[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13136]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 31, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-921-4120-01]

 

Coal Leases, Exploration Licenses, etc.: Oklahoma

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice. Availability of Environmental Assessment (EA).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management requests public comment on the 
fair market value of certain coal resources it proposes to offer for 
competitive lease sale and on the accompanying environmental assessment 
for this project.
    The lands include in the Coal Lease Applications are located in 
Latimer and LeFlore Counties, Oklahoma, around the town of Poteau. The 
individual Coal Lease Applications are described as follows:

Federal Coal Leases Application OKNM 91190

T. 8 N., R. 26 E.,
    Sec. 4, lots 3, 4, and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, lots 1 to 4 inclusive, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\, and S\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1, 2, and S\1/2\NE\1/4\.
T. 9 N., R. 26 E.,
    Sec. 20, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, S\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 28, N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\N\1/
2\SE\1/4\. NW\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, E\1/2\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lots 3, 4, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\. E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, lots 1 to 4 inclusive, E\1/2\W\1/2\, and E\1/2\;
    Sec. 32, NE\1/4\, W\1/2\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, N\1/
2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\.

    Total Acreage: 3,429.004 more or less.
    This tract has one minable coal seam, the Hartshorne, which 
averages 5.2 feet thick. The tract contains an estimated 15,320,000 
short tons of recoverable coal.
    The average, as received, proximate analysis for this tract:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Percent 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moisture.....................................................       1.86
Ash..........................................................      13.32
Volatile Matter..............................................      16.37
Fixed Carbon.................................................      68.79
Sulfur.......................................................       1.80
BUT/lb.......................................................      12834
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Coal Lease Application OKNM 91568

T. 5 N., R. 20 E.,
    Sec. 1, lots 3 and 4;
    Sec. 2, lots 1 to 4 inclusive.
    T. 6 N., R. 20 E.,
    Sec. 35, S\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 36, S\1/2\.
T. 6 N., R. 21 E,
    Sec. 31, S\1/2\, S\1/2\S\1/2\N\1/2\;
    Sec. 32, S\1/2\, and S\1/2\S\1/2\N\1/2\;
    Sec. 33, S\1/2\, and S\1/2\S\1/2\N\1/2\;
    Sec. 35, N\1/2\S\1/2\, and N\1/2\S\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 36, N\1/2\S\1/2\, and N\1/2\S\1/2\S\1/2\;
T. 6 N., R. 22 E.,
    Sec. 31, N\1/2\S\1/2\, and N\1/2\S\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 32, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 33, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 34, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 35, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 36, N\1/2\S\1/2\;
T. 6 N., R. 23 E.;
    Sec. 31, N\1/2\S\1/2\;

    Total Acreage: 3,723 more or less.

    This tract contains two minable seams, the Upper McAlester 
averaging 2.2 feet thick and the Lower McAlester averaging 2.9 feet 
thick. The tract contains an estimated 12,636,900 short tons of 
recoverable coal.
    The estimated, as received, proximate analysis for this tract 
is:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Percent 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moisture.....................................................        2.5
Volatile Matter..............................................       31.6
Fixed Carbon.................................................       66.3
Ash..........................................................       11.7
Sulfur.......................................................        3.2
BUT/lb.......................................................         --
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Coal Lease Application OKNM 91569

T. 5 N., R. 26 E.;
    Sec. 23, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, S\1/2\S\1/2\, and N\1/2\SE;
    Sec. 25, N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, N\1/2\;
    Sec. 27, S\1/2\N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\, and SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 29, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, NW\1/2\S\1/4\SE\1/4\, and 
SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\.
T. 5 N., R. 27 E.,
    Sec. 15, lots 2 and 3;
    Sec. 16, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 17, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 19, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\, SW\1/
4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, and NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\.

    Total Acreage: 2,845 more or less.

    This tract contains one minable coal seam, the Lower Hartshorne 
averaging 5.6 feet thick. The tract contains an estimated 18,290,200 
short tons of recoverable coal.
    The average, as received, proximate analysis for this tract is:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Percent 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Moisture...................................................         --
  Volatile Matter............................................       20.4
  Fixed Carbon...............................................       68.3
  Ash........................................................       10.5
  Sulfur.....................................................        1.2
  BTU........................................................      13850
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Coal Lease Application OKNM 91570

T. 8 N., R. 24 E.,
    Sec. 1, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 2, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 11, NE\1/2\NE\1/4\, and S\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, N\1/2\NW\1/4\.
T. 8 N., R. 25 E.,
    Sec. 4, S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, N\1/2\S\1/2\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 6, lots 6, 7, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and N\1/
2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\.

    Total Acreage: 1,017.46 more or less.

