[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 25746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10948]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[Montana; MT-060-00-1220-BE-003E]


Restriction of Public Lands

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice. Restriction of public lands.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lewistown Field Office, 
Montana is issuing written orders implementing a two year moratorium on 
the issuance of new annual Special Recreation Permits for commercial 
guided recreation trips on the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic 
River (UMNWSR). This order applies to all public lands and waters 
within the boundaries of the UMNWSR from Fort Benton, Montana 
downstream for 149 miles to the Fred Robinson Bridge. The BLM will not 
accept new applications or issue new annual Special Recreation Permits 
to any individual, group, corporation or company for the purpose of 
providing guided river trips on the UMNWSR.
    Exemptions apply to any person who had been issued a valid annual 
Special Recreation Permit for commercial recreation on the UMNWSR prior 
to April 1, 2000, and any person providing only land based visitor 
services (shuttles, rentals, etc.).

DATES: This moratorium is effective immediately and applies until April 
1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: David L. Mari, Field Manager, Lewistown Field Office, P.O. 
Box 1160, Lewistown, MT 59457.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Slagel, 406/538-1950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 10, 1999, the Secretary of the 
Interior asked the Central Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) to 
seek public comment and provide him with a report and recommendations 
concerning future management of public lands in the Missouri River 
Breaks in north central Montana. The RAC was asked to complete this 
task by December 31, 1999. During this time period, the RAC met four 
times and actively solicited public input regarding management options 
for the Missouri Breaks area. The council received more than 400 
written and oral comments.
    On December 30, 1999 the RAC's final report was sent to the 
Secretary of the Interior. This report included numerous motions 
approved with full RAC consensus. One of these motions proposed a two-
year moratorium on new river special recreation permit authorizations. 
The RAC clarified and emphasized its intent with this recommendation 
during an earlier conference call on December 28, 1999. The two-year 
moratorium allows for the same number of outfitters, in fact the same 
outfitters, as permitted in 1999, and applies only to those outfitters 
actually using the river for floating/boating/guiding clients.
    During this two-year moratorium, the BLM will collect data to 
determine the environmental impacts and ensuing social conflicts 
associated with significantly increased special recreation permit 
authorizations on the UMNWSR.

    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1 and 8351.2-1.

    Dated: April 21, 2000.
David L. Mari,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-10948 Filed 5-2-00; 8:45 am]
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