Montana State Office
| Contacts: | Mel Lloyd 406-896-5260 |
Yellowstone Waters Force Temporary Closure of Pompeys Pillar National Monumen
The Bureau of Land Management’s Billings Field Office today temporarily closed the Pompeys Pillar National Monument to ensure public and employee safety. Rising waters from the Yellowstone River peaked at midnight but remain a concern. The Monument is closed at the entry gate to all traffic, including walk-ins.
“We are concerned about the resources on the Monument, but public and employee safety is paramount,” Field Manager Jim Sparks said. “Contingent upon weather, of course, we do anticipate opening the Monument back-up on Friday because the water is receding.”
Pompeys Pillar National Monument, managed within the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System, is located 25 miles east of Billings off Interstate 94. During the summer season, the BLM hosts interpretive programs that highlight the cultural and natural history of the Monument. For more information, contact Irv Leach at (406) 896-5235 or visit www.blm.gov/mt.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Montana State Office 5001 Southgate Drive Billings, MT 59101