[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 4 (Friday, January 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1152-1153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-105]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-060-1220DM-00]


Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the

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availability of a Final Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and Proposed Plan Amendment. The Final EIS describes 
the analysis completed on proposed management changes in off-highway 
vehicle area designations on public lands administered by the Bureau of 
Land Management and Forest Service, Northern Region, in Montana, North 
Dakota, and portions of South Dakota. The BLM and Forest Service are 
joint lead agencies responsible for preparation of the final EIS. The 
purpose and need are to address the impacts of OHV travel on open areas 
that are currently available to motorized wheeled cross-country travel. 
The preferred alternative would restrict motorized wheeled cross-
country travel yearlong on approximately 6 million acres of public land 
administered by the BLM and 10 million acres of National Forest System 
lands. These lands would be designated limited or restricted yearlong 
for motorized wheeled cross-country travel.

DATES: The proposed plan amendment is subject to a BLM 30-day protest 
period commencing with the date of publication of the Environmental 
Protection Agency's notice of availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written protests must be sent to: Director, Bureau of Land 
Management, Attention: Ms Brenda Williams, Protests Coordinator, WO-
210/LS-1075, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Majerus, 406-538-1924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EIS and Proposed Plan Amendment 
discloses the potential environmental consequences of managing 
motorized wheeled cross-country travel on public lands administered by 
the BLM and Forest Service, Northern Region, in Montana, North Dakota, 
and portions of South Dakota (excluding the Black Hills National 
Forest, Buffalo Gap Grasslands and the Fort Pierre Grasslands). A Draft 
OHV EIS and Plan Amendment was released for a 90-day public comment 
period in November 1999. Over 1,500 peopled attended 35 open houses 
that were held around Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota and 2,300 
comment letters were received on the Draft OHV EIS and Plan Amendment.
    Six alternatives, including a No Action Alternative, were analyzed 
in the Final OHV EIS and Proposed Plan Amendment. The No Action 
Alternative would maintain current management and areas currently open 
seasonally or yearlong to motorized wheeled cross-country travel would 
remain open. Alternatives 1, 2 and 5 would restrict motorized wheeled 
cross-country travel yearlong and the alternatives vary by exceptions 
allowed for cross-country travel. Alternative 3 would restrict 
motorized wheeled cross-country travel yearlong in North Dakota, most 
of Montana, and portions of South Dakota. Alternative 4 would limit 
motorized wheeled cross-country travel seasonally from September 1 to 
December 1 and February 16 to June 14. Alternative 5 is the preferred 
alternative.
    Alternative 5, the preferred alternative, was developed in response 
to comments on the Draft OHV EIS and Plan Amendment from the public and 
other agencies. It restricts motorized wheeled cross-country travel 
yearlong throughout the analysis area to protect riparian areas, 
wetlands, crucial wildlife habitat, threatened or endangered species, 
soils and vegetation, aquatic resources, and to reduce user conflicts. 
Through subsequent site-specific planning, the BLM would designate 
roads and trails for motorized use. The following BLM resource 
management plans (Big Dry, Powder River, Billings, Headwaters, West 
HiLine, Judith-Valley-Phillips, North Dakota, and South Dakota) and the 
Dillon management framework plan would be amended to designate 
approximately 6 million acres limited yearlong for motorized wheeled 
cross-country travel under 43 CFR 8342.
    The BLM's resource management planning process includes an 
opportunity for administrative review via a plan protest to the BLM's 
Director (43 CFR 1610.5-2). Any person who participated in the planning 
process and has an interest which is or may be adversely affected by 
the approval of an amendment to a resource management plan may protest 
such approval. Careful adherence to the following guidelines will 
assist in preparing a protest that will assure the greatest 
consideration to your point of view. Only those persons or 
organizations who participated in the planning process may protest. A 
protesting party may raise only those issues which were commented on 
during the planning process. New issues may be raised at any time but 
should be directed to the appropriate BLM field office for 
consideration in plan implementation, as potential plan amendments, or 
as otherwise appropriate. The protest period extends for 30 days. There 
is no provision for any extension of time. To be considered timely, 
your protest must be postmarked no later than the last day of the 
protest period. Also, although not a requirement, we suggest that you 
send your protest by certified mail, return receipt requested. In order 
to be considered complete, your protest must contain, at a minimum, the 
following information:
    (1) The name, mailing address, telephone number and interest of the 
person filing the protest.
    (2) A statement of the issue or issues being protested.
    (3) A statement of the part or parts of the amendment being 
protested. To the extent possible, this should be done by reference to 
specific pages, paragraphs, sections, tables, maps, etc. included in 
the proposed amendment.
    (4) A copy of all documents addressing the issue or issues 
submitted during the planning process by the protesting party or an 
indication of the discussion date of the issue(s) for the record.
    (5) A concise statement explaining why the proposed decision is 
believed to be incorrect. This is a critical part of your protest. Take 
care to document all relevant facts. As much as possible, reference or 
cite the planning documents, environmental analysis documents, 
available planning records (i.e., meeting minutes or summaries, 
correspondence, etc.). A protest which merely expresses disagreement 
with the proposed decision, without any data will not provide us with 
the benefit of your information and insight. In this case, the 
Director's review will be based on the existing analysis and supporting 
data.
    At the end of the 30-day protest period, the BLM may issue a Record 
of Decision, approving implementation of any portions of the proposed 
plan amendment not under protest. Approval will be withheld on any 
portion of the plan under protest until the protest has been resolved.

(Authority: Sec. 202, Pub. L. 94-579, 90 Stat. 2747 (43 U.S.C. 
1712))
    Dated: December 27, 2000.
Mat Millenbach,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 01-105 Filed 1-4-01; 8:45 am]
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