[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 200 (Monday, October 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71529-71531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24944]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLMT924000 L14400000.FR0000 16XL1109AF; MO#4500091180; MTM 108489]
Notice of Proposed Classification of Public Lands and Minerals
for State Indemnity Selection, Montana
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
(State) has filed a petition for classification and application to
obtain public lands and mineral estate in lieu of lands to which the
State was entitled, but did not receive under its Statehood Act. The
State did not receive title because the lands had previously been
appropriated. Under Section 7 of the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to classify sufficient acreage
of public lands/minerals in Montana for title transfer to the State to
satisfy this obligation to the State. Of the area proposed for State
Indemnity Selection, 10,560 acres are designated as greater sage-grouse
General Habitat Management area.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 16, 2016.
The BLM will not consider or include comments received after the
close of the comment period or comments delivered to an address other
than the one listed below. Persons asserting a claim to or interest in
the lands or mineral estate described in this notice will find the
requirements for filing such claims in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section.
ADDRESSES: The public may submit written comments by mail or hand
delivery to: State Director, Montana/Dakotas State Office, Bureau of
Land Management, Department of the Interior, 5001 Southgate Drive,
Billings, MT 59101.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Ledger, Realty Specialist, Branch
of Lands, Realty, and Renewable Energy; telephone (406) 329-3733; email
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business
hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a
message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sections 2275 and 2276 of the Revised
Statutes,
[[Page 71530]]
as amended (43 U.S.C. 851 and 852), provide authority for the State of
Montana to receive title to public lands in lieu of lands to which it
was entitled under the Enabling Act of 1889 (25 Stat. 676), where it
did not receive title because those lands had otherwise been
encumbered.
Section 7 of the Taylor Grazing Act of June 8, 1934, requires that
such public lands and/or minerals identified for proposed transfer out
of Federal ownership must first be classified. The BLM proposes to
classify these lands/minerals under Section 7 of the Taylor Grazing Act
of June 8, 1934 (48 Stat. 1272, as amended), 43 U.S.C. 315(f). For a
period until December 16, 2016 all persons who wish to submit comments,
suggestions, or objections in connection with this classification may
present their views by the means shown under the ADDRESSES section
above.
Any adverse comments will be evaluated by the BLM Montana/Dakotas
State Director, who will issue a notice of determination to proceed
with, modify, or cancel the proposed classification. In the absence of
any action by the State Director, this classification action will be
issued as the initial classification decision of the State Director.
Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents and
records relating to this proposed classification, will be available for
public review at the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office at the address
cited in the ADDRESSES section above during regular business hours.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
The BLM intends to schedule public meetings during the 60-day
comment period. The BLM will announce the public meetings 15 days prior
to the meetings in newspapers of general circulation in the vicinity of
the selected lands and via the Web site at www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/prog/lands_realty/indemnity.html.
The lands/minerals included within this proposed classification are
in Custer, Fallon, Prairie, Richland, and Yellowstone Counties,
Montana, and are described as follows:
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 3 N., R. 30 E.,
sec. 1;
sec. 2, S\1/2\;
sec. 12, N\1/2\.
T. 4 N., R. 31 E.,
secs. 6, 7, 8, and 17;
sec. 18, lots 1 thru 4, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and E\1/2\SW\1/
4\.
T. 5 N., R. 46 E.,
sec. 24, E\1/2\.
T. 4 N., R. 47 E.,
sec. 6;
sec. 8, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and NE\1/
4\SE\1/4\.
T. 7 N., R. 47 E.,
sec. 4; portions of Tracts O and Z.
T. 12 N., R. 50 E.,
sec. 14; lots 1 thru 4, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\.
T. 12 N., R. 52 E.,
sec. 3, lots 1, 2, and 3;
sec. 5;
sec. 6, lots 2 thru 7, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/
2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
sec. 7, lots 1 thru 7, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and E\1/2\NW\1/4\;
sec. 8, lots 1, 2, and 3.
T. 13 N., R. 52 E.,
sec. 29, E\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, E\1/
2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
sec. 30, S\1/2\SW\1/4\ and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
sec. 33, lots 5, 6, and 7.
