical transmission) corridor (identified as Segment 79-

216) would continue to be a designated corridor and is 5.2 miles in length, 3,500 feet in 

width, located in Carbon County.

− Silver Tip Road in Carbon County would be designated as a ROW corridor (1⁄2 mile from 

the center line of Silver Tip Road). 

− Applicants would be encouraged, but not required, to use designated corridors; ROW 

requests would be considered on a case by case basis. 

• ROW Exclusion Areas

− ROW Exclusion Areas – ACECs
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-90 Appendix K

 Bridger Fossil Area ACEC (577 acres), Meeteetse Spires ACEC (2,173 acres), 

Petroglyph Canyon (240 acres), Pompeys Pillar ACEC – Zone A and B (83 acres), 

except those necessary to service the site facilities, Portion of Weatherman Draw 

ACEC (4,986 acres: original ACEC and acquisition).

− ROW Exclusion Areas – WSAs and Lands with Wilderness Characteristics

 Big Horn Tack-On WSA (2,689 acres) , Burnt Timber Canyon WSA (3,516 acres), 

Pryor Mountain WSA (15,590 acres), Twin Coulee WSA (6,836 acres). In addition, if 

not designated by Congress as Wilderness, the WSAs would continue to be managed as 

ROW exclusions areas. Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (1,709 acres).

− ROW Exclusion Areas – Cave and Karst Areas

 Cave and karst areas would be managed as ROW avoidance areas. 

− ROW Exclusion Areas – Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Areas

 Greater Sage-Grouse PPAs would be ROW avoidance areas (77,947 acres). 

 Utilities and similar facilities would be located adjacent to other facilities where 

practical and only when habitat functionality can be maintained.

• ROW Avoidance Areas

− ROW Avoidance Areas – ACECs

 Castle Butte ACEC (184 acres), East Pryor ACEC (11,122 acres), Four Dances ACEC 

(784 acres), Grove Creek ACEC (8.251 acres), Pompeys Pillar ACEC (Zone C - 349 

acres and restricts ROW to a 500’ wide path paralleling the southern boundary of the 

public lands along Highway 312) , Pryor Foothills RNA/ACEC (2,606 acres), Stark 

Site ACEC (799 acres), Weatherman Draw (7,291 acres – expansion area)

− ROW Avoidance Areas – Cave/Karst

 Cave and karst areas would be managed as a ROW avoidance areas

− ROW Avoidance Areas – National Historic Trails

 L&C NHT and NP NHT would be avoidance areas

− ROW Avoidance Areas – Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Areas

 ROWs may be allowed in Greater Sage-Grouse PPAs (214,038 acres) and RPAs 

(68,564 acres) if habitat functionality would be maintained.

− ROW Avoidance Areas – Other Areas

 Asparagus Point, Steamboat Butte, Red Dome, Red Valley, Portion of Acton, Portion 

of Shepherd Ah-Nei, Bad Canyon, East and Red Pryor Mountains, Hoskins Basin 

Archeological District, Demi-John Flat Archeological District, Beartooth Mountain 

Front (2 mile strip bordering the eastern boundary of the Custer National Forest)

 Avoidance areas would be considered in the future, based on resource protection 

concerns or resource values.

K.31.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.31.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

Impacts would be the same as discussed under black-footed ferret in Lands and Realty – Land 

Tenure Adjustment and Access.
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Appendix K K-91 September 2015

K.31.1.2 Canada Lynx

Impacts would be the same as discussed under Canada lynx in Lands and Realty – Land Tenure 

Adjustment and Access.

K.31.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Impacts would be the same as discussed under grizzly bear in Lands and Realty – Land Tenure 

Adjustment and Access.

K.32 Lands and Realty - Withdrawals

• Activity Description

In general, the withdrawals portions of Lands and Realty protects significant resources or 

significant government investments. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS uses withdrawal actions with the least restrictive measures and minimum size 

necessary to accomplish the required purposes of the withdrawal.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Withdrawals no longer needed, in whole or in part, for the purpose for which they were 

withdrawn would be revoked or modified. 

• Consider other agency requests for withdrawal relinquishments, extensions or modifications 

on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to determining if the lands would be 

suitable for return to BLM public domain.

• All Classification and Multiple Use classifications in the planning area have been terminated. 

• The following areas would be closed and recommended for withdrawal from mineral entry 

(54,761 acres):

− Britton Springs Administrative Site (20 acres), Crooked Creek Natural Area (WY) (160 

acres), Bridger Fossil Area ACEC (577 acres), East Pryor ACEC (11,122 acres), Four 

Dances ACEC (784 acres), Meeteetse Spires ACEC (965 acres), Petroglyph Canyon (240 

acres), Pompeys Pillar NM and ACEC (432 acres), Pryor Mountain RNA/ACEC (2,606 

acres), Stark Site ACEC (799 acres), Weatherman Draw (4,386 acres), Big Horn Tack-On 

WSA (2,689 acres), Burnt Timber Canyon WSA (3,516 acres), Pryor Mountain WSA 

(15,590 acres), Twin Coulee WSA (6,836 acres), Lands with Wilderness Characteristics 

(3,833 acres).

K.32.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.32.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

Impacts would be the same as discussed under black-footed ferret in Lands and Realty – Land 

Tenure Adjustment and Access.
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September 2015 K-92 Appendix K

K.32.1.2 Canada Lynx

Impacts would be the same as discussed under Canada lynx in Lands and Realty – Land Tenure 

Adjustment and Access.

K.32.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Impacts would be the same as discussed under grizzly bear in Lands and Realty – Land Tenure 

Adjustment and Access.

K.33 Transportation Facilities and Access

• Activity Description

In general, transportation facilities and access focuses on managing roads, primitive roads and 

trails for public access or administrative needs, while maintaining or protecting resource values, 

in coordination with other federal agencies, state and local governments and private landowners. 

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS ensures BLM facilities are 

maintained to meet public health and safety requirements.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Roads included in the transportation system would be assigned maintenance levels, as 

needed. Roads would be managed in accordance with objectives identified in the travel 

management areas (TPAs), assigned maintenance levels and in consideration of resources 

issues and available funding.

• Roads and trails would be inspected on an established schedule in accordance with the 

Bureau’s Condition Assessment guidance.

• BLM authorized recreation sites, administrative sites, buildings and bridges would be 

maintained within Bureau standards to reduce deferred maintenance costs; meet public health 

and safety requirements; provide universal accessibility as appropriate and to enhance visitor 

experiences. These activities would be coordinated with other federal, state and local 

government agencies, private landowners and the general public as needed.

• New roads and trails determined to be necessary for permanent or long-term use as part of 

BLM’s transportation system would be constructed subject to NEPA and approved 

engineering standards. Consideration would be given to use demands, location, safety and 

resource constraints when determining the level of road necessary, in accordance with BLM 

Manual 9113.

• Lands available or suitable for transportation facilities within the planning area would be 

identified. Road repair, road rehabilitation, road construction and maintenance standards 

appropriate to specific areas would be identified as well as any limitations.

• If an existing road, primitive road or trail is substantially contributing to resource impacts, 

the road would be considered for re-design, re-routing, closure, or decommissioning to 

minimize the adverse impacts.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-93 September 2015

• Provide adequate administrative and other facilities to accommodate management needs, 

based on management analysis, to maintain, replace, construct, lease; including asset 

disposal. 

K.33.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.33.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Potential impacts associated 

with transportation facilities and access would include long-term adverse impacts such as habitat 

loss and fragmentation. Habitat loss is caused by road construction and road use. Areas with 

many access roads and surface disturbances could disturb prairie dog colonies that may provide 

habitat for black-footed ferrets. Increasing the number of transportation routes could also 

increase public access to areas that previously had been relatively inaccessible to vehicles during 

the winter and spring and therefore potentially increase opportunities for recreational shooting of 

prairie dogs. However, the goals of transportation facilities and access management would be to 

limit disturbance to sensitive habitat types. Implementing transportation facilities and access 

management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due 

to beneficial effects (NLAA-b). This determination is based on the potential for improvements to 

prairie dog and potential ferret habitats if transportation facilities and access management actions 

are used in conjunction with existing conservation measures.

K.33.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Impacts to Canada lynx as a result of implementing actions associated with transportation 

facilities and access would include long-term adverse impacts such as habitat loss and 

fragmentation. Habitat loss is caused by road construction and road use. Areas with many 

access roads and surface disturbances could disrupt travel corridors that link suitable habitats. 

Travel routes could be altered or eliminated, changing some traditional Canada lynx use patterns 

on a regional level. Increasing the number of transportation routes could also increase public 

access to areas that previously had been relatively inaccessible to vehicles during the winter and 

spring. Seclusion areas for Canada lynx would become smaller and more dispersed in these 

areas, which could lead to a decrease in populations as a result of habitat loss. However, the 

goals of transportation facilities and access management would be to limit disturbance to 

sensitive habitat types. Implementing transportation facilities and access management actions 

may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to beneficial effects 

(NLAA-b). This determination is based on the potential for improvements to potential Canada 

lynx habitats if transportation facilities and access management actions are used in conjunction 

with existing conservation measures.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-94 Appendix K

K.33.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Impacts to grizzly bears as a result of implementing actions associated with transportation 

facilities and access would include long-term adverse impacts such as habitat loss and 

fragmentation. Habitat loss is caused by road construction and road use. Areas with many 

access roads and surface disturbances could disrupt travel corridors that link suitable habitats. 

Travel routes could be altered or eliminated, changing some traditional grizzly bear use patterns 

on a regional level. Increasing the number of transportation routes could also increase public 

access to areas that previously had been relatively inaccessible to vehicles during the winter and 

spring. Seclusion areas for grizzly bears would become smaller and more dispersed in these 

areas, which could lead to a decrease in populations as a result of habitat loss. However, the 

goals of transportation facilities and access management would be to limit disturbance to 

sensitive habitat types. Implementing transportation facilities and access management actions 

may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to beneficial effects (NLAAb). This determination is based on the potential for improvements to potential grizzly bear 

habitats if transportation facilities and access management actions are used in conjunction with 

existing conservation measures.

K.34 Renewable Energy

• Activity Description

In general, renewable energy management provides opportunities for the development of 

renewable energy resources from sources such as wind, biomass, and solar, while minimizing 

adverse impacts to other resource values. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS makes lands available for renewable energy development, consistent with goals and 

objectives of other resources, while cooperating with project proponents to promote and enhance 

scientific knowledge of renewable energy resources in the planning area.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

− The following would be closed to renewable energy exploration and facility development: 

 Bridger Fossil Area ACEC, Castle Butte ACEC, East Pryor ACEC, Four Dances 

ACEC, Grove Creek ACEC, Meeteetse Spires ACEC, Petroglyph Canyon ACEC, 

Pompeys Pillar ACEC and NM, Pryor Foothills RNA ACEC, Stark Site ACEC, 

Weatherman Draw ACEC

• Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and Lands with Wilderness Characteristics

− WSAs would be closed to renewable energy exploration and facility development: 

 Big Horn Tack-On WSA (2,689 acres) , Burnt Timber Canyon WSA (3,516 acres), 

Pryor Mountain WSA (15,590 acres), Twin Coulee WSA (6,836 acres)

 If not designated by Congress as Wilderness, the WSAs would be closed to wind 

energy development.
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Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-95 September 2015

 Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (1,709 acres)

• Cultural Sites

− The following would be closed to renewable energy exploration and facility development:

 Steamboat Butte (800 acres) , Bruder-Janich Site (320 acres) , Paul Duke Site (40 

acres) , Demi-John Flat NR District (200 acres) , Bighorn Mouth North Cliffs Rock Art 

Site (212 acres) , Hoskins Basin Archaeological District (2,611 acres)

• Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Areas

− Greater Sage-Grouse PPAs (77,947 acres) would be closed to commercial renewable 

energy exploration and facility development.

