By Josh Margolis
MALTA, Mont. (NMB) – The Bureau of Land Management held a virtual public meeting on Monday evening to discuss the proposed continued withdrawal of the BLM-owned land in the Zortman-Landusky mine reclamation area.
In the proposal, the BLM is looking to withdraw 2,688 acres of public land for location and entry from US mining laws. It is subject to valid existing rights and lands have already been segregated for up to two years after a Federal Register Notice was issued, meaning that new mining claims cannot be made on the land over that period.
During the two-year period, BLM will evaluate the proposed withdrawal, consider alternatives, and make a recommendation to the Interior Secretary.
The previous withdrawal of the 3,500 acre footprint expired on October 4th. The new withdrawal is almost entirely within the previous withdrawal’s footprint.
BLM says the withdrawal would prevent new disturbance, which would allow time for “reclamation work to continue to stabilize and monitor effectiveness of reclamation and water treatment systems, optimize the water treatment systems, and allow leach pads and waste dumps to achieve geochemical equilibrium.”
The public comment period remains open through January 5th, 2021. The expectation is for the Environmental Assessment to be prepared in the coming months, and for the public comment period on that to open up next winter.
In spring 2022, it is expected that the BLM will provide a mineral withdrawal recommendation to the Interior Secretary.
Comments can be submitted to:
- BLM – Malta Field Office, ATTN: Field Manager, 501 South 2nd Street E, Malta, MT 59538
- Comments can also be emailed to mrlee@blm.gov
A copy of the slideshow presented during the meeting can be seen here. Further BLM information on the project can be viewed here.
