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NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-MT-C010-2025-0003-EA
Project Name: ACC Beckys Modification - Warren Plan of Operations

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-MT-C010-2025-0003-EA
Project Name

ACC Beckys Modification - Warren Plan of Operations
Project Type

EA
NEPA Status

In Progress - Decision and Appeal Period
Lead Office

Billings Field Office
Last Updated

1/30/2026 9:36:53 AM

Project Description

Most of the Beckys project area was previously mined in the early-to-mid 1970s prior to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Reclamation at the time was not ideal, with vegetation failing to take hold on the less-than-ideal pit fill. Reclamation practices have changed since this time. The operator intends to remove the existing pit fill, expose and extract remaining bentonite resources, then place the unsuitable substrate at the bottom of the pits before placing suitable material on the surface. This reclamation technique has been successful in the arid environment of the northern Bighorn Basin.

ACC proposes to conduct surface mining of bentonite using the cast-back process. A sequence of small pits (generally 1-3 acres in size) are dug to access and remove the bentonite deposit. As the pits progress through a sequence, reclamation begins at the first pit and follows the active mining as overburden is backcast from the new pit to the previous pit in the series. 

Three mining series, series T, Z, and AA/H, are associated with the Beckys project. A total of up to 112.03 acres are proposed to be disturbed on unpatented mining claims, 158.65 acres of unpatented mining claims are in the plan modification. Mining will commence after this modification to ACC's current plan of operations is approved.

Appropriate equipment (scrapers, dozers, etc.) will backfill open pits in a backcast system as outlined in the Description of Operations. As the pits are backfilled, they will be contoured and blended to surrounding topography. Lands in the area affected by mining operations will be reclaimed to the pre-mine land uses of wildlife habitat, livestock grazing, and recreation. Additionally, ACC will replace any fencing removed or altered by mining operations. No equipment staging, servicing, or fueling areas will be constructed within 300 feet of any wetland or riparian areas. To ensure that revegetation can occur as fast as possible, reclamation will occur concurrently with mining. Seeding will occur during the first fall/winter after soil has been replaced. More detailed information is included in the Plan of Operations

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Project Location

City	State/Territory	Zip Code	County(ies)
Bridger	Montana	59014	Carbon County

Application Information

Applicant

Case File Number

Program

Sub-Program

Project Dates

Start Date

2/27/2025
End Date

1/29/2026
FONSI Date

1/29/2026

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Billings Field Office
Offices

Billings FO
Cooperating Agencies

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Contacts

Contact 1 Name

Contact 1 Email

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