Establishment of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument

President Clinton established the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, withdrawing approximately 377,346 acres of federal land in Montana from development, mining, and mineral leasing. The proclamation directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage the monument through the Bureau of Land Management, prepare a transportation plan, and prohibit off-road motorized vehicle use.

Federal Register Open PDF 66 FR 7359

Impact dates

Jan 17, 2001
Monument establishment, land withdrawal, water reservation, and off-road vehicle prohibition take effect

Key directives

Establish Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument on approximately 377,346 acres
Withdraw federal lands from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, leasing under public land laws
Withdraw from location, entry, and patent under mining laws
Withdraw from mineral and geothermal leasing disposition
Secretary of Interior shall manage development on existing oil and gas leases to avoid new impacts
Secretary of Interior shall prepare transportation plan with road closures/travel restrictions
Prohibit all motorized and mechanized vehicle use off-road except emergency or authorized administrative purposes
Secretary of Interior shall manage monument through Bureau of Land Management pursuant to National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Reserve water in Judith River and Arrow Creek sufficient to fulfill monument purposes

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

National Monument established
Federal lands withdrawn from entry, location, sale, leasing, mining, and mineral/geothermal leasing
Off-road motorized/mechanized vehicle use prohibited except for emergency/administrative purposes
Water reservation in Judith River and Arrow Creek takes effect

Near term (90d)

Secretary of Interior to prepare transportation plan addressing road closures and travel restrictions

Long term

Ongoing BLM management under National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Management of existing oil and gas leases to avoid new impacts
Potential acquisition of non-federal lands for inclusion in monument

Risks & tensions

Tension between conservation goals and existing oil/gas leaseholder interests
Potential conflict with grazing permit holders despite continuation of BLM grazing policies
Water reservation in Judith River and Arrow Creek may create uncertainty for downstream users
Non-federal land acquisition provision suggests future expansion conflicts with private landowners