Billings Gazette - 10/25/05

BLM's Missouri Breaks draft plan goes to public

By CLAIR JOHNSON
Of The Gazette Staff

The Bureau of Land Management's draft plan describing alternatives for
managing the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument is being
distributed to the public.

The draft report describes six alternatives, including a preferred
alternative, for managing about 375,000 acres of BLM land, including 42,800
acres leased for oil and gas.

Former President Clinton declared the area a national monument in January
2001.

About 1,220 copies of the report have been shipped from the printer to
businesses, organizations, individuals, elected officials, tribal
governments and state and federal agencies.

BLM spokesman Craig Flentie, in Lewistown, said Monday that a limited number
of the documents, titled Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental
Impact Statement for the Monument, also will be available from the BLM's
Lewistown Field Office, 920 NE Main St. The document also is available
online at www.blm.gov/nhp/spotlight/state_info/planning.htm.

Review copies will be available at most BLM offices in northern Montana and
the Blain County, Phillips County, Havre and Lewistown libraries.

The preferred alternative is said to emphasize providing visitors with
opportunities to experience the monument and to provide more opportunities
for management to respond to increasing visitation and risks to resources
that could occur over time.

Under this alternative, motorized use on the river would be allowed with
seasonal limitations on upstream travel and a seasonal no-wake speed
restriction in the wild and scenic segments of the river.

In addition, the wild and scenic segment from Holmes Council Island to Fred
Robinson Bridge would be restricted to nonmotorized watercraft from June 5
to Sept. 15.

About 378 miles of roads would be open to motorized travel either yearlong
or seasonally and six backcountry airstrips would be designated open
yearlong or seasonally.

In addition, management of oil and gas operations would be more restrictive
under this alternative, allowing less surface-disturbing activity than two
of the alternatives. Existing lease stipulations would be strengthened by
enacting conditions to protect the monument. Under the preferred
alternative, 34 natural gas wells could be drilled on the existing leases in
the monument.

The release of the report begins a 90-day public review and comment period.

Monument Manager Gary Slagel said the agency has scheduled a series of
public comment meetings throughout north-central Montana to answer questions
and gather comments.

Each meeting will have a brief BLM presentation, an opportunity to talk
individually with resource officials and time for public comment.

Slagel said specific comments addressing concerns that are within BLM's
legal responsibilities and can be resolved in the land-use planning process
would be most helpful.

Written comments on the draft report may be sent to Monument RMP Team, BLM
Lewistown Field Office, 920 NE Main St., P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown MT 59457;
or e-mail comments to monumentrmp@blm.gov.

All written and e-mail comments should include the first and last name of
the person commenting and a complete mailing address. Those individuals who
wish their name and address withheld from public release must state that
preference at the beginning of their comments. Such requests will be honored
to the extent allowed. All comments from organizations and businesses and
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses will be available for public release.

After the comment period ends, a proposed final document will be issued,
probably in July 2006, with a final record of decision expected in September
2006.

The public comment meetings will run 6-9 p.m. at these locations and dates:

Lewistown: Nov. 28, Sapphire Room, Yogo Inn, 211 E. Main

Winifred: Nov. 29, Community Center, Main Street

Fort Benton: Nov. 30, Agricultural Museum, 1205 20th St.

Havre: Dec. 1, Holiday Village Mall, Hwy. 2 West

Big Sandy: Dec. 5, Community Hall

Chinook: Dec. 6, Chinook Motor Inn, 100 Indiana St.

Hays: Dec. 7, John Capture Center

Malta: Dec. 8, First State Bank, 1 S. First E.

Billings: Dec. 12, Hampton Inn, 5110 Southgate Drive

Great Falls: Dec. 13, Townhouse Inn, 1411 10th Ave. South

Kalispell: Dec. 14, Hampton Inn, 1140 Hwy 2 West.

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