[Federal Register: September 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 171)]
[Notices]
[Page 52575-52576]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04se03-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement (LEIS) for the Withdrawal of Lands at the Limestone Hills
Training Area (LHTA), Near Townsend, MT
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces its intent to prepare an
LEIS pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as implemented by Council on Environmental Quality
regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508). The LEIS will analyze both the proposed
withdrawal of lands supporting training exercises for the Montana Army
National Guard (MTARNG) and the associated Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) Headwaters Resource Management Plan Amendment. The BLM is
participating as an active cooperation agency in the preparation of the
LEIS.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions should be forwarded by mail to
Ms. Sundi West, Montana Army National Guard Fort Harrison, P.O. Box
[[Page 52576]]
4789, Helena, MT 59604-4789; via telephone at (406) 324-3088, or via
email at Sundi.West@mt.ngb.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susie Williams, U.S. Bureau of
Land Management, 106 North Parkmont, Butte, MT 59701, via phone at
(406) 533-7638, or via email at Elizabeth_Williams@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of the LEIS is to provide the
results of comprehensive analysis to the Secretary of Interior and the
Department of the Army to develop findings and recommendations to
Congress regarding the proposed land withdrawal, and to serve as a
public information source. The study area for the environmental
analysis will be resource-dependent and is likely to include all of
Lewis and Clark County and Broadwater County for socio-economic
resources, all MTARNG facilities for military mission, and the LHTA for
biological and mineral resources.
The LEIS will analyze potential environmental effects of the
proposed action and alternatives including a no action alternative.
Under the no action alternative, the current right-of-way grant from
the BLM for use of the LHTA by the MTARNG would not be renewed in 2014
for continued military purposes. Other alternatives may consist of
alternatives-shared management roles of the LHTA for the MTARNG and the
BLM, alternative land use options, and alternative locations. The
alternatives will be developed during preparation of the Draft LEIS as
a result of public input.
Significant Issues: The LHTA is a 23,100-acre parcel of land with
private and state-owned in-holdings totaling approximately 2,640 acres.
BLM manages 20,460 acres of the total acreage and allows the MTARNG to
conduct military training on its property through a right-of-way
agreement that is set to expire in 2014. The public land is also used
for gazing, mining, recreation, transportation utility right-of-ways,
and wildlife management. A limestone mine is currently operating within
the LHTA and every federally-managed acre of the LHTA falls within one
of seven grazing allotments. In addition, the MTARNG is currently
engaged in clearing unexploded ordnance from a range on the LHTA that
is no longer in use.
Significant issues the LEIS will analyze include the following and
as well as any additional issues raised during scoping: (1) Continued
ability of Graymont Western's Indian Creek Limestone Mine to extract
and process ore within the LHTA; (2) allocation and management of
grazing allotments; (3) public access to the LHTA; (4) noise and dust
generated during training exercises and vehicular traffic; (5) impacts
to Broadwater County due to possible termination of payments in lieu of
taxes by the BLM if the withdrawal is granted; (6) potential impacts to
wildlife in the Elkhorn Management Area; (7) consistency of land
management policy and implementation; (8) potential impacts to range
management and cleanup activities; (9) owner access to, and use of,
inholdings; and (10) impacts to local economies and MTARNG training
facilities under the no action alternative.
The Department of the Army, through the MTARNG, is initiating a
public scoping process for the purpose of determining public concerns
and issues to be analyzed and addressed for this action. A public
scoping meeting will be held at the Broadwater School Community
Library, 201 North Spruce, Townsend, Montana, and at the Chamber of
Commerce of Helena; 225 Cruse Avenue, Helena, Montana. A Public open
house will occur at each site from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. prior to each
scoping meeting. The dates and times of these meetings will be
announced in general public media.
A brief presentation will precede a request for public information
and comments. MTARNG and BLM representatives will be available at these
meetings to receive information and comments from agencies and the
public regarding issues of concern. It is important that federal, state
and local agencies, and interested individuals take this opportunity to
provide information or identify environmental concerns that should be
addressed during the analysis and preparation of the LEIS. Forms for
written comments will also be available to submit written comments at
these meetings.
Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide
written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the
public scoping meetings. To be most helpful, scoping comments should
clearly describe specific information, data, issues or topics which the
commenter believes the LEIS should address. To be considered in the
LEIS, comments and suggestions should be received no later than 60 days
following the public scooping meeting.
Dated: August 27, 2003.
Richard E. Newsome,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environmental, Safety
and Occupational Health), OASA (I&E).
[FR Doc. 03-22474 Filed 9-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M