K.34.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.34.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Wind farm development 

results in habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, and species displacement from associated 

aboveground and linear features (e.g., turbines, powerlines, substations, and roads). These 

developments could also include injury and death to prairie dogs and potentially black-footed 

ferrets as a result of vehicle collisions during construction and maintenance of facilities. 

However, the long-term goal of these programs would be to improve/maintain habitat quality and 

the BLM would be required by the USFWS to take precautionary measures to avoid impacts to 

black-footed ferrets (e.g., pre-clearance surveys). Therefore, implementing renewable energy 

management actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due 

to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on maintaining prairie dog and 

potential ferret habitats if renewable energy management actions are using in conjunction with 

existing conservation measures.

K.34.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area.

Wind farm development results in habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, and wildlife 

displacement from associated aboveground and linear features (e.g., turbines, powerlines, 

substations, and roads). These developments could also displace Canada lynx from otherwise 

suitable habitats. Increased development and human presence would act to increase stress levels 

of Canada lynx during sensitive time periods. Implementing renewable energy management 

actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to insignificant 

effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on maintaining potential lynx habitats if renewable 

energy management actions are used in conjunction with existing conservation measures. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-96 Appendix K

K.34.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 

Wind farm development results in habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, and wildlife 

displacement from associated aboveground and linear features (e.g., turbines, powerlines, 

substations, and roads). These developments could also displace grizzly bears from otherwise 

suitable habitats. Increased development and human presence would act to increase stress levels 

of grizzly bears during sensitive time periods. Implementing renewable energy management 

actions may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to insignificant 

effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on maintaining potential grizzly bear habitats if 

renewable energy management actions are used in conjunction with existing conservation 

measures. 

K.35 Special Designations (Including National Monuments, ACECs, 

WSAs, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Historic Trails, and 

Wild Horse Ranges)

• Activity Description

• Pompeys Pillar National Monument (NM) and ACEC

Pompeys Pillar would be managed to protect the historical, cultural and biological values, 

including its outstanding viewsheds and unique resources, while providing opportunities for 

interpretation, education and enjoyment of the area for present and future generations.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Manage Pompeys Pillar NM (51) acres to protect the historical and cultural objects for which 

it was nominated a National Monument.

• All federal lands and interest in lands within the boundaries of the PPNM (51 acres) are 

withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale or leasing or other disposition 

under the public land laws, subject to valid existing rights. Consider acquiring minerals from 

willing sellers for the monument and ACEC.

• Promote partnerships and coordination efforts with other agencies and organizations to 

enhance the overall management of Pompeys Pillar. 

• Zone A (25 acres). Objective: Provide visitor access to Clark’s signature and other historic 

inscriptions/rock art, and enhance the visitors’ experience through providing landscapes that 

appear similar to the natural setting Clark viewed in 1806. 

• Zone B (58 acres). Objective: Provide a setting where most facilities would be placed. 

Facilities would be designed to enhance visitor experiences and services.

• Zone C (349 acres). Objective: Improve and/or maintain wildlife habitat, enhance 

recreational opportunities, visitor services, and wildlife viewing. Priority may be given to 

visitor service needs, including facility development, if needed.

• Exclusion area - Zone A and B (83 acres), except those necessary to serve the site facilities. 
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-97 September 2015

• Avoidance (1) Area - Zone C (349 acres), and restricts ROW to a 500’ wide path paralleling 

the southern boundary of the public lands along Highway 312).

• Land disposals are not allowed. 

• Limited OHV use to designated roads and trails (2). Administrative use or other authorized 

use allowed on a case-by-case basis.

• Limit BLM road maintenance to 4 roads.

• NHL (6 acres) managed as VRM Class II. Remainder of ACEC managed as VRM Class III.

• Plant collecting not allowed in the Zone A and Zone B. Limited in Zone C (3).

• Monument (51 acres) closed to oil and gas leasing, subject to valid existing rights. NSO for 

the remainder of the ACEC. 

• Monument (51 acres): close and continue to recommend withdrawal for locatable minerals, 

subject to valid existing rights. Remainder of ACEC (381 acres): close and recommend 

withdrawal from mineral entry, subject to valid existing rights.

• Monument (51 acres) and ACEC (381acres): close and recommend withdrawal from mineral 

entry for solid leasable minerals, subject to valid existing rights. 

• Monument (51 acres): Mineral materials sales and permit not allowed. Remainder of ACEC 

(381 acres): Not allowed.

• Closed to commercial renewable energy facilities and development.

• Geophysical exploration not allowed.

• For fire suppression activities, water use only within monument (51 acres). No heavy 

equipment in riparian area. Appropriate fire management (full protection strategies and 

management tactics) in remainder of ACEC.

• Fuels management and prescribed fire may be allowed in the entire ACEC.

• Fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed.

• Livestock grazing may be allowed on a temporary basis, for the treatment of noxious weeds, 

or as a prescription to meet site specific vegetation or other resource management goals.

• Range improvements and noxious/invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/traplines allowed in Zone C by authorization only. Allowed for 

administrative purposes in the entire ACEC.

• Hunting would be allowed in Zone C only. Management restrictions would be implemented 

in the future to ensure public safety.

• Target shooting not allowed.

• Non-commercial collection of common invertebrate and plant fossils not allowed.

• Cremains scattering not permitted.

• Special recreation permits allowed.

• Transportation management allowed to meet road condition standards.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated (5).

• Bridger Fossil Area ACEC

Bridger Fossil Area ACEC would be managed to protect paleontological values. The following 

management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys 

Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorization, including ROWs would have exclusion areas.

• No land tenure disposals.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

September 2015 K-98 Appendix K

• OHVs limited to designated roads and trails (refer to Warren TPA).

• BLM road maintenance would be limited (4).

• Visual resources would be managed as class III.

• Plant collecting would be allowed.

• Oil and gas leasing would include NSOs with no Waivers, Exceptions, or Modifications.

• Locatable and solid leasable minerals are closed.

• Mineral materials sales and permit are allowed.

• Geophysical exploration for oil and gas allowed (5) if no damage to paleontological 

resources. If monitoring indicates fossil damage, this activity would not be allowed.

• Use of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed.

• Fire suppression would allow for appropriate fire management, no heavy equipment use. Fire 

management would emphasize fuels be removed where there would be threat of loss of 

resource (8).

• Fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed.

• Livestock grazing, range improvements, noxious/invasive weed management allowed if no 

conflicts with ACEC values (5).

• Animal trapping/traplines allowed.

• Target shooting allowed if monitored to ensure no conflicts with resource values.

• Non-commercial collection of common invertebrate and plant fossils allowed (5) by BLM 

authorization only.

• Cremains scattering, special recreation permits, and other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation would not allow new permanent road or trail development for motorized 

vehicles.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated (5).

• Castle Butte ACEC

Castle Butte ACEC would be managed to protect unique cultural values. The following 

management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys 

Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorizations would have avoidance areas.

• No land tenure disposals.

• Off-highway vehicle use would be limited to designated routes (refer to Mill Creek TPA). 

• BLM road maintenance would be limited (4).

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class III.

• Plant collecting would be allowed.

• There are no federal minerals in this ACEC.

• 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.

• Fire suppression would emphasize appropriate fire management; no heavy equipment use; no 

retardant or foam use on Castle Butte, allowed in remaining ACEC.

• Fuels management would remove fuels where there would be the threat of a loss of resource 

(8).

• Fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed.
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Appendix K K-99 September 2015

• Livestock grazing available in ACEC.

• Range improvements allowed if no conflicts with ACEC values (5).

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/traplines not allowed.

• Target shooting not allowed.

• Non-commercial collection of common plant fossils allowed.

• Cremains scattering not allowed.

• Special Recreation Permits not allowed.

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation would not allow for any new road or trail development.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated (5).

• East Pryor ACEC

East Pryor ACEC would be managed to protect wildlife habitat, historical/cultural resources, 

sensitive plant species, and paleontological values. The following management actions are 

proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorizations would have avoidance areas.

• No land tenure disposals.

• Off-highway vehicle use would be limited to designated routes (refer to Pryor TPA). 

• BLM road maintenance would be limited (4).

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class II.

• Plant collecting allowed.

• Closed to oil and gas leasing and development (NL) (11,122 acres).

• Locatable minerals: Close and recommend withdrawal from mineral entry, subject to valid 

existing rights.

• Solid leasable minerals: Closed, subject to valid existing rights.

• Mineral materials sales and permits 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.

• Wildland fire management (natural ignitions) would be designed for resource benefit. 

• Appropriate fire management in response to human-ignited fires.

• Fuels management allowed.

• Casual collection of dead and down allowed for personal use only while recreating.

• Livestock grazing closed within PMWHR boundary, except Bad Pass Trail Allotment (149 

acres). Available outside PMWHR (7). 

• Wild Horses managed only within the PMWHR

• Range improvements allowed.

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/trap lines allowed.

• Target shooting not allowed on 8S 28E. Allowed in remainder of ACEC

• Non-commercial collection of common invertebrate and plant fossils allowed.
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September 2015 K-100 Appendix K

• Cremains scattering not permitted.

• Special Recreation Permits allowed.

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation management would result in a no net increase in road density.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated (5).

• Four Dances Natural Area ACEC

Four Dances Natural Area ACEC would be managed to protect significant historic, cultural and 

scenic values, peregrine falcon nesting habitat, and managed for the natural hazards of the cliffs. 

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorization would have avoidance areas. Uses and practices would be consistent 

with the Deed of Conservation Easement.

• No land tenure disposals.

• Closed to motorized and mechanized (bicycle, etc.) public use.

• BLM road maintenance would be limited.

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class III.

• Plant collecting allowed.

• Closed to oil and gas leasing, exploration and development. 

• Locatable minerals: Closed and continue withdrawal from mineral entry.

• Solid leasable minerals: Closed and continue withdrawal from mineral entry.

• Mineral materials sales and permits 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.

• Appropriate fire management would include use of natural barriers and hand constructed fire 

lines. Use of heavy equipment and retardant would be avoided unless approved by the 

authorized officer. No heavy equipment use near vision quest site, no retardant use within 

100 feet of Will James cabin or rock art.

• Fuels management allowed.

• Wood product sales and commercial timber harvest would not be allowed. Timber 

management for the safety and enhancement of other values would be allowed in the woody 

draws, on the islands, and along the Yellowstone River bottom.

• Buffalo grazing not permitted. Livestock grazing would be allowed.

• Range improvements allowed if no conflicts with ACEC objectives.

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/trap lines not allowed.

• No discharging of firearms. Archery hunting may be allowed, if deemed necessary by FWP 

(authorization from BLM required).

• Cremains scattering not allowed.

• Authorizations would be required or timing and locations would be specified for events, such 

as cross country races. Some limitations on use by the general public may be required to 

facilitate Native American religious activities. These would be limited to specific time 

periods and specific portions of the property.
Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

Approved Resource Management Plan

Appendix K K-101 September 2015

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation management would be designed to not increase the road network density.

• Recreation would be limited to day use area only. Closed to horseback riding (with the 

exception of authorized Native American religious ceremonies), hang gliding, rock climbing, 

paint ball, and discharging of fire arms. Pets must be leashed within parking area.

• Special management and priority would be given to protecting falcon eyries by restricting 

human activity along the rims that might adversely affect the nesting birds. Non-ACEC 

values may be adjusted as necessary. 

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated.

• Grove Creek ACEC

Grove Creek ACEC would be managed to protect significant archaeological and traditional 

cultural values and special status plants. The following management actions are proposed under 

the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorizations would have avoidance areas.

• No land tenure disposals.

