Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Resource Management Plan Revision

March 2013

Providing Public Comment:

The comment period for the Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument Draft Resource 

Management Plan (RMP) Revision and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will end on

June 28, 2013. This information provides helpful tips on how to write effective comments.

Why Public Comments are Important

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a federal land management agency tasked with 

managing public lands in the public interest. As such, we factor in your issues and concerns 

through the public comment process. Comments that are most useful provide relevant and new 

information with sufficient detail. Substantive comments are compiled in a published document 

as an appendix to the proposed RMP and final EIS. Individual response letters will not be 

provided. A substantive comment is a comment that does one or more of the following:

- Questions, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of information in the RMP and EIS;

- Questions, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of, methodology for, or assumptions used 

for the environmental analysis;

- Presents new information relevant to the analysis;

- Presents reasonable alternatives other than those analyzed in the EIS; or

- Causes changes or revisions in one or more of the alternatives.

The BLM reviews all comments and identifies which comments are substantive and which are 

not. Comments that are not substantive will be considered, but will not be included in the 

published appendix. For example, a comment such as, “we disagree with Alternative B and 

believe the BLM should select Alternative C,” is noted, but will not receive a formal BLM 

response in the appendix.

How to Review and Comment

Start by reading the executive summary. The executive summary will provide an overview of 

why the RMP is being revised, a summary of each alternative, and the anticipated effects of each 

alternative. Oftentimes, there is a ‘Readers Guide’ that describes how the document is 

organized. Reviewing that information will also help direct your attention to key portions of the 

plan. At this time, Alternative D is the BLM’s preferred alternative. 

Identify the topic that is most important to you. Explore this topic in more detail. We suggest 

you use the following steps to guide you through the process:

- Focus on one topic at a time.

- Find the associated maps for your topic and refer to them as you conduct your detailed 

review.

- Begin your review of each topic by reading about it in chapter 3, which describes the 

current conditions of the affected environment.

- Next, look at the proposed management actions and alternatives in chapter 2 (table 2-6).

- Conclude your review by reading the impact analysis on your topic in chapter 4.
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Repeat the steps above for each topic of interest. As you are conducting your review, look for 

the absence of known data or discrepancies between data and written statements. Are multiple 

interpretations of the data possible? Can you develop and explain an alternative interpretation?

As you write your comments, consider the following general “Dos and Don’ts” of commenting:

THE Dos THE DON’Ts

Suggest specific changes in the document, and 

provide the page number and section of the 

document in your comment.

Clearly identify:

 Where the issue or error is located,

 Why you believe there is an error, and

 Alternative ideas about how to address issues 

or errors

Provide constructive solutions with 

documentation or resources to support your 

recommendations.

If applicable, include your formal and informal 

education or training as it relates to your 

observations and comments.

Avoid vague statements or concerns. Vague 

statements do not suggest a specific change or 

give the BLM something on which to act.

Understand that a comment is not a vote for or 

against one of the alternatives. The BLM must 

rely on supporting information, not on the 

number of comments received. Numerous 

comments expressing the same concern or 

issue is considered to be one comment.

Avoid using form letters to convey your point. 

Your unique way of writing or phrasing a 

comment helps the BLM understand your point 

of view. 

The following is an example of a helpful and a comment that is not very helpful:

HELPFUL COMMENT NOT SO HELPFUL COMMENT

I disagree with the visual resource management 

class II designation for the area between Low 

Valley and High Valley. This area currently 

has a number of developed structures such as 

radio towers, power lines, and fences which 

detract from the view already. This area also 

contains valuable mineral deposits which are 

currently being developed and that 

development is expected to continue. The 

classification should be changed to class III.

The preferred alternative has too much visual 

resource management class II.

Why is this comment not helpful?

The comment is not specific enough for the 

BLM to consider in balance with other 

resource issues. It does not contain supporting 

information or rationale.

How to Obtain a Copy of the Plan

- Download the document from the RMP website listed below.

- Visit your local library where hard copies are available for review.

- Stop by the BLM, Billings Field Office to pick up a CD of the document. A limited 

number of hard copies are available.

- Visit the RMP website at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/billings_field_office/rmp.html
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Where to Submit Comments

Comments can be submitted by any of the following methods:

 Written comments may be submitted during open houses; or

 Written comments may be submitted electronically via email to 

Billings_PompeysPillar_RMP@blm.gov or

 Written comments may be mailed directly or delivered to:

Draft Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument RMP/EIS

Bureau of Land Management, Billings Field Office

Carolyn Sherve-Bybee, RMP Team Lead

5001 Southgate Drive

Billings, MT 59101

Please Remember to Submit ALL Comments by June 28, 2013

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 

information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including your personal 

identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in 

your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot 

guarantee that we will be able to do so.