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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Lewistown Field Office
 
Release Date: 02/08/12
Contacts: Craig Flentie 406-538-1943    

BLM Seeks Public Comments on Possible Land Acquisition

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public comments on a Draft Environmental Assessment addressing the opportunity for the agency to acquire 652 privately owned acres in the Missouri River corridor, northwest of Winifred, Mont.

The environmental assessment considers two alternatives; purchasing the parcel or not purchasing the parcel. The assessment is available at the BLM’s Central Montana District Office or online at http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/umrbnm/grazingaltsandassessmts.html.

In May 2011, a realtor representing the owners of this parcel approached the BLM about the potential purchase.

The property is located on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail within the designated Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River corridor and is surrounded by BLM managed public lands included in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.

Acquiring the parcel would enhance public recreation opportunities along the Missouri River, maintain or improve important wildlife habitat, and reduce the management complications common with scattered landownership patterns.

Please submit comments by March 7, 2012, to the Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Gary Slagel, 920 NE Main, Lewistown, Montana 59457. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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.
 
If you have questions about the Draft EA, please contact UMRBNM Manager Gary Slagel at 406-538-1950. 

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.
--BLM--

Lewistown Field Office   920 NE Main Street      Lewistown, MT 59457  

Last updated: 06-28-2012