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Contact: Laurie Walters-Clark, (605) 797-4432               John Bown, (406) 896-510 Date: April 12, 2007   Forest Service and BLM Issue Decision on Sioux Ranger District Leasing About 75,000 acres in the South Dakota portion of the Custer National Forest’s Sioux Ranger District will be administratively available for oil and gas leasing following a comprehensive environmental analysis. The Custer National Forest and the Montana-Dakotas BLM have signed a record of decision that will implement the Sioux Ranger District Oil and Gas Leasing Final Environmental Impact Statement following a 45-day appeal period. The analysis area is in the northwestern portion of the state in Harding County. The Ranger District administers five separate units there. In order to protect heritage resources, no surface occupancy will be allowed on any leases in three of the five units. Additional stipulations are in place to protect other resources including biodiversity. More information is available by writing the Sioux Ranger District at P.O. BOX 37, Camp Crook, S.D. 57724, or by calling (605) 797-4432