98-3688. Resource Management Plan Amendment, Jefferson County, Whitetail/ Pipestone Area, Montana

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 7480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3688]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[MT-960-1990-00]


Resource Management Plan Amendment, Jefferson County, Whitetail/
Pipestone Area, Montana

AGENCY: Butte District Office, Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
Travel Plan Amendment in cooperation with the Forest Service and the 
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks that establishes 
comprehensive program guidance for the use of motorized vehicles within 
the Whitetail/Pipestone Management Area.

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SUMMARY: The Headwaters Resource Area is initiating an RMP Amendment/
Environmental Assessment to evaluate the effects of alternative 
strategies for managing motorized vehicle uses on public lands in the 
Whitetail/Pipestone area. This area is bordered on the west by I-15, 
running from Butte to Boulder, on the east by the Whitetail road 
running from Boulder to Whitehall, and on the south by Highway 2 
running from Whitehall to Butte. Issues that are anticipated are: 
numbers of motorized users (ATVs and motorcycles) and their effect on 
grazing, soils (water quality), wildlife, non-motorized recreation 
users, and cultural values. Range, wildlife, cultural, soils and 
recreation resources will be analyzed for impacts.
    It is planned that changes to existing RMP direction will not have 
significant effects and therefore Category 1 amendment procedures will 
be utilized at the onset.
    This area-specified plan will be jointly prepared and implemented 
with the Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest with input from the 
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Its primary goal will 
be to provide quality motorized and non-motorized recreation 
opportunities that are compatible with established management 
objectives for the area. Issue development and alternative analysis is 
being coordinated with all interested/affected individuals, interest 
groups and government agencies.

DATES: Public scoping is underway and alternative development will 
continue into winter. Field trips have been held in the past. The 
existing condition and alternatives will be sent to interested 
participants this winter with a decision planned for the fall of 1998. 
The final travel plan amendment is scheduled for public review in 
November 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bureau of Land Management, Butte District Office, Darrell L. McDaniel, 
P.O. Box 3388, Butte, MT 59702, telephone [phone].
Orval T. Hadley,
Associate District Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-3688 Filed 2-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P-M