T. 9 N., R. 55 E.,
sec. 25, W\1/2\;
sec. 26, E\1/2\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\.
T. 26 N., R. 55 E.,
sec. 1, lot 4;
sec. 2, lots 1 and 2, and SW\1/4\NE\1/4\.
T. 8 N., R. 56 E.,
sec. 12, W\1/2\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
sec. 13;
sec. 14, N\1/2\, excepting a 1 acre tract in the NW\1/4\NW\1/4\
and SW\1/4\;
sec. 24, S\1/2\.
T. 27 N., R. 56 E.,
sec. 7, lots 7 thru 12, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
sec. 8, lot 12 and S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
sec. 9, lots 3, 4, and 5, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
sec. 17, E\1/2\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\;
sec. 18, lots 1 thru 4, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\,
and SE\1/4\;
sec. 22, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SW\1/4\.
T. 8 N., R. 57 E.,
sec. 18, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
sec. 19.
The areas described aggregate 13,495.74 acres.
The State expressed interest in the selection of lands withdrawn to
the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). The BOR has filed with the BLM a
Notice of Intent to Relinquish, dated January 26, 2016, requesting
partial revocation of an Order dated, October 15, 1904, and full
revocation of an Order dated March 30, 1950. Should the revocations be
approved, the following lands in Chouteau and Hill Counties are
proposed for classification by this notice as available for State
indemnity selection:
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 29 N., R. 11 E.,
sec. 21, N\1/2\NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
sec. 22, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 29 N., R. 12 E.,
sec. 9, W\1/2\ and SE\1/4\;
sec. 21, N\1/2\, SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
sec. 22;
sec. 28, W\1/2\;
sec. 29, E\1/2\NE\1/4\ and E\1/2\SE\1/4\.
T. 30 N., R. 12 E.,
sec. 35, SE\1/4\.
The areas described aggregate 2,560 acres.
The BLM will examine all lands described above for evidence of
valid existing rights and any constraints that would prevent transfer.
Right-of-way (ROW) holders will be afforded the opportunity to modify
their existing authorization per 43 CFR 2807.15. Oil and gas,
geothermal, or other leases issued under the authority of the Mineral
Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) will remain in effect under
the terms and conditions of the leases. Agricultural leases issued
under the authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1732) will remain in effect under the terms and
conditions of the leases.
Current holders of BLM grazing use authorizations were sent the
required 2-year notice in January 2016 as outlined in 43 CFR 4110.4-
2(b). Upon expiration of the 2-year period or receipt of a waiver from
the current holder, such authorizations will be terminated upon
transfer of any of the land described above to the State of Montana.
State of Montana procedures provide that upon Land Board Approval, the
State will offer 10-year grazing leases to the current holders of BLM
permits/leases on any transferred lands.
For a period until December 1, 2016 persons asserting a claim to,
or interest in, the above-described lands or mineral estate, other than
holders of leases, permits, or ROWs, may file such claim with the BLM
Montana/Dakotas State Director at the address cited in the ADDRESSES
section above. You must provide evidence that a copy thereof has been
served on the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation,
1625 11th Avenue, P.O. Box 201601, Helena, MT 59620.
Under 43 CFR 2091.3-1(b) the lands described above were segregated
from entry upon application by the State from all forms of disposal
under the public land laws, including the mining laws, except for the
form of land disposal specified in this notice of classification.
[[Page 71531]]
However, this publication does not alter the applicability of the
public land laws governing the use of the lands under lease, license,
or permit, or governing the disposal of their mineral and vegetative
resources, other than under the mining laws.
The segregative effect of this classification will terminate in one
of the following ways:
(1) Classification of the lands on or before the expiration of the
2-year period from the date of application;
(2) Publication of a notice of termination of the classification in
the Federal Register;
(3) An Act of Congress; or
(4) Expiration of the 2-year period from the date of application
unless notice of extension for the proposed classification for an
additional period, not exceeding 2 years, is given.
Authority: 43 CFR parts 2091, 2400, and 2621.
Jamie Connell,
BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-24944 Filed 10-14-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P