• Off-highway vehicle use would be limited to designated routes (refer to Grove Creek TPA).

• BLM road maintenance would be limited.

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class III.

• Plant collecting allowed.

• No surface occupancy for Oil & Gas leasing . Conditions of Approval for existing leases.

• Open for locatable minerals development.

• Solid leasable minerals: Closed and recommend withdrawing from mineral entry.

• Mineral materials sales and permits allowed.

• Closed for renewable energy development.

• Geophysical exploration for oil and gas allowed.

• Use of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed.

• Wildland fire management (natural ignitions) would be designed for resource benefit. 

Appropriate fire management in response to human-ignited fires. No heavy equipment use 

within ACEC.

• Fuels management allowed.

• Fuelwood cutting and wood product sales allowed if no conflicts with ACEC values.

• Livestock grazing available.

• Range improvements allowed if no conflicts with ACEC values (5)

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/traplines allowed.

• Target shooting allowed.

• Cremains scattering allowed.

• Special Recreation Permits allowed.

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation management would not allow for increase in road network density.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated.
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• Meeteetse Spires ACEC

Meeteetse Spires ACEC would be managed to protect and enhance unique vegetation (rare 

plants) and conserve scenic values. The following management actions are proposed under the 

preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorization would be managed with exclusion areas.

• No land tenure disposals.

• Off-highway vehicles would be limited to designated routes (refer to Grove Creek TPA).

• BLM road maintenance would not be allowed.

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class II.

• Plant collecting allowed for scientific use or range/forestry studies. No collection of sensitive 

species without a permit.

• Oil & Gas leasing: Closed (NL) (965 acres – original ACEC). Manage remainder of ACEC 

for no surface occupancy (no federal minerals).

• Locatable minerals: Closed and recommended for withdrawal (965 acres – original ACEC). 

Remainder of ACEC would be open.

• Open for solid leasable minerals.

• Mineral materials sales and permits allowed.

• Closed for renewable energy development.

• Geophysical exploration not allowed.

• Use of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed.

• Wildland fire management (natural ignitions) would be designed for resource benefit. 

Appropriate fire management in response to human-ignited fires. No heavy equipment use 

within ACEC.

• Fuels management allowed.

• Fuelwood cutting not allowed.

• Wood product sales allowed if no conflicts with ACEC values.

• Livestock grazing permitted, except for sheep on 965 acres (original ACEC). The 558 acre 

acquisition is not suitable for livestock grazing.

• Range improvements allowed if no conflicts with ACEC values.

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/traplines allowed.

• Target shooting not allowed.

• Cremains scattering not permitted.

• Special Recreation Permits allowed.

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation management would not allow for increase in road network density.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated.

• Petroglyph Canyon ACEC

Petroglyph Canyon ACEC would be managed to protect unique cultural values. The following 

management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys 

Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorization would be managed with exclusion areas.
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Appendix K K-103 September 2015

• No land tenure disposals.

• Off-highway vehicle use would be limited to designated routes only (refer to Pryor TPA).

• BLM road maintenance would be limited.

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class II.

• Plant collecting allowed.

• No surface occupancy for Oil & Gas leasing (no WEMs).

• Locatable minerals: Closed and continue to withdraw from mineral entry

• Solid leasable minerals: Closed.

• Mineral materials sales and permits not allowed.

• Closed for 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 use, no retardant or foam use for fire suppression activities.

• Fuels management allowed.

• Fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed.

• Livestock grazing available.

• Range improvements allowed if no conflicts with ACEC values.

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/traplines not allowed.

• Target shooting not allowed.

• Cremains scattering not allowed.

• Special Recreation Permits allowed.

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation management would not allow for increase in road network density.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated.

• Pryor Foothills Research Natural Area (RNA) ACEC

Pryor Foothills RNA ACEC would be managed to protect unique vegetation (a large 

concentration of Bureau sensitive plant species and rare plant communities) and to protect 

significant historic and cultural values in the Gyp Springs area. The following management 

actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorizations would have avoidance areas, subject to valid existing rights.

• No land tenure disposals.

• Off-highway vehicles would be limited to designated routes (refer to Pryors TPA).

• BLM road maintenance would be limited.

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class III.

• Plant collecting allowed for scientific use or range/forestry studies. No collection of sensitive 

species without a permit.

• Oil & Gas leasing: NSO 1⁄4 mile buffer on known plant sites (2,606 acres). Inventory must 

be conducted prior to surface disturbing activities (CSU).

• Locatable minerals: Closed and recommend withdrawing from mineral entry, subject to valid 

existing rights.
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September 2015 K-104 Appendix K

• Solid leasable minerals: Closed, subject to valid existing rights.

• Mineral materials sales and permits not allowed.

• Closed for renewable energy development.

• Geophysical exploration not allowed.

• Wildland fire management (natural ignitions) would be designed for resource benefit. 

Appropriate fire management in response to human-ignited fires. No heavy equipment use 

within ACEC.

• Fuels management allowed.

• Fuelwood cutting/wood product sales allowed periodically to protect resource values. 

• Livestock grazing available.

• No range improvements would be allowed that would result in a net increase in livestock use 

in the ACEC.

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed to protect rare plant values.

• Animal trapping/traplines allowed.

• Target shooting allowed.

• Cremains scattering not permitted.

• Special Recreation Permits allowed.

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation management would not allow for increase in road network density.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated.

• Stark Site ACEC

Stark Site ACEC would be managed to protect unique cultural values. The following 

management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys 

Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorizations would have avoidance areas.

• No land tenure disposals.

• Motorized travel limited to designated routes (refer to Horsethief TPA).

• The BLM road maintenance would be limited.

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class III.

• Plant collecting allowed.

• No surface occupancy for Oil & Gas leasing.

• Locatable minerals: Closed and recommend withdrawing from mineral entry

• Solid leasable minerals: Closed.

• Mineral materials sales and permits not allowed.

• Closed for renewable energy development.

• Geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed.

• Use of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed.

• Fire suppression would implement appropriate fire management. No heavy equipment use, 

no retardant or foam use.

• Fuels management allowed.

• Fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed.

• Livestock grazing available.
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Appendix K K-105 September 2015

• Range improvements allowed if no conflicts with ACEC values.

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/traplines allowed.

• Target shooting not allowed.

• Cremains scattering not allowed.

• Special Recreation Permits allowed.

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation management would not allow for increase in road network density.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated.

• Weatherman Draw ACEC

Weatherman Draw ACEC would be managed to protect unique cultural values. The following 

management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys 

Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Land use authorizations would have exclusion areas, subject to valid existing rights.

• No land tenure disposals.

• Off-highway vehicle use would be limited to designated routes (refer to Weatherman Draw 

TPA).

• The BLM road maintenance would be limited.

• Visual resource management would be managed as Class II: 4,986 acres (original and 

acquisition) and Class III: 7,291 acres (expansion).

• Plant collecting allowed.

• Oil & Gas leasing: Closed (NL) (4,986 acres original and acquisition) and NSO (7,291 acres 

- expansion).

• Locatable minerals: Close and recommend for withdrawal from mineral entry (4,386 acres) 

and Open (7,291 acres – expansion).

• Solid leasable minerals: Closed from mineral entry (4,986 acres) and Open with NSO (7,291 

acres – expansion)

• Mineral materials sales and permits not allowed.

• Closed for renewable energy development.

• Geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed.

• Wildland fire management (natural ignitions) would be designed for resource benefit. 

Appropriate fire management in response to human-ignited fires. No heavy equipment, no 

retardant or foam use

• Fuels management would remove fuels where there would be threat or loss of resource.

• Fuelwood cutting/wood product sales not allowed: (4,986 acres). Allowed by permit only 

(7,291 acres).

• Livestock grazing available.

• Range improvements allowed if no conflicts with ACEC values.

• Noxious/Invasive weed treatments allowed.

• Animal trapping/traplines not allowed: (4,986 acres). Allowed: (7,291 acres).

• Target shooting not allowed.

• Cremains scattering not permitted.

• Special Recreation Permits allowed.
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September 2015 K-106 Appendix K

• Other permitted activities allowed.

• Transportation management would not allow for increase in road network density.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the ACEC is designated.

• Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs)

Manage Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in a manner that does not impair their suitability for 

designation as wilderness in accordance with FLPMA Section 603 and the Interim Management 

Policy for Lands Under Wilderness Review. The following management actions are proposed 

under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Wilderness Study Areas would be managed according to the Interim Management Policy 

(IMP) (BLM)-H-8550-1). The BLM is statutorily (FLPMA Section 603) required to manage 

these areas to protect their suitability for congressional designation to the National 

Wilderness Preservation System unless and until Congress either designates an area as 

wilderness or releases it from further consideration.

• Surface disturbing and disruptive activities may be allowed if the activity does not impair the 

resource values and/or wilderness characteristics.

• Vegetation and fuels treatments, including prescribed fire, would be allowed.

• Allow for habitat manipulations in WSAs on a case-by-case basis using methods which 

protect areas from weed infestations resulting from human influence.

• WSA lands would be closed to permitted commercial and personal use wood cutting, seed 

and plant collection. 

• WSAs would be managed as VRM Class I.

• WSAs would be managed closed to motorized use. Is this for wheeled use or all motorized? 

i.e. aircraft. Aircraft may not land in a WSA, nor may air deliveries be made.

• WSAs would be closed to oil and gas leasing and development, subject to valid existing 

rights. 

• Mineral material sales would not be allowed in WSAs

• WSAs would be managed as a ROW exclusion area.

• Manage the following WSAs for non-impairment of wilderness values:

− Big Horn Tack-On WSA (2,689 acres), Burnt Timber Canyon WSA (3,516 acres), Pryor 

Mountain WSA (15,590 acres) , Twin Coulee WSA (6,836 acres)

• The area within the current boundaries of all WSAs is closed to motorized use.

• If Congress acts on designation, and Big Horn Tack-On, Burnt Timber Canyon and Pryor 

Mountain WSAs are not selected as wilderness, the land area within these current WSA 

boundaries would be managed as an ACEC. 

• If Congress acts on the designation and Twin Coulee WSA is released from further 

consideration, the area would be managed a VRM Class II. 

• The WSAs would be closed and recommended for withdrawal from mineral entry except if 

Congress acts on designation, and Big Horn Tack-On, Burnt Timber Canyon and Pryor 

Mountain WSAs are not selected as wilderness, the land area within these current WSA 

boundaries would continue to be closed and recommended for withdrawal from mineral 

entry. 

• If Congress acts on the designation and Twin Coulee WSA is released from further 

consideration, the area would be open for mineral entry and leasing.
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Appendix K K-107 September 2015

• Wildland fire management (natural ignitions) for resource benefit. Appropriate fire 

management in response to human-ignited fires. 

• Wild and Scenic Rivers

Manage to protect the outstandingly remarkable values, tentative classifications and the freeflowing nature of eligible/suitable river segments. The following management actions are 

proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument 

RMP/EIS:

• Management would be conducted in a manner to protect and enhance the outstandingly 

remarkable values for each suitable river segment.

• The following segments would be recommended as suitable for inclusion in the National 

Wild and Scenic River System:

• Crooked Creek (above fish barrier) – 1.59 miles; tentative management class would be Wild.

• Crooked Creek (below fish barrier) – 1.56 miles; tentative management class would be 

Scenic.

• NSO for oil and gas leasing, exploration and development within 1⁄2 mile of WSR- eligible 

and suitable segments (NSO).

• National Historic Trails

In general, management protects National Historic Trails for long-term heritage and educational 

values and to enhance the public experience. The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National 

Monument RMP/EIS is designed to enhance public experiences through interpretation and 

support of heritage tourism and maintain compatible recreational use with historic trail values. 

