Published: August 21, 2025 |

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The Bureau of Land Management Butte Field Office is seeking input on the Montana Sapphire Mining Company’s plan of operations to conduct placer mining on public lands on the northeast shore of Hauser Lake in Lewis and Clark County, Montana.

“The BLM is committed to ensuring responsible development of our nation’s resources in a way that supports economic resilience and environmental stewardship. Public input is important to this process, and we look forward to the feedback,” said Butte Field Manager Lindsey Babcock.

If approved, the Montana Sapphire Mining Company would conduct placer mining and processing to recover sapphires from McCune Bar gravels over 2.5 acres. The plan would cover five years of operations. 

The BLM is accepting public comments on the plan of operations for 30 days, starting on August 7, 2025. A project description, location, and map are available at the BLM National NEPA Register website HERE.

Comments on the plan should be submitted on the project’s ePlanning site or to the Butte Field Office at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Please add “McCune Bar Plan of Operations” in the subject line.

The Bureau of Land Management manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

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