The comment period on the Draft SEIS ended May 2, 2007.
In 2003, the BLM and the State of Montana jointly prepared the EIS and RMP Amendments (Statewide Document). The Statewide Document analyzed the environmental impacts associated with amending the RMPs to change existing land use decisions regarding the development of oil and gas resources, including coal bed natural gas (CBNG) exploration and development. The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Statewide Document was approved on April 30, 2003.
Together with the Statewide Document, the SEIS/Amendment provides a comprehensive framework for managing public land and allocating resources related to CBNG and other oil and gas exploration and development activities.
The SEIS/Amendment is in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended; the Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and other related regulations.
The SEIS/Amendment also updates the Statewide Document to incorporate significant new information and reflects changes in policies, regulations, and activities since the Statewide Document was approved. Monitoring data is presented to update the public on new resource data developed since the Statewide Document was completed in April 2003.
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