96-20287. Montana; Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Judith-Valley-Phillips Resource Management Plan

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 41650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20287]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[MT-063-06-1310-01]


Montana; Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Judith-Valley-Phillips Resource Management 
Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact 
statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 and Section 102(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management will prepare a 
supplement to the Judith-Valley-Phillips Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
and EIS for oil and gas leasing and development. The supplemental EIS 
will address an alternative that would avoid oil and gas leasing in 
areas with valuable wildlife habitat in response to a protest received 
on the final RMP/EIS.

DATES: Comments and recommendations on this notice should be received 
by September 30, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Jerry Majerus, Team 
Lead, Bureau of Land Management, Lewistown District Office, P.O. Box 
1160, Lewistown, Montana 59457-1160.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Majerus, Team Lead, Bureau of 
Land Management, Lewistown District Office, P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown, 
Montana 59457-1160 (406-538-7461).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In September 1994, the BLM issued the Record 
of Decision (ROD) for the approval of portions of the Judith-Valley-
Phillips Resource Management Plan and EIS. The RMP/EIS addressed 
management of public lands and minerals in north central Montana 
including Fergus, Petroleum, Judith Basin, Phillips and Valley Counties 
and the southern half of Chouteau County. The ROD approved the BLM's 
decisions for managing 2.8 million surface acres and 3.4 million acres 
of mineral estate with the exception of decisions relating to oil and 
gas leasing and development. As indicated in the ROD, the BLM will 
prepare a supplement to the RMP/EIS for oil and gas leasing and 
development. The supplemental EIS will address an alternative that 
would avoid oil and gas leasing in areas with valuable wildlife habitat 
in response to a protest received on the final RMP/EIS. The 
supplemental EIS and final RMP/EIS will be the basis for a ROD to lease 
with appropriate stipulations to protect resources, or not to lease 
because of sensitive resources which cannot be protected with 
stipulations. In the spring of 1997, the BLM anticipates requesting 
public comments on the draft supplemental EIS.

    Dated: July 29, 1996.
David L. Mari,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-20287 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P