BLM SEEKS COMMENTS ON MONTANA DIVIDE RIDE IN PIPESTONE AREA

From: Abrams, David [dabrams@blm.gov] Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 7:52 AMTo: Abrams, DavidSubject: BLM News Release--BLM seeks comments on Montana Divide Ride in Pipestone area

 
Contact: David Abrams, Public Affairs Specialist
dabrams@blm.gov
(406) 490-0367
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLM SEEKS COMMENTS ON MONTANA DIVIDE RIDE IN PIPESTONE AREA
                DILLON (April 2, 2012) – The Bureau of Land Management’s Dillon Field Office seeks public comment on the annual Montana Divide Ride as it reviews the request for a special recreation permit to conduct the trail ride on BLM-managed public lands.

The Montana 4X4 Association would like to base this year’s event operations out of the Whitehall area during the week of July 23-28.  The association proposes to use trails primarily located on U.S. Forest Service lands, but also including trail segments across BLM lands managed by the Dillon Field Office and other trails entirely within the Whitetail-Pipestone Off-Highway Vehicle area co-managed by the BLM Butte Field Office and the USFS.
All routes proposed for use on BLM-managed lands are open to motorized wheeled vehicles with the exception of a route known as Carcass Canyon just south of Silver Star.  This approximately one-mile route is not designated as open to public motorized use, and is not appropriate for motorized vehicles except for the most capable “rock-crawler” type vehicle.  In response to this proposal, the BLM Dillon Field Office will prepare an environmental assessment to consider the impacts of authorizing organized  rides on BLM lands that fall within the following parameters:

approved by a Special Recreation Permit, including appropriate insurance, stipulations, and fees
non-speed (and non-competitive) organized events including less than 15 vehicles per day on routes designated open to the public for wheeled, motorized vehicles

up to six rides per year in the Carcass Canyon area south of Silver Star for appropriately equipped vehicles, not to exceed 12 vehicles per day
no camping or parking/staging areas to occur on BLM lands
The Montana Divide Ride will be limited to a maximum of 150 vehicles total, with no more than 15 vehicles using any particular trail per day.  A total of 100 or fewer vehicles are expected at the event.  No camping or vehicle staging areas associated with the Divide Ride will be authorized on BLM lands.
According to the group’s application, the event is a non-speed, non-competitive, organized event intended to provide a community atmosphere for the enjoyment of Montana’s scenic forests and mountains.  Montana 4X4 Association is a conservation-minded non-profit organization which promotes and adheres to the teachings of the “Tread Lightly” program.
Public comments on this permit application regarding social, economic and environmental benefits or concerns of issuing the permits will be helpful in considering this application.  For specific details on this proposal, people may call or visit the BLM Dillon Field Office.

Send comments to: BLM Dillon Field Office, 1005 Selway Drive, Dillon, MT 59725 by April 20 or call Rick Waldrup at (406) 683-8000 for more information.
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
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.

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Sincerely,
David Abrams
Public Affairs Specialist
Western Montana BLM District
106 N. Parkmont
Butte, MT  59701

 
(406) 533-7617
Fax: (406) 533-7660
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