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• The setting for the Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce NHTs segments would be maintained 

where setting is an aspect of integrity by utilizing viewshed management tools.

• Manage NHTs as VRM Class III. Minimize changes that would result in degradation of 

resource values or opportunities for sharing the experience of the original users of the NHTs.

• An inventory and evaluation would be maintained for the trail segments and include this data 

in a trails management plan.

• Surface disturbing activities would be subject to mitigation guidelines. 

• No surface occupancy for oil and gas development and exploration within 1⁄2 mile of the L&C 

and NP NHTs (NSO) (12,395 acres).

• Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range

In general, the Pryor Mountain herd management area would continue to be designated as the 

Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range and would be managed principally, but not necessarily 

exclusively, for the benefit of wild horses. Management activities for other resources and 

programs within the PMWHR would be designed in a manner to minimize impacts without 

limiting the ability to protect wild horses and their habitat. Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range 

would be managed to enhance wild horse protection, wild horse habitat, and for public health 

and safety.

The following management actions are proposed under the preferred alternative in the Billings 

and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS:

• Wild horse protection - public feeding: Only allowed for management purposes
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September 2015 K-108 Appendix K

• Wild horse protection – harassment: Interrupting their behavior or disruption of their daily 

activities, outside of management activities, such as moving animals to take photos or 

filming, feeding or touching or attempting to do these things would not be allowed.

• Wild Horse Protection - seasonal road closures: Motorized routes within the PMWHR would 

be designated according to the Pryor TPA. Burnt Timber Road from the East Pryor Mine 

(the abandoned uranium mine) to the USFS boundary and Sykes Ridge Road from the horse 

trap to USFS boundary would be closed to wheeled vehicles and motorized vehicles to 

protect wild horse foaling and their habitat (April 15 to June 15) providing consistency with 

the USFS seasonal closures.

• Wild Horse Protection - fencing exclusion: Fences for study, range improvements, riparian 

protection or rehabilitation would be allowed through site-specific analysis. 

• Wild Horse Protection - wild horse health: Domestic horse use would be limited to day use 

only.

• Recreational domestic horse use would require a free-use permit to ensure animals have 

health certifications to protect wild horses from disease transmission.

• Wild Horse Habitat Enhancement: Maximize the amount of acres for vegetation treatment 

and water developments that would increase forage availability for wild horses, to maximize 

and/or increase wild horse numbers within other multiple uses and restrictions.

• Target shooting not allowed on T8S R28E Memorial day weekend through Labor day 

weekend.

• Speed limits for mechanized and motorized vehicles not to exceed 15 miles per hour within 

T8S R28E

• Livestock grazing Bad Pass Trail would be managed as a livestock grazing allotment for 

trailing use only (158 acres). The remainder of the PMWHR would be closed to livestock 

grazing. 

• Special Recreation Permits SRPs for wild horse viewing would initially be limited to existing 

SRPs. Additional (new) wild horse centered SRPs would be permitted only when determined 

not to result in congestion, wild horse displacement or cause an adverse experience for 

members of the public viewing wild horses outside of an SRP experience through monitoring 

of existing SRPs and visitation.

• Land use authorization would be managed for avoidance.

• Land tenures would be managed with no disposals.

• OHV use limited to designated routes (refer to Pryor TPA).

• Limited BLM road maintenance would be allowed.

• Plant collecting would be allowed.

• Closed to oil and gas leasing and development (NL) (11,122 acres).

• Locatable minerals: Close and recommend withdrawal from mineral entry, subject to valid 

existing rights.

• Solid leasable minerals: Closed, subject to valid existing rights.

• Mineral materials sales and permits allowed.

• Renewable energy closed.

• Geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed.

• Use of explosives for geophysical exploration for oil and gas not allowed.

• Wildland fire management (natural ignitions) would focus on benefit to the resources. 

• Implement appropriate fire management in response to human-ignited fires.
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Appendix K K-109 September 2015

• Fuels management, range improvements, noxious/invasive weed management, animal 

trapping/traplines, and non-commercial collection of common invertebrate and plant fossils 

allowed.

• Casual collection of dead and down allowed for personal use only while recreating.

• Routes for commercial or other BLM authorized activities may be considered on a case-bycase basis if the route meets public access needs.

• Other management activities and/or uses would be considered in subsequent site-specific 

analysis, and would consider the values for which the PMWHR is designated (5).

K.35.1 Impact Analysis and Effects Determination

K.35.1.1 Black-footed Ferret 

No black-footed ferrets are known to exist within the planning area. Management actions for 

special designations would also provide protection for prairie dog colonies and black-footed 

ferrets through restrictions on surface disturbances and minerals developments as well as OHV 

use. However, the presence of important values in these areas may also result in increased 

human presence, resulting in short-term displacement of prairie dogs and ferrets, depending on 

the amount and timing of such activity. Implementing management actions for special 

designations may affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the black-footed ferret due to 

insignificant effects (NLAA-i). This determination is based on maintaining and protecting prairie 

dog and potential ferret habitats if management actions for special designations are used in 

conjunction with existing conservation measures.

K.35.1.2 Canada Lynx

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for Canada Lynx on page 13 for a Summary of 

Occurrence in BIFO. There are no Lynx Analysis Units (LAUs) or critical habitat designated on 

BLM, Billings Field Office decision area lands, although lynx may occasionally occur in the 

area. All Canada lynx critical habitat is on adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands.

Management actions for special designations would also provide protection of Canada lynx 

habitat through restrictions on surface disturbances and minerals developments as well as OHV 

use. However, the presence of important values in these areas may also result in increased 

human presence, resulting in short-term displacement of Canada lynx, depending on the amount 

and timing of such activity. Implementing management actions for special designations may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the Canada lynx due to insignificant effects (NLAAi). This determination is based on maintaining and protecting Canada lynx habitats if 

management actions for special designations are used in conjunction with existing conservation 

measures.

K.35.1.3 Grizzly Bear

Refer to “Planning Area Distribution” for grizzly bears on page 15 for a Summary of Occurrence 

in BIFO. 
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September 2015 K-110 Appendix K

Management actions for special designations would also provide protection of grizzly bear 

habitat through restrictions on surface disturbances and minerals developments as well as OHV 

use. However, the presence of important values in these areas may also result in increased 

human presence, resulting in short-term displacement of grizzly bears, depending on the amount 

and timing of such activity. Implementing management actions for special designations may 

affect, but are not likely to adversely affect, the grizzly bear due to insignificant effects (NLAA-i). 

This determination is based on maintaining and protecting grizzly bear habitats if management 

actions for special designations are used in conjunction with existing conservation measures.

K.36 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

For the purposes of effects analysis under the ESA, cumulative effects are defined as effects on a 

species from future state, tribal, local, or private activities which are reasonably certain to occur 

in the planning area. Future federal actions will be subject to the consultation requirements 

established in Section 7 of the ESA, and therefore, are not considered cumulative to the proposed 

action.

The BLM is the majority landowner in the southern portion (Carbon County) and northeastern 

portion (Musselshell County) of BIFO, but is a minority landowner in the western and 

southeastern portions. The BLM does control the majority of land and public access in the 

southern and northeastern areas of the field office while it only controls limited lands and access 

in the western and southeast portion. The BLM has little management opportunity and influence 

in the scattered land ownership (minority landowner) areas of the field office. These areas are 

subject to greater cumulative effects from activities on other ownerships. 

In areas where BLM is a minority landowner, the cumulative impacts of BLM actions that would 

be taken under these alternatives are minor in proportion to potential impacts from actions on 

state, tribal, and private lands. The wildlife habitat values of the public land parcels are important 

as undeveloped areas, usable by certain wildlife species that are located mostly on the BLM 

parcels.

The exact cumulative effect on T&E species is not known because of the lack of specific 

information on future state, local, or private actions. Since most impacts to T & E Species are 

human-related or the result of human activities (e.g., livestock management, mineral 

development,), and the human pressures in the field office area may be expected to change over 

the foreseeable future, the scope and scale of the impacts are not known. Human factors include 

access, roads, trails, noise, disturbance, subdivision development, recreational use, increased 

noxious weed spread, and other resource uses that contribute to habitat fragmentation and 

reduced habitat quality.

Potential projects that could be developed on non-Federal ownership areas, include the Mud 

Springs Wind Farm, an increase in hydraulic fracturing operations, and bentonite mine 

expansions. The Mud Springs Wind Farm proposal is proposed for development entirely on 

private lands about 12 miles southeast of Bridger, MT. It is proposed to be constructed on 

18,000 acres with 120 turbines that are 454 feet tall at the blade tips. In 2014, an unsuccessful 

private land hydraulic fracking well was drilled west of Belfry, MT. These projects could 

increase if oil prices are profitable. Two bentonite companies have proposed mine expansions 
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Appendix K K-111 September 2015

between Bridger, MT and the Wyoming state boundary. Mine expansions may occur on either 

private or public lands. 

The cumulative effects of actions under these BLM programs and their activities may have local 

impacts to populations. A determination of “May Affect, Likely to Adversely Affect” for any 

listed species, or for any impact including cumulative impacts, would require formal consultation 

with USFWS. This would result in a request for consultation with the Service to ensure that 

appropriate analysis is conducted to minimize impacts to a species. 

K.37 Summary of Effects Determinations

Table 4 summarizes the effects of determinations by resource program from the above 

discussion. Table 5 summarizes the effects determination for each species considered from the 

RMP as a whole, based on the resource program effects discussed above.

Table 4: Determination of Effects of Resource Programs for Listed Species

Resource 

Program

Blackfooted 

Ferret

Canada 

Lynx

Grizzly 

Bear

Whooping 

Crane Red Knot

Air Quality NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Climate NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Geology NLAA-d NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Soil Resources NLAA-d NLAA-d NLAA-d NLAA-d NLAA-d

Water Resources NLAA-d NLAA-d NLAA-d NLAA-d NLAA-d

Vegetative 

Communities

NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Wildlife including 

Special Status 

Species

NLAA-b NLAA-i NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Fisheries 

including Special 

Status Species

NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Wild Horse and 

Burro

NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Wildland Fire 

Ecology and 

Management

NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Cultural/Heritage

Resources

NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Paleontological 

Resources

NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d
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Resource 

Program

Blackfooted 

Ferret

Canada 

Lynx

Grizzly 

Bear

Whooping 

Crane Red Knot

Visual Resources NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Lands with 

Wilderness 

Characteristics

NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Energy and 

Minerals

NLAA-d NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Livestock 

Grazing

NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Recreation/Visitor 

Services

NLAA-d NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Travel 

Management

NLAA-d NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Forest and Wood 

Products

NE NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Lands and Realty NLAA-d NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Transportation 

Facilities and 

Access

NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-b NLAA-d NLAA-d

Renewable 

Energy

NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Special 

Designations

NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-i NLAA-d NLAA-d

Threatened and Endangered Species: NLAA-b, -I, -d = may effect, but is not likely to adversely affect discountable (-d), 

insignificant (-i), completely beneficial (-b), NE = No Effect

Table 5: Overall Determination of Effects for Listed Species

Species Scientific Name Determination

Black-footed Ferret Mustela nigripes NLAA

Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis NLAA

Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos horribilis NLAA

Whooping Crane Grus americana NLAA

Red Knot Calidris canutus rufa NLAA

NLAA = may effect, but is not likely to adversely affect.

NLLV = may impact individuals, but not likely to adversely impact population viability
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Appendix K K-113 September 2015

K.38 Literature Cited

Armbruster, M.J. 1990. Characterization of Habitat Used by Whooping Cranes during Migration.

 Biological Report 90(4):1-16.

Baicich, P.J., and C.J. Harrison. 2005. Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. 

Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey, USA. 

