Public Comment Notice: Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument

LisaLisa · 02-09-2006, 07:06 PM

Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument Update

January 2006

We just finished rescheduling public meetings to answer questions and gather comments concerning the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS).

The original meetings (scheduled for November and December ’05) were postponed due to severe weather and travel conditions throughout central Montana at the time. The new meeting schedule looks like this: Date Community Location Tuesday, Feb. 21 Lewistown Yogo Inn Wednesday, Feb. 22 Winifred Community Center Thursday, Feb. 23 Fort Benton Ag Museum Monday, Feb. 27 Havre Holiday Village Mall Tuesday, Feb. 28 Chinook Chinook Motor Inn Wednesday, March 1 Big Sandy Community Hall Thursday, March 2 Monday, March 6 Hays Malta John Capture Center 1st State Bank Tuesday, March 7 Billings MSU Billings (Student Union Bldg.) Wednesday, March 8 Great Falls Townhouse Inn Thursday, March 9 Kalispell Outlaw Inn Tuesday, March 14 Helena Jorgenson’s Again.

These meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m. with introductions and a brief BLM presentation about the RMP/EIS. Each meeting will then provide an opportunity to talk individually with various resource specialists. Around 7:30 we’ll begin a more formal public comment period with a court reporter present to create an accurate transcript of the comments offered.

Depending on how many people wish to offer comments, a time limit may be required of each speaker. Written comments will also be accepted at these meetings. The meetings are scheduled to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.

If you can not attend any of these meetings please send your written comments to: Monument RMP Team, BLM Lewistown Field Office, 920 NE Main St., P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown, MT 59457, or they may be e-mailed to monumentrmp@blm.gov.

All letters and emails should include the first and last name of the individual commenting and a complete mailing address. Those individuals who wish their name and address withheld from public release must state that preference at the beginning of their comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed.

All comments from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public release in their entirety.

The public comment period has been extended and will now run through April 26, 2006, and I certainly encourage your continued participation.

Gary E. Slagel
Monument Manager Bureau of Land Management
Lewistown Field Office
920 NE Main Street
P.O. Box 1160
Lewistown, MT 59457

AWADawg · 02-09-2006, 07:32 PM

Dang, Lisa... I should be working for you! Oh wait, I already do.

Check out the AWA/Ride Forum for meeting dates, and more info on this issue.

Chris Manthos
AWA

CaptnKirk · 02-20-2006, 06:04 PM

***UPDATE!***

Quote:

On Tuesday the Bureau of Land Management kicks off a month of meetings to find out what the public thinks is important when it comes to managing resources in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.

BLM officials will embark on a trip across much of central and northern Montana, with their first stop in Lewistown.

It is the second time the BLM has announced a meeting schedule to talk about a proposed management plan for the 375,000-acre monument. Late last year the meetings had to be postponed because of bad weather and holiday conflicts.

The new meeting schedule also was tweaked because Winifred residents, who have raised concerns about the monument for the last five years, wouldn't be able to attend a proposed Feb. 22 meeting. The date conflicted with the Northern C Divisional Basketball Tournament, and Winifred residents expect to be in the stands cheering for the boy's basketball team. Federal officials agreed that most Winifred folks likely will be in Great Falls for the tournament, and rescheduled the meeting for March 13.

The BLM was asked to extend the comment period, because the public wanted more time to check out the 500-page proposal. The BLM obliged and offered Montanans an additional three months.

Fergus County Commissioner Carl Seilstad said he will attend several of the meetings. Blaine County commissioners also intend to take part.

"It's important that people go to these to voice their opinions on parts of the plan that they don't feel are adequate or parts of the plan that they like," Seilstad said.

Issues such as road closures and sage grouse management will be key.

Access is important, said Blaine County Commissioner Don Swenson. He also wants to make sure existing oil and gas leases are protected.

"It's just making sure that we don't lose our rights," he said.

The proposed management plan includes six alternative ways to manage BLM land in the monument. Roads, airstrips and the use of motorized boats on the river are a few of the issues addressed.

The plan's preferred alternative proposes closing 216 miles of roads and restricting travel on 171 more miles. Airplanes would be allowed to land year-round at two backcountry airstrips and to land at four others seasonally. Four other airstrips would be closed.

Based on the proposal, the recreation segments of the National Wild and Scenic River would be open to motorized watercraft year-round. Float planes and personal watercraft, or Jet Skis, would be allowed on the river for three miles around Fort Benton.

