Montana · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Virginia City Historic District
BLM found a cultural value and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 4 active mining claims and 1 right of way inside the line today, and three grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 513 acres and was designated February 7, 2006, in the Dillon RMP (2006). In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management plan.
One of the 1,120 places the Bureau of Land Management has designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This page shows its line, what BLM found there and what sits inside it.
The line
Who holds the claims
At least 4 claims sit inside this line: 4 active, 4 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 4 as Active.
- ENDOMINES IDAHO LLC4claims
BLM's mining rules list designated ACECs among the places where mining that disturbs the surface beyond casual use needs a plan of operations BLM approves. Exploration of five acres or less can go ahead on a notice instead.
The rights of way
1 right of way sits inside the line. BLM files 1 under non-energy facilities.
- MT STATE HWY COMMISSION1right of way
Grazing allotments
3 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- HUNGRY HOLLOW7,737acres
- MCGOVERN4,244acres
- BUTCHER GULCH3,581acres
The nearest areas
- Blue LakeMontana/Dakotas · 430 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it5miles
- Beaverhead RockMontana/Dakotas · 124 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it26miles
- Block MountainMontana/Dakotas · 8,631 acres · 1 right of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it33miles
- Centennial SandhillsMontana/Dakotas · 1,047 acres · 3 grazing allotments covering part of it42miles
- Humbug SpiresMontana/Dakotas · 8,374 acres · 2 rights of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it47miles
More from BLM's Montana/Dakotas office
Every area BLM's Montana/Dakotas office holdsThe proposed rule
A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Virginia City Historic District. The comment window hasn't opened: the proposed rule wasn't in the Federal Register at our last check. The Watch sends one email the day it prints.
The rule's abstract
The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish in regulations an updated process for the approval of the development, revision, amendment, and maintenance of land use plans, as provided for by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, this rulemaking will provide clarification of the process the BLM uses for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.Unified Agenda entry for RIN 1004-AF53, Publication ID 2026, reginfo.gov (OMB OIRA), read Oct 18, 2026