Baker, A.J., P.M. González, T. Piersma, L.J. Niles, I. de Lima Serrano do Nascimento, P.W. 

Atkinson, N.A.

Boyce, M.S. and R.S. Miller. 1985. Ten year periodicity in whooping crane census. 

Auk 102:658-660.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 2008. Final Biological Assessment for the Kemmerer Field 

Office Proposed Resource Management Plan. Kemmerer Field Office. September 2008.

______. 2005a. Final Statewide Programmatic Biological Assessment: Black-footed Ferret 

(Mustela nigripes). Submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 

Management. Wyoming State Office. Cheyenne, Wyoming. August.

______. 2005b. Final Statewide Programmatic Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) Biological 

Assessment. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. Wyoming 

State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming. July 20.

______. 2013. Biological Assessment for the Beartooth Front Grazing Permit Renewal, USDI, 

Bureau of Land Management, Billings Field Office, Billings, Montana McKenzie, E., 

Sept. 9.

Clark, C.D.T. Minton, M.K. Peck, and G. Aarts. 2004. Rapid population decline in red knots: 

fitness consequences of decreased refueling rates and late arrival in Delaware Bay. 

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B271: 875-882.

Dood, A. R., Atkinson, S. J. and V. J. Boccadori (2006) Grizzly Bear Management Plan for

Western Montana: Final

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 2006‐

2016. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, Montana. 163 pp.

Federal Register. 1967. Endangered Species - 1967. Federal Register 32(48):4001.

Fitzgerald, J. P., C. A. Meaney, and D. M. Armstrong. 1994. Mammals of Colorado. Denver 

Museum of Natural History and University Press of Colorado. 467 pp.

Fortenbery, D. K. 1972. Characteristics of the Black-Footed Ferret. US Department of the 

Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Resource 

Publication 109. 8 pp.

Harrington, B.A. 2001. Red knot (Calidris canutus). In: A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds 

of North America, No. 563. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and The Academy of 

Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pp. 1-32.
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Henderson, F. R., P. F. Springer, and R. Adrian. 1969. The Black-Footed Ferret in South Dakota. 

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. Technical Bulletin No. 4:137.

Hillman, C. N. 1968. Life History and Ecology of the Black-Footed Ferret. M.S. Thesis. South 

Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota. 28 pp.

Hillman, C. N. and J. W. Carpenter. 1980. Breeding Biology and Behavior of Captive BlackFooted Ferrets. International Zoo Yearbook 23:186191.

Howe, M.A. 1987. Habitat Use by Migrating Whooping Cranes in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo

 Corridor. Pages 303-311 in Proceedings of the 1985 Crane Workshop (J.C. Lewis and 

 J.W. Ziewitz, eds.). Platte River Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust and 

 USFWS. Grand Island, Nebraska.

Howe, M.A. 1989. Migration of Radio-marked Whooping Cranes from the Aransas-Wood

 Buffalo Population: Patterns of Habitat Use, Behavior, and Survival. USFWS Technical

 Report 21.

Jones, S. L. 2010. Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) conservation plan. U.S. Department of 

Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.

Linder, R. L., R. B. Dahlgren, and C. N. Hillman. 1972. Black-Footed Ferret Prairie Dog 

Interrelationships. Reprint from Symposium on Rare and Endangered Wildlife of the 

Southwestern United States. Albuquerque, New Mexico. New Mexico Department of 

Game and Fish, Santa Fe. 37 pp.

Lingle, G.R. 1987. Status of Whooping Crane Migration Habitat within the Great Plains of North

 America. Pages331-340 in Proceedings of the 1985 Crane Workshop (J.C. Lewis and J. 

 Zewitz, eds.). Platte River Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust. and USFWS.

 Grand Island, Nebraska.

Lingle, G.R., G.A. Wingfield, and J.W. Ziewitz. 1991. The Migration Ecology of Whooping

 Cranes in Nebraska, U.S.A. Pages 395-401 in Proceedings of the 1987 International 

 Crane Workshop (J. Harris, eds.). International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Montana Bird Distribution Committee. 2012. P.D.Skaar’s Montana Bird Distribution, 7th

Edition, Montana Audubon, Helena, Montana. 208 pp.

Morrison, R.I.G., R.E. Gill, Jr., B.A. Harrington, S. Skagen, G.W. Page, C.L. Gratto-Trevor, and 

S.M. Haig. 2001. Estimates of shorebird populations in North America. Occasional Paper 

No. 104. Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario. 64 pp.

Niles, L.J., H.P. Sitters, A.D. Dey, P.W. Atkinson, A.J. Baker, K.A. Bennett, K.E. Clark, N.A. 

Clark, C. Espoz, P.M. Gonzalez, B.A. Harrington, D.E. Hernandez, K.S. Kalasz, R. 

Matus, C.D.T. Minton, R.I.G.Morrison, M.K. Peck, and I.L. Serrano. 2007. Status of the 

red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) in the Western Hemisphere. Report to the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish 

and Wildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program, Trenton, New Jersey. 236 pp.

+ Appendix.
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Appendix K K-115 September 2015

Ruedinger, B. et al. 2000. Canada Lynx Conservation Assessment and Strategy. USDA Forest 

Service, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Bureau of Land Management.

Tomkovich, P.S. 1992. An analysis of the geographic variability in knots, Calidris canutus,

based on museum skins. Wader Study Group Bulletin 64 (Suppl): 17-23.

Travsky, A and G.P. Beauvais. 2004. Species assessment for the whooping crane (Grus 

Americana) in Wyoming. 

Online: http://www.uwyo.edu/wyndd/_files/docs/reports/speciesassessments/whoopingcrane-oct2004.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS):

______.2011. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Red Knot. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Species Assessment and Listing Priority Assignment Form, Region 5, Oct. 2011.

______. 2000. Black-footed ferret; Mustela nigripes. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [Online} 

http://www.fws.gov. 

______. 1998. Endangered Species Consultation Handbook. Procedures for Conducting 

Consultation and Conference Activities Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. March 1998.

______. 1993. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan. Missoula, 

Montana. 181 pp.

______. 1989. Black-footed Ferret Survey Guidelines for Compliance with the Endangered 

Species Act. Denver, Colorado, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. April 1989. 10 pp.

______. 1988. Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, 

Colorado. 154 pp.
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K.39 Appendix A

ADDITIONAL CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS for T&E Species:

Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP) 

Biological Assessment Conservation Measures and Mitigation

Grizzly Bear: 

Activities in Potential Grizzly Habitat:

Conservation measures for actions in potential grizzly habitat will include the following Terms 

and Conditions that will be followed. Potential grizzly bear habitat in the field office is primarily 

the scattered public land tracts in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains from Red Lodge west 

to Sweet Grass –Park county line. These terms and conditions were developed to help reduce the 

potential of grizzly bear/livestock/human issues. The terms and conditions would be as follows:

• Grazing Permits would state that depredation loss from grizzly bears is possible.

• Grazing Permittees must notify the BLM, MTFWP, or Wildlife Services, as soon as is 

practical, of any grizzly bear depredation on livestock or conflicts between grizzly bears 

and livestock, even if the conflict does not result in the loss of livestock. (We expect that 

this early notification to the state of Montana and the Service and the resulting course of 

action would likely reduce the chance of livestock depredation and the possible removal 

of the grizzly bear). 

• To avoid potential conflicts, all livestock carcasses, or parts of carcasses, should be either 

packed, dragged, or otherwise transported to a location a minimum of 1/2 mile from any 

inhabited dwelling, sleeping area or tent, road, trail or recreation site and be moved at 

least 100 yards from live water. 

• All human and prepared livestock and pet food, garbage, and other odorous substances 

should be stored, handled and disposed of in such a manner as to make it unavailable to 

bears. Uneaten horse feed should not be left on the ground after feeding livestock. 

• Burying food, garbage, refuse, or grease is prohibited.

• Any livestock carcass found on BLM land will be properly treated or disposed of, so as to 

eliminate any potential attractant for bears. The BLM will include guidance to permittees 

to contact FWP if they need carcass disposal assistance.

The BLM will monitor grizzly bear/livestock conflicts occurring on grazing allotments and will 

look for other opportunities to reduce/minimize the potential for conflicts. 

Projects and Other Development Actions:

Project features would be designed to reduce potential human-grizzly bear conflicts in the project 

area such as: temporary roads would be closed to public motorized access and reclaimed upon 

completion of project.

Field work would be restricted to one disturbance or work location between April 1 to June 30 to 

reduce conflicts with grizzly bears emerging from dens. 
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Sight distances would be implemented to provide security cover for grizzly bears along primary 

or permanent access roads. 

Canada Lynx: 

Forestry /Timber/ Fuels Management:

Design features of timber treatments will include stipulations to provide habitat for lynx prey 

species. Treatments would improve foraging habitat by allowing understory shrub development 

with removal of some of the timber canopy.

Treatments would focus on small patch cuts, or larger cuts with selected leave trees or groups of 

trees. In addition, a minimum of 10% of any specific treatment unit would be left in “islands” to 

provide wildlife habitat in the forms of hiding, bedding, and thermal cover. Standing, large 

snags would also be targeted for retention to provide wildlife habitat. 

SNAG MANAGEMENT Guidelines:

All Treatment Units:

• Snags and recruitment snags are to provide for nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for 

small mammals and birds such as bats, woodpeckers, owls, songbirds, etc. Clumping (versus 

even spacing) of snags is preferable if desired snag species and larger dbh (diameter at breast 

height) snags are available for the snag retention clump.

• In forested areas, maintain greater than or equal to 40 snags/recruitment trees per 5-acre 

average; retain the largest size class available pretreatment in all stages of development. These 

should consist of at least 30 snags per 5 acres and 10 recruitment snags (green trees) per 5 acres. 

Guidelines for snags include:

1. Retain all soft snags (class 3, 4, and 5) that are not a safety hazard to meet the 

above targets.

2. Retain hard snags (when they are present) in the largest size class available (pretreatment) to meet the above targets.

3. Tree species selected for snag and recruitment tree retention shall be determined 

with coordination between the Wildlife Biologist, Silviculturist, and others as 

necessary to ensure proper species composition and snag habitat is maintained for 

cavity dependent species.

4. If above existing snag levels are not available, provide for green recruitment snag 

trees sufficient to bring snag/recruitment snag levels up to the above mentioned 

target levels in a well distributed manner of both clumps and individual trees, of 

largest available trees. Trees with defects (e.g. “wolfy” appearance, dead tops, 

forked tops, cankers, heart-rot, knarls, diseases, broken tops and large limbs) 

would be selected when possible as follows:

a. Target basal areas (BA) for each unit and will not include "wildlife reserve", 

"recruitment trees", or dead trees (snags) in their calculation.

b. Paint or affix a “wildlife tree sign” on all leave snags and recruitment trees at dbh 

level and a butt mark at the base of each with timber marking paint. Record the 

number and size class of all snags and recruitment trees painted/marked within the 

treatment area and maintain records in the project file.

c. Create new snags by burn plan design, or other means, as necessary to achieve 

target numbers of snags.
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d. Protect snags from fuelwood cutting, mechanical treatment, and prescribed fire 

treatment.

LOGS/ COURSE WOODY DEBRIS (CWD) Guidelines:

All Treatment Units: In forested areas, maintain at least 200 linear feet average per acre of 12-

inch DBH or greater at the large end and at least 10 feet in length (or the largest size class 

available). Retain logs/CWD in all stages of development. Guidelines for logs/CWD include:

If above existing logs/CWD levels are not available, leave logs/CWD necessary to bring 

them up to the above mentioned target levels in a well distributed manner of largest 

available size classes. Orient the logs perpendicular to the slope.