Will Patric, a conservation specialist for the Wilderness Society, said the monument is a distinct landscape that deserves special protection. Protections such as limiting roads and motorized uses of the river and not allowing airstrips, are critical, he said.

"We feel there are far too many roads in that landscape," he said.

Patric said he doesn't want to see outfitters put out of business because of limitations on the river, but moving toward a motor-free river is a good step.

Airstrips also don't fit inside the monument, he said.

"Why are they sanctioning six airstrips in a place that is about remoteness and solitude?" he said. "We hope the public will ask some hard questions about that."

Pilots have said the airstrips will have little effect on the monument and will provide unique access to the area.

Mark Good, field representative for the Island Range Chapter of the Montana Wilderness Association, also said the cumulative impacts need to be considered. The monument was designated because of its uniqueness and should not be compromised by a combination of oil and gas, roads, airstrips and motorized boats on the river, he said.

A final management plan is expected in late 2006.

Great Falls Tribune

CaptnKirk · 03-10-2006, 04:34 AM

Quote:

150 meet to discuss motorized use of Missouri Breaks Monument

Motorized use of the skies, rivers and wild lands inside the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument dominated a Wednesday meeting aimed at gathering ideas for managing the 377,000-acre stretch of Montana.

More than 150 people packed a meeting room at the Townhouse Inns in Great Falls Wednesday to voice their opinions to the Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency which manages the Breaks. BLM officials are on a statewide listening tour.

A Tuesday meeting in Billings drew a crowd of close to 130 people. BLM Monument Manager Gary Slagel said all of the meetings have been well attended.

Motorized use of the monument, primarily airstrips, has been a hot topic, said Craig Flentie, a spokesman for the BLM.

The proposed management plan includes six alternative ways to manage BLM land in the monument. Transportation, airstrips and private property rights have emerged as themes during the meetings, Flentie said.

Airstrips were at the top of the list for many who attended the Great Falls meeting.

The plan's preferred alternative would allow airplanes to land year-round at two backcountry airstrips and to land at four others seasonally. Four other airstrips would be closed.

"They just aren't needed," said Joel Ericksen of Great Falls.

Susan Colvin, of Great Falls, said when she floated the river, she was amazed at the quiet.

"I want it to stay quite — no airstrips," she said.

Others pointed out that there is an airstrip in only one other national monument, and it is on the edge of the monument.

Colvin also said she is concerned that airstrips would give some hunters an unfair advantage.

J.C. Kantorowicz, president of the Great Falls hanger of the Montana Pilots Association, said the monument's 10 airstrips should be open. They provide access for people who can't otherwise hike or float the monument, he said.

Another speaker also noted that the skies above the monument are military air space, and planes already fly the area.

The preferred alternative also would close 216 miles of roads and restrict travel on 171 more miles.

Some speakers pointed out that currently in the monument, the majority of the land is within less than a mile of a road. They asked for quiet areas and limited roads.

Howard Strause, of Great Falls, said the management plan needs to protect the monument. He is concerned about increasing motorized uses.

"This should be a plan for the future," he said.

Craig Osterman, with snowtana.com, an organization that advocates snowmobile interests, said motorized users are increasingly being closed out of public lands. Osterman, of Belt, said he attended the meeting to gather information and protect motorized interests.

Based on the proposal, the recreation segments of the National Wild and Scenic River would be open to motorized watercraft year-round. Float planes and personal watercraft, or Jet Skis, would be allowed on the river for three miles around Fort Benton.

Chanler Biggs, who spent more than 20 years working on the river as a recreation planner, said the use of motorized watercraft is necessary to allow people access.

"With my background, I obviously side with the preservation interests, with one major exception — the use of motorized watercraft," he said.

Toby Tabor, of Great Falls, said he hopes to see management of the river remain as it is now. He also said he wants to see that private property rights are protected in the monument.

Fergus County Commissioner Carl Seilstad said he also is attending the meetings to advocate on behalf of private property rights.

Two years ago in an effort to clarify the boundaries of the monument, a new map excluding private and state lands was released.

The new map, however, is only that. The previously drawn boundaries are still included in the proclamation that created the monument in January 2001 The monument is 377,000 acres, but the boundaries include the 81,000 private acres, plus 39,000 acres of state land.

"It's still a very controversial issue," Seilstad said.

A final management plan is expected in late 2006.

Great Falls Tribune