(BUTTE, Mont.) – The Bureau of Land Management’s Butte Field Office is in the beginning stages of analyzing motorized access for BLM-managed public lands in north Lewis & Clark County.

The field office has posted an inventory of existing travel routes in the area. Public comment at this stage is referred to as scoping and will help guide a Travel Management Plan and Environmental Assessment analyzing motorized access of public lands in the North Lewis and Clark County Travel Management Area, which covers about 15,000 acres and 23 miles of inventoried routes on BLM-managed public lands.

The goal of this travel plan is to provide a network of roads and trails that provides access to public lands, while protecting and sustaining natural resources.

The BLM is taking initial public input until April 30. Comments that are useful at this stage of the process include those on the route inventory, and information on how the public uses/enjoys the area.

Following this public scoping period, the planning team will develop different ways the area could be managed, document existing condition of recreation, soils, wildlife, and other natural and social resources, and consider environmental effects of the different potential management actions. Information about the project, as well as a map are available at the ePlanning website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2018541/580.

Public input must be submitted through the mail to: Bureau of Land Management, attn: North Lewis and Clark County TMP, 106 North Parkmont, Butte, MT, 59701.

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 personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time.

For more information, contact Brad Colin at (406) 533-7600.