Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Resource Management Plan Revision

FACT SHEET: Understanding the Alternatives

Program Contact: Carolyn Sherve-Bybee, RMP Team Lead (406) 896-5234

The BLM studied existing conditions and information, considered public comments received from scoping and met 

with cooperating agencies and resource advisory council members to determine how best to develop alternatives to 

address the issues, respond to the management opportunities, and to change resource conditions where appropriate. 

The information presented below provides a summary of the types of management actions considered under each 

alternative. All acres described in this fact sheet are on BLM-administered surface or federal mineral estate.

Alternative A

Alternative A, the No Action Alternative, continues current management of resources within the planning area under 

the existing plans. 

 Oil and gas leasing is closed on 39,730 acres; subject to moderate constraints on 336,453 acres; subject to

major constraints on 32,595 acres; and subject standard lease terms on 264,534 acres 

 Renewable energy (wind): 83% open to wind energy development, 11% closed to wind energy 

development, 6% avoidance areas for wind energy development

 There are no Greater Sage-Grouse Protection Priority Areas (PPA) or Restoration Areas (RA) identified for 

habitat management

 9 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern encompassing 37,896 acres of BLM surface

 Lands with wilderness characteristics: 1,925 acres

 97.2% of BLM administered surface is open to target shooting (422,185 acres)

 Wild Horses and Burros - Herd Management Area: 24,595 acres BLM surface/37,494 total acres all 

surface ownerships (BLM, USFS, NPS, and private) 

 Livestock grazing: 434,154 acres available for livestock grazing; 387,057 acres permitted for livestock 

grazing; 37,408 acres closed to livestock grazing

 Motorized vehicle use is limited to existing roads and trails across the majority of the planning area: 844.1 

miles

 Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) and Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMAs): 

2 SRMAs/1,171 acres and 7 ERMAs/105,460 acres

Alternative B

Alternative B emphasizes conservation of physical, biological, heritage, and visual resources with constraints on 

resource uses.

 Oil and gas leasing is closed on 302,713 acres; subject to moderate constraints on 326,016 acres; subject to 

major constraints on 28,110 acres; and subject standard lease terms on 67,726 acres.

 Renewable energy (wind): 0% open to wind energy development, 80% closed to wind energy 

development, 20% avoidance areas for wind energy development

 A Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Habitat Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is proposed on 

154,140 acres of BLM administered surface; GRSG PPA on 191,543 acres of federal mineral estate; GRSG 

RA on 45,555 BLM administered surface acres/63,437 acres of federal mineral estate . 

 12 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern encompassing 181,175 acres of BLM surface.
 Lands with wilderness characteristics: 27,292 acres

 92.1% of BLM administered surface is open to target shooting (400,045 acres)

 Wild Horses and Burros - Herd Management Area: 23,204 acres BLM surface/31,153 total acres all 

surface ownerships (BLM, USFS, NPS, and private) 

 Livestock grazing: 434,154 acres available for livestock grazing; 386,092 acres permitted for livestock 

grazing; 38,373 acres closed to livestock grazing

 11 Travel Management Areas (TMAs) established; within the 11 TMAs 348 .1 miles open to motorized 

vehicle use and 391.5 miles closed to motorized vehicle use

 Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) and Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMAs): 

6 SRMAs/90,783 acres and 5 ERMAs/7,668 acres 

Alternative C

Alternative C emphasizes resource uses opportunities within the planning area and reduces constraints on resource 

uses.

 Oil and gas leasing is closed on 65,891 acres; subject to moderate constraints on 419,284 acres; subject to 

major constraints on 64,135 acres; and subject standard lease terms on 126,732 acres.

 Renewable energy (wind): 5% open to wind energy development, 19% closed to wind energy 

development, 75% avoidance areas for wind energy development

 Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) PPA on 154,140 BLM administered surface/191,543 acres of federal mineral 

estate; GRSG RA on 45,555 BLM administered surface acres/63,437 acres of federal mineral estate 

 11 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern encompassing 67,079 acres of BLM surface.

 Lands with wilderness characteristics: 3,379 acres

 94.5% of BLM administered surface is open to target shooting (410,105 acres)

 Wild Horses and Burros - Herd Management Area: 28,622 acres BLM surface/44,855 total acres all 

surface ownerships (BLM, USFS, NPS, and private) 

 Livestock grazing: 434,154 acres available for livestock grazing; 386,822 acres permitted for livestock 

grazing; 28,622 acres closed to livestock grazing; 9,021 acres available for prescriptive use of livestock 

grazing

 11 Travel Management Areas (TMAs) established; within the 11 TMAs 831.1 miles open to motorized 

vehicle use and 5.6 miles closed to motorized vehicle use

 Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) and Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMAs): 

11 SRMAs/147,181 acres and 0 ERMAs/0 acres 

Alternative D

Alternative D represents the BLM’s ‘Preferred Alternative’ at this stage of the planning process. The Preferred 

Alternative seeks to balance resource protection with resource uses/production. 

 Oil and gas leasing is closed on 72,915 acres; subject to moderate constraints on 336,753 acres; subject to 

major constraints on 263,185 acres; and subject standard lease terms on 6,158 acres.

 Renewable energy (wind): 5% open to wind energy development, 18% closed to wind energy 

development, 76% avoidance areas for wind energy development

 Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) PPA on 154,140 BLM administered surface/191,543 acres of federal mineral 

estate; GRSG RA on 45,555 BLM administered surface acres/63,437 acres of federal mineral state 

 11 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern encompassing 38,786 acres of BLM surface.

 Lands with wilderness characteristics: 13,653 acres

 92.7% of BLM administered surface is open to target shooting (402,568 acres)

 Wild Horses and Burros - Herd Management Area: 27,094 acres BLM surface/39,944 total acres all 

surface ownerships (BLM, USFS, NPS, and private)

 Livestock grazing: 434,154 acres available for livestock grazing; 387,057 acres permitted for livestock 

grazing; 28,387 acres closed to livestock grazing; 9,021 acres available for prescriptive use of livestock 

grazing

 11 Travel Management Areas (TMAs) established; within the 11 TMAs 616.7 miles open to motorized 

vehicle use and 59.9 miles closed to motorized vehicle use

 Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) and Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMAs):

9 SRMAs/110,862 acres and 2 ERMAs/36,319 acres