1. Protect existing down logs /CWD from fuelwood cutting.

6)

Note: These guidelines may require amendment based on the timber stand characteristics. For 

example, if insufficient snags are not available in the existing stand, the snag number per unit 

area requirement may need to be reduced.
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Figure 2: Lynx Critical Habitat on USFS lands within Planning Area*

**Lynx Critical habitat is available within the planning area, although it is not present within the decision area. Refer to description of “planning 

area” and “decision area” on page 4.
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Figure 3: Grizzly Bear Habitat – Billings Field Office
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Figure 4: Yellowstone Grizzly Bear DPS Boundary and Suitable Habitat
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Figure 5: Whooping Crane Migration Corridor
Appendix L: 

Cultural Resources

Appendix L L-i September 2015

Table of Contents

L. Cultural Resources....................................................................................................... L-1

L.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................ L-1

L.2 Goal.......................................................................................................................................... L-1

L.3 Objective.................................................................................................................................. L-1

L.4 Management Direction ......................................................................................................... L-2

L.4.1 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Rock Art Sites....................... L-3

L.4.2 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Rockshelter and 

Cave Sites................................................................................................................ L-5

L.4.3 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Aboriginal Occupation 

Sites and Structures (prehistoric and protohistoric)......................................... L-6

L.4.4 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Lithic 

Scatters/Workshops.............................................................................................. L-7

L.4.5 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Communal Kill Sites ........... L-8

L.4.6 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Aboriginal Trails ................. L-9

L.4.7 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Lithic Procurement 

Sites/Quarries (bedrock and surface) .............................................................. L-10

L.4.8 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Vision Quest Sites, 

Sacred Sites, Traditional Use Areas, Traditional Cultural Properties, 

Ethnohistoric Sites ............................................................................................... L-11

L.4.9 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Historic Features ............... L-12

L.4.10 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Historic Roads and 

Trails...................................................................................................................... L-13

L.4.11 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Historic Structures 

and/or Homesteads ............................................................................................ L-15

L.4.12 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Historic 

Industrial/Development (mines, oil and gas, etc.) Structures and 

Landscapes ........................................................................................................... L-16

L.4.13 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: “Other” Sites .................... L-18
September 2015 L-ii Appendix L

List of Tables

Table L-1 Cultural Use Allocations and Desired Outcomes ................................................... L-3

Table L-2 Cultural Resource Use Categories, National Register Eligibility and 

Preservation/National Register Nomination Criteria.......................................... L-19
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Appendix L L-1 September 2015

L. Cultural Resources

L.1 Introduction

Management of cultural resources is directed primarily, but not exclusively, by two laws: the 

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979. The National Historic Preservation Act requires management and 

enhancement of significant historic properties and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act 

requires protection of archaeological resources (sites and objects of 100 years or more in age). 

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act directs the Bureau of Land Management to 

manage public lands on the basis of multiple uses and to “protect the quality of historical 

resources and archaeological values.” This act provides for the periodic inventory of public lands 

and resources. See Appendix A for full citations of all the laws, regulations and policies guiding 

cultural and heritage resources.

L.2 Goal

Identify, preserve, and protect significant cultural resources and ensure that they are available for 

appropriate uses by present and future generations (Federal Land Policy and Management Act, 

Section 103(c), 201(a), and (c); National Historic Preservation Act, Section 110(a); 

Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Section 14 (a)).

Seek to reduce imminent threats and resolve potential conflicts from natural or human-caused 

deterioration, or potential conflict with other resource uses (Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act, Section 103(c), National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106, 110(a)(2)) by 

ensuring that all authorizations for land use and resource use would comply with the National 

Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Section 106.

Maintain viewsheds of important cultural resources whose settings contribute significantly to 

their scientific, public, traditional, or conservation values.

Provide research opportunities that would contribute to our understanding of the ways humans 

have used and influenced the landscape.

Manage historic trails to realize their educational, recreational, and scientific values.

Enhance public understanding of, and appreciation for, cultural resources through educational 

outreach and heritage tourism opportunities.

L.3 Objective

Cultural Resources on BLM-administered land would be protected and maintained in stable 

condition. Appropriate management actions would be determined after evaluation and allocation 

of cultural resource use categories through cultural resource project plans.
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L.4 Management Direction

The BLM would prioritize inventories to identify sites eligible to the National Register.

The BLM would allocate all cultural resources in the Billings Field Office, whether already 

recorded or projected to occur on the basis of existing data synthesis (including cultural 

landscapes), or not projected to occur but later identified through inventory, to the following uses 

according to their nature and relative preservation value. These use allocations pertain to 

cultural resources, not to areas of land. Each resource would be assigned to a primary use 

category, but that assignment would not preclude management from other use categories. All 

sites determined eligible to the National Register of Historic Places would be allocated to and 

managed for Scientific, Public, Traditional, and/or Conservation for Future Use.

• The six types of use allocations are: Scientific Use, Conservation for Future Use, 

Traditional Use, Public Use, Experimental Use, and Discharged from 

Management. See the Cultural category in the glossary for definitions; also see 

Table F-1 for desired outcomes.

• The focus would be on four of the six cultural resource use allocations: Scientific 

Use, Public Use, Traditional Use, and Conservation for Future Use. These 

allocations currently generate the majority of issues within the Billings Field 

Office and therefore are of high importance. 

• The remaining two cultural resource use allocations – Experimental Use and 

Discharged from Management – would not be emphasized for the following 

reasons. Experimental Use: Because there are few activities in the Billings Field 

Office where the destructive nature of impacts on archaeological sites are 

uncertain or unknown, this allocation would not be emphasized. Discharged from 

Management: Cultural resource use allocation may occur, especially under 

Alternative C, but this cultural resource use allocation would not be emphasized 

because conducting a program driven by this goal would defeat the long-term 

preservation of these resources. 

The BLM would allocate and manage all sites determined not eligible to the National Register of 

Historic Places and not containing archaeological resources as Discharged from Management 

Use. All sites determined eligible to the National Register of Historic Places would be allocated 

and managed to Scientific, Public, and/or Conservation for Future Use. However, if another use 

becomes evident or proposed after use allocation has occurred, the use allocation may be 

changed through plan maintenance.

The following thirteen classes of site types found in the Billings Field Office have specific 

management needs based on each site type. Priorities for inventory, and appropriate management 

actions have been identified for each site type based on perceived threats and risks.
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Table L-1 Cultural Use Allocations and Desired Outcomes 

Use Allocation1 Desired Outcomes 

Scientific Use Preserved until research potential is realized

Conservation for Future Use Preserved until conditions for use are met

Traditional Use Long-term preservation

Public Use Long-term preservation, on-site interpretation

Experimental Use Protected until used

Discharged from Management No use after recordation; not preserved

1 The majority of the cultural properties in a given geographic area will fall into categories (a) and (f). The less common 

properties in categories (b) – (e) are likely to be associated with particular settings that can be delineated geographically in 

the planning process. As the plan is developed, properties in categories b-d will require the most attention to balance their 

proactive uses with other land and resource uses.

L.4.1 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Rock Art Sites

Aboriginal rock art of the planning area includes petroglyphs (incised or pecked images) and 

pictographs (painted images). Within the planning area, rock art is found on rock outcrops, cliffs 

or rockshelters, but is also found on erratic boulders that range in size from a half meter to 

several meters in diameter. The rock art sites within the planning area include, but are not limited 

to sites within Weatherman Draw ACEC, Petroglyph Canyon ACEC, Castle Butte ACEC, Paul 

Duke Site, Steamboat Butte, and Pompeys Pillar National Monument.

L.4.1.1 Management Direction

L.4.1.1.1 Management:

• Any rock art site with evidence of public use would be considered for allocation to 

Public Use.

• Any rock art site with no evidence of public use would be allocated to Conservation Use 

and/or Scientific Use and would be considered for Public Use as appropriate.

• All rock art sites eligible to the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion c 

would be preserved in place and would not be discharged from management.

• Best and most accurate technologies available would be used to photograph and gather 

locational information at all rock art panels (for example, digital photographs and GPS 

readings with position error no greater than 20 feet).

• Detailed measured drawings and sub-meter global positioning system locations would 

be taken of all panels.

• Scientific use would be allowed subject to management plans which minimize physical 

damage to rock art.
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• Condition monitoring of rock art sites would be conducted on at-risk/threatened rock art 

sites annually.

• Livestock and human contact with rock art panels would be limited through physical 

barriers (fences or natural barriers such as plantings or boulder placement).

• Emergency stabilization would be allowed if natural or cultural threats are causing loss 

of integrity to rock art.

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels removed where there is threat of loss.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

• Informational signs on rock site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources Protection 

Act of 1979 would be posted at all rock art sites, as appropriate.

L.4.1.1.2 Scientific Use:

• Surface collection of artifacts on non-rock art portions of sites may be permitted under 

the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 if there is threat of loss or 

destruction.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design.

L.4.1.1.3 Public Use:

• Site-specific recreation management plans/interpretative plans would be developed for 

all Public Use rock art sites before implementing Cultural Resource Project Plan actions.

• At least one interpretative trail/footpath or kiosk would be considered at each rock art 

site allocated to Public Use.

• Visitor registers would be installed at all Public Use sites.

L.4.1.1.4 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Those areas containing rock art identified for prescribed or wildland fire use

• Existing designated sites

All National Register eligible rock art sites would be allocated and managed for Scientific, 

Conservation, Traditional, and/or Public Use, and development of interpretative sites would be 

implemented as appropriate.
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L.4.2 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Rockshelter and Cave 

Sites

There are numerous rockshelter/cave sites located in the planning area. The large number of 

rockshelters and caves is likely a factor of the topography of central Montana which contains 

numerous mountain ranges and outcrops. The rockshelter and cave sites include, but are not 

limited to Last Canyon Cave.

L.4.2.1 Management Direction

L.4.2.1.1 Management:

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss. Preserve in place and allow emergency stabilization if natural or cultural threats are 

causing loss of integrity to sites. 

• Appropriate signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 would be posted where evidence of ongoing Public Use exists. 

• Conduct a Class II inventory of areas identified as high potential for aboriginal site 

occurrence on a priority basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans. 

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.2.1.2 Scientific Use:

• BLM would evaluate loss of scientific data due to vandalism by estimating the cost of 

restoration and repair. Partnerships with scientific researchers to assist in evaluating loss 

of scientific data on vandalized sites would be encouraged.

• Partnerships for excavation/scientific research would be developed to assist the BLM to 

understand the paleo-environmental record.

L.4.2.1.3 Conservation for Future Use:

• Cost of restoration and repair would be evaluated as soon as vandalism is detected.

• Gates would be installed on caves where there vandalism has occurred or there is threat 

of resource loss.

L.4.2.1.4 Public Use:

• Visitor registers would be installed and informational brochures would be created based 

on priorities established in Cultural Resource Project plans.

• Specific recreation management plan/interpretative plan would be developed for all 

rockshelter cave sites developed for Public Use.

L.4.2.1.5 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans
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• Those areas containing rockshelters identified for prescribed or wildland fire use

• Existing designated sites

All National Register eligible sites would be allocated and managed for Scientific, Conservation, 

Traditional, and Public Use. Development of interpretative sites would be implemented as 

appropriate.

L.4.3 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Aboriginal Occupation 

Sites and Structures (prehistoric and protohistoric)

Tipi rings, stone circles, and ring sites: This is a relatively common site type in the study area 

and includes circles of stone interpreted as having been used to hold down tipi lodge covers.

Conical and cribbed log structures are often stand alone structures with few associated artifacts.

Tipi ring sites include, but are not limited to Demi-John Flat National Historic District and the 

Bandit Site (48BH0460). Conical and cribbed log structures include, but are not limited to the 

structures found within Hoskins Basin Archaeological District.

L.4.3.1 Management Direction

L.4.3.1.1 Management:

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss.

