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Notice of Closure to Firearms Target Shooting on Public Lands in Yellowstone County Managed by the Billings Field Office, Bureau of Land Management; Montana, Implementation of Record of Decision for Environmental Assessment MT-010-03-08

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 [Federal Register: March 8, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 44)]
[Notices]
[Page 11269-11270]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08mr05-123]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-010-1220-AD]

Notice of Closure to Firearms Target Shooting on Public Lands in
Yellowstone County Managed by the Billings Field Office, Bureau of Land
Management; Montana, Implementation of Record of Decision for
Environmental Assessment MT-010-03-08

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice closes certain public lands in Yellowstone County,
Montana, to target shooting with firearms. This restriction is
necessary for the management of actions, activities, and public use on
certain public lands that may have, or are having, adverse impacts on
persons using public lands, on property, and on resources located on
public lands. Increasing levels of public use are creating conflicts
between different user groups. Hikers, horseback riders, mountain
bikers, wildlife observers, hunters, and target shooters all utilize
the subject lands.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This restriction takes effect on April 7, 2005 and will
remain in effect until it is amended or repealed.

ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand-deliver inquiries or suggestions or
comments on the closure to Bureau of Land Management, Billings Field
Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107-6800.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra S. Brooks, Field Manager, BLM,

[[Page 11270]]

Billings Field Office, P.O. Box 36800, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings,
MT 50107-6800, or call (406) 896-5013.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A complete copy of Environmental Assessment
#MT-010-03-08, which supports this restriction, may be viewed at: 
http://www.mt.blm.gov/bifo/ea/ShootingEA/FinalShootingEA.pdf. Exit Disclaimer
    While hikers, horseback riders, mountain bicyclists and other users
can schedule their use around published hunting seasons for safety
reasons; they are not able to avoid random target shooting. Local
conditions, including heavy timber and rough terrain, reduce visibility
and increase the hazard to other users from target shooters. Recent
incidents involving random target shooting have resulted in
endangerment and injury to other users. To reduce the incidence of
future conflicts, three areas of public land known as the Acton Area,
21-Mile Area, and Shepherd Ah-Nei, located north of Billings, Montana,
are being closed to target shooting with firearms. These areas will
remain open to hunting by licensed hunters during seasons administered
by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
    This Restriction does not apply to other lands, specifically the
``17-Mile'' area located west of Highway 87, north of Billings,
Montana, on the Crooked Creek Road.
    Affected Lands: The affected lands are all public lands
administered by the Billings Field Office, and include the following
public lands:

Principal Meridian, Montana

    That area of public lands commonly referred to as the ``Acton
Area'' or ``Acton Ah-Nei'' located at:

T. 4 N., R. 25 E.,
    Sect. 31, E\1/2\
T. 3 N, R. 25 E.,
    Sect. 5, all;
    Sect. 6, NE\1/4\;
    Sect. 7, N\1/2\; SE\1/4\; E\1/2\; SW\1/4\;
    Sect. 8, all;
    Sect. 9, all;
    Sect. 17, all;
    Sect. 20, N\1/2\ N\1/2\.

    That area of public lands commonly referred to the ``21-Mile
Area'' located at

T. 4 N., R. 25 E.,
    Sect. 24, all.

    That area of public lands commonly referred to the ``Shepherd
Area,'' or ``Shepherd Ah Nei'' located at:

T. 4 N., R. 27 E.,
    Sect. 24, NE\1/4\, S\1/2\;
    Sect. 25, all;
    Sect. 36, all;
T. 3 N., R. 27 E.,
    Sect. 1, all;
T. 4 N., R. 28 E.,
    Sect. 19, all;
    Sect. 20, W\1/2\;
    Sect. 30, W\1/2\, NW\1/4\, N\1/2\, NE\1/4\.
    Sect. 31, all;
T. 3 N., R. 28 E.,
    Sect. 6, S\1/2\, W\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\W\1/2\NE\1/
4\, all in Yellowstone County, in the State of Montana

Restriction

1.0 Restriction of Target Shooting on Affected Public Lands.

    The following is prohibited: Discharge of firearms for the purpose
of target shooting.

2.0 Exceptions

    (a) This restriction does not apply to the hunting of lawful game
by licensed hunters during seasons administered by the Montana
Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
    (b) This restriction does not apply to archery marksmanship at
fixed targets affixed to a backstop sufficient to stop and hold target
or broad-head arrows.
    (c) This restriction does not apply to special target shooting
events, which may be authorized by the authorized officer under special
permit.
    Penalties: Violations of this restriction are punishable by a fine
in accordance with the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (18 U.S.C. 3551 et
seq.), and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months for each offense.
The authority for this closure is 43 CFR 8364.1(a).

    Dated: January 14, 2005.
Eddie Bateson,
Acting Field Office Manager, Billings Field Office.
[FR Doc. 05-4424 Filed 3-7-05; 8:45 am]

 
 

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