Public Participation

The Draft Butte Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/EIS) was released for a 120-day public comment period in summer 2007. The Draft RMP/EIS contents page contains the document, maps, and supplemental files.

After publication of the Draft RMP/EIS, the BLM hosted six “open house” style informational public meetings to answer questions and provide clarification on specific aspects of the Draft RMP/EIS.

The Proposed RMP/Final EIS was released on September 26, 2008, with the 30-day protest period ending October 27, 2008. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS Contents page contains the document, maps revised since the Draft RMP/EIS, and supplemental files.

The Record of Decision and Approved Butte Resource Management Plan (ROD/ARMP) has now been released. If you would like to receive a copy of the ROD/ARMP, please contact Tim La Marr at Timothy_LaMarr@blm.gov . Please indicate whether you’d like to receive a hard copy or CD copy.

Publication of the Notice of Availability of the ROD/ARMP in the Federal Register on May 22, 2009, marked the beginning of the 30-day appeal period for site-specific travel planning decisions in the Helena Travel Planning Area (TPA), East Helena TPA, Lewis and Clark County NW TPA, Boulder/Jefferson City TPA, and Upper Big Hole River TPA.

Appeal Procedures for Travel Plan Implementation Decisions

Any party adversely affected by the route designations in the Helena, East Helena, Boulder/Jefferson City, Lewis and Clark County NW, or Upper Big Hole River travel planning areas may appeal within 30 days of the publication of the Notice of Availability of this ROD/Approved RMP in the Federal Register in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 4, Subpart E. Decisions for each of the five individual travel planning areas are considered to be five separate decisions so any appeals need to indicate which travel planning area(s) is/are being appealed. The appeal should state the specific route(s) by township, range and section on which the decision is being appealed, or by route number taken from the travel plan maps enclosed in the ROD/ARMP document (Maps 4-8). The appeal must include a statement of the reasons when the notice of appeal is filed, or you may file the statement of reasons within 30 days after filing the appeal. The appeal must state if a stay of the decision is being requested in accordance with 43 CFR 4.21 and must be filed with the Butte Field Manager at the following address:

Bureau of Land Management
Butte Field Office
106 North Parkmont
Butte, Montana 59701

A copy of the appeal, statement of reasons, and all other supporting documents must also be sent to the Field Solicitor at the following address:

USDI Field Solicitor’s Office
P.O. Box 31394
Billings, MT 59107-1394

If the statement of reasons is filed separately, it must be sent to the following address:

USDI Office of Hearings and Appeals
801 N. Quincy Street, MS 300-QC
Arlington, VA 22203

It is suggested that any appeal be sent certified mail, return receipt requested.

Request for Stay

Any party wishing to file a petition for stay pending the outcome of an appeal must show sufficient justification for the stay based on the following standards listed under 43 CFR Part 4.21(b):

The relative harm to the parties if the stay is granted or denied,
The likelihood of the appellant’s success on the merits,
The likelihood of immediate and irreparable harm to the appellant or resources if the stay is not granted, and
Whether the public interest favors granting the stay.

The request for stay must be filed with the Butte Field Manager at the address listed above.

Contact:
Butte Field Office, Montana

Updated May 22, 2009