[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17633-17634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9222]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[MT-924-1430-01; MTM 82330]


Public Land Order No. 7254; Withdrawal of Public Mineral Estate 
Within the Sweet Grass Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern and 
Surrounding Areas; Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public land order.

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SUMMARY: This order withdraws approximately 19,685 acres of public 
mineral estate from location and entry under the mining laws for a 
period of 20 years to protect the unique resources within the Sweet 
Grass Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern and surrounding 
areas. The lands have been and will remain open to surface entry, as 
identified in the Sweet Grass Hills Resource Management Plan Amendment, 
and to mineral leasing.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 10, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Hopkins, Great Falls Resource 
Area Office, Great Falls, Montana 59401, 406-727-0503.

[[Page 17634]]

    By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior 
by Section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 
43 U.S.C. 1714 (1988), it is ordered as follows:
    1. Subject to valid existing rights, the public mineral estate in 
the following described lands is hereby withdrawn from location and 
entry under the United States mining laws (30 U.S.C. Ch. 2 (1988)), but 
not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, to protect the Sweet 
Grass Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern and surrounding 
areas:

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 37 N., R. 1 E.,
    Sec. 1, lots 5 to 8, inclusive;
    Sec. 2, lots 5 to 8, inclusive, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, E\1/2\E\1/2\;
    Sec. 12, lots 1 to 8, inclusive, and S\1/2\N\1/2\;
    Sec. 13, lots 1 to 5, inclusive, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, N\1/
2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, lots 1 to 3, inclusive, N\1/2\, SW\1/4\, and N\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, E\1/2\E\1/2\;
    Sec. 22, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, lot 1, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, S\1/
2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, W\1/2\E\1/2\, and W\1/2\;
    Sec. 25, lots 1 to 10, inclusive, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, 
N\1/2\SW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 27, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and 
NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 36 N., R. 2 E.,
    Sec. 5, lot 4;
    Sec. 6, lots 1 and 2, and SW\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\ and W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 25, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\.
T. 37 N., R. 2 E.,
    Sec. 5, lot 8;
    Sec. 6, lots 6 to 10, inclusive;
    Sec. 7, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 19, lots 2, 3, and 4, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and 
NE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, 
E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, lots 1, 2, and 3, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/
4\, and N\1/2\SE\1/4\.
T. 35 N., R. 3 E.,
    Sec. 3, lot 4 and SW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, lots 1 and 2, and S\1/2\NE\1/4\.
    T. 36 N., R. 3 E.,
    Sec. 7, lot 2, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, 
and NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, S\1/2\SW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, NW\1/4\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, lots 1 and 2, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, lots 5, 6, 11, and 12, and NW\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 19, lots 3 and 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, W\1/
2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/
4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 and 2, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/
2\NW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, lots 2 and 3, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, N\1/2\N\1/2\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, 
and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SW\1/4\.
T. 35 N., R. 4 E.,
    Sec. 2, lot 2, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/
4\.
T. 36 N., R. 4 E.,
    Sec. 1, lots 1, 2, and 3, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, lots 3 and 4, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, 
and NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 25, lots 1 to 6, inclusive, NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and 
N\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SW\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 36, lots 1, 2, 3, and 5.
T. 37 N., R. 4 E.,
    Sec. 34, N\1/2\N\1/2\ and SW\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 35 N., R. 5 E.,
    Sec. 5, lot 4, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1, 2 and 5, and SW\1/4\NE\1/4\.
T. 36 N., R. 5 E.,
    Sec. 3, lot 1 and NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 6, lot 6, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, lot 1, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and W\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, N\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 19, lots 1 to 9, inclusive, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, 
SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, lots 1 to 5, inclusive, N\1/2\, and N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, N\1/2\N\1/2\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/
4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, W\1/2\NW\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/
2\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, W\1/2\W\1/2\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, lots 1 to 5, inclusive, lots 7 to 10, inclusive, SW\1/
4\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E\1/2\, and E\1/2\W\1/2\;
    Sec. 31, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, MS 3418, E\1/2\, NE\1/4\NW\1/
4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, lots 1 to 5, inclusive, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\NE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 34, N\1/2\NE\1/4\.
T. 37 N., R. 5 E.,
    Sec. 29, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate approximately 19,685 acres in Toole 
and Liberty Counties.
    2. The withdrawal made by this order does not alter the 
applicability of those public land laws governing the use of the public 
mineral estate under lease, license, or permit, or governing the 
disposal of their mineral or vegetative resources other than under the 
mining laws. Uses allowed are identified in the Sweet Grass Hills 
Resource Management Plan Amendment.
    3. This withdrawal will expire 20 years from the effective date of 
this order unless, as a result of a review conducted before the 
expiration date pursuant to Section 204(f) of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f) (1988), the Secretary 
determines that the withdrawal shall be extended.

    Dated: March 31, 1997.
Bob Armstrong,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 97-9222 Filed 4-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P