• Appropriate signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 would be posted where evidence of public use exists.

• Cultural Resource Project Plans would be developed that further define this class of sites 

and clarify acceptable management actions.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for future use).

• All sites initially allocated to Conservation, Scientific, Traditional, or Public Use would 

be subject to site-specific activity plans that preserve portions of the sites for future use.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.3.1.2 Scientific Use:

• National Register nominations would be completed for all sites allocated to Scientific 

Use on a priority basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design.

• Partnerships for excavation/scientific research would be encouraged.
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L.4.3.1.3 Public Use:

• Continue to produce materials and programs on “Leave What You Find” principles and 

environmental ethics.

L.4.3.1.4 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated sites

Development of interpretative sites would be implemented as appropriate.

L.4.4 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Lithic 

Scatters/Workshops

The term lithic scatter is very broadly applied to a range of sites containing stone cultural 

material. These may be sites representing the remains of limited chipped stone tool manufacture 

or repair, generally viewed as having ephemeral use and low information value, or sites with 

greater variety of artifacts, features, and attributes, as well as unknown depositional 

characteristics. The term lithic scatter appears as a catch-all for site with a variety of data 

potential. Site components described as workshops generally seem subjectively classified on the 

basis of lithic debitage content observed on the surface.

L.4.4.1 Management Direction

L.4.4.1.1 Management:

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss. 

• Appropriate signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection act of 1979 would be posted where evidence of public use exists.

• Cultural Resource Project Plans would be developed that further define this class of sites 

and clarify acceptable management actions.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for the future).

• All sites initially allocated to Conservation, Scientific, Experimental, or Discharged 

from Management Use would be subject to site-specific activity plans that preserve 

portions of the sites for future use.

• Continue to produce material and give programs on “leave what you find” principles and 

environmental ethics.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.
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September 2015 L-8 Appendix L

L.4.4.1.2 Scientific Use:

• National Register nominations would be completed for all eligible sites allocated to 

Scientific Use on a priority basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

L.4.4.1.3 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated sites

L.4.5 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Communal Kill Sites

These sites are also called ambush game drives, buffalo jumps, bison pounds or traps, or other 

kill sites including processing areas. They are primarily defined by the occurrence of high 

numbers of animal bone, generally in a bone bed, and a high density of hunting and butchering 

tools in the artifact assemblages. These sites include, but are not limited to the sites found in the 

Stark Site ACEC.

L.4.5.1 Management Direction

L.4.5.1.1 Management:

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss. 

• Appropriate signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection act of 1979 would be posted where evidence of public use exists.

• Cultural Resource Project Plans would be developed that further define this class of sites 

and clarify acceptable management actions.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for the future).

• All sites initially allocated to Conservation, Scientific, or Experimental would be subject 

to site-specific activity plans that preserve portions of the sites for future use.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.5.1.2 Scientific Use:

• National Register nominations would be completed for all eligible sites allocated to 

Scientific Use on a priority basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

L.4.5.1.3 Public Use:

• Continue to produce materials and give programs on “leave what you find” principles 

and environmental ethics.
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Approved Resource Management Plan 

Appendix L L-9 September 2015

L.4.5.1.4 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated sites

L.4.6 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Aboriginal Trails

Documentation of actual use of a trail or trail system during prehistory is difficult and evidence 

used to support such sue is often circumstantial. Documented use during the historic period is 

often used to argue use during the prehistoric period. Some researchers suggest that some linear 

arrangements of cairns may mark trail systems. Others suggest linear clusters or concentrations 

of archaeological sites along prominent landforms (e.g. high ridges or ridge systems, river 

valleys, drainage divides) may indicate prehistoric trail use. These sites include, but are not 

limited to Meeteetse Trail, travois trails in Demi-John Flat National Register District, Bad Pass 

Trail, and the Nez Perce NHT.

L.4.6.1 Management Direction

L.4.6.1.1 Management:

• An intensive archaeological inventory of the corridor of each site would be done to 

establish baseline information on a priority basis as identified in Cultural Resources 

Project Plans.

• An historic context report for each resource would be written on a priority basis as 

identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.6.1.2 Scientific Use:

• Trail related sites would be inventoried and condition recorded on a priority basis as 

identified in Cultural Resources Project Plans.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for future use).

L.4.6.1.3 Conservation for Future Use:

• Informational signs would be posted at all major intersections along existing Public Use 

sites.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for future use).

• Trail related sites would be inventoried and condition recorded.
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September 2015 L-10 Appendix L

L.4.6.1.4 Public Use:

• Informational signs would be posted at all major intersections along Public Use sites, as 

appropriate.

• Activity level cultural resource project plans would be prepared for public use sites that 

would identify interpretive needs including signs, interpretive kiosks, etc.

• National Register nominations would be completed for all Public Use sites on a priority 

basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

L.4.6.1.5 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated National Scenic and Historic Trails 

• Routes under national study

The BLM would manage the cultural historic landscape (setting) around National Historic Trails 

according to the National Historic Preservation Act. Designated national historic trails would be 

managed according to the National Scenic and Historic Trail Act (16 USC sections 1241-1251) 

and the BLM’s National Scenic and Historic Trails Strategy and Work Plan (2006).

The BLM would allocate and manage all National Register eligible historic trails for Scientific, 

Conservation, Traditional, and Public Use. 

National Historic Trails would be allocated to Public Use and should have Cultural Resource 

Project Plans prepared to better balance Public, Scientific, and Conservation Use. Interpretative 

sites would be established at Public Use sites as appropriate. 

L.4.7 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Lithic Procurement 

Sites/Quarries (bedrock and surface)

Bedrock quarries are defined by the existence of bedrock exposures at the site and surface 

quarries are defined by areas where lithic material occurs as “free rock” in cobble, nodular, or 

pebble form. Much of the study area is located on the glaciated plains where lithic materials are 

dominated by quartzite derived from glacial cobbles that are ubiquitous in glacial deposits. These 

sites include, but are not limited to the numerous quarries found in the Pryor Mountains.

L.4.7.1 Management Direction

L.4.7.1.1 Management:

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss.

• Appropriate signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 would be posted where evidence of public use exists.
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Appendix L L-11 September 2015

• Cultural Resource Project Plans would be developed that include addressing mineral 

collection of non-artifacts from quarry/source locations.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.7.1.2 Scientific Use:

• National Register nominations would be completed for all sites allocated to Scientific 

Use on a priority basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

L.4.7.1.3 Public Use:

• Information would be made available that would enable the public to distinguish 

between artifacts and mineral specimens would be developed and produced.

• Continue to produce materials and give programs on “leave what you find” principles 

and environmental ethics. 

L.4.7.1.4 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated sites

L.4.8 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Vision Quest Sites, 

Sacred Sites, Traditional Use Areas, Traditional Cultural Properties, 

Ethnohistoric Sites

Vision quest sites are considered liked to ceremonial and religious activities. Archaeologists 

generally distinguish vision quest sites as u-shaped or oval stone features forming low 

enclosures. Vision quest sites are often found on prominent parts of the landscape such as 

mountains, bluffs, hills, cliffs, rock outcrops, and buttes. Vision quest sites include, but are not 

limited to vision quest sites in the Pryor Mountains and at Four Dances ACEC.

L.4.8.1 Management Direction

L.4.8.1.1 Management:

• When identified, locations and boundaries of vision quest sites, ethnohistoric sites, 

sacred sites, traditional use areas, and Traditional Cultural Properties would be described 

with Global Positioning Systems.

• When identified, ethnohistoric sites, sacred sites, traditional use areas, and Traditional 

Cultural Properties would be recorded.

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels removed where there is threat of loss.

• National Register nominations would be completed on a priority basis as identified in 

Cultural Resource Project Plans.
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September 2015 L-12 Appendix L

• Pending approval of Cultural Resource Project Plans, all sites would be allocated to 

Conservation Use.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.8.1.2 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated sites

All National Register eligible ethnohistoric sites would be allocated and managed primarily for 

Conservation Use unless subject to Cultural Resource Project Plans.

All Traditional Cultural Properties identified would be allocated and managed primarily for 

Traditional Use.

All vision quest sites identified would be allocated and managed primarily for Traditional and 

Conservation Use.

All sacred sites or traditional use areas identified would be allocated and managed for 

Conservation Use.

L.4.9 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Historic Features

Historic features include, but are not limited to historic irrigation systems (canals, ditches, 

laterals, pumping station/houses, headgates, etc.), stock ponds and reservoirs, often includes 

CCC constructed features, 

L.4.9.1 Management Direction

L.4.9.1.1 Management:

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss.

• Appropriate signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 would be posted where evidence of public use exists.

• Historic context reports would be written on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resource Project Plans.

• Historic structure reports would be written on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resource Project Plans.

• Level I documentation (measured drawings, plans, elevations, photos, and narratives) on 

all standing structures would be completed on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resource Project Plans.
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Appendix L L-13 September 2015

• Photo documentation of historic features and landscapes would be obtained.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.9.1.2 Scientific Use:

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for future use.)

L.4.9.1.3 Conservation Use:

• Conservation of the setting would be emphasized.

• Stabilization and/or rehabilitation of standing structures would be done on a priority 

basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

• Discharged from Management:

• Subsequent to scientific use, when preservation in place is impractical, sites may be 

discharged.

L.4.9.1.4 Public Use:

• National Register nominations would be completed for all Public Use sites on a priority 

basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

• Standing structures would be considered for adaptive uses.

L.4.9.1.5 Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated sites

All of the National Register eligible sites would be allocated and managed for Scientific Use 

and/or Public Use. Sites may be Discharged from Management when not eligible for the 

National Register of Historic Places.

L.4.10 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocation: Historic Roads and Trails 

Historic roads and trails in the planning area include, but are not limited to the Bridger Cut-Off 

Trail, Fort Ellis to Fort Keogh (Road to Tongue River) Military Trail, Bozeman Trail, Meeteetse 

Trail, and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

L.4.10.1 Management Direction

L.4.10.1.1Management:

• An intensive archaeological inventory of the corridor of each site would be done to 

establish baseline information on a priority basis as identified in Cultural Resources 

Project Plans.
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September 2015 L-14 Appendix L

• An historic context report for each resource would be written on a priority basis as 

identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.10.1.2Scientific Use:

• Road/trail related sites would be inventoried and condition recorded on a priority basis 

as identified in Cultural Resources Project Plans.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for future use).

L.4.10.1.3Conservation for Future Use:

• Informational signs would be posted at all major intersections along existing Public Use 

sites.

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for future use).

• Road/trail related sites would be inventoried and condition recorded.

L.4.10.1.4Public Use:

• Informational signs would be posted at all major intersections along Public Use sites, as 

appropriate.

• Activity level cultural resource project plans would be prepared for public use sites that 

would identify interpretive needs including signs, interpretive kiosks, driving guides, 

etc.

• National Register nominations would be completed for all Public Use sites on a priority 

basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

L.4.10.1.5Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated National Scenic and Historic Trails 

• Routes under national study

The BLM would manage the cultural historic landscape (setting) around National Historic Trails 

according to the National Historic Preservation Act. Designated national historic trails would be 

managed according to the National Scenic and Historic Trail Act (16 USC sections 1241-1251) 

and the BLM’s National Scenic and Historic Trails Strategy and Work Plan (2006).

The BLM would allocate and manage all National Register eligible historic roads and trails for 

Scientific, Conservation, and Public Use. 
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Appendix L L-15 September 2015

National Historic Trails would be allocated to Public Use and should have Cultural Resource 

Project Plans prepared to better balance Public, Scientific, and Conservation Use. Interpretative 

sites would be established at Public Use sites as appropriate. 

