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NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-MT-C020-2026-0050-EA
Project Name: Prairie Elk Irrigation Project

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-MT-C020-2026-0050-EA
Project Name

Prairie Elk Irrigation Project
Project Type

EA
NEPA Status

In Progress - Analysis & Document Preparation
Lead Office

Miles City Field Office
Last Updated

2/23/2026 5:00:00 PM

Project Description

The Prairie Elk Hutterian Brethren Inc. (Brethren) submitted an application to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a right‑of‑way (ROW) approximately 1,600 feet in length and of variable width to construct a buried 24‑inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) irrigation pipeline and pump site to support an irrigation pivot system on adjacent private land. The proposed project area is located approximately four miles southwest of Oswego, Montana, in McCone County, just south of the Missouri River. Operation of the pump site requires an electrical power source.

McCone Electric Cooperative submitted a separate application for a 30‑foot‑wide, 1,400‑foot‑long ROW to install a 14.4‑kV buried electric powerline that would parallel the proposed PVC pipeline and provide power to the pump site. The BLM assigned serial number MTMT106385180 to the Brethren’s application for the irrigation pipeline and pump site, and serial number MTMT106391420 to McCone Electric’s application for the buried powerline.

The Brethren do not own property with river access within a reasonable distance of the desired pivot system. They attempted but were unable to obtain river access on private lands through neighbors. Additionally, the neighboring river access has been eroding at approximately four feet per year. The river access on BLM land appears to be accreting rather than eroding, making it the most stable river access point in the vicinity of the pivot system. The Brethren are pursuing water rights in conjunction with this ROW application. 

Both applicants requested additional workspaces, each 20 feet wide and matching the lengths noted above, to support construction that would be authorized under renewable short-term ROWs with a three-year duration. The short-term ROW application for the Brethren was assigned serial number MTMT106695823 and McCone Electric was assigned serial number MTMT106695824, respectfully.  Upon completion of installation, the short-term ROWs would be reclaimed to the original conditions of the site. After construction is completed, a two-track access road would be left in the irrigation pipeline ROW for seasonal use and maintenance.

What's New

Currently the Project Location shown in ePlanning is wrong due to technical issues. The correct location is:

Nearest Town: Oswego, MT 59201, which is in Roosevelt County.

Project County Location: McCone

T. 26 N., R. 45 E.,

sec. 15, lot 4 and NE1/4SW1/4.

The area described contains 3.72 acres, PD lands, more or less.

Project Location

City	State/Territory	Zip Code	County(ies)
Frazer	Montana	59225	Valley

Application Information

Applicant

Case File Number

Program

Sub-Program

Project Dates

Start Date

2/12/2026
End Date

—
FONSI Date

—

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Miles City Field Office
Offices

Miles City FO
Cooperating Agencies

—

Contacts

Contact 1 Name

Contact 1 Email

Contact 1 Phone