Montana · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Zortman/Landusky Mine Reclamation
BLM's map records no relevance finding for this one. BLM's records place at least 4 active mining claims and 17 rights of way inside the line today, and two grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 2,686 acres and was designated September 21, 2015, in the HiLine RMP (2015). 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 claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 4 as Active.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)4claims
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
17 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 13 under non-energy facilities, 2 under fiber optic facilities and 2 under other energy facilities.
- BIG FLAT ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC3rights of way
- TRIANGLE TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION INC2rights of way
- PHILLIPS CO TV TRANSLATOR DIST1right of way
- MT DNRC1right of way
- USDA1right of way
- FWS1right of way
- PRIORITY COMMUNICATIONS INC1right of way
- MT HWY PATROL1right of way
- PHILLIPS COUNTY (Montana)1right of way
- EIP Holdings II, LLC1right of way
- HHS1right of way
- MT DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- HILL COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC1right of way
- BIA FORT BELKNAP AGENCY1right of way
Grazing allotments
2 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- MT0563025,571acres
- MONTANA GULCH5,290acres
The nearest areas
- Azure CaveMontana/Dakotas · 143 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it3miles
- Cow CreekMontana/Dakotas · 19,414 acres · 6 grazing allotments covering part of it19miles
- Malta GeologicMontana/Dakotas · 6,153 acres · 1 right of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it56miles
- Acid Shale-Pine ForestMontana/Dakotas · 2,674 acres · 6 grazing allotments covering part of it57miles
- Big Bend of the Milk RiverMontana/Dakotas · 1,992 acres · 1 right of way, 6 grazing allotments covering part of it58miles
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 Zortman/Landusky Mine Reclamation. 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