L.4.11 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Historic Structures 

and/or Homesteads

Historic homesteads/farmsteads are the most common historic sites in the planning area and the 

best represented historic time period is 1900-1909.

L.4.11.1 Management Direction

L.4.11.1.1Management:

• Historic context reports would be written on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resources Project Plans.

• Historic structure reports would be written on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resources Project Plans.

• Level I documentation (measured drawings, plans, elevations, photos, and narratives) on 

all standing structures would be completed on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resources Project Plans

• Photo documentation of historic features and landscapes would be obtained.

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss.

• An intensive archaeological inventory of the resources (structure or homestead) would 

be completed for baseline information based on priorities identified in Cultural 

Resources Project Plans.

• Standing structures would be stabilized or rehabilitated on a priority basis as identified 

in Cultural Resources Project Plans.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.11.1.2Scientific Use:

• Signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources Protection 

Act of 1979 would be posted as appropriate.

• Surface collection of artifacts may be permitted under the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 if there is threat of loss or destruction.

• Data recovery would be permitted in those instances where future protection is not 

feasible.
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September 2015 L-16 Appendix L

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management with appropriate research design 

(which conserves samples for future use).

L.4.11.1.3Conservation for Future Use:

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for future use).

• Signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources Protection 

Act of 1979 would be posted as appropriate.

• Stabilization and/or rehabilitation of standing structures would be done on a priority 

basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

L.4.11.1.4Public Use:

• At least one kiosk with interpretation panel would be placed for each resource, as appropriate.

• National Register nominations would be completed for all Public Use sites based on 

priorities developed in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

• Preservation and reuse of historic buildings would be considered as appropriate.

L.4.11.1.5Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans 

• Those areas containing historic structures or homesteads identified for prescribed or 

wildland fire use

• Existing designated sites

All National Register eligible sites with evidence of unauthorized excavation would be allocated 

and managed for Conservation Use and/or Scientific Use in order to perform data recovery in 

those instances where future protection is not feasible. The remaining National Register eligible 

sites would be allocated and managed for Scientific and/or Public Use.

The BLM would allocate and manage all of the National Register eligible sites with standing 

structures for Conservation and/or Public Use. 

Interpretative sites would be developed as appropriate.

L.4.12 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: Historic 

Industrial/Development (mines, oil and gas, etc.) Structures and 

Landscapes

Historic industrial/development sites include, but are not limited to the historic coal mines in 

Weatherman Draw, the historic oil and gas development in Elk Basin, and the historic 

mining/prospecting in the Pryor Mountains
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Appendix L L-17 September 2015

L.4.12.1 Management Direction

L.4.12.1.1Management:

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss.

• Appropriate signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 would be posted where evidence of public use exists.

• Historic context reports would be written on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resource Project Plans.

• Historic structure reports would be written on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resource Project Plans.

• Level I documentation (measured drawings, plans, elevations, photos, and narratives) on 

all standing structures would be completed on a priority basis as identified in Cultural 

Resource Project Plans.

• Photo documentation of historic features and landscapes would be obtained.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.12.1.2Scientific Use:

• Excavation would be allowed subject to management plan with appropriate research 

design (which conserves samples for future use.)

L.4.12.1.3Conservation Use:

• Conservation of the setting would be emphasized.

• Stabilization and/or rehabilitation of standing structures would be done on a priority 

basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

L.4.12.1.4Discharged from Management:

• Subsequent to scientific use, when preservation in place is impractical, sites may be discharged.

L.4.12.1.5Public Use:

• National Register nominations would be completed for all Public Use sites on a priority 

basis as identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans.

• Standing structures would be considered for adaptive uses.

L.4.12.1.6Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated sites
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September 2015 L-18 Appendix L

All of the National Register eligible sites would be allocated and managed for Scientific Use 

and/or Public Use. Sites may be Discharged from Management when not eligible for the 

National Register of Historic Places.

L.4.13 Parameter – Cultural Resource Use Allocations: “Other” Sites

“Other” is defined as those sites not falling into any of the above 12 site types. 

L.4.13.1 Management Direction

L.4.13.1.1Management:

• Fire potential would be evaluated and fuels would be removed where there is threat of 

loss.

• Appropriate signs with information on site etiquette and the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 would be posted where evidence of public use exists.

• Use of site stewards for monitoring would be encouraged.

L.4.13.1.2Priorities for Inventory:

• Potential threats identified in Cultural Resource Project Plans

• Existing designated sites

All National Register eligible sites would be allocated and managed for Scientific and/or 

Conservation Use with Public Use being monitored. Scientific Use would be permitted if it does 

not destroy features. 
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Appendix L L-19 September 2015

Table L-2 Cultural Resource Use Categories, National Register Eligibility and 

Preservation/National Register Nomination Criteria

Cultural Resource Use 

Category

National Register 

Eligibility

Preservation / 

National Register 

Nomination

Site Types Generally Included

Scientific Use Usually eligible (under 

Criterion d)

Long-term preservation 

not critical; medium 

National Register 

nomination priority

Prehistoric: sites with high artifact count and 

diversity, high complexity, and larger size

Historic: sites with archaeological and 

historic values, and generally poor structural

integrity

Conservation for Future 

Use

Always eligible (generally 

eligible under Criteria d, 

a, or c and possibly b for 

historic sites)

Long –term

preservation is required; 

highest nomination 

priority

Prehistoric: sites inherently complex, or 

rare, or fragile, and exhibit exceptional 

scientific values (e.g. wickiups, deeply 

stratified deposits, or large quarries)

Historic: sites inherently complex, or rare, or 

fragile, generally significant standing 

structures (stabilization and preservation 

required)

Traditional Use May be eligible 

(generally under Criteria 

a and d, possibly b and c 

as well)

Long-term preservation 

is desirable; nomination 

priority is determined in 

consultation with the 

appropriate cultural 

group(s)

Sites and locations determined in 

consultation with appropriate cultural 

group(s)

Prehistoric may include: burial locations, 

vision quest locations, pictographs and 

petroglyphs, certain tipi ring sites

Historic/Modern: plant gathering locations, 

areas considered sacred for religious 

purposes, tradition use areas, etc.

Public Use Usually eligible

(generally Criteria a, b, 

and c, possibly d as well)

Long-term preservation 

is desirable; high 

nomination priority

Prehistoric: high interpretative potential and 

can insure protection

Historic: high interpretative potential and can 

insure stabilization and protection and/or 

adaptive reuse

Experimental Use May be eligible 

(generally under Criterion 

d if at all)

Long-term preservation 

is not anticipated; low 

nomination priority

Prehistoric: lithic scatters of limited artifact 

density and complexity

Historic: trash scatters, collapsed structures 

with no integrity or context

Discharged from 

Management

Not eligible Long-term preservation 

and management are 

not considerations; 

nomination is 

inappropriate

Prehistoric: isolated finds, surface lithic 

scatters <50 items

Historic: isolated prospect pits, trash 

scatters <50 items, sites < 50 years old
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Appendix M: 

Recreational Setting Characteristics

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Appendix M M-1 September 2015

M. Recreational Setting Characteristics

Primitive Classification: 

• Physical:

► More than 1⁄2 mile from either mechanized or motorized routes.

► Undisturbed natural landscape.

► No structures. Foot/horse and water trails only. 

• Social: 

► Fewer than 3 encounters/day at camp sites and fewer than 6 encounters/day on 

travel routes. 

► Fewer than or equal to 3 people per group. 

► No alteration of the natural terrain. Footprints only observed. Sounds of 

people rare.

• Operational: 

► Foot, horse, and non-motorized float boat travel.

► No maps or brochures available on-site. Staff is rarely present to provide onsite assistance.

► No on-site posting/signing of visitor regulations, interpretive information or 

ethics. Few use restrictions

Back Country Classification 

• Physical:

► Within 1⁄2 mile of four-wheel drive vehicle, ATV and motorcycles routes.

► Character of the natural landscape retained. A few modifications contrast with 

character of the landscape (e.g. fences, primitive roads).

► Maintained and marked trails, simple trailhead developments and basic toilets.

• Social: 

► 3-6 encounters/day off travel routes (e.g., campsites) and 7-15 encounters/day 

on travel routes 

► 4-6 people per group. 

► Areas of alteration uncommon. Little surface vegetation wear observed. 

Sounds of people infrequent. 
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• Operational:

► Mountain bikes and perhaps other mechanized use, but all is non-motorized.

► Basic maps, staff infrequently present (e.g. seasonally, high use periods) to 

provide on-site assistance.

► Basic user regulations at key access points. Minimum use restrictions.

Middle Country Classification:

• Physical:

► Within 1⁄2 mile of four-wheel drive vehicle, ATV and motorcycles routes.

► Character of the natural landscape retained. A few modifications contrast with 

character of the landscape (e.g. fences, primitive roads).

► Maintained and marked trails, simple trailhead developments and basic toilets. 

• Social: 

► 7-14 encounters/day off travel routes (e.g., staging areas) and 15-29 

encounters/ day on travel routes 

► 7-12 people per group. 

► Small areas of alteration. Surface vegetation showing wear with some bare 

soils. Sounds of people occasionally heard.

• Operational

► Four-wheel drives, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, or snowmobiles in addition 

to non-motorized, mechanized use.

► Area brochures and maps, staff is occasionally (e.g. most weekends) present 

to provide on-site assistance.

► Some regulatory and ethics signing. Moderate use restrictions. (e.g. camping, 

human waste).

Front Country Classification

• Physical:

► Within 1⁄2 mile of low-clearance or passenger vehicle routes (includes unpaved 

County roads and private land routes).

► Character of the natural landscape partially modified but none overpower 

natural landscape (e.g. roads, structures, utilities).

► Rustic facilities such as campsites, restrooms, trailheads, and interpretive 

displays.
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Appendix M M-3 September 2015

• Social: 

► 15-29 encounters/day off travel routes (e.g., campgrounds) and 30 or more 

encounters/day on travel routes.

► 13-25 people per group.

► Small areas of alteration prevalent. Surface vegetation gone with compacted 

soils observed. Sounds of people regularly heard

• Operational:

► Two-wheel drive vehicles predominant, but also four wheel drives and nonmotorized, mechanized use.

► Information materials describe recreation areas & activities, staff periodically 

present (e.g. weekdays & weekends).

► Rules, regulations and ethics clearly posted. Use restrictions, limitations 

and/or closures.

Rural Classification 

• Physical: 

► Within 1⁄2 mile of paved/primary roads and highways.

► Character of the natural landscape considerably modified (agriculture, 

residential or industrial).

► Modern facilities such as campgrounds, group shelters, boat launches, and 

occasional exhibits.

• Social: 

► People seem to be generally everywhere.

► 26-50 people per group.

► A few large areas of alteration. Surface vegetation absent with hardened soils. 

Sounds of people frequently heard.

• Operational:

► Ordinary highway auto and truck traffic is characteristic.

► Information described to the left, plus experience and benefit descriptions, 

staff regularly present (e.g. almost daily).

► Regulations strict and ethics prominent. Use may be limited by permit, 

reservation, etc.

Urban Classification

• Physical: 

► Within 1⁄2 mile of streets and roads within municipalities and along highways.

► Urbanized developments dominate landscape.

► Elaborate full-service facilities such as laundry, restaurants, and groceries.
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September 2015 M-4 Appendix M

• Social: 

► Busy place with other people constantly in view.

► Greater than 50 people per group.

► Large areas of alteration prevalent. Some recreation. Constantly hear people.

• Operational:

► Wide variety of street vehicles and highway traffic is ever-present.

► Information described to the left, plus regularly scheduled on-site outdoor 

demonstrations and clinics.

► Enforcement in addition to rules to reduce conflicts, hazards, and resource 

damage.