Big Sky Times

Bureau of Land Management issue the following announcement on March 9.

The BLM is gathering public comments as part of the preparation of an environmental assessment to identify management issues and develop alternative management scenarios for approximately 19,498 acres of public lands in the Pumpkin Creek area located about 17 miles south of Miles City.

The 15-day scoping period will end on March 23, 2020.

The environmental assessment will identify proposed management actions consistent with the Miles City Approved Resource Management Plan, as amended (ARMP), including: potential terms and conditions for livestock grazing on the Pumpkin Creek area and other actions to meet ARMP objectives such as; meeting Land Health Standards and providing for a diversity of recreation opportunities and benefits.

If the Preferred Alternative in the EA provides for issuance of one or more grazing authorizations, BLM will provide a Notice of Available Forage, take applications, and randomly select one or more qualified applicant(s), who by applying, would agree to manage livestock according to the terms and conditions identified in the Preferred Alternative. 

The Miles City Field Office anticipates issuing a new decision to implement the Preferred Alternative regarding management of the Pumpkin Creek area prior to Dec. 1, 2020.

The Scoping Notice, other relevant information and a venue for comments is available on the ePlanning web page dedicated to this project. Go to: https://go.usa.gov/xdsBS. The NEPA number is DOI-BLM-MT-C020-2020-0040-EA. 

Comments may also be hand-delivered or mailed to: BLM Miles City Field Office, Attn: Christina Stuart, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301.

Public comments are most useful when they are specific and cite relevant issues. Persons providing comments are advised that before including their address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information, that their entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While those commenting can ask in their comments to withhold identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that they will be able to do so.

For more information contact BLM Project Manager Christina Stuart at (406) 233-2815.

Original source can be found here.