Kimbell

I. BACKGROUND

A. Project area and Allotment Management Plan (AMP) Proposal1

The Antelope Basin/Elk Lake project area is in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (BDNF) in Southwest Montana. The project area is approximately 48,000 acres and forms the southeast portion of the Gravelly Mountain Range. Most of the project area is open, mountain sagebrush/ grasslands with some scattered timber along streams. 1 An AMP is “a document, prepared in consultation with lessees or per- mittees, that applies to livestock operations on public lands, and (1) pre- scribes the manner and extent to which livestock operations will be conducted in order to meet multiple use, sustained-yield, economic, and other needs and objectives, (2) describes range improvements to be installed and maintained, and (3) contains such other provisions relating to livestock grazing and other objectives found by the Secretary to be con- sistent with the provisions of [the Federal Land Policy Management Act].” Antelope Basin/Elk Lake AMP Updates, Environmental Assessment, Revised (Environmental Assessment), Chapter 1, p. 2 (December 2002). 3712 NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS COUNCIL v. TIDWELL Three Forest…