    This tract contains two minable coal seams, the Upper 
Hartshorne, averaging 2.7 feet thick and the Lower Hartshorne, 
averaging 2.8 feet thick. The tract contains an estimated 4,224,600 
short tons of recoverable reserves.
    The average, as received, proximate analysis for this tract is:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Percent 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upper Hartshorne Coal:                                                  
  Moisture...................................................        2.1
  Volatile Matter............................................         18
  Fixed Carbon...............................................         74
  Ash........................................................          7
  Sulfur.....................................................        0.8
  BTU/lb.....................................................      14125
Lower Hartshorne Coal:                                                  
  Moisture...................................................        3.0
  Volatile Matter............................................         17
  Fixed Carbon...............................................       75.9
  Ash........................................................        5.5
  Sulfur.....................................................        0.9
  BTU/lb.....................................................      14600
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Coal Lease Application OKNM 91571

T. 8 N., R. 26 E.,
    Sec. 14, NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, and N\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, N\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 8 N., R. 27 E.,
    Sec. 7, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, SW\1/4\, and N\1/2\N\1/2\S\1/2\
    Sec. 9, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and N\1/2\N\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 10, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\.

    Total Acreage: 1,240 more or less.

    The tract contains two minable coal seams, the Upper Hartshorne, 
averaging 2.9 feet thick, and the Lower Hartshorne, averaging 3.4 
feet thick. The tract contains an estimated 7,465,600 short tons of 
recoverable reserves.
    The average, as received, proximate analysis for this tract is:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Percent 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upper Hartshorne Coal:                                                  
  Moisture...................................................         --
  Volatile Matter............................................       18.8
  Fixed Carbon...............................................       74.5
  Ash........................................................        6.8
  Sulfur.....................................................        1.1
  BTU/lb.....................................................      14751
Lower Hartshorne Coal:                                                  
  Moisture...................................................        2.5
  Volatile Matter............................................       16.5
  Fixed Carbon...............................................       73.1
  Ash........................................................        8.0
  Sulfur.....................................................        0.9
  BTU/lb.....................................................      13750
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Coal Lease Application OKNM 91590

T. 7 N., R. 24 E.,
    Sec. 9, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\, and N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 16, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\.

    Total Acreage: 400.00 more or less.

    The tract contains one minable coal seam, the Secor Coal which 
averages 3.0 feet thick. The tract contains an estimated 369,400 
short tons of recoverable coal.
    The average, as received, proximate analysis for this tract is:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Percent 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Moisture...................................................        1.2
  Volatile Matter............................................         --
  Fixed Carbon...............................................         --
  Ash........................................................       15.2
  Sulfur.....................................................        4.5
  BTU/lb.....................................................      12991
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The public is invited to submit written comments on the fair market 
value and the maximum economic recovery of the tracts and on the 
adequacy of the associated environmental assessment.
    In addition, notice is also given that a public hearing will be 
held on June 29, 1994, on the coal lease environmental assessment, the 
proposed sale, and the fair market value and maximum economic recovery 
of the proposed lease tract. The public hearing will be held from 7 pm 
to 9 pm, June 29, 1994 at the Bob Lee Kidd Civic Center, Poteau, 
Oklahoma. Oral and written comments will be accepted at the public 
hearing. Any individual or organization wishing to pre-register to 
speak at the hearing may do so by contacting Don Boyer, BLM New Mexico 
State Office, at (505) 438-7439, by close of business (4:30 pm, MDT), 
June 24, 1994.

DATES: Written comments must be received at the BLM New Mexico State 
Office address listed below on or before July 8, 1994.

ADDRESSES: For additional data on these tracts or for copies of the 
environmental assessment, please contact Gary Stephens (telephone (505) 
438-7451), Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, 1474 
Rodeo Road, P.O. Box 27115, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502-0115 or Don 
Boyer (telephone (505) 438-7439) at the same address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Federal coal 
management regulations 43 CFR parts 3422 and 3425, not less than 30 
days prior to the publication of a notice of sale, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall solicit public comments on fair market value appraisal 
and maximum economic recovery and on factors that may affect these two 
determinations. Proprietary data marked as confidential may be 
submitted to the Bureau of Land Management in response to this 
solicitation of public comments. Data so marked shall be treated in 
accordance with the laws and regulations governing the confidentiality 
of such information. A copy of the comments submitted by the public on 
fair market value and maximum economic recovery, except those portions 
identified as proprietary by the author and meeting the exemptions 
stated in the Freedom of Information Act, will be available for public 
inspection at the above address during regular business hours (7:45 am 
to 4:30 pm MDT) Monday through Friday.
    Comments should be sent to the Bureau of Land Management at the 
above address and should address, but not necessarily be limited to, 
the following:
    1. The quantity and quality of the coal resources.
    2. The mining method(s) which would achieve maximum economic 
recovery of the coal, including specifications of seams to be mined and 
the most desirable timing and rate of production.
    3. The configuration of any larger or smaller mining unit of which 
the tract may be part.
    4. Restrictions to mining which may effect coal recovery.
    5. The price that the mined coal would bring when sold.
    The costs, including mining and reclamation costs, of producing the 
coal.
    7. The percentage rate at which anticipated income streams should 
be discounted, either in the absence of inflation, in which case the 
anticipated rate of inflation should be given.
    8. Depreciation and other tax accounting factors.
    9. The value of the privately held surface.
    10. Documented information on the terms and conditions of any 
recent and similar coal land transactions in the lease sale area.
    11. Any comparable sales data of similar coal lands. The values 
given above may or may not change as a result of comments received from 
the public and changes in market conditions between now and when final 
economic evaluations are completed.

    Dated: May 24, 1994.
Kathy Eaton,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 94-13136 Filed 5-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M